Prophecy News Watch provided by Worthy Ministries

Around the World
UK plummets into recession after GDP falls 20.4 percent
U.K. economy has officially plummeted into recession after official figures announced Wednesday showed a stunning 20.4% drop in the second quarter of the year – the biggest drop since quarterly records began in 1955.
'We're going to have huge problems': U.S. general warns of long-term ISIS resurgence
The Pentagon’s top general in the Middle East warned Wednesday that the U.S. is “going to have huge problems” with a massive Islamic State resurgence over the coming decade without a sweeping new international plan to de-radicalize young men and women across the Middle East.
Israel Warned the UN a Year Ago About Hezbollah Smuggling Arms Through Beirut Port
Hezbollah opposes the idea of an international inquiry into the devastating explosion in Beirut a week ago, stoking suspicion that the Iran-backed terrorist group worries an independent inquiry may draw unwelcome attention to its alleged use of the port for smuggling weapons into Lebanon.
Thousands Detained As Tensions Escalate In Belarus
Authorities in Belarus acknowledged Wednesday that they detained as many as 6,000 anti-government protestors who disputed the victory of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko in Sunday's election. Clashes continued for a third straight night with police violence reported in the capital Minsk and other cities after main opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya fled the troubled nation.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel, US successfully test Arrow 2 missile defense system
Israel and the United States completed a successful test of the advanced Arrow 2 missile defense system in Israel on Wednesday, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
Gaza arson balloons spark fires in Israel's south for 7th straight day
Two wildfires broke out Wednesday morning near the Gaza border due to balloon-borne explosives launched from the Gaza Strip for the seventh straight day.
UN Security Council at odds over peacekeeping operation on Israel-Lebanon border
The United Nations Security Council remains at odds over the way the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon operates on the ground, with the United States backing Israel’s demands for major changes.
Knesset gives preliminary approval for election-averting bill to delay budget
The Knesset passed in its preliminary reading Wednesday a bill to grant the government more time to pass the national budget, helping avert a fourth round of elections by pushing off the approaching deadline.

Inside the United States
Monday's derecho damaged 10M acres of crops in Iowa; 600K still without power in Midwest
More than 600,000 customers remained without power Wednesday in the Midwest due to the powerful derecho that roared across the region on Monday. Iowa was especially hard hit, as the potent windstorm devastated the state’s power grid and flattened valuable corn fields.
$5,630,859,000,000: Federal Spending Has Already Set Annual Record; Deficit at Record $2,807,295,000,000
The federal government set records for the amount of money it spent and the size of the deficit it ran up in the first ten months of fiscal 2020 (October through July), according to data released today in the Monthly Treasury Statement.
White House Shooter Charged With Assault
More details emerged Wednesday about a shooting near the White House that prompted security agents to remove President Donald Trump from a press briefing briefly.
Experts monitoring small earthquakes on California’s San Andreas Fault
Seismic experts are monitoring a swarm of small earthquakes that struck under the Salton Sea in California Monday, to assess the possibility of their becoming a large event on the San Andreas Fault, Yahoo News reports. There is a reported 20% possibility of a magnitude 7 or larger earthquake on the San Andreas Fault over the next 30 years.

Christian News
Four Christians murdered by possible cultists in Nigeria
During an ongoing slaughter of Christians in Nigeria by Islamic terrorists, last week at least four Christians were shot dead by men who may be in a cult that uses people for its rituals, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
DA declares California’s San Luis Obispo is a “sanctuary county” for worship gatherings
The central California county of San Luis Obispo has been declared a sanctuary for churches wanting to hold indoor services with singing amid COVID-19 concerns, the Christian Post reports. County District Attorney Dan Dow confirmed at the end of July that churches will not be prosecuted for going against state coronavirus restrictions on worship gatherings.

Around the World
Russia Claims World’s First Coronavirus Vaccine
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Tuesday that his nation had registered the world's first coronavirus vaccine despite international skepticism.
US revises UN resolution to extend UN arms embargo on Iran
The United States on Tuesday circulated a revised resolution that would extend a UN arms embargo on Iran indefinitely, seeking to gain more support in the 15-member Security Council where veto-wielding Russia and China have voiced strong opposition.
UK, France agree to plan to stop illegal immigrant boats across English Channel
British immigration minister said Tuesday that the U.K. and France have agreed to a plan to stop a wave of illegal immigration that has seen hundreds of migrants making their way across the English Channel into Britain this month.
Lebanon's leaders were warned in July that explosives 'could destroy' Beirut, report says
Lebanese security officials who were concerned about the massive stockpile of ammonium nitrate in Beirut’s port had sent a letter to the country’s prime minister and president two weeks before the blast, warning that the material “could destroy” the capital city if it exploded, a report says.
Six Arab ask United Nations to extend arms embargo on Iran
Six Arab Gulf countries sided with the US in sending a letter to the United Nations Saturday, asking for a continued arms embargo on Iran, the Washington Examiner reports. The embargo was scheduled to expire once the 2015 Iran deal comes into force.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu: US has kept me from annexing West Bank settlements
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has blamed the US for his failure to annex West Bank settlements.

Inside the United States
Barr: Antifa a ‘Revolutionary Group’ That Wants to Establish Socialism
For the first time, the nation’s top law enforcement officer has explicitly outlined the nature of far-left anarcho-communist group Antifa, describing it as a “revolutionary group” intent on establishing socialism or communism in the United States—and the experts agree.
Trump tests power, outpaces Obama on executive orders
President Trump, who criticized President Obama as ineffective four years ago for relying heavily on executive orders, is increasingly wielding his presidential pen on everything from tax relief to lowering drug prices as the election nears.
Gun Sales in July: 2 Million, Up 134.6% From July 2019
There were an estimated 2 million firearms sales in July, which is an increase of 134.6% from July 2019, according to Small Arms Analytics & Forecasting (SAAF).
Biden Chooses Kamala Harris As Vice Presidential Running Mate
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden has chosen Senator Kamala D. Harris of California as his vice presidential running mate on Tuesday.
Over 100 people arrested in apparently organized outbreak of looting and unrest
Amid ongoing violence and looting in Chicago, over 100 people were arrested Monday after 13 police officers were injured during a night of unrest, the Washington Examiner reports. In a statement, Police Superintendent David Brown said the unrest “was not an organized protest” but “an incident of pure criminality” that reportedly began after officers shot and wounded a 20-year-old man who had opened fire on them.

Christian News
'Salvations, Healings, Miracles and Baptisms': Seattle Revival Thrives Despite Angry Protesters Shouting 'Hail Satan!'
The power of God was on display in Seattle's Cal Anderson Park on Sunday as hundreds of people gathered for the "Let Us Worship" rally organized by Bethel Music's Sean Feucht.
Thousands attend Sean Feucht's ‘Riots to Revival’ event in Portland: ‘Church is rising up’
Thousands attended California evangelist Sean Feucht’s “Riot to Revival” worship concerts this weekend in Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington, two cities that have been gripped by riots and protests in recent weeks.
Evangelical colleges cut over 230 staff positions due to financial concerns
Citing continuing financial concerns, evangelical colleges and universities around the country have canceled over 230 faculty and staff positions as they head into the fall semester, Christianity Today reports. More than 150 positions were eliminated in the spring and dozens more were cut over the summer.

Around the World
Iran nuclear deal at risk as U.N. council prepares to vote on arms embargo
The U.N. Security Council is preparing to vote this week on a U.S. proposal to extend an arms embargo on Iran, a move that some diplomats say is bound to fail and put the fate of a nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers further at risk.
Lebanon Government Resigns After Beirut Blast Kills 160 People
Lebanon's Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced Monday that he and his government have resigned amid public outcry over a Beirut port explosion that killed 160 people. The August 4 blast also injured 6,000 men, women, and children and left hundreds of thousands of residents homeless.
Britain Increasing Border Security As Migrants Cross Channel In Risky Boats; Europe Concerned
Britain's government pledged Friday to strengthen border security, as a daily record number of people crossed the English Channel to the U.K. in small boats. The measures that reportedly could involve the Royal Navy, come amid broader concerns in Europe about a rising number of migrants re-emerging following lengthy coronavirus lockdowns.
Belarus President "Wins" Bloodstained Ballot
Election officials in Belarus say the county's longtime President Alexander Lukashenko has won his sixth consecutive term, taking over 80 percent of the vote. Monday's announcement followed a night of riots in which dozens of people were injured, and possibly one person was killed amid mounting anger over his perceived autocratic style.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Bipartisan US bill aims to advance normalized ties between Israel, Arab states
Two US senators introduced bipartisan legislation last week aimed at promoting normalized relations between Israel and Arab countries.
Israel closes Gaza border crossing after spike in arson balloon attacks
Following waves of explosive balloons launched from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory over the last few days, Israel will shut the Gaza Strip’s Kerem Shalom commercial crossing beginning Tuesday morning “until further notice,” the Israeli military liaison to the Palestinians announced.

Inside the United States
Powerful derecho with 100mph winds causes chaos across Midwest
A rare storm packing 100 mph winds and with power similar to an inland hurricane swept across the Midwest on Monday, blowing over trees, flipping vehicles, causing widespread property damage and leaving hundreds of thousands without power as it moved through Chicago and into Indiana and Michigan.
Federal deficit swells to nearly $3 trillion in first 10 months of fiscal year 2020
The federal deficit so far this fiscal year is at $2.8 trillion, roughly $2 trillion higher than the deficit for the same period last year, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
House will be mostly absent until mid-November
The House will be in session just three weeks between now and Nov. 16, Democratic leaders announced Monday.
Seattle City Council votes to scale back police department funding as officer pay on chopping block
The Seattle City Council approved steep cuts to the city's police department but avoided the 50% scale back in funding social justice activists had sought.
Johnson subpoenas FBI in review of Russia probe origin
The Senate Homeland Security Committee on Monday subpoenaed the FBI and Director Christopher Wray as part of its broad review into the origins of the Russia investigation, Fox News has learned.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) launches campaign for mass clemency as systemic response to racist incarceration
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is launching a years-long campaign for the clemency and release of 50,000 prisoners as a means to address “decades of racist, punitive, and degrading incarceration," Fox News reported last week. "The Redemption Campaign" will be lobbying state governors to grant mass clemency to "older incarcerated people," "people convicted of drug distribution and possession offenses," "people incarcerated for technical probation or parole violations," and people who would have received a lesser sentence if convicted under current laws.
End of July jobless rate remained high, although lower than forecast
Although the number of employment claims at the end of July was over 1 million for the 20th straight week, it was also the lowest number of new claims since the US was struck by COVID-19 in March, the Washington Examiner reports. The end of July saw 1.2 million claims when economists had forecast there would be 1.42 million.

Christian News
Lebanese Christians Suffering More Misery After Deadly Beirut Blast
The Beirut blast that killed 160 people adds to the suffering of Christians who already face food shortages and social unrest due to the coronavirus crisis, aid workers say. Their warnings came shortly before the government resigned Monday amid public outcry over the explosion, triggered by ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse at the Beirut port.
California pastor holds services for 1,000 people in defiance of COVID-19 court order
Defying a California court order issued amid coronavirus concerns, the leader of Godspeak Calvary Chapel, Ventura County held indoor church services for around 1,000 people on Sunday, the Washington Examiner reports. Prior to holding the services, Pastor Rob McCoy described the county rules on indoor services as “draconian” and stated that no one in his church was infected with COVID-19.