Prophecy News Watch - November 23, 2021
Around the World
Lithuania Allows Taiwan To Establish ‘Embassy’ Despite China’s Outcry
Lithuania has defended its decision to allow Taiwan to open a de facto embassy in the Baltic nation despite an angry response from China.
Austria In Lockdown As Nearby Germany Warns Unvaccinated Of Death
Austria returned to a national lockdown Monday and prepared for forced vaccinations against COVID-19, while in neighboring Germany, the government warned jab hesitant citizens of “death.”
US, Ukraine Scrutinize Russian Troop Buildup as Moscow Dismisses Invasion Fears
Russia’s troop buildup along the Ukrainian border is drawing alarm from U.S. officials who are warning of a potential new invasion. Ukrainian officials estimate 90,000 Russian troops are now positioned along the border and in Russian-controlled parts of eastern Ukraine.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Shin Bet Uncovers, Stymies Huge Hamas Infrastructure, Terror Plan in Judea & Samaria
The Israeli Security Agency (ISA / Shin Bet), in cooperation with the IDF and the Israel Police, uncovered in recent weeks an extensive Hamas infrastructure that was directed by senior Hamas officials abroad and which operated throughout Judea and Samaria in order to perpetrate various attacks – including on a large scale – in Judea and Samaria, and in Jerusalem.
Gantz says he supports a ‘broader, stronger and longer’ Iranian nuclear deal
While the Israeli government opposes the U.S. return to the Iranian nuclear agreement, Defense Minister Benny Gantz said on Sunday he was prepared to give his backing to a “broader, stronger and longer” agreement.
Inside the United States
Cleared Teenage Gunman Condemns Biden For Calling Him White Supremacist
The U.S. teenager who shot and killed two men but was acquitted of all charges has condemned President Joe Biden for calling him a “white supremacist.”
More than 90% of federal workers got COVID-19 shots by Biden deadline, report
More than 90% of federal workers have reportedly received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Monday's deadline set by President Biden.
US: $127.5 Million For Parkland Shooting Families
The U.S. government has reportedly reached a tentative $127.5 million settlement with the families of victims of a 2018 mass shooting at a Florida, high school.
Christian News
South Korea Rejects Asylum Claims Of Chinese Christians
South Korea turned down asylum requests from dozens of Chinese Christians despite fears their deportation to China could mean imprisonment, “forced disappearances and torture,” Christians said.
Pakistan Court Releases Two Christian Nurses
A court in Pakistan has released on bail two Christian nurses charged with “defiling the Koran,” deemed a holy book by Muslims, Christians confirmed.
Egypt: Teachers attack Coptic Christian students in school
The headmaster and other teachers at the Al-Thawra school in Upper Egypt’s Minya Governorate earlier this month ordered their Coptic Christian students to remove any jewelry with a cross, and then beat them, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
India: Hindu nationalists attack congregants in Karnataka state
As Hindu nationalist persecution of Christians in India continues to intensify, on November 14 a mob of Hindu radicals stormed the Mercy Divine Church in Bangalor, Karnataka state, throwing stones and chairs at congregants, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Christian persecution in India has increased dramatically since the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party took power in 2014.
Indonesia: Islamic radicals attack Christian home believing it to be a church
It was only recently reported that Islamic radicals in East Java, Indonesia, attacked and extensively damaged the home of a Protestant Christian man at the end of last month, apparently believing the house to be a church, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has reportedly launched an investigation into the attack.
Wife of American missionary held hostage in Niger pleads with US to honor promise of help
The wife of Jeff Woodke, an American missionary who has been held hostage in Niger for five years, on Wednesday appealed to the US government to honor its promise to keep all options on the table in seeking her husband’s release, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Making her appeal at a press conference in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, Els Woodke also called on the international church for help to finance the rescue effort.
Lithuania Allows Taiwan To Establish ‘Embassy’ Despite China’s Outcry
Lithuania has defended its decision to allow Taiwan to open a de facto embassy in the Baltic nation despite an angry response from China.
Austria In Lockdown As Nearby Germany Warns Unvaccinated Of Death
Austria returned to a national lockdown Monday and prepared for forced vaccinations against COVID-19, while in neighboring Germany, the government warned jab hesitant citizens of “death.”
US, Ukraine Scrutinize Russian Troop Buildup as Moscow Dismisses Invasion Fears
Russia’s troop buildup along the Ukrainian border is drawing alarm from U.S. officials who are warning of a potential new invasion. Ukrainian officials estimate 90,000 Russian troops are now positioned along the border and in Russian-controlled parts of eastern Ukraine.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Shin Bet Uncovers, Stymies Huge Hamas Infrastructure, Terror Plan in Judea & Samaria
The Israeli Security Agency (ISA / Shin Bet), in cooperation with the IDF and the Israel Police, uncovered in recent weeks an extensive Hamas infrastructure that was directed by senior Hamas officials abroad and which operated throughout Judea and Samaria in order to perpetrate various attacks – including on a large scale – in Judea and Samaria, and in Jerusalem.
Gantz says he supports a ‘broader, stronger and longer’ Iranian nuclear deal
While the Israeli government opposes the U.S. return to the Iranian nuclear agreement, Defense Minister Benny Gantz said on Sunday he was prepared to give his backing to a “broader, stronger and longer” agreement.
Inside the United States
Cleared Teenage Gunman Condemns Biden For Calling Him White Supremacist
The U.S. teenager who shot and killed two men but was acquitted of all charges has condemned President Joe Biden for calling him a “white supremacist.”
More than 90% of federal workers got COVID-19 shots by Biden deadline, report
More than 90% of federal workers have reportedly received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Monday's deadline set by President Biden.
US: $127.5 Million For Parkland Shooting Families
The U.S. government has reportedly reached a tentative $127.5 million settlement with the families of victims of a 2018 mass shooting at a Florida, high school.
Christian News
South Korea Rejects Asylum Claims Of Chinese Christians
South Korea turned down asylum requests from dozens of Chinese Christians despite fears their deportation to China could mean imprisonment, “forced disappearances and torture,” Christians said.
Pakistan Court Releases Two Christian Nurses
A court in Pakistan has released on bail two Christian nurses charged with “defiling the Koran,” deemed a holy book by Muslims, Christians confirmed.
Egypt: Teachers attack Coptic Christian students in school
The headmaster and other teachers at the Al-Thawra school in Upper Egypt’s Minya Governorate earlier this month ordered their Coptic Christian students to remove any jewelry with a cross, and then beat them, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
India: Hindu nationalists attack congregants in Karnataka state
As Hindu nationalist persecution of Christians in India continues to intensify, on November 14 a mob of Hindu radicals stormed the Mercy Divine Church in Bangalor, Karnataka state, throwing stones and chairs at congregants, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Christian persecution in India has increased dramatically since the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party took power in 2014.
Indonesia: Islamic radicals attack Christian home believing it to be a church
It was only recently reported that Islamic radicals in East Java, Indonesia, attacked and extensively damaged the home of a Protestant Christian man at the end of last month, apparently believing the house to be a church, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has reportedly launched an investigation into the attack.
Wife of American missionary held hostage in Niger pleads with US to honor promise of help
The wife of Jeff Woodke, an American missionary who has been held hostage in Niger for five years, on Wednesday appealed to the US government to honor its promise to keep all options on the table in seeking her husband’s release, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Making her appeal at a press conference in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, Els Woodke also called on the international church for help to finance the rescue effort.