Prophecy News Watch - December 25, 2019

Around the World
Trump says US and China to hold signing ceremony for phase-one trade deal
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the US and China would hold a formal ceremony to ink an interim trade agreement to defuse a tit-for-tat dispute between the two sides.
Putin says Russia is leading world in hypersonic weapons
President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Russia has got a strong edge in designing new weapons and that it has become the only country in the world to deploy hypersonic weapons.
Top Iranian official: Israel ‘will regret’ attacks in Syria
A top Iranian official said that Israel 'will regret' its attacks in Syria, which have reportedly targeted Iranian resources and weapons shipments.
Huge leap in number of protestors killed in Iran last month
The US has confirmed the highest estimate yet for the number of protestors killed in Iranian demonstrations that began November 15, agreeing with Reuters' estimate that 1,500 people were killed.
Second circuit of Iran’s Arak reactor to be completed Monday
The second circuit of Iran’s Arak heavy-water reactor is slated to go online on Monday, bringing it another stage closer to being fully operational, the country’s semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu and others envision "Israeli-Arab alliance"
Certain of Israel's Sunni Arab neighbors are experiencing a warming toward Israel as some are beginning to talk about a "new alliance" and a "new narrative" in the Middle East.
Likud challenger seeking to depose Netanyahu could mean a boost for Israeli conservatives
Likud member Gideon Sa'ar is challenging embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for Israel's conservative leadership primary on December 26 in what analysts say could mean a turn of the tide for the party.
Netanyahu sends Christmas greeting to Christians: ‘We have no better friends’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday extended Christmas greetings to Christians in Israel and around the globe celebrating the holiday.

Inside the United States
Republicans fume over Dem threat of new impeachment articles: ‘Time to cut them off’
Republicans ratcheted up their accusations that Democrats are overplaying their impeachment hand after court filings from the House Judiciary Committee indicated the two articles of impeachment adopted last week may only be the beginning.
Pew Research Center study find American children most likely to live in single-parent homes
A new Pew Research Center study found that, of 130 countries, the US had the highest rate of children living in single-parent homes, beating out other developed nations like the UK, France, Germany, and Canada.

Christian News
Nigerian pastor kidnapped, yet no ransom demanded as officials continue to investigate
A pastor was kidnapped in Nigeria in Adamawa state last week, with no reason given by captors for the abduction, and no ransom demanded.
Wave of evangelical church closures in Russia belies Putin's pledge to help Christians
At least 3 evangelical churches have been closed in Russia over the last 6 months, in spite of President Vladimir Putin's pledge at a recent conference to "do everything" to protect Christians in the Middle East.
Rebels reopen half of closed Baptist churches in Burma
51 Baptist churches were allowed to reopen in Burma, where 100 were shut down in 2018 by armed ethnic Wa rebels.
Christians in Indonesia suffer wave of Islamic harassment
Indonesia has seen 40 anti-Christian attacks in the first 5 months of 2019, a two-thirds jump from last year, and a quadrupling of the rate from 10 years ago.