Prophecy News Watch - January 10, 2023

Around the World
Australia hit by ‘one-in-100-year’ floods as hundreds airlifted to safety
A remote region in Australia's outback has been hit by "one-in-100-year" floods which have forced military aircraft to evacuate residents.
U.S. says return to 2015 Iran nuclear deal not at the top of the agenda
The U.S. State Department has admitted that the Biden administration maintains several backdoor methods of communication with the Iranian regime on multiple issues between the two countries, although it denies that a return to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal is at the top of the agenda.
US approves over $3 billion in new military aid package for Ukraine
The US has approved a further $3.075bn military aid package for Ukraine to continue to resist the Russian invasion, Army-Technology reports. This latest assistance package is the largest America has designated for Ukraine to date.
Brazil Police Regaining Control Over Protests
Brazilian police began regaining control in the capital of Brasília Monday, where thousands of supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro attacked government buildings, including Congress, the presidential palace, and the Supreme Court.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel Rebukes U.N., Palestinian Authority for Emergency Session on Temple Mount
Last week, the United Nations Security Council met in an emergency session following the visit of a prominent minister in Benjamin Netanyahu's new government to Jerusalem's Temple Mount. Israeli leaders claim the emergency meeting was another attempt launched by Palestinians to blame Israel for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israel Removing Palestinian Flags
Israeli-Palestinian tensions rose further Monday after Israel's new National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, instructed police to remove Palestinian flags from public spaces.

Inside the United States
Atheists refute claims abortion bans violate religious freedom
Atheist pro-life advocates are pushing back against lawsuits alleging that state abortion bans and restrictions violate religious freedom and promote a Christian definition of life, saying that the right to practice one's faith does not justify "human rights violations."
U.S. House to vote on rules that will constrain McCarthy’s power
The U.S. House of Representatives will vote on Monday on the rules that will govern it for the next two years, in a first test of newly elected Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy's ability to wrangle his caucus.
House to Vote on Bill Aimed at Slashing $72 Billion From IRS
The House is set to vote on a bill Monday night that would slash billions from the IRS, fulfilling newly elected GOP Speaker Kevin McCarthy's pledge to cut the agency's funding in an effort to prevent audits on Americans.
Pro-Life Pregnancy Center Begins Own Investigation to Find Terrorists Who Firebombed Facility Last Summer
A New York pro-life pregnancy center is launching its own private investigation to find the group of arsonists who firebombed their facility last June.

Christian News
Iran: Pastor re-arrested and imprisoned, no reason given
A pastor in Iran who is serving a six-year prison sentence on account of his religious activity was suddenly re-arrested on December 26 while on officially approved leave from his jail, Article 18 reports.
Uganda: Pastor in critical condition after poisoning by Muslim extremists
A pastor in western Uganda is still fighting for his life in hospital, weeks after he and a couple he had recently led to Christ were poisoned by local Islamic extremists, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Violent attacks by radicalized Islamists against Christians in Uganda are being increasingly reported, although Muslims are a minority group in the country, and Christianity is legal.
Post-pandemic attendance at worship services has significantly declined, report shows
A new report shows that, while religious identity among US adults has remained “mostly stable” since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of Americans who regularly attend worship services has declined significantly, the Washington Times reports. The report was published by the American Enterprise Institute on Thursday.