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
Locust Devastating Much of India
Authorities in India say the nation is facing its worst swarm of locust on record, amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Pompeo: Hong Kong No Longer Warrants Special Treatment Compared to Mainland China
On Thursday, China’s legislature passed national security, anti-sedition laws that will affect Hong Kong in such a way as to suppress protests against the central government. In anticipation of the widely publicized move, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said yesterday that Hong Kong “does not continue to warrant” special US treatment as compared to mainland China.
US Clamps Down on Waivers Tied to Iran's Nuclear Cooperation
The Trump administration announced Wednesday it is ending nearly all of the last vestiges of U.S. sanctions relief provided under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israeli Research Institute says Drugs used for Gaucher’s Disease May Prove Effective Against COVID-19
An Israeli research institute has said that two medicines used to treat Gaucher’s disease could also be used to treat COVID-19, CBN News reported on May 27. Scientists at the Ministry of Defense-run Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR) have said Cerdelga, which has already been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and Venglustat, which is in the process of approval, appear to inhibit viruses.
PLO Confirms it is Ending All Agreements With Israel, Including on Security
In response to Israeli plans to annex parts of the West Bank, on Wednesday Palestinian leaders reconfirmed their decision to terminate all agreements and security cooperation with the Israeli and US governments, the Jerusalem Post reported.
Hezbollah’s Nasrallah rejects US pressure to beef up role of UN peacekeepers
The head of the Lebanese Shiite terror group Hezbollah on Tuesday rejected a US request to empower a UN peacekeeping force patrolling the border with Israel.
Inside the United States
Trump signs ‘Never Again’ Holocaust education bill into law
US President Donald Trump signed into law on Thursday legislation to allocate $10 million in federal funding over the next five years to further Holocaust education.
U.S. economy shrank at 5% annual rate in the first quarter
The U.S. economy shrank at an even faster pace than initially estimated in the first three months of this year with economists continuing to expect a far worse outcome in the current April-June quarter.
Big Bankruptcies Sweep the U.S. in Fastest Pace Since May 2009
In the first few weeks of the pandemic, it was just a trickle: companies like Alaskan airline Ravn Air pushed into bankruptcy as travel came to a halt, and markets collapsed. But the financial distress wrought by the shutdowns only deepened, producing what is now a wave of insolvencies washing through America’s corporations.
Trump Orders Social Media Review
U.S. President Donald Trump wants to order a review of a law protecting internet giants such as Google, Twitter, and Facebook amid concerns that social media are limiting access to Christian and conservative opinions.
Christian News
Uganda Muslim Father Burns Daughter Over Christian Conversion
Christians remained concerned Thursday about the plight of a young woman in Uganda who was reportedly burned by her father for converting to Christianity.
Locust Devastating Much of India
Authorities in India say the nation is facing its worst swarm of locust on record, amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Pompeo: Hong Kong No Longer Warrants Special Treatment Compared to Mainland China
On Thursday, China’s legislature passed national security, anti-sedition laws that will affect Hong Kong in such a way as to suppress protests against the central government. In anticipation of the widely publicized move, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said yesterday that Hong Kong “does not continue to warrant” special US treatment as compared to mainland China.
US Clamps Down on Waivers Tied to Iran's Nuclear Cooperation
The Trump administration announced Wednesday it is ending nearly all of the last vestiges of U.S. sanctions relief provided under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israeli Research Institute says Drugs used for Gaucher’s Disease May Prove Effective Against COVID-19
An Israeli research institute has said that two medicines used to treat Gaucher’s disease could also be used to treat COVID-19, CBN News reported on May 27. Scientists at the Ministry of Defense-run Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR) have said Cerdelga, which has already been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and Venglustat, which is in the process of approval, appear to inhibit viruses.
PLO Confirms it is Ending All Agreements With Israel, Including on Security
In response to Israeli plans to annex parts of the West Bank, on Wednesday Palestinian leaders reconfirmed their decision to terminate all agreements and security cooperation with the Israeli and US governments, the Jerusalem Post reported.
Hezbollah’s Nasrallah rejects US pressure to beef up role of UN peacekeepers
The head of the Lebanese Shiite terror group Hezbollah on Tuesday rejected a US request to empower a UN peacekeeping force patrolling the border with Israel.
Inside the United States
Trump signs ‘Never Again’ Holocaust education bill into law
US President Donald Trump signed into law on Thursday legislation to allocate $10 million in federal funding over the next five years to further Holocaust education.
U.S. economy shrank at 5% annual rate in the first quarter
The U.S. economy shrank at an even faster pace than initially estimated in the first three months of this year with economists continuing to expect a far worse outcome in the current April-June quarter.
Big Bankruptcies Sweep the U.S. in Fastest Pace Since May 2009
In the first few weeks of the pandemic, it was just a trickle: companies like Alaskan airline Ravn Air pushed into bankruptcy as travel came to a halt, and markets collapsed. But the financial distress wrought by the shutdowns only deepened, producing what is now a wave of insolvencies washing through America’s corporations.
Trump Orders Social Media Review
U.S. President Donald Trump wants to order a review of a law protecting internet giants such as Google, Twitter, and Facebook amid concerns that social media are limiting access to Christian and conservative opinions.
Christian News
Uganda Muslim Father Burns Daughter Over Christian Conversion
Christians remained concerned Thursday about the plight of a young woman in Uganda who was reportedly burned by her father for converting to Christianity.
Around the World
Britain calls on EU to 'evolve' in post-Brexit talks
The United Kingdom’s chief negotiator with the European Union following Brexit called on the bloc to “evolve” in order to make progress in key talks.
Russia Intercepts U.S. Navy Aircraft Rising Tensions
Two Russian fighter planes intercepted a U.S. Navy aircraft over the Eastern Mediterranean amid rising military tensions between the two superpowers, footage seen by Worthy News showed.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Palestinians Warn Israel Of "Serious Consequences" Over West Bank Annexation
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) warned Israel on Wednesday of "serious consequences," if the Jewish state continues its attempts to annex parts of the West Bank and Jordan Valley. "There would be consequences for this measure on the economic and political Palestinian-Israeli relationship," said PLO Secretary-General Saeb Erekat.
Iran’s president orders implementation of law banning all use of Israeli tech
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday issued an executive order requiring the implementation of a law passed last week that bars any cooperation with Israel, including the use of Israeli software and hardware.
European Leaders Asked Netanyahu Not to Annex Parts of the West Bank Unilaterally
A number of European heads of state recently wrote to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asking him not to proceed with plans for unilateral annexation of parts of the West Bank, Israel’s Channel 13 reported Tuesday. French President Emmanuel Macron made the request of Netanyahu “in a spirit of friendship.”
Inside the United States
Justice Department Slams Nevada Governor for 'Unequal' Treatment of Churches in Reopening Guidelines
The Justice Department criticized Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak for treating churches "unequally" in his guidelines for reopening states.
Protestors Demand Justice in Minneapolis for George Floyd who Died After Arrest by Four Police Officers
Hundreds took to the streets of Minneapolis, Minnesota Tuesday, demanding justice for George Floyd who died Monday after being arrested by police officers and pinned to the ground by his neck. Four police officers have been fired in connection with the death and a state agent and FBI investigation is pending, Sky News reports.
Christian News
Christian Families in India Threatened with Death if They do not Reconvert to Animism
Sixteen Christian families from a church in India’s Jharkhand were physically threatened every night for nearly three weeks by gangs of animist worshippers demanding they reconvert to the Sarna religion, Morning Star News reported on May 26. The families (around 130 people) have ancestral connections to the religion, whose followers worship a god called Dharmes.
Eritrea Online Protest Targets Massive Detention of Christians (Worthy News In-depth)
Leading rights groups and church officials will hold Thursday their annual protest and prayer vigil against the reported massive persecution of Christians in Eritrea for the first time online, amid ongoing coronavirus lockdown restrictions in Britain.
Brother-in-Law of Christian Asia Bibi Killed in Pakistan
The brother-in-law of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who faced the death penalty for “blasphemy” against Islam, has been killed, local Christians confirmed Wednesday.
Britain calls on EU to 'evolve' in post-Brexit talks
The United Kingdom’s chief negotiator with the European Union following Brexit called on the bloc to “evolve” in order to make progress in key talks.
Russia Intercepts U.S. Navy Aircraft Rising Tensions
Two Russian fighter planes intercepted a U.S. Navy aircraft over the Eastern Mediterranean amid rising military tensions between the two superpowers, footage seen by Worthy News showed.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Palestinians Warn Israel Of "Serious Consequences" Over West Bank Annexation
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) warned Israel on Wednesday of "serious consequences," if the Jewish state continues its attempts to annex parts of the West Bank and Jordan Valley. "There would be consequences for this measure on the economic and political Palestinian-Israeli relationship," said PLO Secretary-General Saeb Erekat.
Iran’s president orders implementation of law banning all use of Israeli tech
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday issued an executive order requiring the implementation of a law passed last week that bars any cooperation with Israel, including the use of Israeli software and hardware.
European Leaders Asked Netanyahu Not to Annex Parts of the West Bank Unilaterally
A number of European heads of state recently wrote to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asking him not to proceed with plans for unilateral annexation of parts of the West Bank, Israel’s Channel 13 reported Tuesday. French President Emmanuel Macron made the request of Netanyahu “in a spirit of friendship.”
Inside the United States
Justice Department Slams Nevada Governor for 'Unequal' Treatment of Churches in Reopening Guidelines
The Justice Department criticized Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak for treating churches "unequally" in his guidelines for reopening states.
Protestors Demand Justice in Minneapolis for George Floyd who Died After Arrest by Four Police Officers
Hundreds took to the streets of Minneapolis, Minnesota Tuesday, demanding justice for George Floyd who died Monday after being arrested by police officers and pinned to the ground by his neck. Four police officers have been fired in connection with the death and a state agent and FBI investigation is pending, Sky News reports.
Christian News
Christian Families in India Threatened with Death if They do not Reconvert to Animism
Sixteen Christian families from a church in India’s Jharkhand were physically threatened every night for nearly three weeks by gangs of animist worshippers demanding they reconvert to the Sarna religion, Morning Star News reported on May 26. The families (around 130 people) have ancestral connections to the religion, whose followers worship a god called Dharmes.
Eritrea Online Protest Targets Massive Detention of Christians (Worthy News In-depth)
Leading rights groups and church officials will hold Thursday their annual protest and prayer vigil against the reported massive persecution of Christians in Eritrea for the first time online, amid ongoing coronavirus lockdown restrictions in Britain.
Brother-in-Law of Christian Asia Bibi Killed in Pakistan
The brother-in-law of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who faced the death penalty for “blasphemy” against Islam, has been killed, local Christians confirmed Wednesday.
Around the World
U.S. Accuses Russia Of Sending Jets To Libya To Support Mercenaries
The United States says Moscow has deployed military jets to Libya to provide support for Russian mercenaries helping a local warlord battle the North African country's internationally recognized government.
Trump's Space Force could be a gamechanger for the Middle East - experts
If war is coming to outer space, then the United States is late to the battlefield. But, its recently unveiled Space Force is already changing the ground rules in the Middle East.
US military holds live-fire training in Persian Gulf following Iran encounters
The U.S. military showcased its "awesome firepower" last week in the Persian Gulf, officials said, the same day it warned vessels in the Mideast against approaching within 100 yards of its warships after encounters with Iranian gunboats.
Spain Opens For Tourists After Tough Lockdown
European nations are slowly ending lengthy lockdown measures linked to the coronavirus pandemic, including hard-hit Spain. While still mourning its reported 28,000 coronavirus deaths, Spain wants to ease restrictions and reopen for massive tourism.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu: Target date for applying sovereignty is July 1
A day after his trial began in the Jerusalem District Court, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a message to the press at a faction meeting of his Likud party.
Israel limits controversial phone surveillance as virus cases decline
Israeli government on Monday voted to limit security services' involvement in locating coronavirus carriers using cell phones, saying from now on the measure would only be used when epidemiological investigations prove insufficient.
Iran’s Leader says 'Liberation of Palestine' is an Islamic Goal
Describing Israel as a “deadly, cancerous growth,” Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei announced Friday that the “liberation of Palestine” is an Islamic goal, Jerusalem Online reported. The Ayatollah was speaking on the occasion of International Quds Day, a yearly anti-Israel, anti-Zionist event established by the Iranian regime in 1979 to express support for the Palestinian cause.
Inside the United States
U.S.Stock Surge Despite Virus Pandemic
There were two realities in the United States Tuesday with stocks on Wall Street surging to their highest levels in two months while Main Street suffered due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump: ‘I Will Override Any Governor That Wants to Play Games’ on Reopening Churches
When asked what authority he had in mind when threatening to overrule governors on reopening houses of worship, President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he “can absolutely do it” if he wants to.
House GOP to sue Democrats to block new proxy voting plan
House Republicans will sue Democrats to block a plan to permit proxy voting on the House floor, aides to Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced Tuesday.
Christian News
Sudan to Establish Commission for Religious Freedom
Sudan’s transitional government agreed last week to establish an independent national commission for religious freedom, The Christian Post reported. Together with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) group which fought against ousted dictator Omar al-Bashir, the Transitional Sovereign Council is forming the commission in order to “address all issues relating to religious freedom in order to affirm the principle of peaceful coexistence in the country.”
California Allows Limited Reopening for Churches Days After Interventions by US State Department and President Trump
The state of California issued guidelines Monday under which houses of worship may reopen. The Department of Health guidelines were published even though the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s COVID-19 ban on public gatherings could stand. The decision to allow churches to reopen also follows interventions last week by the US State Department, which specified that California’s ban on church gatherings was unfair, and by President Trump, who called on all states to lift bans on religious assemblies.
U.S. Accuses Russia Of Sending Jets To Libya To Support Mercenaries
The United States says Moscow has deployed military jets to Libya to provide support for Russian mercenaries helping a local warlord battle the North African country's internationally recognized government.
Trump's Space Force could be a gamechanger for the Middle East - experts
If war is coming to outer space, then the United States is late to the battlefield. But, its recently unveiled Space Force is already changing the ground rules in the Middle East.
US military holds live-fire training in Persian Gulf following Iran encounters
The U.S. military showcased its "awesome firepower" last week in the Persian Gulf, officials said, the same day it warned vessels in the Mideast against approaching within 100 yards of its warships after encounters with Iranian gunboats.
Spain Opens For Tourists After Tough Lockdown
European nations are slowly ending lengthy lockdown measures linked to the coronavirus pandemic, including hard-hit Spain. While still mourning its reported 28,000 coronavirus deaths, Spain wants to ease restrictions and reopen for massive tourism.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu: Target date for applying sovereignty is July 1
A day after his trial began in the Jerusalem District Court, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a message to the press at a faction meeting of his Likud party.
Israel limits controversial phone surveillance as virus cases decline
Israeli government on Monday voted to limit security services' involvement in locating coronavirus carriers using cell phones, saying from now on the measure would only be used when epidemiological investigations prove insufficient.
Iran’s Leader says 'Liberation of Palestine' is an Islamic Goal
Describing Israel as a “deadly, cancerous growth,” Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei announced Friday that the “liberation of Palestine” is an Islamic goal, Jerusalem Online reported. The Ayatollah was speaking on the occasion of International Quds Day, a yearly anti-Israel, anti-Zionist event established by the Iranian regime in 1979 to express support for the Palestinian cause.
Inside the United States
U.S.Stock Surge Despite Virus Pandemic
There were two realities in the United States Tuesday with stocks on Wall Street surging to their highest levels in two months while Main Street suffered due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump: ‘I Will Override Any Governor That Wants to Play Games’ on Reopening Churches
When asked what authority he had in mind when threatening to overrule governors on reopening houses of worship, President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he “can absolutely do it” if he wants to.
House GOP to sue Democrats to block new proxy voting plan
House Republicans will sue Democrats to block a plan to permit proxy voting on the House floor, aides to Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced Tuesday.
Christian News
Sudan to Establish Commission for Religious Freedom
Sudan’s transitional government agreed last week to establish an independent national commission for religious freedom, The Christian Post reported. Together with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) group which fought against ousted dictator Omar al-Bashir, the Transitional Sovereign Council is forming the commission in order to “address all issues relating to religious freedom in order to affirm the principle of peaceful coexistence in the country.”
California Allows Limited Reopening for Churches Days After Interventions by US State Department and President Trump
The state of California issued guidelines Monday under which houses of worship may reopen. The Department of Health guidelines were published even though the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s COVID-19 ban on public gatherings could stand. The decision to allow churches to reopen also follows interventions last week by the US State Department, which specified that California’s ban on church gatherings was unfair, and by President Trump, who called on all states to lift bans on religious assemblies.