Prophecy News Watch provided by Worthy Ministries
Prophecy News Watch is a service hosted by Worthy Ministries to provide Christians daily news from a Biblical, and yet Prophetic worldview. Our news is gathered by our Christian News Service, Worthy News. For more about our vision for how we assemble our daily headlines, please read, "What is Worthy News?"
Around the World
UN Security Council 'strongly condemns' NKorea missile test
The U.N. Security Council strongly condemned North Korea’s launch of a ballistic missile over Japan on Tuesday, reiterating demands that Pyongyang halt its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs.
Obama Admin Hid Intel on Iranian Militants in Syria to Push Nuclear Deal
The Obama administration likely hid information about Iran illicitly ferrying militants into Syria on commercial aircraft in order to promote the landmark nuclear deal and foster multi-billion dollar business deals with Tehran's state-controlled airline sector, according to lawmakers and other sources familiar with the matter.
South Asia monsoon floods leave hundreds dead and thousands of homes destroyed
More than 1,200 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands of homes destroyed in monsoon floods sweeping across South Asia.
President Trump is leaving 'all options on the table' after latest North Korea missile launch
President Trump on Tuesday said that 'all options are on the table' in dealing with North Korea after the country launched a missile that passed over Japanese airspace hours earlier.
Nearly 3-mile wide asteroid to pass close by Earth Sept. 1
A large rock will fly past Earth on Sept. 1, 2017, at a distance of 4.4 million miles (7 million kilometers). Asteroid 3122 Florence, named after modern nursing founder Florence Nightingale, is the largest object to make a close-encounter since NASA began tracking near-Earth objects (NEO) in the 1990s.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israeli ministry drops opposition to adoption by same-sex couples
Israel’s Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs has reversed its opposition to allowing same-sex couples to adopt in the country.
In Ramallah, Guterres embraces two-state solution
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on his first visit to the Palestinian territories since taking office in January, embraced a two-state solution on Tuesday.
Netanyahu: 'No more uprooting of settlements in Israel'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday vowed there would be 'no more uprooting of settlements in the Land of Israel' at an event marking the 50th anniversary of Jewish settlement in the West Bank.
Head of Military Intelligence: Hezbollah is tightening grip on Lebanon
The head of the IDF Intelligence Directorate, Maj.- Gen. Herzi Halevi, told UN head Antonio Guterres in Jerusalem this week that Hezbollah is tightening its hold on Lebanon, citing serious and prolonged violations of Security Council Resolution 1701 by the terrorist group.
Balad summer camp concludes with procession extolling 'martyrs'
A summer camp for Arab-Israeli youths organized by the Arab-Israeli Balad party held its concluding ceremony this week in the Dheisheh refugee camp near Bethlehem, with campers marching alongside the camp's children in a procession honoring the 'martyrs.'
Israeli MP prays at flashpoint Jerusalem holy site
Israeli lawmaker Yehuda Glick, shot in 2014 over his campaign for Jewish prayer an ultra-sensitive Jerusalem holy site, visited there on Tuesday during a one-day break in a government ban.
Inside the United States
With Congress in stalemate, states take lead in Planned Parenthood defunding
The effort to defund Planned Parenthood may be stalled at the federal level, but recent legal and legislative victories have given states more power than ever to cut off taxpayer funding to the nation’s largest abortion provider.
Haunted by Katrina's memory, Louisiana now faces Harvey
Twelve years to the day after Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast, another deadly storm forced the rescue of hundreds of people from floodwaters in southwestern Louisiana and prompted New Orleans to shut down its schools and other key institutions as a precaution.
Trump vows ‘100 percent’ support, rapid federal aid to Harvey victims ahead of Texas visit
President Trump vowed '100 percent' support Monday to the victims of the massive storm known as Harvey, while predicting he and Congress will be able to quickly approve emergency aid to help the region recover.
Christian News
Christian girl fostered in Muslim home can rejoin family, judge rules
A five-year-old girl who was placed in the foster care of two Muslim households has been reunited with her family after a court ruled she could live with her grandmother.
Clergy march for racial justice on anniversary of Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
LaAnthia Washington lost a tooth weeks ago and had a dental appointment Monday. But the Forestville, Md., sought healing instead at the Ministers March for Justice.
UN Security Council 'strongly condemns' NKorea missile test
The U.N. Security Council strongly condemned North Korea’s launch of a ballistic missile over Japan on Tuesday, reiterating demands that Pyongyang halt its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs.
Obama Admin Hid Intel on Iranian Militants in Syria to Push Nuclear Deal
The Obama administration likely hid information about Iran illicitly ferrying militants into Syria on commercial aircraft in order to promote the landmark nuclear deal and foster multi-billion dollar business deals with Tehran's state-controlled airline sector, according to lawmakers and other sources familiar with the matter.
South Asia monsoon floods leave hundreds dead and thousands of homes destroyed
More than 1,200 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands of homes destroyed in monsoon floods sweeping across South Asia.
President Trump is leaving 'all options on the table' after latest North Korea missile launch
President Trump on Tuesday said that 'all options are on the table' in dealing with North Korea after the country launched a missile that passed over Japanese airspace hours earlier.
Nearly 3-mile wide asteroid to pass close by Earth Sept. 1
A large rock will fly past Earth on Sept. 1, 2017, at a distance of 4.4 million miles (7 million kilometers). Asteroid 3122 Florence, named after modern nursing founder Florence Nightingale, is the largest object to make a close-encounter since NASA began tracking near-Earth objects (NEO) in the 1990s.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israeli ministry drops opposition to adoption by same-sex couples
Israel’s Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs has reversed its opposition to allowing same-sex couples to adopt in the country.
In Ramallah, Guterres embraces two-state solution
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on his first visit to the Palestinian territories since taking office in January, embraced a two-state solution on Tuesday.
Netanyahu: 'No more uprooting of settlements in Israel'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday vowed there would be 'no more uprooting of settlements in the Land of Israel' at an event marking the 50th anniversary of Jewish settlement in the West Bank.
Head of Military Intelligence: Hezbollah is tightening grip on Lebanon
The head of the IDF Intelligence Directorate, Maj.- Gen. Herzi Halevi, told UN head Antonio Guterres in Jerusalem this week that Hezbollah is tightening its hold on Lebanon, citing serious and prolonged violations of Security Council Resolution 1701 by the terrorist group.
Balad summer camp concludes with procession extolling 'martyrs'
A summer camp for Arab-Israeli youths organized by the Arab-Israeli Balad party held its concluding ceremony this week in the Dheisheh refugee camp near Bethlehem, with campers marching alongside the camp's children in a procession honoring the 'martyrs.'
Israeli MP prays at flashpoint Jerusalem holy site
Israeli lawmaker Yehuda Glick, shot in 2014 over his campaign for Jewish prayer an ultra-sensitive Jerusalem holy site, visited there on Tuesday during a one-day break in a government ban.
Inside the United States
With Congress in stalemate, states take lead in Planned Parenthood defunding
The effort to defund Planned Parenthood may be stalled at the federal level, but recent legal and legislative victories have given states more power than ever to cut off taxpayer funding to the nation’s largest abortion provider.
Haunted by Katrina's memory, Louisiana now faces Harvey
Twelve years to the day after Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast, another deadly storm forced the rescue of hundreds of people from floodwaters in southwestern Louisiana and prompted New Orleans to shut down its schools and other key institutions as a precaution.
Trump vows ‘100 percent’ support, rapid federal aid to Harvey victims ahead of Texas visit
President Trump vowed '100 percent' support Monday to the victims of the massive storm known as Harvey, while predicting he and Congress will be able to quickly approve emergency aid to help the region recover.
Christian News
Christian girl fostered in Muslim home can rejoin family, judge rules
A five-year-old girl who was placed in the foster care of two Muslim households has been reunited with her family after a court ruled she could live with her grandmother.
Clergy march for racial justice on anniversary of Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
LaAnthia Washington lost a tooth weeks ago and had a dental appointment Monday. But the Forestville, Md., sought healing instead at the Ministers March for Justice.
Around the World
North Korea fires missile over Japan, sharply escalating tensions
North Korea fired a missile that flew over Japan and landed in waters off the northern region of Hokkaido early on Tuesday, South Korean and Japanese officials said, marking a sharp escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula.
Brexit: UK and EU negotiators call for more progress
The European Union's chief negotiator Michel Barnier has expressed concern about progress so far, as the third round of Brexit talks gets under way.
Iraq’s next tough moves: Finishing off Islamic State and establishing political stability
Iraq still faces tough military battles and hard political choices in the wake of the surprisingly quick advance over the weekend to oust Islamic State militants from the northern city of Tal Afar.
India and China end two-month border face-off in the Himalayas
The 'expeditious disengagement' comes two months after their soldiers began confronting each other at the Doklam plateau where India, China and Bhutan meet.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu to UN Chief: Iran Building Precision Missile Factories in Syria and Lebanon
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told visiting UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Monday that Iran is building sites to produce precision guided missiles in Syria and Lebanon.
Hamas leader hails Iranian military support
The Gaza head of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas said on Monday (Aug 28) it had increased its military capabilities thanks to newly improved relations with Iran.
US changes proposed anti-Hezbollah sanctions to ease Lebanon's fears
Proposed tighter U.S. sanctions on Hezbollah have been altered enough to allay fears of major damage to Lebanon's economy, a sign Washington is taking concerns about Lebanese stability seriously, banking and political sources said Sunday.
Hamas leader: Iran helping Hamas prepare for war with Israel
Iran is helping terrorists in Gaza prepare for war with Israel, according to a leading Hamas official.
Israel: We'll Bomb Assad's Palace if Iran Expands in Syria
A senior Israeli official has issued a warning to Russia that the Israeli military will bomb Syrian President Bashar Assad's palace in Damascus if Russia allows Iran to make military advances in Syria.
Israel Finalizes Deal for 17 Additional F-35 Stealth Fighters
The Israeli Defense Ministry has completed the acquisition process of 17 more F-35 stealth jets. The purchase is part of a larger deal to buy a total of 50 F-35 planes, which will enter service in the Israeli Air Force in two squadrons. The initial order of 33 F-35 jets is expected to be completely delivered by 2021.
Inside the United States
Trump ready for shutdown standoff over border wall: ‘We will build the wall’
President Trump stood firm Monday on his threat to shut down the government if congressional Democrats block funding for a wall on the border with Mexico, saying the wall was crucial to U.S. security and stopping the flow of illegal drugs.
ACLU sues Trump over transgender ban
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is suing President Trump over his decision to ban transgender people from serving in the military.
Democrats hype up leftist base, remain silent after violent antifa attack in Berkeley
California Democrats who whipped up opposition to the weekend’s free speech rallies had little to say after radical leftist protesters, led by the antifa movement, attacked police and Trump supporters on Sunday in Berkeley, injuring six.
Christian News
Christians Fear Crackdown on Religion Under Evangelism Ban in Nepal
While attacks against the Christian minority has increased in Nepal, the Himalayan country's parliament passed a bill criminalizing religious conversion and the "hurting of religious sentiment," aiming to restrict evangelism. The move is likely to further escalate Christian persecution.
Pastors Arrested in Sudan as Government Moves to Take Over Church
Police in Sudan arrested and interrogated seven church leaders last week in Omdurman, Sudan before releasing them on bail, sources said.
North Korea fires missile over Japan, sharply escalating tensions
North Korea fired a missile that flew over Japan and landed in waters off the northern region of Hokkaido early on Tuesday, South Korean and Japanese officials said, marking a sharp escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula.
Brexit: UK and EU negotiators call for more progress
The European Union's chief negotiator Michel Barnier has expressed concern about progress so far, as the third round of Brexit talks gets under way.
Iraq’s next tough moves: Finishing off Islamic State and establishing political stability
Iraq still faces tough military battles and hard political choices in the wake of the surprisingly quick advance over the weekend to oust Islamic State militants from the northern city of Tal Afar.
India and China end two-month border face-off in the Himalayas
The 'expeditious disengagement' comes two months after their soldiers began confronting each other at the Doklam plateau where India, China and Bhutan meet.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu to UN Chief: Iran Building Precision Missile Factories in Syria and Lebanon
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told visiting UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Monday that Iran is building sites to produce precision guided missiles in Syria and Lebanon.
Hamas leader hails Iranian military support
The Gaza head of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas said on Monday (Aug 28) it had increased its military capabilities thanks to newly improved relations with Iran.
US changes proposed anti-Hezbollah sanctions to ease Lebanon's fears
Proposed tighter U.S. sanctions on Hezbollah have been altered enough to allay fears of major damage to Lebanon's economy, a sign Washington is taking concerns about Lebanese stability seriously, banking and political sources said Sunday.
Hamas leader: Iran helping Hamas prepare for war with Israel
Iran is helping terrorists in Gaza prepare for war with Israel, according to a leading Hamas official.
Israel: We'll Bomb Assad's Palace if Iran Expands in Syria
A senior Israeli official has issued a warning to Russia that the Israeli military will bomb Syrian President Bashar Assad's palace in Damascus if Russia allows Iran to make military advances in Syria.
Israel Finalizes Deal for 17 Additional F-35 Stealth Fighters
The Israeli Defense Ministry has completed the acquisition process of 17 more F-35 stealth jets. The purchase is part of a larger deal to buy a total of 50 F-35 planes, which will enter service in the Israeli Air Force in two squadrons. The initial order of 33 F-35 jets is expected to be completely delivered by 2021.
Inside the United States
Trump ready for shutdown standoff over border wall: ‘We will build the wall’
President Trump stood firm Monday on his threat to shut down the government if congressional Democrats block funding for a wall on the border with Mexico, saying the wall was crucial to U.S. security and stopping the flow of illegal drugs.
ACLU sues Trump over transgender ban
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is suing President Trump over his decision to ban transgender people from serving in the military.
Democrats hype up leftist base, remain silent after violent antifa attack in Berkeley
California Democrats who whipped up opposition to the weekend’s free speech rallies had little to say after radical leftist protesters, led by the antifa movement, attacked police and Trump supporters on Sunday in Berkeley, injuring six.
Christian News
Christians Fear Crackdown on Religion Under Evangelism Ban in Nepal
While attacks against the Christian minority has increased in Nepal, the Himalayan country's parliament passed a bill criminalizing religious conversion and the "hurting of religious sentiment," aiming to restrict evangelism. The move is likely to further escalate Christian persecution.
Pastors Arrested in Sudan as Government Moves to Take Over Church
Police in Sudan arrested and interrogated seven church leaders last week in Omdurman, Sudan before releasing them on bail, sources said.
Around the World
Iran says S-300 air defense system now ‘fully integrated’
Iran’s advanced S-300 air defense system, delivered by Russia after years of delay, is now 'fully integrated' into the country’s air defense network, a senior Iranian air force commander told the country’s state media Sunday.
North Korea tests short-range missiles as South Korea, U.S. conduct drills
North Korea fired several short-range missiles into the sea off its east coast early on Saturday, South Korea and the U.S. military said, as the two allies conducted annual joint military drills that the North denounces as preparation for war.
Trump imposes new financial sanctions on Venezuela
Trump signed an executive order imposing new financial sanctions on the “dictatorship” of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the White House said.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Kushner Asks Abbas to Hold off on Anti-Israel Diplomatic Initiatives to Give Trump Administration Time to Formulate Peace Plan
U.S. President Donald Trump's senior adviser Jared Kushner asked Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas during their meeting in Ramallah on Thursday to freeze diplomatic initiatives against Israel for a period of some four months, in exchange for an American commitment to submit a comprehensive diplomatic plan within that time frame to kick-start the moribund peace process, a senior Palestinian official told Israel Hayom over the weekend.
Trump team, Netanyahu renew talks on US embassy move to Jerusalem
Senior members of the Trump administration and Israeli officials renewed talks over the possibility of moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a promise repeatedly made by the president in the 2016 election campaign, during high-level meetings in Israel last week, the Times of Israel has learned.
Netanyahu to reportedly meet Trump during upcoming visit to US in September
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will reportedly reserve time during his upcoming trip to the United States to meet with President Donald Trump.
Abbas to meet Erdogan in Ankara Monday
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet in Ankara on Monday to discuss Palestinian reconciliation, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced.
UN gives Gaza $2.5m. in humanitarian aid for water and fuel crisis
The United Nations has provided the Gaza Strip with $2.5 million in humanitarian aid to help with its water, electricity and fuel crisis.
Inside the United States
Harvey Pummels Texas with 11 Trillion Gallons of Water; May Be the Most Expensive Storm in U.S. History
Tropical Storm Harvey has stalled over southeast Texas where extreme rainfall has occurred in the Houston metro area, leading to record-breaking, catastrophic flooding. Days of drenching downpours are ahead, along with the potential for tornadoes and lingering coastal flooding.
Texas Governor, Mayor Split Over Whether Houston Needed Evacuations
A split between Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner over whether the metropolis should have been evacuated is raising questions about officials’ response to damaging floodwaters as a catastrophe continues to engulf the region.
Despite Parents' Objections, Teacher Defends 'Transgender Reveal' to Kindergartners
Concerned mothers and fathers flooded a school board meeting Monday in response to a Kindergarten teacher that introduced a student to her class as transgender without notifying parents. Now, another parent at the same school is outraged that her child was sent to the principal's office for 'misgendering' a male classmate who now identifies as a girl.
Antifa, leftist protesters spur mayhem in Berkeley even after cancellation of anti-Marxism rally
Two right-leaning rallies in the Bay Area were canceled over the weekend by organizers over fears of violence, but that didn’t stop leftist radicals from creating chaos.
8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rules against Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood had been on a legal winning streak, piling up decisions from judges who have ruled that states can’t stop the country’s largest abortion clinic network from receiving federal grant money.
Navy Collisions May Have Killed More U.S. Troops in 2017 than War in Afghanistan
U.S. Navy ship collisions in the western Pacific may have killed more American troops so far this year than the war in Afghanistan, illuminating critical readiness challenges facing the military branch.
Trump Pardons Sheriff Joe Arpaio
President Donald Trump granted a presidential pardon to Joe Arpaio, former Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, Friday night.
Report: Welfare Reform in Kansas Caused Individuals to Reenter Labor Force Earning Higher Incomes
Welfare reform implemented in Kansas caused individuals to reenter the labor force while earning higher incomes, according to a report from the Foundation for Government Accountability.
Christian News
Christian Photographer Claims Victory in Same-Sex Wedding Challenge
A Wisconsin circuit court ruled photographer Amy Lawson cannot be sued under certain anti-discrimination laws for refusing to take photos at the weddings of same-sex couples.
UK: Christian child forced into Muslim foster care
A white Christian child was taken from her family and forced to live with a niqab-wearing foster carer in a home where she was allegedly encouraged to learn Arabic.
Iran says S-300 air defense system now ‘fully integrated’
Iran’s advanced S-300 air defense system, delivered by Russia after years of delay, is now 'fully integrated' into the country’s air defense network, a senior Iranian air force commander told the country’s state media Sunday.
North Korea tests short-range missiles as South Korea, U.S. conduct drills
North Korea fired several short-range missiles into the sea off its east coast early on Saturday, South Korea and the U.S. military said, as the two allies conducted annual joint military drills that the North denounces as preparation for war.
Trump imposes new financial sanctions on Venezuela
Trump signed an executive order imposing new financial sanctions on the “dictatorship” of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the White House said.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Kushner Asks Abbas to Hold off on Anti-Israel Diplomatic Initiatives to Give Trump Administration Time to Formulate Peace Plan
U.S. President Donald Trump's senior adviser Jared Kushner asked Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas during their meeting in Ramallah on Thursday to freeze diplomatic initiatives against Israel for a period of some four months, in exchange for an American commitment to submit a comprehensive diplomatic plan within that time frame to kick-start the moribund peace process, a senior Palestinian official told Israel Hayom over the weekend.
Trump team, Netanyahu renew talks on US embassy move to Jerusalem
Senior members of the Trump administration and Israeli officials renewed talks over the possibility of moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a promise repeatedly made by the president in the 2016 election campaign, during high-level meetings in Israel last week, the Times of Israel has learned.
Netanyahu to reportedly meet Trump during upcoming visit to US in September
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will reportedly reserve time during his upcoming trip to the United States to meet with President Donald Trump.
Abbas to meet Erdogan in Ankara Monday
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet in Ankara on Monday to discuss Palestinian reconciliation, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced.
UN gives Gaza $2.5m. in humanitarian aid for water and fuel crisis
The United Nations has provided the Gaza Strip with $2.5 million in humanitarian aid to help with its water, electricity and fuel crisis.
Inside the United States
Harvey Pummels Texas with 11 Trillion Gallons of Water; May Be the Most Expensive Storm in U.S. History
Tropical Storm Harvey has stalled over southeast Texas where extreme rainfall has occurred in the Houston metro area, leading to record-breaking, catastrophic flooding. Days of drenching downpours are ahead, along with the potential for tornadoes and lingering coastal flooding.
Texas Governor, Mayor Split Over Whether Houston Needed Evacuations
A split between Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner over whether the metropolis should have been evacuated is raising questions about officials’ response to damaging floodwaters as a catastrophe continues to engulf the region.
Despite Parents' Objections, Teacher Defends 'Transgender Reveal' to Kindergartners
Concerned mothers and fathers flooded a school board meeting Monday in response to a Kindergarten teacher that introduced a student to her class as transgender without notifying parents. Now, another parent at the same school is outraged that her child was sent to the principal's office for 'misgendering' a male classmate who now identifies as a girl.
Antifa, leftist protesters spur mayhem in Berkeley even after cancellation of anti-Marxism rally
Two right-leaning rallies in the Bay Area were canceled over the weekend by organizers over fears of violence, but that didn’t stop leftist radicals from creating chaos.
8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rules against Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood had been on a legal winning streak, piling up decisions from judges who have ruled that states can’t stop the country’s largest abortion clinic network from receiving federal grant money.
Navy Collisions May Have Killed More U.S. Troops in 2017 than War in Afghanistan
U.S. Navy ship collisions in the western Pacific may have killed more American troops so far this year than the war in Afghanistan, illuminating critical readiness challenges facing the military branch.
Trump Pardons Sheriff Joe Arpaio
President Donald Trump granted a presidential pardon to Joe Arpaio, former Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, Friday night.
Report: Welfare Reform in Kansas Caused Individuals to Reenter Labor Force Earning Higher Incomes
Welfare reform implemented in Kansas caused individuals to reenter the labor force while earning higher incomes, according to a report from the Foundation for Government Accountability.
Christian News
Christian Photographer Claims Victory in Same-Sex Wedding Challenge
A Wisconsin circuit court ruled photographer Amy Lawson cannot be sued under certain anti-discrimination laws for refusing to take photos at the weddings of same-sex couples.
UK: Christian child forced into Muslim foster care
A white Christian child was taken from her family and forced to live with a niqab-wearing foster carer in a home where she was allegedly encouraged to learn Arabic.