Prophecy News Watch - July 30, 2018
Around the World
UN peace envoy ‘positive’ after talks with Egypt’s foreign minister on Gaza
The United Nations envoy for Middle East peace met Sunday with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and other officials for talks on calming tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, relieving the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and reviving the long-stalled peace process.
Turkey's Erdogan defiant in face of US sanctions threat over pastor
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan struck a defiant tone on Sunday in response to US President Donald Trump's threat to impose sanctions on Turkey if it didn't release American pastor Andrew Brunson, who has been held in Turkish detention for the past two years.
Iran’s rial hits record-low of 100,000 to the dollar
Iran’s currency hit a record low on Sunday of 100,000 rials to the dollar amid a deepening economic crisis and the imminent return of full US sanctions.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Police enter Al-Aqsa Mosque, clash with worshipers in Temple Mount riots
Police forces entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque during clashes with Muslim worshipers Friday afternoon that led to an hours-long closure of the Jerusalem holy site.
As U.S. pushes for Mideast peace, Saudi king reassures allies
Saudi Arabia has reassured Arab allies it will not endorse any Middle East peace plan that fails to address Jerusalem's status or refugees' right of return, easing their concerns that the kingdom might back a nascent US deal which aligns with Israel on key issues.
Gaza will turn 'deep red' if Israel is attacked, defense minister warns
According to the Israeli military, some 7,000 Palestinians took part in border demonstrations. Troops opened fire to ward off rioters who threw rocks and firebombs and rolled burning tires at the security fence in attempts to sabotage it.
Inside the United States
Second-quarter GDP jumps 4.1% for best pace in nearly four years
Gross domestic product grew at a solid 4.1 percent pace in the second quarter, its best pace since 2014, boosting hopes that the economy is ready to break out of its decade-long slumber.
Trump Willing to Shut Down Government Over Border Security
President Donald Trump said Sunday he’d be willing to shut down the government if Democrats refuse to vote for changes he seeks to the U.S. immigration system, including building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Trump's fight against 'unpatriotic' media intensifies
President Trump's relationship with the press hit a new low after the president unleashed a multi-tweet frenzy Sunday accusing the 'unpatriotic' mainstream media of endangering American lives by generating negative coverage on the mechanics of the Trump administration.
Death Toll Climbs as Northern California Wildfire Rages Largely Unchecked
The deadly Northern California wildfire that has forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes burned virtually unchecked Sunday as fire crews surveyed a small town that was reduced to an ashy moonscape of blackened trees and smoldering rubble.
Christian News
More than 8,000 Rwandan churches closed following government directive
The Rwanda Governance Board continues to close churches it says fail to meet requirements laid down at the beginning of the year. New requirements set in place for those congregations that want to continue ministry are also complicating efforts to comply. Many see the closures as part of an effort by the government to make its aggressive secular stance clear.
Judges banish 'anything that might resemble prayer'
In a ruling that apparently conflicts with U.S. Supreme Court precedent, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a ban on 'anything that might resemble a prayer' at board meetings of a Southern California school district.
UN peace envoy ‘positive’ after talks with Egypt’s foreign minister on Gaza
The United Nations envoy for Middle East peace met Sunday with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and other officials for talks on calming tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, relieving the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and reviving the long-stalled peace process.
Turkey's Erdogan defiant in face of US sanctions threat over pastor
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan struck a defiant tone on Sunday in response to US President Donald Trump's threat to impose sanctions on Turkey if it didn't release American pastor Andrew Brunson, who has been held in Turkish detention for the past two years.
Iran’s rial hits record-low of 100,000 to the dollar
Iran’s currency hit a record low on Sunday of 100,000 rials to the dollar amid a deepening economic crisis and the imminent return of full US sanctions.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Police enter Al-Aqsa Mosque, clash with worshipers in Temple Mount riots
Police forces entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque during clashes with Muslim worshipers Friday afternoon that led to an hours-long closure of the Jerusalem holy site.
As U.S. pushes for Mideast peace, Saudi king reassures allies
Saudi Arabia has reassured Arab allies it will not endorse any Middle East peace plan that fails to address Jerusalem's status or refugees' right of return, easing their concerns that the kingdom might back a nascent US deal which aligns with Israel on key issues.
Gaza will turn 'deep red' if Israel is attacked, defense minister warns
According to the Israeli military, some 7,000 Palestinians took part in border demonstrations. Troops opened fire to ward off rioters who threw rocks and firebombs and rolled burning tires at the security fence in attempts to sabotage it.
Inside the United States
Second-quarter GDP jumps 4.1% for best pace in nearly four years
Gross domestic product grew at a solid 4.1 percent pace in the second quarter, its best pace since 2014, boosting hopes that the economy is ready to break out of its decade-long slumber.
Trump Willing to Shut Down Government Over Border Security
President Donald Trump said Sunday he’d be willing to shut down the government if Democrats refuse to vote for changes he seeks to the U.S. immigration system, including building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Trump's fight against 'unpatriotic' media intensifies
President Trump's relationship with the press hit a new low after the president unleashed a multi-tweet frenzy Sunday accusing the 'unpatriotic' mainstream media of endangering American lives by generating negative coverage on the mechanics of the Trump administration.
Death Toll Climbs as Northern California Wildfire Rages Largely Unchecked
The deadly Northern California wildfire that has forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes burned virtually unchecked Sunday as fire crews surveyed a small town that was reduced to an ashy moonscape of blackened trees and smoldering rubble.
Christian News
More than 8,000 Rwandan churches closed following government directive
The Rwanda Governance Board continues to close churches it says fail to meet requirements laid down at the beginning of the year. New requirements set in place for those congregations that want to continue ministry are also complicating efforts to comply. Many see the closures as part of an effort by the government to make its aggressive secular stance clear.
Judges banish 'anything that might resemble prayer'
In a ruling that apparently conflicts with U.S. Supreme Court precedent, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a ban on 'anything that might resemble a prayer' at board meetings of a Southern California school district.