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
Biden: ‘US basketball Star Griner Safe After Release From Russian Jail
U.S. President Joe Biden says American basketball star Brittney Griner is safe and on a plane home from the United Arab Emirates after being released from a Russian jail.
Russia Warns Risk of Conflict With NATO ‘Soaring’
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov warned on Thursday about the "soaring" risks of NATO engaging with Russia over Russian President Vladimir Putin's ongoing war in Ukraine.
Iran Holds First Public Execution Since Mass Demonstrations Rocked Country
The Iranian government executed the first protester involved with the massive human rights demonstrations after Masa Amini was killed by police for not wearing a hijab, according to CNN.
Time Magazine Names Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Person of the Year Despite Controversy
Time Magazine has chosen Ukraine’s wartime President Volodymyr Zelensky as its Person of the Year despite doubts over his democratic credentials.
Biden approves $425 million in arms sales to Taiwan
US President Joe Biden has approved arms sales to Taiwan worth over $425 million amid increased threats toward the island nation from China, the Hill reports.
Germany Detains 25 Suspected Of Plotting To Overthrow Government
German authorities say 25 people have been detained in raids across Germany on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu requests extension for mandate to form coalition
Prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu filed a request to President Isaac Herzog to extend his mandate to form a coalition for an additional two weeks on Thursday evening. Netanyahu's mandate is set to end on Sunday.
Lapid calls on Israelis to protest against Netanyahu’s incoming far-right coalition government
Israel’s outgoing Prime Minister and leader of the Yesh Atid party Yair Lapid has called on Israelis to join this weekend’s organized rallies in protest against incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition government, i24 News reports.
Inside the United States
Second installment of Twitter Files reveals platform’s push to silence conservatives
Twitter maintained a suite of tools to silence conservative viewpoints on the platform, placing talk show hosts, activists and even respected doctors on blacklists to limit the visibility of their accounts, newly released company documents show.
House passes amended same-sex marriage bill, sends it to Biden’s desk
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill codifying same-sex marriage into federal law, sending the measure to President Joe Biden's desk.
House passes defense bill rescinding military’s COVID vaccine mandate
The House on Thursday passed a $858 billion Defense spending bill that include an end to the military's COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Christian News
Thailand Detains Christians, Including Girl Seeking Asylum
There was mounting concern Thursday about the plight of six Pakistani Christian asylum seekers detained in Thailand, including an 11-year-old girl, well-informed Christians told Worthy News.
Myanmar: Child among three killed in military attack on Christian village
Continuing its onslaught against non-Buddhist minority faith groups, the Myanmar military junta killed a seven-year-old child and two other people in an attack on the historic Christian village of Mon Hla in the Sagaing region on November 23, the Barnabas Fund reports.
Biden: ‘US basketball Star Griner Safe After Release From Russian Jail
U.S. President Joe Biden says American basketball star Brittney Griner is safe and on a plane home from the United Arab Emirates after being released from a Russian jail.
Russia Warns Risk of Conflict With NATO ‘Soaring’
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov warned on Thursday about the "soaring" risks of NATO engaging with Russia over Russian President Vladimir Putin's ongoing war in Ukraine.
Iran Holds First Public Execution Since Mass Demonstrations Rocked Country
The Iranian government executed the first protester involved with the massive human rights demonstrations after Masa Amini was killed by police for not wearing a hijab, according to CNN.
Time Magazine Names Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Person of the Year Despite Controversy
Time Magazine has chosen Ukraine’s wartime President Volodymyr Zelensky as its Person of the Year despite doubts over his democratic credentials.
Biden approves $425 million in arms sales to Taiwan
US President Joe Biden has approved arms sales to Taiwan worth over $425 million amid increased threats toward the island nation from China, the Hill reports.
Germany Detains 25 Suspected Of Plotting To Overthrow Government
German authorities say 25 people have been detained in raids across Germany on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu requests extension for mandate to form coalition
Prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu filed a request to President Isaac Herzog to extend his mandate to form a coalition for an additional two weeks on Thursday evening. Netanyahu's mandate is set to end on Sunday.
Lapid calls on Israelis to protest against Netanyahu’s incoming far-right coalition government
Israel’s outgoing Prime Minister and leader of the Yesh Atid party Yair Lapid has called on Israelis to join this weekend’s organized rallies in protest against incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition government, i24 News reports.
Inside the United States
Second installment of Twitter Files reveals platform’s push to silence conservatives
Twitter maintained a suite of tools to silence conservative viewpoints on the platform, placing talk show hosts, activists and even respected doctors on blacklists to limit the visibility of their accounts, newly released company documents show.
House passes amended same-sex marriage bill, sends it to Biden’s desk
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill codifying same-sex marriage into federal law, sending the measure to President Joe Biden's desk.
House passes defense bill rescinding military’s COVID vaccine mandate
The House on Thursday passed a $858 billion Defense spending bill that include an end to the military's COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Christian News
Thailand Detains Christians, Including Girl Seeking Asylum
There was mounting concern Thursday about the plight of six Pakistani Christian asylum seekers detained in Thailand, including an 11-year-old girl, well-informed Christians told Worthy News.
Myanmar: Child among three killed in military attack on Christian village
Continuing its onslaught against non-Buddhist minority faith groups, the Myanmar military junta killed a seven-year-old child and two other people in an attack on the historic Christian village of Mon Hla in the Sagaing region on November 23, the Barnabas Fund reports.
Around the World
Russia’s Putin says Ukraine war could be ‘long process,’ insists he has not ‘gone mad’ on nuclear weapons
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed concern that the threat of nuclear war is rising as his country continues its invasion of Ukraine — a conflict that he said "might be a long process."
Peru swears in new president amid constitutional crisis
Vice President Dina Boluarte was sworn in Wednesday as Peru’s next president after Congress voted out President Pedro Castillo shortly after he dissolved the legislative body.
Iran: Nine people face death penalty for “colluding” with Israel to kill nuclear scientist
Iran’s judiciary has announced that nine defendants are now facing the death penalty after being convicted of “colluding” with Israel to assassinate a top Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh two years ago, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports.
Argentina Vice President Sentenced Over Corruption
Argentina faced more upheaval Wednesday after an Argentine federal court found Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner guilty of corruption.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Likud reports significant progress on way to new government
Prime Minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party announced Monday that the right-wing bloc had submitted all signatures necessary to replace Knesset Speaker Mickey Levy.
Inside the United States
Warnock’s win in Georgia State Runoff over Walker hands Dems 51 seats
Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock defeated Republican challenger Herschel Walker in Georgia's high-stakes Senate runoff election.
Elon Musk fires Twitter’s general counsel for suppression of Hunter Biden story
Elon Musk fired Twitter's general counsel Tuesday following revelations about his alleged role in suppressing the Hunter Biden laptop story on the platform.
Libraries Across the Country Say Yes to Drag Queen Story Time, No to Faith-Based Children’s Book
With a new children's book out that celebrates family, faith, and biblical wisdom, actor-writer-producer Kirk Cameron cannot reach scores of American children or their families in many U.S. cities via the public library system because over 50 public libraries have either outright rejected him or not responded to requests on his behalf.
San Francisco bans use of lethal robots in policing
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday unanimously to reverse its own decision last week to allow police the use of remote-controlled robots equipped with potentially lethal explosives to save lives in extreme circumstances, the Washington Examiner reports.
Christian News
Bipartisan religious freedom commission “outraged” at US failure to add Nigeria and India to list of countries of particular concern
The bipartisan US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has expressed “outrage” over the Biden’s administration’s “inexplicable” decision to keep Nigeria and India off the State Department’s list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) when it added Cuba and Nicaragua to the list on Friday, Christianity Today reports.
Russia’s Putin says Ukraine war could be ‘long process,’ insists he has not ‘gone mad’ on nuclear weapons
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed concern that the threat of nuclear war is rising as his country continues its invasion of Ukraine — a conflict that he said "might be a long process."
Peru swears in new president amid constitutional crisis
Vice President Dina Boluarte was sworn in Wednesday as Peru’s next president after Congress voted out President Pedro Castillo shortly after he dissolved the legislative body.
Iran: Nine people face death penalty for “colluding” with Israel to kill nuclear scientist
Iran’s judiciary has announced that nine defendants are now facing the death penalty after being convicted of “colluding” with Israel to assassinate a top Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh two years ago, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports.
Argentina Vice President Sentenced Over Corruption
Argentina faced more upheaval Wednesday after an Argentine federal court found Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner guilty of corruption.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Likud reports significant progress on way to new government
Prime Minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party announced Monday that the right-wing bloc had submitted all signatures necessary to replace Knesset Speaker Mickey Levy.
Inside the United States
Warnock’s win in Georgia State Runoff over Walker hands Dems 51 seats
Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock defeated Republican challenger Herschel Walker in Georgia's high-stakes Senate runoff election.
Elon Musk fires Twitter’s general counsel for suppression of Hunter Biden story
Elon Musk fired Twitter's general counsel Tuesday following revelations about his alleged role in suppressing the Hunter Biden laptop story on the platform.
Libraries Across the Country Say Yes to Drag Queen Story Time, No to Faith-Based Children’s Book
With a new children's book out that celebrates family, faith, and biblical wisdom, actor-writer-producer Kirk Cameron cannot reach scores of American children or their families in many U.S. cities via the public library system because over 50 public libraries have either outright rejected him or not responded to requests on his behalf.
San Francisco bans use of lethal robots in policing
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday unanimously to reverse its own decision last week to allow police the use of remote-controlled robots equipped with potentially lethal explosives to save lives in extreme circumstances, the Washington Examiner reports.
Christian News
Bipartisan religious freedom commission “outraged” at US failure to add Nigeria and India to list of countries of particular concern
The bipartisan US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has expressed “outrage” over the Biden’s administration’s “inexplicable” decision to keep Nigeria and India off the State Department’s list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) when it added Cuba and Nicaragua to the list on Friday, Christianity Today reports.
Around the World
Putin holds council meeting on domestic security following 3 airbase ‘explosions’
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday called a meeting with his security council to discuss the country's domestic defenses after three airbases saw "explosions" this week.
‘Army May Intervene In Brazil’
Brazil’s military could still intervene to prevent leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from becoming the next president, well-informed sources suggested Tuesday.
Russia: Putin signs law banning all LGBT expression in public life
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a law that effectively prohibits any public expression of LGBT behavior or lifestyle in Russia, Reuters reports.
Indonesia Bans Extramarital Sex
Indonesia's parliament has approved legislation that bans anyone from having extramarital sex and restricts political freedoms in the world’s largest Muslim nation.
Ukraine: Civilians without electricity in deep winter as Russia continues strikes on infrastructure
Electricians in Ukraine are scrambling to restore power to civilians struggling amid freezing conditions after Russia launched a fresh wave of missile strikes against essential Ukrainian infrastructure on December 5, Reuters reported Tuesday.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Gantz orders IDF to prepare for escalation in light of new government
Defense Minister Benny Gantz ordered the IDF to prepare for the possibility of an escalation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in light of ongoing security tensions and the entry of the new government, the defense minister revealed in an interview with Ynet on Tuesday.
IAF, French air force hold joint strike drills over Israel’s skies
Israeli and French aircraft held a joint aerial exercise this week over Israel’s skies that simulated airstrikes and combating aerial threats, the Israeli Air Force said Tuesday.
Saudi Arabia wants to normalize ties with Israel
Saudi Arabia is looking to normalize ties with Israel, although it will be a while before this ever properly manifests, Israeli news outlet i24NEWS reported Tuesday.
Inside the United States
Real ID Deadline Pushed Back Again
The Real ID deadline has been pushed back yet again. The Department of Homeland Security deadline for enforcement will shift back another 24 months, from May 2023 to May 2025, the agency said Monday. After that date, federal agencies like the TSA will no longer accept driver's licenses and other forms of identification that do not meet federal standards.
US Trade Deficit Widens in October on Weak Exports
The U.S. trade deficit widened sharply in October as slowing global demand and a strong dollar weighed on exports.
Christian News
Algeria: Government is persecuting the Church, which continues to grow
While Algeria’s government has now shut down all but a tiny handful of churches in the country, Algerian church leaders say the persecution is causing an increase in the number of new Christians, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Afghanistan: Christians trying to flee the country to escape intense persecution
The US-based aid organization Release International (RI) has reported that Christians in Afghanistan are trying to escape their home country as the ruling Taliban advance a regime of violence against them and other religious minorities, Christian Today (CT) reports.
Putin holds council meeting on domestic security following 3 airbase ‘explosions’
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday called a meeting with his security council to discuss the country's domestic defenses after three airbases saw "explosions" this week.
‘Army May Intervene In Brazil’
Brazil’s military could still intervene to prevent leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from becoming the next president, well-informed sources suggested Tuesday.
Russia: Putin signs law banning all LGBT expression in public life
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a law that effectively prohibits any public expression of LGBT behavior or lifestyle in Russia, Reuters reports.
Indonesia Bans Extramarital Sex
Indonesia's parliament has approved legislation that bans anyone from having extramarital sex and restricts political freedoms in the world’s largest Muslim nation.
Ukraine: Civilians without electricity in deep winter as Russia continues strikes on infrastructure
Electricians in Ukraine are scrambling to restore power to civilians struggling amid freezing conditions after Russia launched a fresh wave of missile strikes against essential Ukrainian infrastructure on December 5, Reuters reported Tuesday.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Gantz orders IDF to prepare for escalation in light of new government
Defense Minister Benny Gantz ordered the IDF to prepare for the possibility of an escalation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in light of ongoing security tensions and the entry of the new government, the defense minister revealed in an interview with Ynet on Tuesday.
IAF, French air force hold joint strike drills over Israel’s skies
Israeli and French aircraft held a joint aerial exercise this week over Israel’s skies that simulated airstrikes and combating aerial threats, the Israeli Air Force said Tuesday.
Saudi Arabia wants to normalize ties with Israel
Saudi Arabia is looking to normalize ties with Israel, although it will be a while before this ever properly manifests, Israeli news outlet i24NEWS reported Tuesday.
Inside the United States
Real ID Deadline Pushed Back Again
The Real ID deadline has been pushed back yet again. The Department of Homeland Security deadline for enforcement will shift back another 24 months, from May 2023 to May 2025, the agency said Monday. After that date, federal agencies like the TSA will no longer accept driver's licenses and other forms of identification that do not meet federal standards.
US Trade Deficit Widens in October on Weak Exports
The U.S. trade deficit widened sharply in October as slowing global demand and a strong dollar weighed on exports.
Christian News
Algeria: Government is persecuting the Church, which continues to grow
While Algeria’s government has now shut down all but a tiny handful of churches in the country, Algerian church leaders say the persecution is causing an increase in the number of new Christians, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Afghanistan: Christians trying to flee the country to escape intense persecution
The US-based aid organization Release International (RI) has reported that Christians in Afghanistan are trying to escape their home country as the ruling Taliban advance a regime of violence against them and other religious minorities, Christian Today (CT) reports.