Prophecy News Watch provided by Worthy Ministries

Around the World
Iran proxy vows retaliation after US strikes in Iraq kill over a dozen militants
Iran-backed militias in Iraq vowed to respond to US strikes Sunday that killed between 12 and 24 fighters sponsored by Iran, as the US promised to continue battling Iranian influence in the region.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard reportedly seizes ship in Gulf over ‘smuggled fuel’
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard on Monday seized a ship in the Persian Gulf suspected of carrying smuggled fuel, state media reported.
Russia says US strikes on Iraq and Syria are unacceptable
Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Monday that US airstrikes on Iraq and Syria were unacceptable and counterproductive, and urged all sides to avoid fueling tensions in the region.
More than 235,000 flee intense bombing in northwest Syria
Civilians on Friday packed a road leading out of a flashpoint town in northwest Syria, where two weeks of heightened regime and Russian bombardment has displaced 235,000 people.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Ex-IDF intel chief: Now that US engaged Iran, Israel must be careful
Following Sunday's US airstrikes on Iranian-affiliated militias in Iraq, Israel must now be more careful about its own airstrikes in Iraq, former IDF intelligence chief Amos Yadlin tweeted on Monday.
Netanyahu praises ‘important’ US strikes on Iran-backed militia
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday praised as 'important' the series of US airstrikes a day earlier against an Iranian proxy group that had carried out an attack on American forces in Iraq.

Inside the United States
Two government investigations leave Steele dossier in shambles
Two official government reports have exonerated President Trump and his associates of the serious Russia allegations in the Democratic Party-financed dossier written by Christopher Steele and his handler, Fusion GPS.

Christian News
Sudan church, once harassed by Islamist government, receives personal apology on Christmas
In a gesture of reconciliation following years of persecution, the new religious affairs minister of Sudan, Nasr al-Din Mufreh, attended Christmas celebrations in Khartoum to personally apologize for former dictator Omar al-Bashir's harassment of Christians.
Wang Yi, Chinese pastor, locked up for 9 years for publishing manifesto against Xi Jinping's 'sinicization' plan
Chinese pastor Wang Yi was sentenced to 9 years of prison on December 30th, following a year of detention in an unknown location in which he was deprived a lawyer by President Xi Jinping's Chinese Communist Party.
Texas pastor thankful parishioners had 'opportunity to protect ourselves' during church shooting
A minister at a Texas church where a parishioner shot and killed a man who opened fire on the Sunday congregation thanked state leaders for granting the man the right to carry a firearm to the service.

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.

Around the World
Turkey poised to send troops to Libya, ratcheting up tensions in E. Mediterranean
Turkey is preparing to send troops and advanced weapons to the embattled UN-backed Libyan government. The military muscle-flexing puts it at odds with Russia and several Arab states backing Libya's rival government.
Iraq's President refuses to back Iran-favored candidate for Prime Minister
The Iraqi President has threatened to resign instead of nominating an Iran-backed candidate for Prime Minister against the will of protestors.
Thousands in Asia Marvel at ‘Ring of Fire’ Solar Eclipse
People along a swath of southern Asia gazed at the sky in marvel on Thursday at a 'ring of fire' solar eclipse.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
IDF Chief indicates upcoming "limited confrontation" between Israel and Iran
Israel may carry out a 'limited' war with Iran according to the Chief of the Israel Defense Forces, who spoke openly for the first time about Iranian entrenchment in Iraq as a problem for the Jewish state.
Netanyahu declares ‘huge victory,’ Sa’ar concedes, in Likud leadership contest
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared victory soon after midnight Thursday-Friday in the Likud leadership contest against rival Gideon Sa’ar, as a preliminary ballot count indicated the longtime party leader was headed for a landslide win.
New laser beam system developed to take down drones, burning balloons
Israeli security forces have unveiled a new laser-beam system designed to take down incendiary aerial devices that have burned countless acres of land over the past two years as well as drones infiltrating into Israeli airspace.

Inside the United States
Supreme Court to hear Louisiana abortion case in 2020
A case testing abortion access in Louisiana will come before the Supreme Court early next year, giving President Trump’s two appointees their first chance to leave a mark on the topic.
US cyber officials consider information warfare to counter Russian meddling in 2020
Cyber officials within the U.S. military have started to examine possible methods of information warfare that could be used to counter interference in elections.

Christian News
18 Christians killed by ISIS in Nigeria on Christmas Eve and Christmas
ISIS-affiliated terrorists in Nigeria killed 11 people, many assumed to be Christians, on Christmas day, following the slaying of 7 Christians in Borno State by the organization on Christmas eve.
Russian Christians reach out to Mongolia, where Christianity is resurrecting
Russian Christians are answering the call to take the gospel to Mongolia, one of the most sparsely populated and least-reached countries in the world, 26 years after the fall of communism left only 10 believers in the country.
Despite Intense Persecution and Death Threats, National Bible Translators Remain Committed to Translating the Scriptures
Wycliffe Associates, an international organization that empowers mother-tongue Bible translators and partners with local churches in the advancement of Bible translation, continues to receive requests for help from Christians living in highly volatile regions who are committed to bringing the translated Scriptures to their language groups.
Christian mother banished from home by Muslim husband in Uganda
A Christian mother in Uganda had to flee her home when her Muslim husband discovered she had been taking their 7-year-old child to church services after her recent conversion in May.
Boris Johnson Vows to Defend Christians in First Christmas Message Since Becoming PM
Boris Johnson has vowed to defend Christians around the world in his first Christmas message since becoming U.K prime minister.