Prophecy News Watch provided by Worthy Ministries

Prophecy News Watch is a service hosted by Worthy Ministries to provide Christians daily news from a Biblical, and yet Prophetic worldview. Our news is gathered by our Christian News Service, Worthy News. For more about our vision for how we assemble our daily headlines, please read, "What is Worthy News?"

Around the World
Syria: Chemical weapons experts await UN security team clearance to enter Douma
Syria's UN ambassador told the United Nations Security Council Tuesday that a UN security team traveled to the town of Douma, outside the capital Damascus, to ascertain whether it was safe for global chemical weapons experts to visit the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack last week that killed dozens.
Mike Pompeo secretly met with Kim Jong-un to set up Trump meeting
CIA Director Mike Pompeo met secretly with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in recent weeks to set up a meeting between Mr. Kim and President Trump, two administration officials said Tuesday.
Russia Sees No Need for U.N. Inquiry Into Syria Toxic Gas Attacks
Russia told the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday there was no point establishing a new inquiry to determine blame for chemical weapons attacks in Syria because the United States and its allies had already acted as judge and executioner.
Miniature human brain implants survive, grow inside mice for months
Miniature human brains, or human brain organoids, can survive and grow after being implanted in the skulls of mice. It's the first time human cerebral organoids have been installed inside another species.
Kudlow tamps down possibility of U.S. rejoining Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal
White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow on Tuesday downplayed the likelihood of the U.S. rejoining the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, saying the request by President Trump is more of a 'thought than a policy' right now.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel hints it could hit Iran's 'air force' in Syria
Israel released details on Tuesday about what it described as an Iranian 'air force' deployed in neighboring Syria, including civilian planes suspected of transferring arms, a signal that these could be attacked should tensions with Tehran escalate.
Thousands attend Israeli-Palestinian Remembrance Day ceremony amid threats
Almost 7,000 people attended the joint Israeli-Palestinian memorial ceremony held at the Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv Tuesday night.

Inside the United States
As GOP balks, McConnell shuts down bill to protect Mueller
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday thwarted a bipartisan effort to protect special counsel Robert Mueller’s job, saying he will not hold a floor vote on the legislation even if it is approved next week in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Supreme Court makes it harder to deport legal immigrants who commit crimes
The Supreme Court on Tuesday created a new deportation 'loophole' for legal immigrants, ruling that the federal law mandating removal for those convicted of violent felonies is unconstitutionally 'vague.'
New York City mice carry life-threatening superbugs, viruses, study finds
Rats may be the biggest rodents to plague New York City, but they may not be the germiest. Researchers recently made a disturbing discovery after studying mice in apartment buildings across the city in the past year: they're covered in disease-causing bacteria.
FEC hit with lawsuit over ignoring civil complaint accusing Clinton, DNC in election scheme
The Hillary Clinton Campaign and the Democratic National Committee allegedly used state chapters as strawmen to launder as much as $84 million in an effort to circumvent campaign donation limits, and the Federal Election Commission ignored complaints exposing the practice, a lawsuit filed Monday claims.
Cruz Introduces Legislation to Make Individual Tax Cuts Permanent
Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) introduced comprehensive legislation Tuesday that would make the lowered individual tax rates included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent.
Barbara Bush, wife and mother of U.S. presidents, dies at 92
Former US first lady Barbara Bush, the only woman to see her husband and son both sworn in as president, died on Tuesday, the Bush family said. She was 92.
Judge in Michael Cohen’s case officiated George Soros’ wedding
Federal Judge Kimba Wood, who is overseeing the court case against Donald Trump’s personal attorney, Michael Cohen, officiated the 2013 wedding of George Soros, a billionaire supporter of liberal political causes, according to news reports at that time.

Christian News
Trump Tweets support for American pastor on trial in Turkey
U.S. President Donald Trump voiced his support on Tuesday for Pastor Andrew Brunson, who is on trial in Turkey on charges he was linked to a group accused of orchestrating a failed 2016 military coup, in a case that has compounded strains in U.S.-Turkish relations.
Around the World
Syrian media: Explosions at largest Iranian base in Syria
Mixed and contradictory reports emerged from Syria Saturday night over a mystery blast that rocked an Iranian base located on the outskirts of Aleppo.
US, Britain warn of Russian campaign to hack networks
Russian government-sponsored hackers are compromising the key hardware of government and business computer networks like routers and firewalls, giving them virtual control of data flows, Britain and the United States warned on Monday (Apr 16).
France's Macron to outline his vision for Europe
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to outline his vision for the future of Europe as he addresses the European Parliament.
China and Iran reportedly set to cooperate on building of nuclear reactors
China has expressed its intention, amid ongoing talks, to assist Iran in building several small nuclear power plants for civilian use, an Iranian lawmaker stated on Sunday according to Fars news agency.
Researchers accidentally engineer plastic-eating enzyme
Researchers in the US and Britain have accidentally engineered an enzyme which eats plastic and may eventually help solve the growing problem of plastic pollution, a study said on Monday (Apr 16).
EU ponders new sanctions on Syria, Iran, Russia
EU foreign ministers have discussed new sanctions on Syria, Iran, and Russia in light of the chemical warfare in Syria.
Syrian media: Missile attacks near Homs
Syria's air defense system responded to a missile attack on the Shayrat airbase in the city of Homs early Tuesday morning Hezbollah and Syrian army sources reported, according to Lebanon's Daily Star. The missiles were intercepted and shot down, the report claims.
Trump puts brakes on Russian sanctions over Syria
President Trump on Monday ordered a hold on new economic sanctions against Russia over its support for Syria and said he remain committed to pulling U.S. troops out of the war-torn nation, despite what was widely seen as a successful strike with allies on President Bashar Assad’s chemical weapons infrastructure over the weekend.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
IDF official said to confirm attack in Syria: ‘First strike on Iranian targets’
An Israeli military official confirmed Monday that Israel carried out last week’s strike on Iranian forces in a Syrian airbase, the New York Times reported.
Europe to Hamas: Disarm and we'll rebuild Gaza
European groups recently passed on to Hamas a wide-reaching proposition to solve the humanitarian crises in Gaza, The Jerusalem Post's sister publication Maariv reported on Monday.

Inside the United States
Senators introduce new war powers resolution days after Syria strike
Lawmakers on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee introduced new Authorization for the Use of Military Force legislation to replace current war authorizations from 2001 and 2002 that have not been revised since they were passed.
Trump Loses Initial Bid to Review Seized Records From Cohen
President Donald Trump suffered a setback as a federal judge rejected his initial request to keep prosecutors from immediately reviewing evidence seized by the FBI last week from his longtime personal lawyer, Michael Cohen.

Christian News
Islamic State Guns Down Churchgoers in Ongoing Terror Wave Against Pakistani Christians
An Islamic State terrorist attack against Christians in Quetta Sunday has led one Christian leader to warn that Pakistan has never been more dangerous for non-Muslims than it is now.
Around the World
Russia's Putin predicts global 'chaos' if West hits Syria again
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Sunday that further Western attacks on Syria would bring chaos to world affairs, as Washington prepared to increase pressure on Russia with new economic sanctions.
U.S., allies launch missile attack on Syria in retaliation for using chemical weapons on civilians
The U.S. launched missile strikes on Syria Friday night in coordination with Britain and France in retaliation for Syria’s chemical-weapons attack on civilians last weekend.
US to Hit Russia With New Sanctions for Aiding Syria’s Assad
President Donald Trump on Sunday defended his use of the phrase 'Mission Accomplished' to describe a U.S.-led missile attack on Syria’s chemical weapons program, even as his aides stressed continuing U.S. troop involvement and plans for new economic sanctions against Russia for enabling the government of Bashar Assad.
Russia stocks open lower after US vows further sanctions; Rusal tanks 14%
Russia's stock market opened lower on Monday morning, amid renewed concerns over the prospect of imminent U.S. sanctions.
Biggest Naval force since Iraq on course for Syria
An armada of 12 warships — the largest US strike force since the 2003 Iraq war – is steaming toward the Middle East as President Trump mulls an attack on Syria in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack on civilians, according to a report.
Syria, Russia say over 100 missiles fired, many intercepted
The US and its allies fired more than 100 cruise missiles at Syria, a significant number of which were intercepted by Syrian air defenses, Russia and Syria said Saturday.
Allies hit three facilities to degrade Syria's chemical weapons program
The Defense Department said Friday night that U.S., British and French forces struck three Syrian facilities that officials believe play a key role in Syria's ability to research, produce and store chemical weapons.
Russia vows ‘consequences’ for Syria strike
Russia warned late Friday there would be 'consequences' for President Trump’s decision to proceed with airstrikes against Syrian President Bashar Assad’s chemical weapons facilities, according to Moscow’s representative to the U.S.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Hezbollah threatens possibility of 'direct fight' between Israel and Iran
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah pointed on Friday to an Israeli air strike against a Syrian air base that killed some Iranian Revolutionary Guards, saying it opened the prospect of conflict between the two enemy states.
IDF: Gazans hurl explosives, firebombs, burn Israeli flags, try to damage fence
Palestinian protesters in Gaza on Friday hurled an explosive device and firebombs at Israeli troops deployed at the border, during what the Israel Defense Forces described as 'several attempts' to damage the fence between Israel and the Gaza Strip and cross over into Israeli territory.
Russian supply of S-300 systems to Syria major threat to IAF
With Russia considering supplying the S-300 surface-to- air missile systems to Syria, Israel’s air superiority is at risk of being challenged in one of its most difficult arenas.
Four Palestinian Islamic Jihad Members Killed in Gaza Blast
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group said four of its members were killed in an apparent accidental blast in the Gaza Strip on Saturday.

Inside the United States
U.S., Mexico and Canada hasten NAFTA talks as elections loom
The United States, Mexico and Canada will expedite NAFTA talks in a push to reach a deal in coming weeks, Mexico’s president said on Saturday after a meeting with the U.S. vice president and Canadian prime minister.
Trump lawyer presses for access to seized Cohen files
A lawyer for President Donald Trump is pressing a federal judge to allow Trump's attorneys to sift through the records the FBI seized last week in high-profile searches tied to Trump's longtime personal lawyer, Michael Cohen.
Tennessee Defunds Planned Parenthood, All Abortion Providers
Any health care facility providing abortions in Tennessee will no longer receive any government funding, thanks to a new state law.
lG Report: Andrew McCabe Repeatedly Leaked And Lied About It
A newly released report from the Office of the Inspector General at the Justice Department states that former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe repeatedly leaked information to the press and lied about it.

Christian News
Jailed Chinese pastor's US family seeks mercy
The Rev. John Sanqiang Cao paid no more than three dollars for the trip that would end up costing him his freedom.
U.S. pastor held in Turkey for his Christian faith, lawyer says
The lawyer for a U.S. pastor who goes on trial in Turkey on Monday over alleged links to a group accused of orchestrating a failed military coup said the preacher had been arrested for his Christian faith.