Prophecy News Watch - August 18, 2023
Around the World
Sweden Raising Terror Threat After Koran Burnings
Sweden on Thursday raised its terrorist threat level to the second-highest level possible amid heightened security fears over several burnings of the Koran, deemed a holy book by Muslims.
Switzerland Closes World’s Largest Tunnel After Derailment
Switzerland's Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest rail tunnel once viewed as a human miracle, will be closed for months for passenger services after a derailment, the country's primary railway operator SBB acknowledged Thursday.
Widespread blackouts in Lebanon, airport running on electric generators
Lebanon’s al-Zahrani and Deir Ammar power stations, in the south and north of the country respectively, have ceased operations due to the operating company’s financial debt, the Electricity Authority of Lebanon announced Wednesday evening.
Putin, Raisi Hold Call, Discuss Possible Iranian Membership Of BRICS
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi discussed Iran's possible future membership of the BRICS grouping during a phone call on Thursday, Russian state news agency TASS reported, citing the Kremlin.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Germany to buy Israel’s Arrow 3 missile defense system in largest-ever Israeli arms deal
The US Ministry of Defense on Thursday announced it has approved the $3.5 billion sale of Israel's Arrow 3 missile defense system to Germany, in what is Israel’s largest security deal ever, Ynet News reports. Senior officials in the German and Israeli defense ministries will be convening to ratify the deal.
Inside the United States
US: Retail spending rises despite higher interest rates and high inflation
Retail spending in the United States rose in July at a much faster rate than it did in the previous month, reflecting what analysts believe is continued resilience from US consumers despite higher interest rates and still-high inflation. July was also the fourth consecutive month that retail sales increased.
Pig kidney functioning normally one month after transplant into brain-dead man
In a breakthrough for organ transplant medical research, the kidney of a genetically modified pig is reported to be working normally one month after surgeons at America’s NYU Langone Health Institute transplanted it into a brain-dead man on July 14, Time reports.
Idaho Appeals Court Upholds Block of Transgender Athletes Law
A federal appeals court on Thursday upheld a decision blocking Idaho's first-in-the-nation ban on transgender athletes in girls and women's sports.
Parents can’t sue school district for hiding students’ gender transitions: 4th Circuit
A panel of federal judges has ruled that a group of parents doesn't have standing to challenge a Maryland school district policy enabling officials to keep children's gender transitions a secret from their parents.
Hunter Biden tax charges dismissed by federal judge following plea deal breakdown
Hunter Biden's misdemeanor tax charges have been dismissed by a federal judge in Delaware, an expected move after his "sweetheart" plea deal fell through last month during his first court appearance in the case.
Christian News
Tens of Thousands of Armenian Christians Cut Off by Military Blockade in Dire Straits
Tens of thousands of Armenian Christians are languishing in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh, due to a military blockade that is cutting them off from the outside world.
Pakistan Detains Over 100 Muslims Over Anti-Christian Violence (Worthy News Investigation)
More than 100 were arrested, and criminal investigations were launched against hundreds of others in east Pakistan city after thousands of Muslims burned churches and vandalized homes, Christians and officials said Thursday.
Sweden Raising Terror Threat After Koran Burnings
Sweden on Thursday raised its terrorist threat level to the second-highest level possible amid heightened security fears over several burnings of the Koran, deemed a holy book by Muslims.
Switzerland Closes World’s Largest Tunnel After Derailment
Switzerland's Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest rail tunnel once viewed as a human miracle, will be closed for months for passenger services after a derailment, the country's primary railway operator SBB acknowledged Thursday.
Widespread blackouts in Lebanon, airport running on electric generators
Lebanon’s al-Zahrani and Deir Ammar power stations, in the south and north of the country respectively, have ceased operations due to the operating company’s financial debt, the Electricity Authority of Lebanon announced Wednesday evening.
Putin, Raisi Hold Call, Discuss Possible Iranian Membership Of BRICS
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi discussed Iran's possible future membership of the BRICS grouping during a phone call on Thursday, Russian state news agency TASS reported, citing the Kremlin.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Germany to buy Israel’s Arrow 3 missile defense system in largest-ever Israeli arms deal
The US Ministry of Defense on Thursday announced it has approved the $3.5 billion sale of Israel's Arrow 3 missile defense system to Germany, in what is Israel’s largest security deal ever, Ynet News reports. Senior officials in the German and Israeli defense ministries will be convening to ratify the deal.
Inside the United States
US: Retail spending rises despite higher interest rates and high inflation
Retail spending in the United States rose in July at a much faster rate than it did in the previous month, reflecting what analysts believe is continued resilience from US consumers despite higher interest rates and still-high inflation. July was also the fourth consecutive month that retail sales increased.
Pig kidney functioning normally one month after transplant into brain-dead man
In a breakthrough for organ transplant medical research, the kidney of a genetically modified pig is reported to be working normally one month after surgeons at America’s NYU Langone Health Institute transplanted it into a brain-dead man on July 14, Time reports.
Idaho Appeals Court Upholds Block of Transgender Athletes Law
A federal appeals court on Thursday upheld a decision blocking Idaho's first-in-the-nation ban on transgender athletes in girls and women's sports.
Parents can’t sue school district for hiding students’ gender transitions: 4th Circuit
A panel of federal judges has ruled that a group of parents doesn't have standing to challenge a Maryland school district policy enabling officials to keep children's gender transitions a secret from their parents.
Hunter Biden tax charges dismissed by federal judge following plea deal breakdown
Hunter Biden's misdemeanor tax charges have been dismissed by a federal judge in Delaware, an expected move after his "sweetheart" plea deal fell through last month during his first court appearance in the case.
Christian News
Tens of Thousands of Armenian Christians Cut Off by Military Blockade in Dire Straits
Tens of thousands of Armenian Christians are languishing in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh, due to a military blockade that is cutting them off from the outside world.
Pakistan Detains Over 100 Muslims Over Anti-Christian Violence (Worthy News Investigation)
More than 100 were arrested, and criminal investigations were launched against hundreds of others in east Pakistan city after thousands of Muslims burned churches and vandalized homes, Christians and officials said Thursday.