Prophecy News Watch - July 24, 2020

Around the World
China orders US to close Chengdu consulate as spying spat worsens
China on Friday ordered the United States to close its consulate in the western city of Chengdu, in retaliation for the closure of China's Houston consulate earlier this week.
The US and UK find commonality on China
China was among a range of topics discussed by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in London Tuesday, VOA News reports. Pompeo arrived for talks only days after Johnson finally decided to exclude Chinese tech giant Huawei from developing the UK’s 5G phone network, a move Washington has been exhorting for some time.
US-Canada border to remain closed for another month
Because of the number of COVID-19 cases in the US, American and Canadian officials have agreed to keep the border between the two nations closed to all except commercial and essential traffic for another month. Two recent surveys have shown that a large majority of Canadians support the continued closure of the border, VOA News reported Tuesday.
Trump, Putin discuss arms control, Iran nukes in phone call
President Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday about arms control and recovering their economies from the coronavirus pandemic.
German States Ask Congress Not to Remove U.S. Troops
The leaders of four German states wrote to Congress asking for a halt to Washington's troop withdrawal plan from the country, Reuters reported Sunday.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel Sends Troops to Lebanon Border Amid Threat of Hezbollah Attack
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Thursday beefed up defenses on the country's northern border with Lebanon in anticipation of a potential attack after Hezbollah accused Israel of killing one of its fighters during an alleged air raid in Syria on Monday.
Israel Uncovers Major Archaeological Find from the Times of King Hezekiah, Manasseh
Just a few miles away from Jerusalem’s Old City, archaeologists have unearthed an administrative storage center from the time of Kings Hezekiah and Manasseh about 2,700 years ago.


Inside the United States
Declassified FBI documents show briefing to Trump and Flynn used as pretext to investigate campaign
Declassified FBI documents show the counterintelligence briefing the bureau gave to Donald Trump and his national security team during the 2016 campaign was used as a pretext to gather investigative evidence on the Trump campaign and retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn.
Judge Issues Restraining Order Against Federal Agents in Portland
A judge has issued a restraining order against federal agents deployed in Portland, Oregon, who U.S. President Donald Trump said he sent to protect federal property against anti-police and anti-racism protesters.
Trump cancels Jacksonville, Florida, convention
President Trump has called off the Florida portion of the 2020 Republican National Convention.
Police: Crowd smashes windows, sets fires in Seattle
A group of about 150 people broke windows, stole from businesses and and started a pair of fires in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood Wednesday night, authorities said.

Christian News
Revival in Iran as thousands of Muslims turn to Christ
Thousands of Iranian Muslims have left Islam and have put their faith in Jesus Christ since the COVID-19 pandemic hit Iran in March, CBN News reports.
Americans’ Bible engagement dramatically declining amid COVID-19: survey
The coronavirus pandemic has affected Americans’ Bible engagement, with the number of U.S. adults who read Scripture declining drastically amid the outbreak, a recent study found.