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
China stages military activity near Taiwan before high level US official visit to Taipei
China has staged military activity near Taiwan ahead of a Jan. 13 official visit to Taipei by US Ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, Just the News reports.
Newly public document shows US has intensified spying operations against China
A formerly-secret National Security Council strategy document publicly confirms that the CIA and other US agencies have increased their intelligence and spying activity against China in an effort to counter Beijing’s global network of spying operations, the Washington Times (WT) reports.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel: Jerusalem authorities approve plan for permanent US embassy
A key Jerusalem panel has approved the plans to expand the US diplomatic presence in the Israeli capital on Wednesday.
US official: Target of Syria airstrikes was used for Iran’s nuclear program
Airstrikes near the Syria-Iraq border early Wednesday targeted sites used for Iran's nuclear program, a senior US intelligence official told AlJazeera Wednesday.
Iranian lawmakers debate bill seeking destruction of Israel by 2041, “decisive act of revenge” against US
Iranian lawmakers have begun debating a bill which includes the goal of destroying Israel in 20 years. Introduced to Iran’s parliament on Dec.30 2020, the bill describes Israel as the "aggressor Zionist regime" and states the Jewish nation constitutes a threat to Iran.

Inside the United States
Washington Bracing For Huge Military Operation
Thousands of troops are stationed in Washington D.C. amid mounting tensions ahead of Joe Biden's "virtual" inauguration as the 46th president of the United States.
Trump Denies True Supporters Among Rioters Storming Capitol
U.S. President Donald J. Trump urged his supporters to remain peaceful after being impeached by the House for a record second time with Republican voters.
Federal deficit up more than 60% in first fiscal quarter
The federal deficit is up more than 60% for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 compared to the same period last year, rising to a record-breaking $572.9 billion amid increased spending and declines in revenues.
McConnell: Trump impeachment trial to start after Biden sworn in
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Wednesday that President Trump's second impeachment trial will not start until at least next week, formally rejecting calls to return the Senate to Washington early.
Trump Is 1st US President Impeached Twice
Donald J. Trump became the first president in US history to be impeached twice and is now facing a Senate trial over the Capitol riots that sparked outrage across America.
McConnell will not reconvene Senate early to vote on impeachment
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell made clear Wednesday that he will not be reconvening his chamber early to accept the article of impeachment on President Trump.
Trump Denies Wrongdoing In Deadly Assault; Condemns Impeachment
In his first public comments since last week’s deadly assault on the US Congress, President Donald J. Trump condemned those seeking to impeach him over the violence.

Christian News
Muslim gang attack Uganda pastor and his wife, destroy church building
Incited by local mosque leaders, a gang of Muslims in eastern Uganda beat up a pastor and his wife because they offered help to an Imam who recently came to faith in Christ, Morning Start News reports.
Around the World
EU Concerned About Iran’s Ambitions
The European Union has warned Iran that its decision to increase uranium enrichment could undermine efforts to keep a nuclear deal alive. The warning comes amid diplomatic efforts to bring the United States back on board under a new administration.
Pompeo: Al-Qaeda has new home base in Iran, threatening region, Abraham Accords
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday accused Iran of harboring al-Qaeda, saying the country has become a “home base” for the terror group.
Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan hold talks on reopening regional transportation routes
Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the Kremlin Monday, to discuss the reopening of transportation routes that were shut down amid the decades-long regional conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, the Associated Press reports. The meeting follows the November 10, 2020 peace deal brokered by Russia which ended 44 days of renewed hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Facebook shuts down “fake accounts” allegedly linked to Ugandan Ministry of Information
Facebook has closed the accounts of a network connected to Uganda’s Ministry of Information on the grounds that the network has been using fake accounts to promote Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) ahead of the country’s December 14 presidential elections, Voice of America (VOA) reports.
WHO team set to arrive in Wuhan to investigate origins of pandemic
A World Health Organization (WHO) team of international experts will fly from Singapore to Wuhan, China on Thursday in order to try and investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, Reuters reports. This mission has been relaunched following a setback last month when China denied entry to two investigators who were then forced to return home.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Syria says Israeli airstrikes hit sites near Iraq border
Israeli airstrikes after midnight Tuesday targeted a number of sites near the Iraqi border, Syrian media reported.
Report: IDF Dropped Warning Leaflets Addressed to Syrian Officer Ahead of Strike
One day after Syrian state media outlets reported Israeli airstrikes in the south of the country, a website aligned with Syrian opposition forces published an image of a warning leaflet ostensibly dropped by the Israeli Defense Forces.

Inside the United States
Supreme Court renews requirement for women to obtain abortion pills in person
The Supreme Court on Tuesday renewed a requirement for women to obtain abortion pills at medical facilities, following a request from the Trump administration.
McConnell said pleased with Trump impeachment as 3 Republicans vow to back move
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell — a crucial ally of US President Donald Trump over four years who defended him during his first impeachment — is pleased about new efforts to impeach him, the New York Times reported Tuesday as several House Republicans said they would vote to remove the president.
Pence rejects invoking 25th Amendment to oust Trump
US Vice President Mike Pence told House leaders Tuesday he does not support invoking the 25th Amendment process to remove Donald Trump, all but guaranteeing an impeachment vote against the besieged president.
Supreme Court Hears Case Over Christian Student Silenced From Sharing Faith at GA College Campus
The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case involving a Georgia college student who was silenced, more than once, from sharing his Christian faith with fellow students on campus.
US military leaders blast ‘insurrection’ at Capitol
The highest-ranking military general in the US, Mark Milly, along with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, released a statement on Tuesday condemning the violence in the Capitol on Wednesday.
New report shows a decrease in surgical abortion clinics, an increase in abortion pill distribution facilities
A new report by a leading pro-life organization shows there has been an over 35% decline in the number of surgical abortion clinics in the US since 2009, Christian Headlines reports. However, the report shows, the number of facilities where abortion-inducing pills are distributed went up during the same period.
Around the World
Iranian nuclear deal must be restored soon, UN atomic watchdog warns
The United Nations’ atomic watchdog chief stressed urgency Monday in reviving an Obama-era nuclear deal aimed at thwarting Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, a report says.
Pompeo, in Tuesday speech, to accuse Iran of al Qaeda links
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo plans to use newly declassified U.S. intelligence on Tuesday to publicly accuse Iran of ties to al Qaeda, two people familiar with the matter said, as part of his last-minute offensive against Tehran before handing over to the incoming Biden administration.
Cuba re-added to U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism
The outgoing Trump administration, in one of its last foreign policy acts, is putting Cuba back on the official list of state sponsors of terrorism, reversing an Obama-era decision that aimed to normalize diplomatic relations between the U.S. and the communist island.
Some 80 Die In Indonesian Plane Crash and Landslides
Indonesia was dealing with the aftermath of two significant disasters, including a plane crash and two landslides in which at least nearly 80 people perished.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Germany, France call for 2-states at 67-line, prior to Biden presidency
The United States has an important role to play in relaunching an Israeli-Palestinian peace process that would create a two-state resolution to the conflict at the pre-1967 lines, the Munich Group said in advance of US President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration on January 20.
Israel announces highest budget deficit in its history
Israel’s Accountant General announced Monday that the country’s budget deficit for 2020 was $50.4 billion, the highest it has ever been and three times higher than it was in 2019, Ynet News reports. The record figure was largely anticipated in light of the economic devastation wrought during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Egypt, Germany, France, Jordan discuss Israeli-Palestinian talks ahead of Biden inauguration
The foreign ministers of Egypt, Germany, France, and Jordan met in Cairo Monday to discuss reviving Israeli-Palestinian peace talks as US President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office on January 20, the Times of Israel reports.

Inside the United States
As many as 15,000 National Guardsmen could be in U.S. capital for presidential inauguration
As many as 15,000 National Guard members could be deployed in Washington, D.C., for the Jan. 20 presidential inauguration events for Democrat Joe Biden.
Capitol Police chief sought DC National Guard help before riots – but was denied by supervisors: report
The U.S. Capitol Police chief who was in charge during last week’s deadly riots reportedly asked his supervisors ahead of time for permission to request that the D.C. National Guard be on standby if the situation spiraled out of control – but was denied.
Antifa marches through NYC as fears of political violence heighten
Dozens of Antifa protesters wearing helmets and carrying shields marched through New York City on Sunday calling for President Trump to be impeached as fears of political violence continue to heighten.
President Trump approves emergency declaration for DC ahead of inauguration
President Trump on Monday approved an emergency declaration for Washington D.C., and ordered federal assistance to complement the local response ahead of the inauguration as fears of potential violence continue to loom following last week's deadly riot inside the U.S. Capitol.
FBI warns of planned armed protests next week in all 50 US state capitals and DC
The FBI is warning of plans for armed protests at all 50 state capitals and in Washington, DC, in the days leading up to US President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, stoking fears of more bloodshed after last week’s deadly siege at the US Capitol.
Democrats Start Removal President Trump
Congressional Democrats began their battle to force President Donald J. Trump from office after rioters last week stormed the US Capitol in a rampage that killed five people.
US Radical Leader Among Rioters In Capitol
The leader of a hardline leftist group has admitted he was among rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol housing Congress in violence that killed 5 people.

Christian News
Pakistan: Christian leader threatened with death for Facebook post criticizing Islam
A Christian lay leader in Pakistan was taken into police custody last month as hundreds of Muslims descended on his Lahore neighborhood threatening to kill him for sharing a post against Islam on his Facebook page, Morning Star News reports. The outraged mob also threatened to burn down homes in Raja Warris’ neighborhood in the Charar area of Lahore, causing Pakistani Christians in the community to flee for their lives.
Cameroon: Boko Haram sends young girl to blow herself up and kill 12 farmers
The Boko Haram Islamic terrorist group sent a young girl to murder 12 farmers in a “suicide” attack in the Mayo Tsanaga area of Northern Cameroon on January 8, 2021, International Christian Persecution (ICC) reports.