SYRIA: Undermining President Donald Trump’s claim of having “defeated” Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria and his announcement to withdraw U.S.

SYRIA: A Wednesday morning tweet from U.S. President Donald Trump declaring “victory” over ISIS in Syria once again has thrown into question U.S. policy. Because ISIS clearly is not defeated in Syria, the White House decision to withdraw 2,000 U.S.

CHINA: More than 60 police officers stormed a children’s Bible class Saturday morning to launch a raid shutting down Rongguili Church in Guangzhou. The church was founded by the late Samuel Lamb and became the third prominent Protestant church in China closed in recent months.

SYRIA: U.S. President Donald Trump spoke Friday morning by phone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the two leaders, according to Reuters, “agreed on the need for more efficient cooperation over Syria, without giving details.” Tension at the Syria-Turkey border has spiked this week, with Erdogan threatening direct military action against U.S.-allied Kurdish militias near an area where U.S. ground forces are based.

This Christmas season I’ve been asked to #GiveLuv and #doublethelove and more. The time from Giving Tuesday to New Year’s Eve represents for many U.S. nonprofits a make-or-break fundraising opportunity. Punching a button in tangible support of a good cause helps both giver and receiver.

But problems arise with the ease of internet giving, and one is accountability. Willing donors see slick appeals in their social media accounts, give, and go away. Behind the campaigns, it’s harder to know how the nonprofits manage their money, and whether the message matches the work.

BRITAIN: Prime Minister Theresa May looks like she may survive a no-confidence vote in Parliament Wednesday evening, as her handling of Brexit comes under fire. Brits increasingly are faced with the choice of leaving the European Union without a negotiated settlement on trade and other major issues, or not leaving the EU after all.

CHINA: Authorities launched a crackdown on Early Rain Covenant Church Sunday night, arresting Pastor Wang Yi, all church elders except one, church members, seminary students, and parents of students attending the church schools.