Prophecy News Watch provided by Worthy Ministries

Around the World
Pentagon releases map disputing claim US drone violated Iranian airspace; Iran’s version is very different
The Pentagon released a map Thursday indicating that the U.S. drone shot down by Iran was over international waters and not over Iran, contrary to what Iranian officials maintain.
Trump said to okay strikes against Iran, then suddenly cancel them
The US military made preparations Thursday night for limited strikes on Iran in retaliation for the downing of a US surveillance drone, but approval was abruptly withdrawn before the attacks were launched, a US official said.
Iran Shot Down a $176 Million U.S. Drone. Here's What to Know About the RQ-4 Global Hawk
In technical terms, the drone that Iran shot down was a U.S. Navy Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS-D) aircraft, which is a Navy version of the Air Force’s high-flying RQ-4A Global Hawk. In simple terms, it is an unmanned aircraft that is intended for surveillance at sea.
Mexico first to ratify new North American trade agreement
Mexico has become the first country to ratify the new trilateral trade deal pushed by U.S. President Donald Trump as a replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
In first test of army chief’s new strategy, IDF simulates war with Hezbollah
The Israeli military this week conducted a massive exercise simulating war against the Hezbollah terror group — its largest drill in two years — in a first test of army chief Aviv Kohavi’s new strategy for the Israel Defense Forces.
Iran crisis steals attention from Trump's Israel-Palestinian peace plans
Talk of war with Iran is drowning out President Donald Trump’s efforts to bring peace to another part of the Middle East.
Israeli Soldiers, Archaeologists Discover Watchtower from Biblical King Hezekiah’s Time
A 2700- year-old watchtower from the time of biblical King Hezekiah was recently discovered at a military base in southern Israel by an excavation that included members of the Israeli Paratroopers Brigade and recruits from commando units working alongside the Israel Antiquities Authority. The actual location of the site cannot be revealed for security purposes.

Inside the United States
U.S. appeals court lets Trump abortion referral 'gag rule' go into effect
A federal appeals court on Thursday cleared the way for the Trump administration to enforce a controversial rule barring clinics that receive federal funds for family planning services from referring patients to abortion providers.
'Peace Cross' Remains Standing After Landmark Religious Freedom Decision
A 40-foot cross memorializing fallen soldiers in World War I have been spared destruction after the Supreme Court ruled Thursday that its religious dimension did not violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment.
Government meeting opens with 'Hail Satan' prayer
A Satanic Temple member who won the right to open a regional Alaska government meeting declared 'Hail Satan' during her first invocation, prompting about a dozen officials and attendees to walk out.
Marijuana use by U.S. teens has increased tenfold since 1990s
As society relaxes its rules around marijuana, U.S. teens seem to be responding by using the drug in much bigger numbers than a generation ago, new research shows.
Defying Trump, GOP-led Senate votes to block Saudi arms sales
The Republican-led Senate voted Thursday to block $8.1 billion in US arms sales to Saudi Arabia and other Arab allies, as legislators outraged with the kingdom delivered a symbolic rebuke to President Donald Trump.

Christian News
Christian Pakistani Girls Continue to Face Kidnappings, Abuse at the Hands of Muslim Men
A Christian Pakistani girl was kidnapped and raped by five Muslims before being returned to her father a day later in a traumatized condition, ucanews.com reports.
Ethiopian Evangelical Church Faces Closure Due To Inexplicable Noise Pollution Complaint
An evangelical Protestant Church in Ethiopia received an eviction letter on May 15th citing noise complaints from local residents after operating peaceably for 10 years, according to World Watch Monitor.
ISIS Bomb Plot Against Pittsburgh Church Foiled by FBI
A 21-year-old Syrian refugee from Pittsburgh was arrested on a federal complaint Wednesday, after discussions with undercover FBI officials uncovered a plot to bomb a North Pittsburgh church in the name of ISIS.

Around the World
Iran shoots down US drone amid rising tensions in Strait of Hormuz
Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards have shot down a US 'spy' drone in the southern province of Hormozgan, which is on the Gulf, the Guards' news website Sepah News said on Thursday.
Russia and China Oppose 'Unilateral' Moves By US On Iran
Russia and China are concocting a plan to circumvent US sanctions on Iran.
Migratory birds may be spreading superbugs, researchers warn
Urban wildlife such as birds and bats may be spreading superbugs around the cities of developing nations because of poor management of human and animal waste, researchers have warned.
Parents take school to court for teaching their 6-y-o girl gender fluidity, causing her distress
An Ontario couple has filed a complaint in the provincial Human Rights court against the school system after their six-year-old daughter was taught gender fluidity in class and started worrying she might not be female.
US Must Prevent Establishment of Iranian ‘Land Bridge’ to Mediterranean, New Think Tank Paper Urges
Iran is seeking to build a 'land bridge' to extend the reach of its influence all the way to the Mediterranean Sea, and 'disrupting' this corridor should be a priority of the United States, a paper published on Tuesday by the Washington, DC-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) think tank said.
New U.S. deployment includes more Patriot missile defenses
The latest deployment of 1,000 additional troops to the Middle East, which was announced on Monday, will include a Patriot missile battalion, manned and unmanned surveillance aircraft and 'other deterrence capabilities,' the Pentagon said on Wednesday.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israeli laser system to protect NATO tanker transport aircraft
A laser system designed by Israel's Elbit Systems to protect aircraft against infrared missiles will be implemented in NATO's Multinational Multi Role Tanker Transport Fleet (MMF) starting in 2020, the company announced this week.
Israeli Minister Sees US-Mediated Lebanese Sea Border Talks in Weeks
Israel expects US-mediated talks with Lebanon on setting their maritime border to be launched within a month, Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steintiz said on Wednesday.
Israel unveils portable Iron Dome at Paris air show
Israeli aerospace company Rafael has unveiled a portable Iron Dome missile defense battery this week, promising deployed troops the same protection the original system provided for civilian populations.

Inside the United States
Fed wary of economic clouds, but leaves interest rates unchanged for now
The Federal Reserve is holding its benchmark interest rate steady, although policymakers indicate a willingness to loosen the monetary reins if U.S. economic growth sags.
U.S. Senate To Vote On Bill To Block Trump’s Sale of Weapons To Saudi Arabia, Others
The U.S. Senate will vote on June 20 on legislation seeking to block $8 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia and other Arab allies, as lawmakers' anger with Riyadh increases.
A swarm of 1,000 earthquakes hit Southern California — how nervous should we be?
The seismic storm that unleashed more than 1,000 small earthquakes in San Bernardino and Riverside counties these last three weeks elicited what has become a typical reaction in quake country.
Female Student Athletes File Federal Complaint After Transgender Runner Dominates Girls’ Track Meets
On Monday, three female high school athletes filed a federal discrimination complaint against Connecticut’s policy regarding transgender athletes. The girls claim they were racing at a disadvantage against their transgender opponent, a male who identifies as a female, impacting the final results of the race.

Christian News
President Trump to Address Huge Evangelical Conference Next Week
A senior White House official tells CBN News that President Trump will speak to thousands of conservative Christians next Wednesday, June 26, at the Faith and Freedom Coalition's Road to Majority Conference in Washington, DC.

Around the World
China Upbraids the US for ‘Extreme Pressure Methods’ Against Iran
China is seeking to deter the US from its current Iran policy, Reuters reports.
US squadron of F-15E fighters arrive in UAE amid Iran tensions
A squadron of American F-15E Strike Eagles arrived in United Arab Emirates on Thursday as part of reinforcements against the Iranian threat as announced last month by the Pentagon.
New Radar System Immune to Stealth Developed by China, claims Chinese developer
China's maritime early warning radar system is immune to 'radar killer' missiles and is capable of detecting stealth aircraft, according to its developer in a recent interview with media.
'Iranian missiles can hit aircraft carriers in Persian Gulf'
Iranian missiles are capable of carrying out precision strikes on aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami said Tuesday in an interview with Iranian state television.
UN: Nearly 71 million now displaced by war, violence at home
A record 71 million people have been displaced worldwide from war, persecution and other violence, the U.N. refugee agency said Wednesday, an increase of more than 2 million from last year and an overall total that would amount to the world's 20th most populous country.
Russia, China block UN from saying NKorea violated sanctions
Russia and China have blocked the U.N. Security Council committee monitoring sanctions against North Korea from declaring that Pyongyang breached the annual limit for importing refined petroleum products which are key for its economy, two U.N. diplomats said Tuesday.
Pompeo: US forces in Persian Gulf just a deterrent
The Trump administration is not seeking conflict with Iran and its military buildup in the Persian Gulf is aimed entirely at deterring Iranian aggression and threats to US interests and international shipping, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
White House Reverses Course on 'Apolitical' Bahrain Conference
After saying that no Israeli officials would attend the Bahrain peace conference on June 25-26, which is set to unveil the economic portion of the Trump administration’s answer to Middle East peace, the White House has invited former Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) Yoav Mordechai, the Times of Israel reported Tuesday.
Israel Holds F-35 Drills in Anticipation of Regional War
Israel is holding its first drills with US-purchased F-35 fighter jets this week, in a large-scale exercise designed to simulate a war with northern adversaries Hezbollah, Syria, and Russia.
Netanyahu: Israel-Russia-U.S. meeting in Jerusalem crucial for regional security
Next week’s meeting in Jerusalem between the national security advisers of Israel, the United States, and Russia is 'very important for the stability of the Middle East during these turbulent times,' said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday.
Greenblatt: Israel should hold off on annexation until peace plan unveiled
US Special Envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt said Tuesday that Israel should not move ahead with possible plans to annex parts of the West Bank, at least before the Trump administration’s peace plan comes out.
For First Time, Israeli F-35s Take Part in Drill Simulating Multi-Front War
For the first time, Israel’s advance F-35 fighter aircraft — called the 'Adir' — participated in a combat simulation, Ynet reported on Tuesday.

Inside the United States
Senators reach $4.5B deal on Trump's emergency border request
The top members of the Senate Appropriations Committee have struck a deal on President Trump's request for more funding tied to the U.S.-Mexico border after weeks of stalemate, two aides confirmed to The Hill.
Trump launches re-election bid before jam-packed arena, vows to 'Keep America Great'
President Trump formally launched his 2020 re-election campaign Tuesday night before a jam-packed crowd in Orlando's Amway Center arena, and quickly unloaded on the media organizations and government actors he said tried their hardest with 'everything they had' to bring down both his candidacy and presidency.
Charitable giving dropped last year in the wake of the new tax law
Americans gave less to charity in 2018 than a year earlier, following changes in the tax law and fourth-quarter declines in the stock market, according to a new report.
House votes to block Trump's transgender troop ban
The House voted Tuesday to block the Pentagon’s new transgender troop policy, taking a swipe at President Donald Trump’s move to ban transgender service in the military.
CA Lawmakers Trying to Force Pastors to Embrace Pro-LGBT Ideology
California Assemblyman Evan Low and three dozen other lawmakers are pushing a resolution in the state Assembly Judiciary Committee that's aimed at telling religious leaders in California what they should preach from their pulpits.
U.S. seizes $1 billion worth of cocaine from ship in Philadelphia
Federal authorities seized 16.5 tons of cocaine worth more than $1 billion from a ship in Philadelphia in one of the largest drug seizures in U.S. history, the U.S. Justice Department said on Tuesday.