RUSSIA AND THE KINGS OF THE EAST

• Russian government resigns as Putin proposes reforms that could extend his grip on power
• Abbas meets Putin: A friend of the Palestinian people
• U.S. urges China to join nuclear arms talks
• China has ‘no intention to participate’ in arms talks
• Russia invites NATO members to take part in war games
• Turkey, NATO still at odds over Russia arms deal
• Russia claims edge as US lags in hypersonic weapons development

CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

• Watchlist: 260 million Christians persecuted in 50 worst nations
• China imposes harsh new rules governing religious groups in 2020
• Report: Boko Haram Jihadists Behead Catholic Bride and Bridal Party
• Government vows to protect Christians worldwide
• Report: Record 3,000 Christian Sites in Europe Vandalized in 2019

TEMPLE MOUNT TROUBLES

• PA: ‘The Muslims have absolute right’ to Western Wall
• After Trump deal unveiled, Jordan warns of ‘new reality’ on Temple Mount
• Hundreds of Muslim Arab worshipers riot on Temple Mount in Jerusalem
• Hamas calls for mass attendance at Al-Aqsa, Cave of the Patriarchs prayers
• Iran vows to crush ‘satanic’ Trump plan and ‘Jewishization’ of Jerusalem
• Palestinian Authority newspaper calls for violence to disrupt Holocaust event in Jerusalem

THE RELIGION OF PEACE?

• Al-Qaeda claims attack on Florida naval base
• ISIS claims responsibility for London stabbing attack, terrorist identified
• German police arrest Islamist terror cell said to be targeting Berlin synagogue
• ISIS threatens to shift its focus to Israel
• ‘The Muslims will leave no spot anywhere safe for the Americans’

NEWS FROM ISRAEL

• Iranian youths praise Khamenei, singing about Israel’s end
• Netanyahu warns of ‘resounding blow’ if Iran attacks Israel
• European Union won’t recognize Israeli sovereignty over ‘territories occupied since 1967’
• New UN resolution would condemn Israeli annexation

State Department official reveals extent of Hezbollah terrorism in Europe

Israel National News reports: “Ambassador Nathan Sales, the US State Department’s Coordinator for Counterterrorism, announced during an American Jewish Committee (AJC) Advocacy Anywhere program on Thursday that Hezbollah weapons caches, including significant stores of ammonium […]

SIGNS IN THE SUN, MOON AND STARS

• United States regards space as theatre of war – President Putin
• Challenged by China and Russia, US builds force for future space wars
• Beijing attacks US for ‘weaponisation’ of outer space
• U.S. Space Policy: The United States Space Force
• Allies join Space Force for multinational collaboration
• China improves space-based observation of Earth

RUSSIA AND THE KINGS OF THE EAST

• China, Iran, and Russia to hold joint naval drills starting Friday
• Analysis: Iran hopes naval drill will show US is not a global power
• China hosts Japan, South Korea with eyes on nuclear North
• China, South Korea and Japan leaders to discuss North Korea tensions
• Russia, China make UN proposal to ease North Korea sanctions
• New Construction Seen at Missile-Related Site in North Korea
• Second China Aircraft Carrier Enters Service

CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

• Report: Islamic Persecution of Christians ‘Gaining Traction’ in Africa
• Boko Haram Jihadis Kill Seven in Nigeria on Christmas Eve

SUFFER THE CHILDREN

• Refugee Camp ISIS Child Tells UK Reporter ‘We Will Slaughter You’

NEWS FROM ISRAEL AND THE MIDDLE EAST

• Hamas, Islamic Jihad agree to stand together in future fight with Israel
• Abbas spokesman: The pressure on Israel will continue
• Hamas official: The goal is ‘liberation of Palestine’
• ‘Jerusalem is ours and will only be Islamic-Christian’
• Luxembourg said pushing for EU states to recognize Palestine
• Iranian official threatens to ‘flatten’ Tel Aviv
• IDF preparing for confrontation with Iran – Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi
• Iran working on nuclear-capable missiles: European powers
• Report: Iran stashing missiles in Iraq that can reach Israel

WEAPONS OF WARFARE

• Pentagon Tests Long-banned Ballistic Missile over Pacific
• Russia Raises Concerns Over new US Ballistic Missile Test
• Russia’s Avangard hypersonic missile system has entered service
• Innovative laser system to intercept incendiary balloons