Prophecy News Watch - December 17, 2021
Around the World
Iran Says IAEA Won’t See Images From Reinstalled Cameras At Nuclear Site Until Sanctions Are Lifted
One day after Iran agreed to reinstall surveillance cameras at one of its nuclear facilities, a spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said that the UN's atomic watchdog will not be able to examine images from the cameras until sanctions are lifted.
U.S. imposes sanctions against China over abuse of Uyghurs
The Biden administration said Thursday it is imposing new sanctions on several Chinese biotech and surveillance companies and government entities for actions in Xinjiang province, the latest step against Beijing over human rights abuses of Uyghur Muslims in the country’s western region.
IMF Warns of Interest Rate Risks as Global Debt Surges to Record $226 Trillion
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned of interest rate risks with regard to the growing mountain of global debt, which jumped to a record $226 trillion in 2020 as governments unleashed unprecedented waves of stimulus spending to blunt the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic recession.
Mozambique: Many of 600 women and girls abducted and enslaved by ISIS-affiliate are still missing
A terrorist group linked to Islamic State (ISIS) has abducted and enslaved over 600 women and girls in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province since 2018, and many of the abductees are still missing, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports.
Missionaries Urge Prayers As Haiti’s Petrol Blast Kills 75
Christian missionaries appealed for prayers as the death toll of northern Haiti’s petrol tanker explosion rose to at least 75 people.
Five Kids Die In Australia’ Jump Castle Tragedy
Five children have died, and three others are in a critical condition after strong winds picked up the inflatable jumping castle they were playing on in Australia’s island state of Tasmania, authorities say.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Iranian Newspaper Publishes Map of Israel Dotted With Presumed Missile Targets
At a time of tension over troubled talks about Iran’s nuclear program, a pro-regime newspaper on Wednesday published a map of Israel covered in markers – presumably meant to symbolize missile targets – and a warning that Iran is “more than capable of hitting them [Israelis] from anywhere.”
Inside the United States
FDA broadens access to abortion pills
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday expanded access to the abortion pill mifepristone, allowing patients to obtain it by mail instead of requiring in-person visits with specific health care providers.
Army says nearly 98% got the COVID-19 vaccine by deadline
Nearly 98% of the active duty Army had gotten at least one dose of the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine as of this week’s deadline for the shots, but more than 3,800 soldiers flatly refused and could start being removed from the military next month, officials said Thursday.
Christian News
North Korea Executes 7 For Watching South Korean Videos; Christians Concerned (Worthy News In-Depth)
North Korea executed at least seven people for “watching or distributing South Korean videos," including popular music, known as K-pop, according to a report obtained by Worthy News.
‘We Glorify God for Answered Prayer!’ All Missionary Hostages Finally Freed in Haiti
A Haitian police spokesman announced Thursday that a kidnapping gang has finally released all remaining hostages from an Ohio-based missionary group. He gave no immediate details.
CA Church Still in Court After County Slapped Them with $2.8M in COVID Fines
Santa Clara County, California is still defying a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, targeting a San Jose church and its pastor with massive fines for holding church services in 2020 during the pandemic.
New Report Details North Korea Regime Starves, Tortures Christians
A new report by human rights organization Korea Future attests that the North Korean communist regime uses imprisonment, torture, and starvation to persecute Christians, Christian Today (CT) reports. North Korea ranks one on the US Open Doors Watch List 2021 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.
Sri Lankan Businessman Lynched To Death In Pakistan (Worthy News In-depth)
Pakistani police say they have detained seven "prime actors" in the horrific killing of a Sri Lankan businessman lynched and burned by an angry Muslim mob over alleged "blasphemy" against Islam.
Iran Says IAEA Won’t See Images From Reinstalled Cameras At Nuclear Site Until Sanctions Are Lifted
One day after Iran agreed to reinstall surveillance cameras at one of its nuclear facilities, a spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said that the UN's atomic watchdog will not be able to examine images from the cameras until sanctions are lifted.
U.S. imposes sanctions against China over abuse of Uyghurs
The Biden administration said Thursday it is imposing new sanctions on several Chinese biotech and surveillance companies and government entities for actions in Xinjiang province, the latest step against Beijing over human rights abuses of Uyghur Muslims in the country’s western region.
IMF Warns of Interest Rate Risks as Global Debt Surges to Record $226 Trillion
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned of interest rate risks with regard to the growing mountain of global debt, which jumped to a record $226 trillion in 2020 as governments unleashed unprecedented waves of stimulus spending to blunt the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic recession.
Mozambique: Many of 600 women and girls abducted and enslaved by ISIS-affiliate are still missing
A terrorist group linked to Islamic State (ISIS) has abducted and enslaved over 600 women and girls in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province since 2018, and many of the abductees are still missing, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports.
Missionaries Urge Prayers As Haiti’s Petrol Blast Kills 75
Christian missionaries appealed for prayers as the death toll of northern Haiti’s petrol tanker explosion rose to at least 75 people.
Five Kids Die In Australia’ Jump Castle Tragedy
Five children have died, and three others are in a critical condition after strong winds picked up the inflatable jumping castle they were playing on in Australia’s island state of Tasmania, authorities say.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Iranian Newspaper Publishes Map of Israel Dotted With Presumed Missile Targets
At a time of tension over troubled talks about Iran’s nuclear program, a pro-regime newspaper on Wednesday published a map of Israel covered in markers – presumably meant to symbolize missile targets – and a warning that Iran is “more than capable of hitting them [Israelis] from anywhere.”
Inside the United States
FDA broadens access to abortion pills
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday expanded access to the abortion pill mifepristone, allowing patients to obtain it by mail instead of requiring in-person visits with specific health care providers.
Army says nearly 98% got the COVID-19 vaccine by deadline
Nearly 98% of the active duty Army had gotten at least one dose of the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine as of this week’s deadline for the shots, but more than 3,800 soldiers flatly refused and could start being removed from the military next month, officials said Thursday.
Christian News
North Korea Executes 7 For Watching South Korean Videos; Christians Concerned (Worthy News In-Depth)
North Korea executed at least seven people for “watching or distributing South Korean videos," including popular music, known as K-pop, according to a report obtained by Worthy News.
‘We Glorify God for Answered Prayer!’ All Missionary Hostages Finally Freed in Haiti
A Haitian police spokesman announced Thursday that a kidnapping gang has finally released all remaining hostages from an Ohio-based missionary group. He gave no immediate details.
CA Church Still in Court After County Slapped Them with $2.8M in COVID Fines
Santa Clara County, California is still defying a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, targeting a San Jose church and its pastor with massive fines for holding church services in 2020 during the pandemic.
New Report Details North Korea Regime Starves, Tortures Christians
A new report by human rights organization Korea Future attests that the North Korean communist regime uses imprisonment, torture, and starvation to persecute Christians, Christian Today (CT) reports. North Korea ranks one on the US Open Doors Watch List 2021 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.
Sri Lankan Businessman Lynched To Death In Pakistan (Worthy News In-depth)
Pakistani police say they have detained seven "prime actors" in the horrific killing of a Sri Lankan businessman lynched and burned by an angry Muslim mob over alleged "blasphemy" against Islam.