Prophecy News Watch provided by Worthy Ministries
Prophecy News Watch is a service hosted by Worthy Ministries to provide Christians daily news from a Biblical, and yet Prophetic worldview. Our news is gathered by our Christian News Service, Worthy News. For more about our vision for how we assemble our daily headlines, please read, "What is Worthy News?"
Around the World
Against the odds, Biden inches closer to nuclear deal with Iran
The Biden administration on Wednesday inched closer to restarting a controversial nuclear deal with Iran, brushing aside stark warnings from key American ally Israel and sidestepping mounting evidence that Tehran and its proxies have not moderated their behavior on other fronts and remain intent on targeting U.S. troops, officials, allies and interests.
15 Killed As Russia Fires Rockets In Ukraine On Independence Day
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that at least 15 people were killed and dozens wounded in a Russian rocket strike on a Ukrainian railway station as his nation marked the 31st anniversary of its independence from the Moscow-ruled Soviet Union.
Biden Pledges Nearly $3 Billion To Ukraine In Largest U.S. Military Aid Package Yet
U.S. President Joe Biden has announced nearly $3 billion in new U.S. military aid for Kyiv as Ukraine marked its independence day six months after Russia invaded the country.
US carries out airstrikes on Iran-backed forces in Syria
The US military on Tuesday carried out a series of airstrikes on Iran-backed forces in Syria, emphasizing these were conducted solely to protect American troops in the region and not to escalate tensions, the Washington Examiner reports.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israeli warplanes entered Iranian airspace undetected
Israeli fighter planes have entered Iran’s airspace multiple times in recent months without being detected by either Iranian or Russian radar, the Jerusalem Post reports. The news that Israeli Air Force F-35 stealth planes had penetrated Iranian airspace in the last two months was reported by the Saudi media outlet Elaph.
Inside the United States
Unredacted memo reveals why DOJ didn’t prosecute Trump
An unredacted, internal Department of Justice memo shows the rationale of its leadership in deciding not to prosecute then-President Donald Trump on obstruction of justice charges following the Mueller report's publication.
Court orders Kenosha to follow Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling banning absentee ballot drop boxes
The Kenosha County Circuit Court ordered that the city of Kenosha, Wis., stop using unmanned absentee ballot drop boxes following the Wisconsin Supreme Court's decision that the boxes are illegal.
Biden announces cancellation of student debt
President Biden responded to pressure from progressives on Wednesday by canceling $10,000 in student debt for borrowers who earn less than $125,000 per year and $20,000 in debt for those who received Pell Grants.
Christian News
Church in Afghanistan is growing amid harsh conditions
The house church movement in Afghanistan is slowly growing, despite a surrounding environment of brutal tribalism and Islamic extremist violence that forces evangelism and worship to be carried out in secret, Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) reports.
China: House churches raided, leaders taken away
Chinese authorities raided four house churches this month, taking their leaders away for questioning on false allegations, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Nigeria: Secular High Court upholds death penalty for blasphemy
In a move that has caused severe consternation among rights groups, the secular High Court in Nigeria’s Kano state has upheld a recent death sentence given by a Sharia court to a man accused of blasphemy, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Controversially, Kano is one of 12 northern Nigerian states whose legal system operates under both the secular Nigerian penal code and the Islamic Sharia law.
Young Children Of Late Deacon Killed In Sudan
Sudanese Christians are mourning after suspected Muslim militants killed the three young children of a deceased Catholic Church deacon in Sudan’s Central Darfur region, Worthy News established late Tuesday.
DRC: 17 Christians murdered by Islamic State-affiliated terrorists
Seventeen Christians were murdered in the Democratic Republic of Congo in a spate of recent targeted attacks by Islamic terrorists, Christian Today reports. Although Christians make up 95% of the population in DRC, the rebel Islamic State-affiliated Alliance for Democratic Forces (ADF) carries out brutal attacks on believers.
Pakistan: Couple escape to Europe after years on death row for blasphemy
A couple who spent seven years on death row in Pakistan for alleged blasphemy have been helped to escape the threat of further Islamic extremist violence and have found refuge in Europe, Christian Today (CT) reports.
Against the odds, Biden inches closer to nuclear deal with Iran
The Biden administration on Wednesday inched closer to restarting a controversial nuclear deal with Iran, brushing aside stark warnings from key American ally Israel and sidestepping mounting evidence that Tehran and its proxies have not moderated their behavior on other fronts and remain intent on targeting U.S. troops, officials, allies and interests.
15 Killed As Russia Fires Rockets In Ukraine On Independence Day
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that at least 15 people were killed and dozens wounded in a Russian rocket strike on a Ukrainian railway station as his nation marked the 31st anniversary of its independence from the Moscow-ruled Soviet Union.
Biden Pledges Nearly $3 Billion To Ukraine In Largest U.S. Military Aid Package Yet
U.S. President Joe Biden has announced nearly $3 billion in new U.S. military aid for Kyiv as Ukraine marked its independence day six months after Russia invaded the country.
US carries out airstrikes on Iran-backed forces in Syria
The US military on Tuesday carried out a series of airstrikes on Iran-backed forces in Syria, emphasizing these were conducted solely to protect American troops in the region and not to escalate tensions, the Washington Examiner reports.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israeli warplanes entered Iranian airspace undetected
Israeli fighter planes have entered Iran’s airspace multiple times in recent months without being detected by either Iranian or Russian radar, the Jerusalem Post reports. The news that Israeli Air Force F-35 stealth planes had penetrated Iranian airspace in the last two months was reported by the Saudi media outlet Elaph.
Inside the United States
Unredacted memo reveals why DOJ didn’t prosecute Trump
An unredacted, internal Department of Justice memo shows the rationale of its leadership in deciding not to prosecute then-President Donald Trump on obstruction of justice charges following the Mueller report's publication.
Court orders Kenosha to follow Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling banning absentee ballot drop boxes
The Kenosha County Circuit Court ordered that the city of Kenosha, Wis., stop using unmanned absentee ballot drop boxes following the Wisconsin Supreme Court's decision that the boxes are illegal.
Biden announces cancellation of student debt
President Biden responded to pressure from progressives on Wednesday by canceling $10,000 in student debt for borrowers who earn less than $125,000 per year and $20,000 in debt for those who received Pell Grants.
Christian News
Church in Afghanistan is growing amid harsh conditions
The house church movement in Afghanistan is slowly growing, despite a surrounding environment of brutal tribalism and Islamic extremist violence that forces evangelism and worship to be carried out in secret, Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) reports.
China: House churches raided, leaders taken away
Chinese authorities raided four house churches this month, taking their leaders away for questioning on false allegations, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Nigeria: Secular High Court upholds death penalty for blasphemy
In a move that has caused severe consternation among rights groups, the secular High Court in Nigeria’s Kano state has upheld a recent death sentence given by a Sharia court to a man accused of blasphemy, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Controversially, Kano is one of 12 northern Nigerian states whose legal system operates under both the secular Nigerian penal code and the Islamic Sharia law.
Young Children Of Late Deacon Killed In Sudan
Sudanese Christians are mourning after suspected Muslim militants killed the three young children of a deceased Catholic Church deacon in Sudan’s Central Darfur region, Worthy News established late Tuesday.
DRC: 17 Christians murdered by Islamic State-affiliated terrorists
Seventeen Christians were murdered in the Democratic Republic of Congo in a spate of recent targeted attacks by Islamic terrorists, Christian Today reports. Although Christians make up 95% of the population in DRC, the rebel Islamic State-affiliated Alliance for Democratic Forces (ADF) carries out brutal attacks on believers.
Pakistan: Couple escape to Europe after years on death row for blasphemy
A couple who spent seven years on death row in Pakistan for alleged blasphemy have been helped to escape the threat of further Islamic extremist violence and have found refuge in Europe, Christian Today (CT) reports.
Around the World
UN General Assembly moves closer to adopting resolution declaring abortion a ‘human right’
Delegates at the United Nations General Assembly are finalizing negotiations on a resolution that would require all U.N. agencies to declare abortion a human right, reportedly due to pressure from the European Union and the Biden administration.
Drought inflicting ‘severe impacts’ on EU energy production, as Putin tightens squeeze on gas
Ongoing drought is wreaking damage on the European Union's energy generation, its drought agency warned today, just as the bloc braces for power blackouts in winter as Russia squeezes its gas supply.
Nuclear deal moves closer as US says Iran has ‘finally crossed the Rubicon’
Iran has dropped some of its main demands on resurrecting a deal to rein in Tehran's nuclear program, including its insistence that international inspectors close some probes of its atomic program, bringing the possibility of an agreement closer, a senior US official told Reuters on Monday.
Iran suffers another blow as IRGC officer killed in Syria
A high-ranking officer in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps was killed Monday morning during a military operation in Syria, Iranian media outlets reported.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Lavrov condemns ‘dangerous’ Israeli strikes in Syria, as relations with Russia sour
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday condemned “dangerous” Israeli missile strikes in Syria, underscoring the growing chill in Moscow-Jerusalem relations, which have been increasingly strained since Russia invaded Ukraine.
Gantz heads to US, vowing Israel will do ‘everything it can’ to sway Iran deal
As the resurrection of the Iran nuclear deal appears to be imminent, Defense Minister Benny Gantz announced Tuesday that he will travel to the United States for a series of meetings with American defense officials later this week.
Inside the United States
California county saw 70% of criminal suspects released on $0 bail commit new crimes: DA
A California district attorney has found that more than 70% of criminal suspects released on $0 bail between 2020 and 2021 in his county committed new crimes.
‘Once in a Thousand Years’: Dallas Deluged by Massive Rainfall, Flooding
It's being called a "once in a thousand years event" – a slow-moving storm system dumping historic amounts of rain on areas that haven't seen substantial rainfall all summer.
Nearly 2 million students have left public schools since 2020: report
Approximately 2 million students have left public schools since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and subsequent lockdowns led to mandated school closures and students being educated online, according to a recently released report.
US new home sales plunge for sixth straight month to lowest level since 2016
Sales of new U.S. homes plunged more than expected in July to the lowest level in six years as rising mortgage rates and the relentless increase in home values slowed activity by edging prospective homebuyers out of the market.
Christian News
Evangelist Burnt To Death In India
n independent Christian evangelist was burnt to death by his family and local villagers in the Bankura district of India’s eastern state of West Bengal, Christians confirmed Tuesday.
China: Evangelical pastor sentenced to imprisonment for holding worship services
A court in China has sentenced a popular evangelical pastor to 15 months imprisonment for holding “illegal” worship services at his house church, Bitter Winter reports.
31 United Methodist conservative churches want to leave denomination immediately over LGBTQ issues
Thirty-one North Carolina United Methodist Church (UMC) congregations that oppose the denomination’s stance on LGBTQ issues have threatened legal action if they are prevented from exiting the UMC immediately and without having to follow a 2019 approved disaffiliation plan which some churches say is onerous, Religion News Service (RNS) reports.
UN General Assembly moves closer to adopting resolution declaring abortion a ‘human right’
Delegates at the United Nations General Assembly are finalizing negotiations on a resolution that would require all U.N. agencies to declare abortion a human right, reportedly due to pressure from the European Union and the Biden administration.
Drought inflicting ‘severe impacts’ on EU energy production, as Putin tightens squeeze on gas
Ongoing drought is wreaking damage on the European Union's energy generation, its drought agency warned today, just as the bloc braces for power blackouts in winter as Russia squeezes its gas supply.
Nuclear deal moves closer as US says Iran has ‘finally crossed the Rubicon’
Iran has dropped some of its main demands on resurrecting a deal to rein in Tehran's nuclear program, including its insistence that international inspectors close some probes of its atomic program, bringing the possibility of an agreement closer, a senior US official told Reuters on Monday.
Iran suffers another blow as IRGC officer killed in Syria
A high-ranking officer in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps was killed Monday morning during a military operation in Syria, Iranian media outlets reported.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Lavrov condemns ‘dangerous’ Israeli strikes in Syria, as relations with Russia sour
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday condemned “dangerous” Israeli missile strikes in Syria, underscoring the growing chill in Moscow-Jerusalem relations, which have been increasingly strained since Russia invaded Ukraine.
Gantz heads to US, vowing Israel will do ‘everything it can’ to sway Iran deal
As the resurrection of the Iran nuclear deal appears to be imminent, Defense Minister Benny Gantz announced Tuesday that he will travel to the United States for a series of meetings with American defense officials later this week.
Inside the United States
California county saw 70% of criminal suspects released on $0 bail commit new crimes: DA
A California district attorney has found that more than 70% of criminal suspects released on $0 bail between 2020 and 2021 in his county committed new crimes.
‘Once in a Thousand Years’: Dallas Deluged by Massive Rainfall, Flooding
It's being called a "once in a thousand years event" – a slow-moving storm system dumping historic amounts of rain on areas that haven't seen substantial rainfall all summer.
Nearly 2 million students have left public schools since 2020: report
Approximately 2 million students have left public schools since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and subsequent lockdowns led to mandated school closures and students being educated online, according to a recently released report.
US new home sales plunge for sixth straight month to lowest level since 2016
Sales of new U.S. homes plunged more than expected in July to the lowest level in six years as rising mortgage rates and the relentless increase in home values slowed activity by edging prospective homebuyers out of the market.
Christian News
Evangelist Burnt To Death In India
n independent Christian evangelist was burnt to death by his family and local villagers in the Bankura district of India’s eastern state of West Bengal, Christians confirmed Tuesday.
China: Evangelical pastor sentenced to imprisonment for holding worship services
A court in China has sentenced a popular evangelical pastor to 15 months imprisonment for holding “illegal” worship services at his house church, Bitter Winter reports.
31 United Methodist conservative churches want to leave denomination immediately over LGBTQ issues
Thirty-one North Carolina United Methodist Church (UMC) congregations that oppose the denomination’s stance on LGBTQ issues have threatened legal action if they are prevented from exiting the UMC immediately and without having to follow a 2019 approved disaffiliation plan which some churches say is onerous, Religion News Service (RNS) reports.
Around the World
Russia Blames Ukraine For Killing Putin Ally’s Daughter
Russia says Ukraine’s security service killed the daughter of a close ally to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a car bombing near Moscow.
US buys massive shipment of Ukrainian grain for poor countries, other rich countries must follow suit, says WFP chief
The United States has bought some 150,000 metric tons of grain from Ukraine for shipment to countries such as Kenya and Somalia, which have been beset by drought and are facing severe famine, the Associated Press reports.
Ukraine Suspected Of Drone Attack In Crimea
A suspected Ukrainian drone strike targeted Russia's famed Black Sea Fleet in Crimea as Kyiv allegedly stepped up attacks against Russian targets on the peninsula.
Iran must answer to IAEA probe, US says
Iran must respond to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s probe against it, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement that could complicate a quick conclusion of an Iran deal.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Gantz cites parts of Jerusalem as ‘possible’ Palestinian capital
There are places within the Jerusalem area that the Palestinians could consider their capital, Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Monday.
Hezbollah Attack on Israel Gas Field May Spark War With Lebanon, Israel’s Defense Head Warns
Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz warned Monday that an attack on its natural gas assets in the Mediterranean by the Hezbollah organization could spark war with the Iran-backed terrorist group.
As deal looms, Lapid tells Macron Israel ‘will do everything’ to avert nuclear Iran
Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Monday vowed in a conversation with French President Emanuel Macron that Israel would do whatever it takes to head off a nuclear-armed Iran, as the EU said that a meeting to finalize an agreement with Tehran might take place this week.
Inside the United States
America’s Top Doctor Fauci Resigns After Controversies
Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, America’s controversial infectious-disease expert and a key White House adviser during the coronavirus pandemic, plan to step down in December after more than half a century in public service.
Judge Reinhart formally rejects DOJ argument to keep Trump affidavit sealed, calls raid ‘unprecedented’
Judge Bruce Reinhart on Monday admitted the FBI's raid on former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago home was "unprecedented" and formally rejected the Justice Department's argument to keep the affidavit leading to the search under seal, citing the "intense public and historical interest."
Durham loses key prosecutor in case against source of anti-Trump dossier as trial looms
A top prosecutor for special counsel John Durham has withdrawn from the criminal case against Igor Danchenko, who was a source for the anti-Trump Steele dossier, less than two months before the trial is set to begin.
‘In God We Trust’: Texas Law Requiring Public Schools Display National Motto Draws Backlash
Posters featuring the national motto are going up in public schools and colleges across Texas, and that's drawing backlash from several groups who argue the phrase is used to promote Christian nationalism.
Florida Christian School Head Won’t ‘Cower’ to Threats Amid Trans Policy Backlash
A Florida Christian school administrator has received death threats after saying students only would be referred to by their sex assigned at birth, and LGBTQ pupils will be asked to leave.
Christian News
Conservatives split from Australian Anglican church over LGBTQ issues
A contingent of conservatives who oppose same-sex marriage has separated from the Australian Anglican church to launch a new denomination called the Diocese of the Southern Cross, Church Leaders reports.
Nigeria: Islamic terror attacks on Christians continue unabated
Christians in Nigeria continue to be killed and kidnapped by Islamic terrorists, and August 2022 has been another harsh month of attacks and suffering, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Evangelicals called for prayer for end of war in Ukraine on August 24
A call has been issued for evangelicals around the world to join in prayer on August 24 to pray for an end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Christian Today (CT) reports. Organized by the World Evangelical Alliance and by the European Evangelical Alliance, the day of prayer was chosen to coincide with Independence Day in Ukraine.
Worthy Watch
New York Defies Supreme Court With Unconstitutional Gun Permit Laws
New York’s new gun control law takes effect in two weeks. The law turns New York into a giant “gun-free zone.” But it also requires an in-person interview with law enforcement and the sharing of all social media accounts in order to obtain a gun license.
Russia Blames Ukraine For Killing Putin Ally’s Daughter
Russia says Ukraine’s security service killed the daughter of a close ally to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a car bombing near Moscow.
US buys massive shipment of Ukrainian grain for poor countries, other rich countries must follow suit, says WFP chief
The United States has bought some 150,000 metric tons of grain from Ukraine for shipment to countries such as Kenya and Somalia, which have been beset by drought and are facing severe famine, the Associated Press reports.
Ukraine Suspected Of Drone Attack In Crimea
A suspected Ukrainian drone strike targeted Russia's famed Black Sea Fleet in Crimea as Kyiv allegedly stepped up attacks against Russian targets on the peninsula.
Iran must answer to IAEA probe, US says
Iran must respond to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s probe against it, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement that could complicate a quick conclusion of an Iran deal.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Gantz cites parts of Jerusalem as ‘possible’ Palestinian capital
There are places within the Jerusalem area that the Palestinians could consider their capital, Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Monday.
Hezbollah Attack on Israel Gas Field May Spark War With Lebanon, Israel’s Defense Head Warns
Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz warned Monday that an attack on its natural gas assets in the Mediterranean by the Hezbollah organization could spark war with the Iran-backed terrorist group.
As deal looms, Lapid tells Macron Israel ‘will do everything’ to avert nuclear Iran
Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Monday vowed in a conversation with French President Emanuel Macron that Israel would do whatever it takes to head off a nuclear-armed Iran, as the EU said that a meeting to finalize an agreement with Tehran might take place this week.
Inside the United States
America’s Top Doctor Fauci Resigns After Controversies
Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, America’s controversial infectious-disease expert and a key White House adviser during the coronavirus pandemic, plan to step down in December after more than half a century in public service.
Judge Reinhart formally rejects DOJ argument to keep Trump affidavit sealed, calls raid ‘unprecedented’
Judge Bruce Reinhart on Monday admitted the FBI's raid on former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago home was "unprecedented" and formally rejected the Justice Department's argument to keep the affidavit leading to the search under seal, citing the "intense public and historical interest."
Durham loses key prosecutor in case against source of anti-Trump dossier as trial looms
A top prosecutor for special counsel John Durham has withdrawn from the criminal case against Igor Danchenko, who was a source for the anti-Trump Steele dossier, less than two months before the trial is set to begin.
‘In God We Trust’: Texas Law Requiring Public Schools Display National Motto Draws Backlash
Posters featuring the national motto are going up in public schools and colleges across Texas, and that's drawing backlash from several groups who argue the phrase is used to promote Christian nationalism.
Florida Christian School Head Won’t ‘Cower’ to Threats Amid Trans Policy Backlash
A Florida Christian school administrator has received death threats after saying students only would be referred to by their sex assigned at birth, and LGBTQ pupils will be asked to leave.
Christian News
Conservatives split from Australian Anglican church over LGBTQ issues
A contingent of conservatives who oppose same-sex marriage has separated from the Australian Anglican church to launch a new denomination called the Diocese of the Southern Cross, Church Leaders reports.
Nigeria: Islamic terror attacks on Christians continue unabated
Christians in Nigeria continue to be killed and kidnapped by Islamic terrorists, and August 2022 has been another harsh month of attacks and suffering, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Evangelicals called for prayer for end of war in Ukraine on August 24
A call has been issued for evangelicals around the world to join in prayer on August 24 to pray for an end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Christian Today (CT) reports. Organized by the World Evangelical Alliance and by the European Evangelical Alliance, the day of prayer was chosen to coincide with Independence Day in Ukraine.
Worthy Watch
New York Defies Supreme Court With Unconstitutional Gun Permit Laws
New York’s new gun control law takes effect in two weeks. The law turns New York into a giant “gun-free zone.” But it also requires an in-person interview with law enforcement and the sharing of all social media accounts in order to obtain a gun license.