Prophecy News Watch - November 2, 2021
Around the World
US in ‘lockstep’ with allies, looking at ‘all options’ on Iran over nuclear deal
The US is in full agreement with its allies on bringing Iran back into compliance with the nuclear deal, including willingness to look at “all of the options necessary” if diplomacy doesn’t work, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday.
Massive gas explosions rock Mexican city, killing one and leveling 30-plus buildings
A gas leak possibly caused by an illegal tap ignited massive explosions in Mexico's Puebla state on Sunday, killing at least one person, injuring 15 and leveling more than 30 buildings.
US flies B-1B bomber over Persian Gulf, Red Sea
The United States has confirmed that on Saturday it flew a B-1B strategic bomber over the Red Sea, and over the Strait of Hormuz between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, Voice of America (VOA) reports. The B-1B Lancer bomber was accompanied by fighter jets from Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, and also flew over Egypt’s Suez Canal.
Christians not leaving Lebanon despite chronic economic and political crises
While hundreds of thousands of Lebanese are leaving their catastrophically unstable country in search of a better life, Lebanon’s Christians are largely choosing to stay, Christianity Today (CT) reports.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
IDF launches surprise reservist drill amid month-long exercise series in north
The Israel Defense Forces launched a surprise readiness exercise on Monday morning, calling up reserve units as part a month-long series of drills in the Northern Command.
‘Israel, Iran engaged in cold war,’ prime minister says
World powers must make sure Iran understands that there would be "serious implications" if it does not relinquish its nuclear ambitions, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said over the weekend.
Inside the United States
9,000 NYC workers on leave as vaccine mandate takes effect
About 9,000 New York City municipal workers were put on unpaid leave for refusing to comply with a COVID-19 vaccine mandate that took effect Monday and thousands of city firefighters have called out sick in an apparent protest over the requirement, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
Supreme Court won’t hear New York abortion funding case
The Supreme Court announced Monday it would not hear a challenge against New York’s requirement that employers provide abortion coverage with health insurance plans.
Supreme Court hears argument on Texas abortion ban, appears sympathetic to abortion provider’s suit
The Supreme Court heard arguments Monday on challenges to the Texas law that bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Following three hours of argument presentation and questioning, a majority of the justices appeared willing to allow abortion providers in Texas to continue their challenge against the state's new law.
Manchin to progressives: ‘Quit playing games’ and let’s pass bipartisan infrastructure bill
West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin on Monday urged House progressives to "quit playing games" and support passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill that's already passed the Senate.
COVID vaccines for children already prepped for shipment, ahead of CDC meeting
The Biden administration has prepared shipments of low-dose COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5-11 ahead of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions final approval, according to reports.
Christian News
China: United Nations committee determines Christians at risk of torture
The United Nations Committee against Torture (CAT) has determined that Christians in China are at risk of being tortured by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) government authorities, religious rights publication Bitter Winter reports.
India: Pastor arrested after Hindus storm his church
A local Christian pastor in India’s Karnataka state was charged with carrying out “malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings" last month, after Hindu militants stormed into his church and called on police to arrest him, Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) reports. Christians in India have been under increasing persecution since the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took power in 2014.
Christians Fleeing Myanmar Stuck In Thailand Jungle
A growing number of Christian refugees fleeing conflict-torn Myanmar are stuck in the jungles of Thailand as they are unable to defend themselves, Christian aid workers say.
Algeria Christian Facing Jail For Evangelism
An Algerian Christian who abandoned Islam will soon hear whether he will face a lengthy prison for charges related to what authorities call “suspicious evangelistic activities.”
US in ‘lockstep’ with allies, looking at ‘all options’ on Iran over nuclear deal
The US is in full agreement with its allies on bringing Iran back into compliance with the nuclear deal, including willingness to look at “all of the options necessary” if diplomacy doesn’t work, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday.
Massive gas explosions rock Mexican city, killing one and leveling 30-plus buildings
A gas leak possibly caused by an illegal tap ignited massive explosions in Mexico's Puebla state on Sunday, killing at least one person, injuring 15 and leveling more than 30 buildings.
US flies B-1B bomber over Persian Gulf, Red Sea
The United States has confirmed that on Saturday it flew a B-1B strategic bomber over the Red Sea, and over the Strait of Hormuz between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, Voice of America (VOA) reports. The B-1B Lancer bomber was accompanied by fighter jets from Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, and also flew over Egypt’s Suez Canal.
Christians not leaving Lebanon despite chronic economic and political crises
While hundreds of thousands of Lebanese are leaving their catastrophically unstable country in search of a better life, Lebanon’s Christians are largely choosing to stay, Christianity Today (CT) reports.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
IDF launches surprise reservist drill amid month-long exercise series in north
The Israel Defense Forces launched a surprise readiness exercise on Monday morning, calling up reserve units as part a month-long series of drills in the Northern Command.
‘Israel, Iran engaged in cold war,’ prime minister says
World powers must make sure Iran understands that there would be "serious implications" if it does not relinquish its nuclear ambitions, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said over the weekend.
Inside the United States
9,000 NYC workers on leave as vaccine mandate takes effect
About 9,000 New York City municipal workers were put on unpaid leave for refusing to comply with a COVID-19 vaccine mandate that took effect Monday and thousands of city firefighters have called out sick in an apparent protest over the requirement, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
Supreme Court won’t hear New York abortion funding case
The Supreme Court announced Monday it would not hear a challenge against New York’s requirement that employers provide abortion coverage with health insurance plans.
Supreme Court hears argument on Texas abortion ban, appears sympathetic to abortion provider’s suit
The Supreme Court heard arguments Monday on challenges to the Texas law that bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Following three hours of argument presentation and questioning, a majority of the justices appeared willing to allow abortion providers in Texas to continue their challenge against the state's new law.
Manchin to progressives: ‘Quit playing games’ and let’s pass bipartisan infrastructure bill
West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin on Monday urged House progressives to "quit playing games" and support passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill that's already passed the Senate.
COVID vaccines for children already prepped for shipment, ahead of CDC meeting
The Biden administration has prepared shipments of low-dose COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5-11 ahead of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions final approval, according to reports.
Christian News
China: United Nations committee determines Christians at risk of torture
The United Nations Committee against Torture (CAT) has determined that Christians in China are at risk of being tortured by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) government authorities, religious rights publication Bitter Winter reports.
India: Pastor arrested after Hindus storm his church
A local Christian pastor in India’s Karnataka state was charged with carrying out “malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings" last month, after Hindu militants stormed into his church and called on police to arrest him, Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) reports. Christians in India have been under increasing persecution since the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took power in 2014.
Christians Fleeing Myanmar Stuck In Thailand Jungle
A growing number of Christian refugees fleeing conflict-torn Myanmar are stuck in the jungles of Thailand as they are unable to defend themselves, Christian aid workers say.
Algeria Christian Facing Jail For Evangelism
An Algerian Christian who abandoned Islam will soon hear whether he will face a lengthy prison for charges related to what authorities call “suspicious evangelistic activities.”