Prophecy News Watch - August 14, 2023
Around the World
Russia Speeding To Moon In Space Race
Russia sped up a space race Friday as it tried to reach the moon after nearly half a century ahead of an Indian spacecraft.
Russian Attack Kills 7, Including Family As Attacks Spread
Local authorities in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region have declared Monday an official day of mourning after a Russian attack killed seven people, including a 23-day-old baby girl, her 12-year-old brother, and their parents. “Today, the Kherson region shuddered from terrible news,” Governor Oleksandr Prokudin wrote on the social media network Telegram shortly after Sunday’s artillery strike.
Biden Admin, Iran Reach $6B Deal: ‘Largest Hostage Ransom Payment’ in US History
The Biden administration has agreed to pay Iran $6 billion for the release of five imprisoned Americans, but experts say this will only encourage Iran to seek more hostages as a "lucrative means of international extortion for Iran's supreme leader."
Iran close to testing nuclear weapons for first time – European intel
The Islamic Republic of Iran is close to possibly testing a nuclear weapons device and has sought to obtain illicit technology for its active atomic weapons program, according to a series of shocking European intelligence reports released in 2023.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu calls off vacation, holds IDF preparedness meeting
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a planned vacation in the Golan and called a meeting with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and the heads of the IDF on Sunday.
Iranian munitions storage facility destroyed in attack attributed to Israel
An Iranian depot located in Damascus, and containing munitions collected over time was targeted and completely destroyed, early on Sunday, according to the UK- based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The opposition group did not say if the attack was carried out by aircraft or came overland but did say that there was no knowledge of casualties.
Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister to visit U.S. over Saudi deal
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly sending his Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer to Washington, next week, for talks with U.S. officials about a potential normalization deal with Saudi Arabia.
Inside the United States
Maui Wildfires Now Deadliest US Fire in Past Century
Wildfires have devastated parts of Maui in Hawaii this week, destroying a historic town and forcing evacuations. The National Weather Service said Hurricane Dora, which passed south of the island chain, was partly to blame for strong winds that initially drove the flames, knocking out power and grounding firefighting helicopters.
US to Invest $1.2 Billion on Facilities to Pull Carbon From Air
The U.S. government said Friday it will spend up to $1.2 billion for two pioneering facilities to vacuum carbon out of the air, a historic gamble on a still developing technology to combat global warming that is criticized by some experts.
‘Strong-arming’: Appeals court judges compare Biden social media pressure to mafia
Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod declared in court that the Biden administration's efforts to persuade social media companies to remove, throttle and suppress purported misinformation on COVID-19, Hunter Biden's laptop and elections reminded her of a mafia movie.
Illinois Supreme Court finds assault weapons ban constitutional
The Illinois State Supreme Court found a strict assault weapons ban passed after the Highland Park shooting to be constitutional in a ruling issued Friday.
U.S. suicides hit an all-time high last year
About 49,500 people took their own lives last year in the U.S., the highest number ever, according to new government data posted Thursday.
Christian News
Iran Detains Scores Of Christians Ahead Of Anniversary
Iran has detained scores of Christians ahead of the first anniversary of the death in custody of a young Kurdish woman, Christians said as more details on the crackdown emerged Friday.
Canadian Supreme Court refuses to hear appeals over worship restrictions on churches
The Supreme Court of Canada has declined to hear appeals from churches in Ontario and British Columbia that challenged pandemic restrictions on in-person worship. The churches had been fined hundreds of thousands of dollars for violating gathering limits.
Russia Speeding To Moon In Space Race
Russia sped up a space race Friday as it tried to reach the moon after nearly half a century ahead of an Indian spacecraft.
Russian Attack Kills 7, Including Family As Attacks Spread
Local authorities in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region have declared Monday an official day of mourning after a Russian attack killed seven people, including a 23-day-old baby girl, her 12-year-old brother, and their parents. “Today, the Kherson region shuddered from terrible news,” Governor Oleksandr Prokudin wrote on the social media network Telegram shortly after Sunday’s artillery strike.
Biden Admin, Iran Reach $6B Deal: ‘Largest Hostage Ransom Payment’ in US History
The Biden administration has agreed to pay Iran $6 billion for the release of five imprisoned Americans, but experts say this will only encourage Iran to seek more hostages as a "lucrative means of international extortion for Iran's supreme leader."
Iran close to testing nuclear weapons for first time – European intel
The Islamic Republic of Iran is close to possibly testing a nuclear weapons device and has sought to obtain illicit technology for its active atomic weapons program, according to a series of shocking European intelligence reports released in 2023.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu calls off vacation, holds IDF preparedness meeting
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a planned vacation in the Golan and called a meeting with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and the heads of the IDF on Sunday.
Iranian munitions storage facility destroyed in attack attributed to Israel
An Iranian depot located in Damascus, and containing munitions collected over time was targeted and completely destroyed, early on Sunday, according to the UK- based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The opposition group did not say if the attack was carried out by aircraft or came overland but did say that there was no knowledge of casualties.
Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister to visit U.S. over Saudi deal
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly sending his Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer to Washington, next week, for talks with U.S. officials about a potential normalization deal with Saudi Arabia.
Inside the United States
Maui Wildfires Now Deadliest US Fire in Past Century
Wildfires have devastated parts of Maui in Hawaii this week, destroying a historic town and forcing evacuations. The National Weather Service said Hurricane Dora, which passed south of the island chain, was partly to blame for strong winds that initially drove the flames, knocking out power and grounding firefighting helicopters.
US to Invest $1.2 Billion on Facilities to Pull Carbon From Air
The U.S. government said Friday it will spend up to $1.2 billion for two pioneering facilities to vacuum carbon out of the air, a historic gamble on a still developing technology to combat global warming that is criticized by some experts.
‘Strong-arming’: Appeals court judges compare Biden social media pressure to mafia
Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod declared in court that the Biden administration's efforts to persuade social media companies to remove, throttle and suppress purported misinformation on COVID-19, Hunter Biden's laptop and elections reminded her of a mafia movie.
Illinois Supreme Court finds assault weapons ban constitutional
The Illinois State Supreme Court found a strict assault weapons ban passed after the Highland Park shooting to be constitutional in a ruling issued Friday.
U.S. suicides hit an all-time high last year
About 49,500 people took their own lives last year in the U.S., the highest number ever, according to new government data posted Thursday.
Christian News
Iran Detains Scores Of Christians Ahead Of Anniversary
Iran has detained scores of Christians ahead of the first anniversary of the death in custody of a young Kurdish woman, Christians said as more details on the crackdown emerged Friday.
Canadian Supreme Court refuses to hear appeals over worship restrictions on churches
The Supreme Court of Canada has declined to hear appeals from churches in Ontario and British Columbia that challenged pandemic restrictions on in-person worship. The churches had been fined hundreds of thousands of dollars for violating gathering limits.