Prophecy News Watch - December 30, 2019

Around the World
US strikes kill 12 Iran-backed soldiers in Syria and Iraq
12 Iran-backed fighters were killed in Iraq and Syria Sunday, as the US retaliated for a Friday strike by Iran proxies that left 4 American servicemen wounded and killed a military contractor.
Iran state TV: Iran, Russia, China joint naval drill portends "new triangle of power in the sea"
Iran, Russia, and China began four days of naval drills in the Gulf of Oman Friday, following Iran's activation of advanced centrifuges that enrich uranium at greater speeds.
Trump tips off Putin to terrorist plot on Russian soil
US intelligence helped Russia foil 'acts of terrorism' on its own soil, as Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked US President Trump in a phone call Sunday.
Magnitude 5 earthquake may have damaged Iran's active nuclear site
Shockwaves from a magnitude 5 earthquake that occurred 30 miles away from Iran's Bushehr nuclear reactor may have struck the site Friday, though no reports of damage had yet surfaced.
Russia rolls out first hypersonic weapon as China continues testing, putting US on edge
A Russian missile vehicle capable of traveling 27 times the speed of sound went operational Friday, which in its testing phase Vladimir Putin compared to Russia's launch of the first satellite, Sputnik I, in 1957.
Russia refuses to continue Iran arms embargo
Russia said it will not extend an arms embargo on Iran that the 2015 nuclear accord with world powers promised to lift within 5 years, raising eyebrows in the US.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel to withhold millions in tax revenues from PA over terrorist financing
The security cabinet on Sunday approved the withholding of tens of millions of dollars’ worth of tax revenues from the Palestinian Authority as part of the ongoing struggle between Jerusalem and Ramallah over the payment of salaries to attackers and their families.
Leviathan natural gas field development gets approval from Israel's agency for environmental protection
The Israeli Environmental Protection Ministry gave the go-ahead for production on what is soon to be Israel's largest natural gas deposit, after a season of tests and protests by activists halted the development of the field.
Brazil signals strong support for Israel, promising to move embassy to Jerusalem, blacklist Hezbollah
Brazil has pledged multiple political and economic commitments to Israel in recent days, with leaders promising the country will move its embassy to Jerusalem, designate Hezbollah a terrorist organization, and work with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to launch direct flights between the two nations.

Inside the United States
Trump says California, New York must ask 'politely' if they want federal aid for homeless
President Trump said Saturday that his willingness to combat homelessness in California and New York depends on whether their governors ask him 'politely' for help.
Rabbi and Hanukkah guests attacked by knife-wielding assailant in Anti-Semitism-ridden New York
An attack on a rabbi's Hanukkah party Saturday evening in the Jewish neighborhood of Monsey, New York left 5 people with stab wounds and 2 in critical condition, as New York officials called the incident terrorism.
New York City rife with anti-Semitism during Hanukkah
Six attacks on Jews over five nights of Hanukkah occurred in New York City this past week, as the city becomes a surprising hotbed for anti-semitism.

Christian News
Gunman opens fire in White Settlement, Texas church, leaving 2 dead
Two people were killed and one person critically injured in a Texas church shooting Sunday morning, with one person having died on the way to the hospital and been revived.
Of whom the world was not worthy: John Allen Chau vindicated a year after his death, as missions group claims his martyrdom a clarion call to reach the unreached
November marked the one-year anniversary of the death of American missionary John Allen Chau, whose lone effort to reach the North Sentinelese unreached people group ended in martyrdom and yielded a slew of criticism from the world and Christendom.
Pastor in Tajikistan charged with "inciting religious hatred" released
A Tajik Pastor imprisoned for over 2 years for possessing a Josh McDowell book was released recently, 3 months before the end of his sentence.
China intends to manufacture new religion, rewrite Bible and Quran
17 Chinese officials discussed revising religious texts last month to suit the needs of the Chinese Communist Party, even framing a new religion.