Prophecy News Watch - April 22, 2020

Around the World
Plunge in Oil Prices Could Shake Up Middle East, Russia
A week ago, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies agreed to slash production by 9.7 million barrels, a deal that brought an end to a price war between two of the biggest exporters, Russia and Saudi Arabia.
Coronavirus origins in lab not ruled out by scientific studies
A scientific study recommended by White House medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci pointing to the origin of coronavirus pandemic as a jump from animals to humans also concludes it cannot be ruled out that the virus may have escaped from a laboratory.
Belarus Open Despite Coronavirus Concerns
Schools have reopened in Belarus after an extended spring break linked to the coronavirus outbreak that infected thousands here. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the ex-Soviet nation with an iron fist for more than a quarter-century, ordered classes to resume at the nation's 3,067 schools.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu orders nation-wide lockdown on Independence Day
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the country to go into lockdown for the country's Independence Day scheduled for April 28, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.
Violent anti-Semitic incidents increased by 18% worldwide in 2019
According to a study released Monday, there was an 18% increase in violent anti-Semitic incidents worldwide last year, Israel Hayom reports. Conducted by the Kantor Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry at Tel Aviv University, the study found there were 456 such incidents in 2019, compared to 387 in 2018.

Inside the United States
U.S. approves first coronavirus test that allows self-swab at home
U.S. health regulators on Tuesday OK’d the first coronavirus test that allows people to collect their own sample at home, a new approach that could help expand testing options in most states.
Trump, Congress agree on new stimulus package
President Donald Trump and congressional leaders have agreed on a new, nearly $500 billion stimulus package to help small businesses impacted by stay-at-home orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Poll shows 74% of adults in America fear losing personal freedom to COVID-19
According to a Hill-HarrisX poll published on Monday, 74% of adults in America were concerned about losing personal freedoms to COVID-19. The survey also showed that 83% of respondents were concerned about infection from the coronavirus.
Trump to order temporary suspension on immigration to US
President Trump announced on Monday night that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he will be ordering a temporary suspension on immigration to the US. In a post on Twitter, the President said: 'In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!'

Christian News
New Bible translation scrubs references to Israel
A new Danish Bible omits the word 'Israel' from its pages, publishers claiming the modern nation of Israel and the ancient kingdom of Israel have nothing to do with each other.
Chinese house church begins meeting online, members arrested anyway
The online Easter meeting of an unregistered house church in China was disrupted and six of its members arrested, with the government warning the church of severer measures if it continued to meet.
Muslims irate about Christian conversions in eastern Uganda
Radical Muslims in eastern Uganda attacked the daughter of a Christian evangelist whose witness led a Muslim woman to the Lord, as another former Muslim woman was beaten by her family for her newfound faith.
Indonesia Islamists Break Up House Church
Indonesia's hardline Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) group broke up a house church meeting in the country's West Java province, prompting an angry response from the governor. Video footage obtained by Worthy News showed two men bursting into a home Sunday in Cikarang, 48 kilometers (30 miles) southwest of Jakarta, the nation's capital.