Prophecy News Watch - May 25, 2016

Today's Breaking News
Around the World
Khamenei: US ‘can’t do a thing’ about our missile program
Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Monday said the United States cannot “do a thing” about the Islamic Republic’s ballistic missile program.
U.S.-backed Syrian alliance launches new attack near Islamic State capital
A U.S.-backed alliance of Syrian militias launched a new offensive against Islamic State fighters near their de facto capital of Raqqa city on Tuesday, a monitoring group and an official said.
Hardliner named to head group that will pick Khamenei's successor
Iran's Assembly of Experts which is responsible for electing and overseeing the work of Iran's supreme leader has chosen hard-liner Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati as its leader.
Bloomberg News: The Secret History of the Iran-Deal 'Echo Chamber'
A network of advocates, experts and messaging specialists the White House says helped it sell the Iran nuclear deal in 2015 actually began to campaign for such an accord four years earlier, before the real negotiations started.
Kurdish forces launch major attack on capital city of ISIL's 'caliphate'
A force of 50,000 Kurdish and Arab fighters have launched a major offensive aimed at driving Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) from its de facto 'capital' of Raqqa, Syria.
Trans Adriatic Pipeline to cut Europe's reliance on Russia for natural gas
If it goes as its backers hope, a newly inaugurated pipeline crossing a half-dozen countries will shore up natural gas supplies in Europe and reduce the Continent's worrying dependence on Russia as its critical supplier.
Blair says defeating Islamic State needs 'proper ground war'
The Islamic State group will be defeated only with a ground war involving Western troops, former British prime minister Tony Blair said Tuesday.
Iran 'Blackmailing' U.S. for Greater Nuke Concessions
The Obama administration is taking steps to aid and please Iran far beyond U.S. commitments under last summer's nuclear accord, according to experts, who warned Tuesday during testimony on Capitol Hill that the White House is becoming 'dangerously close to becoming Iran's trade promotion and business development authority.'

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Egypt seeks to advance own Israeli-Palestinian peace initiaitve
While France has pushing for an international peace summit in Paris in an effort to restart negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, Egypt has been working behind the scenes on its own diplomatic initiative.
Coalition deal reached in overnight negotiations, signing expected today
Representatives of the Likud, Yisrael Beytenu and the Finance Ministry reached an agreement overnight that will enable a signing ceremony on a new coalition deal that was expected to take place on Wednesday morning.
Hamas Plans 13 Public Executions in Gaza Strip
Authorities in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip plan to publicly execute more than a dozen criminals in the coastal enclave, the top judicial figure in the territory said on Sunday.
Palestinian Authority Media Glorify Murderer of U.S. Army Veteran
Official Palestinian Authority media glorified an attacker who murdered 29-year-old U.S. Army veteran Taylor Force and wounded nearly a dozen others in Israel earlier this year.

Inside the United States
State Department sets new single-day record for Syrian refugee approvals
The State Department admitted 80 Syrian refugees on Tuesday and 225 on Monday, setting a single-day record, as President Obama tries to meet his target of 10,000 approvals this year — renewing fears among security analysts who say the administration is cutting corners to meet a political goal.
Judge Rules in California's Open-Bathrooms Fight
President Obama's open-bathrooms campaign already has been taken to court by the state of North Carolina, civil and religious rights organizations, the Alliance Defending Freedom and several schools.
New York City Lets You Choose From 31 Different Gender Identities
Individuals living in New York City can choose from a minimum of 31 different gender identities, many of which allow them to fluctuate between some version or combination of male or female identities.
Season Approaches: U.S. Hits Record 127 Months Since Major Hurricane Strike
With hurricane season set to start next week, Tuesday marks a record 127 months since a major hurricane has made landfall in the continental United States, according to statistics compiled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Hurricane Research Division, which keeps data on all the hurricanes that have struck the U.S. since 1851.
Justice to seek death penalty against Charleston church shooter
Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced Tuesday that the Justice Department would seek the death penalty against Dylann Roof, the suspect in the 2015 shooting at a Charleston, S.C., church.
Obama threatens to veto House D.C. budget bill
The White House is threatening to veto a House bill that would block the District of Columbia government from spending local tax dollars without approval from Congress.
Republicans Take Steps to Impeach IRS Commissioner
Republicans have launched an effort to impeach IRS Commissioner John Koskinen due to alleged misconduct, including failing to comply with a congressional subpoena and allowing emails to be destroyed.

U.S. Politics
Vast majority of GOP lawmakers back Donald Trump
The vast majority of Republicans in both houses of Congress are backing Donald Trump for president, provided that they don't have to use the word "endorse" or call the presumptive Republican nominee by name.
Trump super PAC predicts raising $1 billion
A super PAC supporting Donald Trump for president expects to raise $1 billion for the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, according to a statement released late Tuesday.
Trump wins Washington primary despite delegate dilemma
Donald Trump easily won the Washington primary Tuesday on his way to a likely Republican presidential nomination, with all his opponents on the ballot now out of the race.
Hillary Clinton wins Washington primary
Hillary Clinton won the Democratic primary in Washington state Tuesday, though she technically got no closer to becoming the party's 2016 presidential nominee.

Christian News
Iranian agents detain Christian leaders
Earlier this month, agents from Iran's Ministry of Security raided the homes of Christian leaders in the city of Rasht.
Egypt: Church tent burned down
The tent where an Egyptian Christian congregation had met was set afire and completely destroyed this month by Islamist arsonists.
Franklin Graham: Target CEO in Denial as Stocks Tank $10B Over Transgender Bathroom Policy
The Rev. Franklin Graham says Target CEO Brian Cornell is in denial over the reason for the company's plunging stock prices, insisting that the conservative boycott against the retailer's transgender bathroom policies is playing a key role.