Prophecy News Watch - December 19, 2023
Around the World
Pentagon Urged to Provide Taiwan with ‘MacGyver’ Style Advanced Weapons Amid Chinese Threats
The head of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Party warned the Pentagon in a letter about the necessity of establishing a more robust deterrent to avert war. He emphasized the importance of innovative, "out of the box" strategies in arming the Taiwanese military to address the imminent threats posed by the Chinese government to the island.
Pope Says Priests Can Bless Same-Sex Couples
In a controversial move upsetting conservative clergy, Pope Francis has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples.
Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Disrupting Global Trade, Oil and Natural Gas Prices Surge
The continued attacks on shipping tankers near Yemen have prompted several shipping companies, along with oil giant British Petroleum, to halt using the Suez Canal in light of the recent attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi Rebels, causing oil and natural gas to spike.
Serbia’s President Claims Victory In Elections Amid Reported Irregularities
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's party has claimed victory in snap parliamentary elections despite concerns about his perceived autocratic style and reports of voting irregularities.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Syria: Israeli Missile Strikes Near Damascus
The Syrian defense ministry, in a statement relayed by state media, reported that Israeli air strikes targeting areas near Damascus resulted in injuries to two Syrian soldiers on Sunday.
Pope Condemns ‘Israel Attack’ On Gaza; Army Confirms Incident Church That Kills Two
Israel’s military has confirmed an "incident" at the last Catholic Church in Gaza after accusations from the Vatican that troops shot and killed two Christian women in what Pope Francis called an act of terrorism.
Israel Uncovers Largest Hamas Tunnel In Gaza, So Far
Israeli troops fighting against Hamas say they have uncovered the largest concrete and iron-girded tunnel so far to carry carloads of “terrorist fighters” from Gaza right up to the border.
Inside the United States
CBP Suspending Railroad Crossings at Two Key International Ports of Entry in Texas
On Sunday night, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced it was closing international railroad bridges at two major ports of entry in Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas, after a surge of over 4,000 people illegally entered over the last 48 hours.
Illinois: AG Agrees to Permanent Block on Law Which Targeted Pregnancy Centers, “Huge Win” for Pro-Life Groups
Following a lawsuit filed by the pro life umbrella group National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA), the Attorney General of Illinois has agreed to a permanent injunction nullifying a law which targeted pregnancy crisis centers to ban them from using alleged "misinformation, deceptive practices, or misrepresentation in order to interfere with access to abortion services or emergency contraception,” CBN News reports.
Security Questions Raised After Car Plows Into President Biden’s Motorcade
Questions were raised early Monday after a car hit a motorcade vehicle as U.S. president Joe Biden left his campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, late Sunday.
Indiana: Christian Parents Petition SCOTUS After State Removes Their Trans-Identified Child
The Christian parents of a trans-identified child in Indiana have filed a petition asking the US Supreme Court to intervene after the state’s Department of Child Services removed their son from their care after disagreements over his gender identity and welfare, the Christian Post (CP) reports. The petition argues for the protection of parental rights and free speech, and for the free exercise of religion.
Christian News
Indonesia: Elderly Christian Man Serving Second Prison Term for Blasphemy Against Islam
An elderly Christian man in West Java province, Indonesia is now serving a second prison term for blasphemy on the grounds he insulted the Muslim prophet Mohammed in social media posts that were critical of Islam, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Pentagon Urged to Provide Taiwan with ‘MacGyver’ Style Advanced Weapons Amid Chinese Threats
The head of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Party warned the Pentagon in a letter about the necessity of establishing a more robust deterrent to avert war. He emphasized the importance of innovative, "out of the box" strategies in arming the Taiwanese military to address the imminent threats posed by the Chinese government to the island.
Pope Says Priests Can Bless Same-Sex Couples
In a controversial move upsetting conservative clergy, Pope Francis has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples.
Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Disrupting Global Trade, Oil and Natural Gas Prices Surge
The continued attacks on shipping tankers near Yemen have prompted several shipping companies, along with oil giant British Petroleum, to halt using the Suez Canal in light of the recent attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi Rebels, causing oil and natural gas to spike.
Serbia’s President Claims Victory In Elections Amid Reported Irregularities
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's party has claimed victory in snap parliamentary elections despite concerns about his perceived autocratic style and reports of voting irregularities.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Syria: Israeli Missile Strikes Near Damascus
The Syrian defense ministry, in a statement relayed by state media, reported that Israeli air strikes targeting areas near Damascus resulted in injuries to two Syrian soldiers on Sunday.
Pope Condemns ‘Israel Attack’ On Gaza; Army Confirms Incident Church That Kills Two
Israel’s military has confirmed an "incident" at the last Catholic Church in Gaza after accusations from the Vatican that troops shot and killed two Christian women in what Pope Francis called an act of terrorism.
Israel Uncovers Largest Hamas Tunnel In Gaza, So Far
Israeli troops fighting against Hamas say they have uncovered the largest concrete and iron-girded tunnel so far to carry carloads of “terrorist fighters” from Gaza right up to the border.
Inside the United States
CBP Suspending Railroad Crossings at Two Key International Ports of Entry in Texas
On Sunday night, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced it was closing international railroad bridges at two major ports of entry in Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas, after a surge of over 4,000 people illegally entered over the last 48 hours.
Illinois: AG Agrees to Permanent Block on Law Which Targeted Pregnancy Centers, “Huge Win” for Pro-Life Groups
Following a lawsuit filed by the pro life umbrella group National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA), the Attorney General of Illinois has agreed to a permanent injunction nullifying a law which targeted pregnancy crisis centers to ban them from using alleged "misinformation, deceptive practices, or misrepresentation in order to interfere with access to abortion services or emergency contraception,” CBN News reports.
Security Questions Raised After Car Plows Into President Biden’s Motorcade
Questions were raised early Monday after a car hit a motorcade vehicle as U.S. president Joe Biden left his campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, late Sunday.
Indiana: Christian Parents Petition SCOTUS After State Removes Their Trans-Identified Child
The Christian parents of a trans-identified child in Indiana have filed a petition asking the US Supreme Court to intervene after the state’s Department of Child Services removed their son from their care after disagreements over his gender identity and welfare, the Christian Post (CP) reports. The petition argues for the protection of parental rights and free speech, and for the free exercise of religion.
Christian News
Indonesia: Elderly Christian Man Serving Second Prison Term for Blasphemy Against Islam
An elderly Christian man in West Java province, Indonesia is now serving a second prison term for blasphemy on the grounds he insulted the Muslim prophet Mohammed in social media posts that were critical of Islam, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.