Prophecy News Watch - October 17, 2019

Around the World
US jets destroy anti-ISIS coalition base in Syria after withdrawal, official says
Two Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) F-15 jets destroyed a base that was the headquarters of the anti-ISIS coalition in northern Syria on Wednesday after it had been vacated, according to a military official.
Syrian Forces Enter a Key Border Town, Thwarting Turkish Plans
Syrian forces on Wednesday night rolled into the strategic border town of Kobani, blocking one path for the Turkish military to establish a 'safe zone' free of Syrian Kurdish fighters along the frontier as part of its week-old offensive.
Police and Protesters Clash in Catalonia for a Third Consecutive Night
Rioting raged in Barcelona and several other Catalan towns for a third straight night Wednesday, with police fighting running street battles with protesters angered by lengthy prison sentences for nine leaders of the wealthy region’s drive for independence from Spain.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Friedman: US peace plan won’t call for settlement evacuations
The US administration’s much-anticipated peace plan will not call for the uprooting of even a single settler, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said Wednesday, drawing sharp criticism from Ramallah.
Path to Israeli Unity Government May Be Opening, With Gantz Indicating a Willingness to Sit With Netanyahu
Despite the current impasse in the Israeli coalition talks, signs emerged on Wednesday that a path to a unity government might be opening, with Blue and White leader Benny Gantz reportedly expressing a positive attitude toward such an arrangement.
Netanyahu demands commitment from allies they will not join Gantz coalition
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday asked members of his right-wing/religious parliamentary bloc to sign a commitment not to join a narrow coalition led by Blue and White leader Benny Gantz that would rely on the support of the Arab parties.

Inside the United States
House Won't Vote to Formalize Impeachment Probe
House Democrats won't be voting soon to formalize the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump.
Federal Debt Up $1.2 Trillion in FY 2019; Borrowed $9,432 Per U.S. Household
The federal debt increased by $1,203,343,570,253.55 in fiscal 2019, according to data released by the U.S. Treasury Department.
House Republicans expected to force vote on revised Schiff censure
House Republicans are ramping up their efforts to formally rebuke House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) as they look to combat the Democrats’ impeachment inquiry into President Trump.
US Congress Supports Hong Kong Protesters, Passes Pro-Democracy Bill
The US House of Representatives has passed the bill that pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong believe would defend their freedom and basic human rights. Although it still has to gain approval from the Senate before becoming law, protesters consider this a big step forward in their fight for democracy.
San Francisco Expands Travel Ban to Pro-Life States
San Francisco expanded its city-funded travel and contracting bans to 22 states with pro-life laws.
US retail sales unexpectedly drop as Trump's trade war hits the backbone of the economy
A key measure of consumer spending unexpectedly dropped for the first time in seven months in September, raising concerns about one of the brightest spots in the US economy.
US House overwhelmingly condemns Trump’s Syria withdrawal, Turkey offensive
The House of Representatives on Wednesday overwhelmingly voted its bipartisan condemnation of US President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of American forces from northern Syria.
Volker Testimony Destroys Narrative Of Diplomatic Turmoil Following Ukraine Phone Call
The United States’ former envoy to Ukraine told congressional investigators neither country’s officials were concerned about anything in the July 25 phone call between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky until a campaign of leaks alleging abuse of power began surfacing in late August. Far from the media-fed narrative of officials being physically shaken by the call, Kurt Volker told lawmakers no one had expressed any concern to him about it, or about later allegations that requests for Ukraine’s help in corruption investigations was improper.
Top Diplomat Testified That Obama Admin, Not International Community, Orchestrated Ukraine Prosecutor’s Firing
A top U.S. diplomat and expert on Ukraine testified to Congress yesterday that the Obama administration -- with former Vice President Joe Biden as its point man -- orchestrated the firing of the Ukrainian prosecutor who was investigating a company connected to the Biden family, sources familiar with the testimony told The Federalist.

Christian News
UAE Becomes World's First Country to Restore Iraqi Churches Destroyed by ISIS
The United Arab Emirates is teaming up with UNESCO to rebuild two Christian churches in Mosul, Iraq that were destroyed by ISIS in 2014.
At Least 250,000 Students Gather to Pray on Athletic Fields across the Nation
Hundreds of thousands of students are joining together Wednesday on football fields across the nation to encourage their peers to pray, worship, read their Bibles, and commit their lives to Christ.
Christians risk arrest if they display Bible in Saudi Arabia, persecution watchdog group warns
Christians traveling to Saudi Arabia are being warned not to publicly display their Bible while in the country or travel with more than one copy of the text, despite the kingdom's recent openness to tourism.