Prophecy News Watch - January 4, 2023
Around the World
China, Russia to Boost Ties ‘At All Levels’ in 2023 Despite U.S. Pressure
Determined to thwart the ongoing efforts of the United States to simultaneously counter both of its top rivals, China and Russia have made a joint resolution to increase their cooperation on a variety of fronts in the New Year.
Russia to modernize nuclear forces in 2023, add more multi-warhead nukes
Russia is bolstering its strategic nuclear forces in 2023 with further deployment of multi-warhead nuclear missiles and further modernization of its long-range strategic bomber division, the Russian Defense Ministry announced this week.
Putin’s Military Criticized After Deadliest Ukraine Attack
Russian President Vladimir Putin faced embarrassment Tuesday after one of Ukraine’s deadliest attacks on Russian troops was reportedly caused by the unauthorized use of mobile phones.
UK set to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as terror organization
The UK is set to follow the United States in designating Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, Jewish News UK reports. With Tehran continually threatening the annihilation of Israel, a designation of the 250,000-strong IRGC as a terror organization has long been sought by British Jewish and pro-Israel groups.
Zelensky signs controversial law to increase governmental control of Ukrainian media
Overriding strong objections from press freedom organizations, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday signed controversial legislation granting the government increased regulatory power over Ukrainian journalism and media groups, the Hill reports. Zelensky has wanted to strengthen governmental control of the Ukrainian media since he came to office in 2019.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Ben Gvir faces dilemma as activists ask to hold Passover sacrifice on Temple Mount
A fringe religious group on Monday night asked newly installed National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir for permission to perform the Passover ritual sacrifice on the Temple Mount this coming spring.
Hezbollah chief: Middle East could ‘explode’ after Ben-Gvir’s Temple Mount visit
Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah warned on Tuesday of consequences for Israeli Cabinet member Itamar Ben-Gvir’s visit to Jerusalem’s Temple Mount.
UN Security Council slated to meet on widely decried Temple Mount visit by Ben Gvir
The United Nations Security Council will convene an emergency session to discuss firebrand National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s visit to Jerusalem’s flashpoint Temple Mount, which drew a flood of international condemnations on Tuesday, a source said Tuesday.
UN General Assembly condemned Israel more than all other countries combined last year
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed more resolutions against Israel than it passed against all other countries put together in 2022, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports.
Inside the United States
Christian affiliation dominates roster of 118th Congress; majority is Protestant
A higher percentage of members of the 118th Congress, 88%, identify as Christian than the share of Christians in the U.S. population, which stands at 63%, a Pew Research Center analysis revealed Tuesday.
Bomb Cyclone to Hit California Days After Deadly Floods
California is set to get battered by another intense rainstorm, just days after a previous storm caused severe flooding throughout the Golden State.
US House Adjourns After Not Electing Speaker
The U.S. House of Representatives adjourned Tuesday after failing three times to elect a Speaker in a development not seen for a century.
S&P 500 companies suffer worst losses since 2008 global financial meltdown
Stocks saw their worst performance since the 2008 global financial crisis as the Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 10 points to close at 3,840 by the end of 2022, CBS News reports. A market-capitalization-weighted index of 500 leading US publicly traded companies and a key gauge of the stock market overall; the S&P 500 index was down 19.4% by the end of last year.
Christian News
Pakistan Christians Help Family Of Raped, Killed Widow
Christians in Pakistan said Tuesday they will support five orphans left behind after their widowed mother was gang raped and killed by five suspected Muslim men, now in custody.
Worthy Insights
Why Elon Musk’s ‘X App’ could be an even bigger headache for D.C. than Twitter
Even before Elon Musk’s dramatic and controversial takeover of Twitter, the restless mogul was pitching the social-media company as his key to realizing a much bigger dream.
China, Russia to Boost Ties ‘At All Levels’ in 2023 Despite U.S. Pressure
Determined to thwart the ongoing efforts of the United States to simultaneously counter both of its top rivals, China and Russia have made a joint resolution to increase their cooperation on a variety of fronts in the New Year.
Russia to modernize nuclear forces in 2023, add more multi-warhead nukes
Russia is bolstering its strategic nuclear forces in 2023 with further deployment of multi-warhead nuclear missiles and further modernization of its long-range strategic bomber division, the Russian Defense Ministry announced this week.
Putin’s Military Criticized After Deadliest Ukraine Attack
Russian President Vladimir Putin faced embarrassment Tuesday after one of Ukraine’s deadliest attacks on Russian troops was reportedly caused by the unauthorized use of mobile phones.
UK set to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as terror organization
The UK is set to follow the United States in designating Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, Jewish News UK reports. With Tehran continually threatening the annihilation of Israel, a designation of the 250,000-strong IRGC as a terror organization has long been sought by British Jewish and pro-Israel groups.
Zelensky signs controversial law to increase governmental control of Ukrainian media
Overriding strong objections from press freedom organizations, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday signed controversial legislation granting the government increased regulatory power over Ukrainian journalism and media groups, the Hill reports. Zelensky has wanted to strengthen governmental control of the Ukrainian media since he came to office in 2019.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Ben Gvir faces dilemma as activists ask to hold Passover sacrifice on Temple Mount
A fringe religious group on Monday night asked newly installed National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir for permission to perform the Passover ritual sacrifice on the Temple Mount this coming spring.
Hezbollah chief: Middle East could ‘explode’ after Ben-Gvir’s Temple Mount visit
Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah warned on Tuesday of consequences for Israeli Cabinet member Itamar Ben-Gvir’s visit to Jerusalem’s Temple Mount.
UN Security Council slated to meet on widely decried Temple Mount visit by Ben Gvir
The United Nations Security Council will convene an emergency session to discuss firebrand National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s visit to Jerusalem’s flashpoint Temple Mount, which drew a flood of international condemnations on Tuesday, a source said Tuesday.
UN General Assembly condemned Israel more than all other countries combined last year
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed more resolutions against Israel than it passed against all other countries put together in 2022, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports.
Inside the United States
Christian affiliation dominates roster of 118th Congress; majority is Protestant
A higher percentage of members of the 118th Congress, 88%, identify as Christian than the share of Christians in the U.S. population, which stands at 63%, a Pew Research Center analysis revealed Tuesday.
Bomb Cyclone to Hit California Days After Deadly Floods
California is set to get battered by another intense rainstorm, just days after a previous storm caused severe flooding throughout the Golden State.
US House Adjourns After Not Electing Speaker
The U.S. House of Representatives adjourned Tuesday after failing three times to elect a Speaker in a development not seen for a century.
S&P 500 companies suffer worst losses since 2008 global financial meltdown
Stocks saw their worst performance since the 2008 global financial crisis as the Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 10 points to close at 3,840 by the end of 2022, CBS News reports. A market-capitalization-weighted index of 500 leading US publicly traded companies and a key gauge of the stock market overall; the S&P 500 index was down 19.4% by the end of last year.
Christian News
Pakistan Christians Help Family Of Raped, Killed Widow
Christians in Pakistan said Tuesday they will support five orphans left behind after their widowed mother was gang raped and killed by five suspected Muslim men, now in custody.
Worthy Insights
Why Elon Musk’s ‘X App’ could be an even bigger headache for D.C. than Twitter
Even before Elon Musk’s dramatic and controversial takeover of Twitter, the restless mogul was pitching the social-media company as his key to realizing a much bigger dream.