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?"

Today's Breaking News
Around the World
North Korea's latest missile launch suggests progress toward ICBM: experts
North Korea's successful missile test-launch signals major advances in developing an intercontinental ballistic missile, such as mastery of re-entry technology and better engine performance key to targeting the United States, experts say.
Trump to Sit Down With Turkish President Erdogan Amid Heightened Tensions
President Donald Trump will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Washington, D.C., for the first time on Tuesday, one week after the White House announced plans to arm Syrian Kurds fighting the Islamic State despite fierce opposition from Ankara.
Sweden gives Bible tests to Christian asylum seekers
Sweden's Asylum Agency has been criticised for testing converted Christian asylum seekers about their knowledge of the religion.
Putin blames US for computer attack that wreaked global havoc
Vladimir Putin has blamed the US for the global cyber attack that has crippled computer systems around the world since Friday.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
White House: Western Wall comments 'unauthorized,' do not represent Trump's stance
The White House on Monday said that comments from a US official who told his Israeli counterparts that the Western Wall is not part of Israel were 'unauthorized' and do not represent the stance of the Trump administration.
Harsh exchange between Trump and Netanyahu teams days ahead of key Israel visit
A dramatic rift was created between Washington and Jerusalem as US President Donald Trump's team as well as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's team both issued harsh statements on Monday evening less than a week prior to the president's much-expected visit to Israel.

Inside the United States
Trump expands ban on funding abortions overseas
President Trump has moved to broaden a ban on federal dollars going to international groups that perform abortions or provide abortion information, senior administration officials said Monday.
McMaster: WaPo Story About Trump Sharing Classified Materials With Russians is 'False'
White House National Security Adviser H.R McMaster on Monday defended President Donald Trump by pushing back against the Washington Post article that was published hours earlier claiming that Trump had revealed highly classified information to Russian officials last week.
Family's private investigator: There is evidence Seth Rich had contact with WikiLeaks prior to death
It has been almost a year since Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich was murdered in the nation's capital. There have been no solid answers about why he was killed until now.
GOP rolled back 14 of 15 Obama rules using Congressional Review Act
Republicans' test-drive of a little-used regulatory review law is now over and party leaders say it was a smashing success, allowing Congress roll back 14 rules President Obama's team issued at the end of his administration, for a savings of billions of dollars.
Senate group picks up negotiations on repealing Obamacare regulations
More than a dozen Republican senators are shifting gears to figure out how to repeal Obamacare's insurance regulations.
In travel ban case, U.S. judges focus on discrimination, Trump's powers
U.S. appeals court judges on Monday questioned the lawyer defending President Donald Trump's temporary travel ban about whether it discriminates against Muslims and pressed challengers to explain why the court should not defer to Trump's presidential powers to set the policy.

Christian News
You Can Debate Franklin Graham on Martyrs, But Not the World's Persecution Problem
Franklin Graham condemned the 'Christian genocide' that's killing 'over 100,000 a year because of their faith in Christ' at a Washington, D.C., gathering of 600 persecuted believers and their advocates from 130 countries.
China Could Become the Biggest Christian Nation by 2030s
The rapid spread of Christianity in China is well documented, but few would have imagined the communist country might one day become the most populous Christian nation on the planet.
Today's Breaking News
Around the World
Friday cyberattack hit 200,000 victims in over 150 countries
The unprecedented global ransomware cyberattack has hit more than 200,000 victims in more than 150 countries, Europol executive director Rob Wainwright said Sunday.
Intel Report: Iran Refining Nuke Delivery System in Flagrant Violation of Ban
Iran continues to make critical technological strides in its efforts to perfect an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering nuclear weapons over great distances, efforts that violate international prohibitions, according to the director of national intelligence, who informed Congress this week that the Islamic Republic 'would choose ballistic missiles as its preferred method of delivering nuclear weapons.'
ISIS commanders join Free Syrian Army
Two ISIS commanders on Friday joined forces with the Free Syrian Army stationed on the border between Syria's Homs and Deir Ezzor provinces.
Russian jet said to 'buzz' US reconnaissance plane
A Russian fighter jet reportedly 'buzzed' a US reconnaissance plane flying over the Black Sea in the second such incident in a week.
Pope Francis acknowledges 2,000-case backlog in sex abuse cases
Pope Francis acknowledged Saturday that the Vatican has a 2,000-case backlog in processing clerical sex abuse cases and says criticism of the slow pace was justified. But he says more staff are being added and insists the Vatican is 'on the right path.'
North Korea fires missile that lands in sea near Russia
North Korea, defying calls to curb its weapons program, fired a ballistic missile that landed in the sea near Russia on Sunday in a launch the United States called a message to South Korea days after its new president took office pledging to engage Pyongyang in dialogue.
Next cyber-attack could be imminent, warn experts
Another major cyber-attack could be imminent after Friday's global hit that infected more than 125,000 computer systems, security experts have warned.
Magnitude 5.7 earthquake in northeast Iran leaves 3 dead
Iranian state TV is reporting a strong magnitude 5.7 earthquake has left three people dead and about 200 injured in a remote area in the country's northeast.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Convicted murderer of six Israelis elected as Palestinian mayor of Hebron
Tayseer Abu Sneineh, the convicted murderer of six Israelis, was reportedly elected mayor of the West Bank city of Hebron on Saturday as head of the Fatah Party list.
NGO allegedly funding Palestinian terrorist group to be dissolved
The Registrar of Associations in Israel has filed a motion seeking to dismantle the east Jerusalem-based Committee of Agricultural Work for allegedly funneling millions of dollars to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, designated by Israel as a terrorist group.
Netanyahu says Lauder peace push is his biggest challenge
Last week, World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder released a series of statements confirming that he had encouraged US President Donald Trump to recognize that peace between Israelis and Palestinians was now attainable. He also stressed that he considers Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to be a moderate committed to peace.
Bennett urges PM to renege on two-state solution
Education Minister Naftali Bennett (Bayit Yehudi) warned Saturday night that Israel's failure to revise its policies regarding the peace process with the Palestinians could result in outside nations determining its fate.

Inside the United States
Trump, GOP prepare for tax code bonfire
In coming weeks and months, President Trump will attempt tax reform more sweeping, consequential and controversial than those of Presidents George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan.
Trump promises to defend faith in Liberty University address
President Donald Trump, at a commencement speech Saturday to the country's largest Christian college, promised to defend religious free speech for Christians and encouraged the students to embrace the label of 'outsiders,' referencing his own experience running for president.
Judge pleads guilty in massive Social Security fraud case
An administrative judge involved in one of the biggest Social Security frauds in history pleaded guilty Friday, admitting that he helped scam the federal government out of potentially more than half a billion dollars in bogus disability payments.
Ruling: Refusal to Print Gay Pride Shirts Not Discrimination
A divided Kentucky appeals court panel ruled Friday that a Lexington business did not discriminate against an organization by refusing to print T-shirts for a gay rights festival.

Christian News
Archaeologists discover ancient churches near the Sea of Galilee
Archeologists digging the ancient city of Hippos-Sussita near the Sea of Galilee have unearthed a cluster of churches that may have existed in the late fifth or early sixth century. The expedition has found six to seven places of worship so far, indicating a mutual tolerance among Christian sects during that time.
In Cashless Sweden, Even God Now Takes Collection Via an App
In the most cashless society on the planet, even God now accepts digital payments.
Evidence for Bible's Tower of Babel Discovered
The Smithsonian Channel shows in the first episode of its documentary series 'Secrets' the emergence of new 'very compelling' evidence that the Tower of Babel, as mentioned in the book of Genesis in the Old Testament, actually existed.
Today's Breaking News
Around the World
Egypt's Islamic State affiliate claims deadly Sinai attack
The Islamic State group in Egypt has claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on local tribesmen this week in the restive northern part of the Sinai Peninsula.
Iran test-fires torpedo in the Strait of Hormuz
Iran test-fired a high-speed torpedo on Sunday, a senior U.S. defense official told Fox News, marking the latest provocative action from the Islamic Republic.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Abbas, in meeting with Putin, says Moscow must be part of peace process
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Sochi resort in Western Russia on Thursday, and said that solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be “impossible” without the participation of Moscow in the peace process.
Hezbollah says future war would be on Israeli territory
Lebanese Hezbollah said on Thursday that any future conflict between the Shi'ite group and Israel could take place inside Israeli territory, as tensions rise between the arch foes.
Top US army general aligns with Israeli concern over Iran and its proxies
Jerusalem is concerned Iran may build a powerful new front against Israel if it is allowed to play a role in enforcing the Russian-proposed de-escalation zones in southern Syria, Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a visit to Israel this week, according to a statement published on Thursday.
Trump Admin Still Considering Moving U.S Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem
The Trump administration is disputing Israeli media reports claiming that the president is no longer committed to moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which candidate Donald Trump vowed to do while campaigning for the presidency, according to U.S. officials familiar with the situation.

Inside the United States
Aetna to Exit All Obamacare Exchanges in 2018 After Experiencing Hundreds of Millions in Losses
Aetna, one of the nation's largest health insurers, has announced that it will exit all Affordable Care Act exchanges in 2018 after experiencing massive losses in 2016 and 2017.
U.S. government posts $182 billion surplus in April
The U.S. government had a $182 billion budget surplus in April, confounding market expectations for a deficit, according to Treasury Department data released on Wednesday.

Christian News
Vigils held for Christian politician imprisoned in Indonesia
The imprisonment of a Christian politician for blaspheming Islam has triggered an outpouring of anger and support around Indonesia.
North Korean university draws U.S. evangelicals despite risks
Like many other Americans who came to teach at the foreign-funded Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST), Kim Hak Song was a Christian missionary who raised money from a church to come to North Korea.
Pence: America will prioritize protecting Christians abroad
Vice President Pence sought on Thursday to reassure Christian leaders looking for the White House to focus more on the plight of persecuted Christians abroad.
Franklin Graham Reveals the 'Real Reason' Christians Are Being Persecuted
Leading evangelist Franklin Graham addressed persecuted Christians from over 130 countries gathered this week for the first-ever World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians and explained the 'real reason' why so many people throughout the world are being killed, tortured and imprisoned for their faith in Christ.