Prophecy News Watch - January 17, 2020

Around the World
Putin fast-tracks effort to extend his rule in Russia
President Vladimir Putin on Thursday fast-tracked work on constitutional changes that could keep him in power well past the end of his term in 2024 while lawmakers quickly sealed his choice for new prime minister.
Iran's Rouhani says 'no limit' to uranium enrichment, producing more than before Obama-era deal
A defiant Iranian President Hassan Rouhani boasted Thursday that there is 'no limit' to his country’s level of uranium enrichment -- just days after European powers raised concerns about the Islamic Republic backing away from a 2015 nuclear deal.
US threatens tariffs on Europeans unless Iran nuke deal scrapped
Iran accused European governments Thursday of sacrificing a troubled 2015 nuclear deal to avoid trade reprisals from US President Donald Trump, who has spent nearly two years trying to scupper the agreement.
Almost 40% of the world’s countries will witness civil unrest in 2020, research claims
Almost a quarter of the world’s countries witnessed a surge in protest and unrest last year and that figure is set to rise further in 2020, according to a new study.
Pentagon reveals 11 US troops were wounded in Iranian ballistic missile attack on Iraq bases
The Pentagon has revealed that 11 U.S. service members received treatment for concussions from an Iranian missile strike on Jan. 8.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
IDF strikes Hamas in Gaza in response to explosive balloons from Strip
Israeli aircraft attacked targets in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday for the second day in a row, as tensions rose on the volatile border.
Israeli team develops 'anti-diabetes drug'
A new drug being developed in Israel could be the answer to treating the main cause of Type 2 Diabetes, insulin resistance.

Inside the United States
Senate approves Trump's rewrite of North American trade deal
The Senate approved President Trump’s rewrite of the North American trade deal Thursday, handing him a second trade victory in as many days while he fights to remain in office.
Trump issues new rule ensuring prayer in schools is protected
President Trump issued updated rules on Thursday to ensure that public school students are allowed to engage in constitutionally protected prayer, calling his action 'the Right to Pray.'
Planned Parenthood launches $45M campaign for 2020 Democrats
Planned Parenthood is launching a new $45 million campaign to support Democrats in the 2020 elections, the organization's most expensive campaign push in its history.
‘Assault on the Second Amendment’: Virginia Senate passes three gun control bills
Virginia Democrats took an important step toward passing several gun control bills they have prioritized during this year's General Assembly session.
Trump removes faith-based groups from legal purgatory
The White House did it again on Thursday by proposing two administrative rule changes to stop government from discriminating against faith-based people and institutions. Both proposals are necessary and well reasoned.
Media label Tennessee religious liberty bill as 'anti-gay'
For most major news organizations, accuracy often takes a back seat to ideology, which is why groups such as the Associated Press are mischaracterizing Tennessee’s new religious liberty bill as 'anti-gay.'

Christian News
Dozens of Christians killed in 'systematic' Muslim Fulani raids in Nigeria
A mother and six-month-old baby were among those kidnapped in Nigeria in raids by Muslim Fulani herders that began Jan. 6 and saw 35 casualties.