Prophecy News Watch - August 25, 2023
Around the World
Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are among 6 nations set to join China and Russia in BRICS economic bloc
Iran and Saudi Arabia were among six countries set to join Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa in the BRICS economic bloc from next year, the bloc announced Thursday, a move that will likely throw more scrutiny on Beijing’s political influence in the Persian Gulf.
US approves new $500M arms sale to Taiwan as tension from China intensifies
The Biden administration has approved a $500 million arms sale to Taiwan as it ramps up military assistance to the island despite fervent objections from China.
Fukushima wastewater released into the ocean, China bans all Japanese seafood
Japan started releasing treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, a polarising move that prompted China to announce an immediate blanket ban on all aquatic products from Japan.
Russia’s Putin Confirms Death Wagner Boss
Russian President Vladimir Putin broke his silence late Thursday and confirmed the death of Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in a plane crash that also killed all nine other people on board.
Kenya government closes ministry of cult-leader who led more than 400 followers to kill themselves and “meet Jesus”
The government of Kenya on Friday has finally deregistered the ministry of so-called pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie after the cult leader forced more than 400 members of his congregation to starve themselves to death in order to meet Jesus, Religion News Service (RNS) reports. The Kenyan government also banned four other churches on the grounds they were promoting religious extremism.
Ukraine Denies Killing Russia’s Wagner Mercenaries Leader (Worthy News Radio)
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has denied Ukrainian involvement in the reported death of Russia's Wagner mercenary group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin in a plane crash near Moscow. He spoke after Wagner vowed revenge over the death of its leader, who led a brief mutiny in June that shook Russia's military establishment.
Russia Starts Building Hungary’s Nuclear Reactors
A unit of Russia’s nuclear power company Rosatom has begun building new reactors for Hungary’s only nuclear power plant in defiance of European Union criticism.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel-Saudi Arabia normalization ‘likely early next year,’ senior Israeli official says
Israel and Saudi Arabia might establish diplomatic ties as early as “early next year,” a senior Israeli official told Ynet Wednesday night on condition of anonymity, after “progress has been made” in talks between the Saudis and the United States.
Blood-red walls of Roman amphitheater unearthed near ‘Armageddon’ in Israel
Archaeologists in Israel have found a blood-red combat arena at Legio, a massive military base that housed Rome's "ironclad" legion in the second century.
Inside the United States
California Faces Its 2nd-Biggest Fire This Year—Forcing Evacuations
The Smith River Complex wildfire on the California-Oregon border grew to more than 47,000 acres on Wednesday, forcing residents in both states to evacuate as California sees its second biggest wildfire of the 2023 season, even after the southern part of the state was slammed with heavy rain from Tropical Storm Hilary.
Christian legal group campaigns to restore prayer, affirmations of faith to public square
A 2022 Supreme Court ruling allowing a Washington state high school football coach to pray on the field at the end of games is the first step in a nationwide push to return affirmations of faith to the public square, according to the Christian legal group that won the case.
Ex-President Trump Surrenders To County Jail
Donald J. Trump was becoming the first former U.S. president to be fingerprinted and have his mugshot taken as he surrendered to Fulton County jail in Georgia to face charges of trying to overturn his declared 2020 election loss in the state.
CDC: New COVID-19 variant may affect vaccinated or previously infected people more than earlier strains
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported Wednesday that a newly detected COVID-19 variant labeled BA.2.86 may have greater ability than earlier variants to infect people who have been vaccinated against the virus or who have previously been infected by it.
Christian News
Uganda: Evangelist beaten up by Muslims for sharing the Gospel has no regrets, “they heard the Good News of our Savior Jesus Christ”
A Christian evangelist says he has no regrets after Muslim extremists attacked him for teaching on Christ’s divinity at an open-air evangelistic event in eastern Uganda earlier this month, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. At least they heard the Gospel, the preacher said.
Pakistani authorities to compensate Christians whose homes/churches were destroyed by Muslim rioters
Pakistani government officials announced Monday that Christians whose homes were destroyed by Muslim rioters last week will receive compensation of 2 million rupees ($6,800), DW reports. The announcement is a rare act of consideration toward Christians by Pakistani authorities.
Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are among 6 nations set to join China and Russia in BRICS economic bloc
Iran and Saudi Arabia were among six countries set to join Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa in the BRICS economic bloc from next year, the bloc announced Thursday, a move that will likely throw more scrutiny on Beijing’s political influence in the Persian Gulf.
US approves new $500M arms sale to Taiwan as tension from China intensifies
The Biden administration has approved a $500 million arms sale to Taiwan as it ramps up military assistance to the island despite fervent objections from China.
Fukushima wastewater released into the ocean, China bans all Japanese seafood
Japan started releasing treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, a polarising move that prompted China to announce an immediate blanket ban on all aquatic products from Japan.
Russia’s Putin Confirms Death Wagner Boss
Russian President Vladimir Putin broke his silence late Thursday and confirmed the death of Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in a plane crash that also killed all nine other people on board.
Kenya government closes ministry of cult-leader who led more than 400 followers to kill themselves and “meet Jesus”
The government of Kenya on Friday has finally deregistered the ministry of so-called pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie after the cult leader forced more than 400 members of his congregation to starve themselves to death in order to meet Jesus, Religion News Service (RNS) reports. The Kenyan government also banned four other churches on the grounds they were promoting religious extremism.
Ukraine Denies Killing Russia’s Wagner Mercenaries Leader (Worthy News Radio)
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has denied Ukrainian involvement in the reported death of Russia's Wagner mercenary group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin in a plane crash near Moscow. He spoke after Wagner vowed revenge over the death of its leader, who led a brief mutiny in June that shook Russia's military establishment.
Russia Starts Building Hungary’s Nuclear Reactors
A unit of Russia’s nuclear power company Rosatom has begun building new reactors for Hungary’s only nuclear power plant in defiance of European Union criticism.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel-Saudi Arabia normalization ‘likely early next year,’ senior Israeli official says
Israel and Saudi Arabia might establish diplomatic ties as early as “early next year,” a senior Israeli official told Ynet Wednesday night on condition of anonymity, after “progress has been made” in talks between the Saudis and the United States.
Blood-red walls of Roman amphitheater unearthed near ‘Armageddon’ in Israel
Archaeologists in Israel have found a blood-red combat arena at Legio, a massive military base that housed Rome's "ironclad" legion in the second century.
Inside the United States
California Faces Its 2nd-Biggest Fire This Year—Forcing Evacuations
The Smith River Complex wildfire on the California-Oregon border grew to more than 47,000 acres on Wednesday, forcing residents in both states to evacuate as California sees its second biggest wildfire of the 2023 season, even after the southern part of the state was slammed with heavy rain from Tropical Storm Hilary.
Christian legal group campaigns to restore prayer, affirmations of faith to public square
A 2022 Supreme Court ruling allowing a Washington state high school football coach to pray on the field at the end of games is the first step in a nationwide push to return affirmations of faith to the public square, according to the Christian legal group that won the case.
Ex-President Trump Surrenders To County Jail
Donald J. Trump was becoming the first former U.S. president to be fingerprinted and have his mugshot taken as he surrendered to Fulton County jail in Georgia to face charges of trying to overturn his declared 2020 election loss in the state.
CDC: New COVID-19 variant may affect vaccinated or previously infected people more than earlier strains
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported Wednesday that a newly detected COVID-19 variant labeled BA.2.86 may have greater ability than earlier variants to infect people who have been vaccinated against the virus or who have previously been infected by it.
Christian News
Uganda: Evangelist beaten up by Muslims for sharing the Gospel has no regrets, “they heard the Good News of our Savior Jesus Christ”
A Christian evangelist says he has no regrets after Muslim extremists attacked him for teaching on Christ’s divinity at an open-air evangelistic event in eastern Uganda earlier this month, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. At least they heard the Gospel, the preacher said.
Pakistani authorities to compensate Christians whose homes/churches were destroyed by Muslim rioters
Pakistani government officials announced Monday that Christians whose homes were destroyed by Muslim rioters last week will receive compensation of 2 million rupees ($6,800), DW reports. The announcement is a rare act of consideration toward Christians by Pakistani authorities.