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
The Netherlands In Civil War Mode After Curfew Riots In Christian Fishing Town (Worthy News In-Depth)
The historic Dutch town of Urk is an unlikely place for riots. This picture-perfect place is famous for its churches, and religion has always played a vital part in daily life. But last weekend, frustration boiled over into violence in this God-fearing fishing community.
Poland’s near-total abortion ban takes effect amid nationwide protests
A near-total ban on abortion has taken effect in Poland and triggered a new round of nationwide protests three months after a top court ruled that the abortion of congenitally damaged fetuses is unconstitutional.
Iran Enriched ’17 Kilograms’ Of 20 Percent Enriched Uranium, Exceeding Goals
Iran's parliament speaker says the country has produced 17 kilograms of 20 percent-enriched uranium within a month, as Iranian officials continue to dismiss international calls for Tehran to return to full compliance with the 2015 nuclear agreement.
Biden temporarily suspends arms sales to UAE, Saudi Arabia
The newly inaugurated Biden administration announced Wednesday it has temporarily suspended arms sales to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, DW reports. Noting it is standard practice for a new administration to review arms deals worth billions of dollars, a US State Department official described the suspension as "routine administrative action."

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israeli Leaders Work to Extend Lockdown Again Amid Intense Government Infighting
Israeli lawmakers will vote today to increase fines for those who violate the regulations of Israel’s third nationwide lockdown. The measure has been the source of intense government infighting and could sink another government meeting scheduled for Thursday intended to extend the now month-long lockdown set to expire on Jan. 31.

Inside the United States
Obstruction boomerang: FBI knew DOJ was preparing to fire Comey long before Trump ordered it
Newly declassified FBI memos provide startling new details that undercut the frenzied 2017 effort to investigate Donald Trump for obstruction, revealing the FBI knew Director James Comey's firing had been conceived by Justice Department leadership long before the president pulled the trigger during a key moment in the Russia probe.
Biden to sign executive orders expanding access, strengthening ObamaCare through special enrollment period
President Biden is expected to sign executive orders Thursday aimed at getting more Americans signed up for health care by reopening the federal Health Insurance Marketplace during a special enrollment period of the Affordable Care Act.
Conservatives fear Kevin Clinesmith sentencing could be the last word from John Durham
A federal judge will decide Friday whether to send former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith to prison for lying so the agency could continue court-approved spying on a 2016 Trump campaign aide.
Biden rescinds abortion restrictions on US foreign aid
President Joe Biden on Thursday rescinded a regulation that barred U.S. foreign aid from being used to perform or promote abortions. His decision, while expected, was cheered by abortion-choice advocates and some humanitarian groups and denounced by anti-abortion groups.
Senate and House committees to hold hearings on GameStop trading fallout
Both the House Committee on Financial Services and the Senate Banking Committee announced Friday that they will hold hearings regarding "recent market instability" after a number of major online stock brokerages introduced restrictions on trades involving tech stocks commonly shorted by institutional investors.
US Defense Intelligence Agency bought warrantless phone location data
A report published Friday reveals that the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in recent years bought American smartphone location data with first obtaining warrants, Common Dreams reports. As the DIA is responsible for apprising military and civilian policymakers about the actions and intentions of foreign governments and non-state actors, the current revelation has caused digital rights advocates to react with alarm.

Christian News
Eritrea Releases 10 Christian Prisoners
Eritrea has released a further 10 Christians from one of its notorious prison facilities bringing the total to nearly 80 freed believers since September, Worthy News learned.
Nigeria Islamic Herdsmen Kill Pentecostal Pastor
Suspected Islamic Fulani herdsmen have killed a Pentecostal pastor in Nigeria’s restive Niger Delta oil hub, Christian rights activists confirmed Thursday.
Iran Detains Christian Blogger
A Christian online writer who already received lashes for expressing her faith in Christ and criticizing Iran’s human rights abuses has been detained again, supporters said Thursday.
Cuban Pastor arrested for leading “illegal” church released after 10 days
Pastor Karel Parra Rosabal, who was arrested and detained for 10 days in Cuba on the grounds that he leads an “illegal” church, has been released and told that all charges against him have been dropped, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports. Pastor Parra Rosabal leads the unregistered Fuego y Dinámica Apostolic Church in Jobabo, Las Tunas: the Cuban government refuses to recognize and register Apostolic churches.
Turkey continues to desecrate historical churches
Turkey is continuing its neglect of historical churches, in what is reportedly an ongoing effort by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to lead the country further into Islamic culture, International Christian Concern reports.

Worthy Watch
US Labs Paving Way for Quantum Internet
Scandal: NY AG Accuses Cuomo Admin of Undercounting COVID Nursing Home Deaths by as Much as 50%
To Insults Of U.S. Troops, Biden Administration Adds Forcing Female Soldiers To Shower With Men
Around the World
Holocaust Survivors Receive Coronavirus Vaccines Amid Tensions
Hundreds of Holocaust survivors in Austria and Slovakia have received their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine despite concerns about possible side effects and amid mounting antisemitism.
Russian parliament OKs New START nuclear treaty extension
The lower house of Russian parliament on Wednesday quickly approved the extension of the last remaining nuclear arms control pact days before it’s due to expire.
Iran Will Take Steps Next Month to Curb Short-Notice IAEA Inspections: Official
Iran threatened on Tuesday to block short-notice inspections of its nuclear facilities, demanding Washington reverse economic sanctions before it returns to compliance with a nuclear deal that President Joe Biden aims to restore.
US B-52 bomber flies over Gulf again in message to Iran
A US B-52 heavy bomber flew over the Persian Gulf, the US military said on Wednesday, in the sixth such flight since November 2020 -- and the third this year.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israeli Military Chief Orders New Plans to Strike Iran’s Nuclear Program
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi announced on Tuesday the IDF is preparing military plans to hit Iran’s nuclear program in the upcoming year.
IDF chief’s message to Biden: If necessary, Israel will act alone
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi's speech at the annual INSS conference on Tuesday might have been in Hebrew, but what he said was aimed at speakers of both English and Farsi.

Inside the United States
Fed holds rates near zero amid fresh signs US economic recovery is slowing
The Federal Reserve said during its first meeting of the year on Wednesday that it would leave interest rates near zero and reaffirmed its commitment to other easing policies amid fresh signs the U.S. economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic is slowing.
Homeland Security issues domestic terrorism alert due to ‘violent extremists’
The Department of Homeland Security issued a domestic terrorism alert cautioning the public of potential attacks from "violent extremists."
Biden Creates Commission To Study Supreme Court Reform
President Joe Biden’s administration is creating a commission to study Supreme Court reform, Politico reported Wednesday.
New Gallup Poll: 11% of Americans satisfied with country’s direction
A new Gallup poll taken before the Jan. 20 inauguration of President Joe Biden shows 11% of Americans are satisfied with the condition of the US. Reporting its poll results, Gallup specifies it found Republicans’ satisfaction with the US tied with Independents’ at 14%, compared to Democrats’ level of 5%.
Virginia court rules state election board cannot accept late ballots without postmarks
A County election official has won a permanent injunction against Virginia accepting late ballots with no postmark, the Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) reported Monday. The case had been brought by PILF on behalf of Thomas Reed, a local electoral board member.

Christian News
Report lists countries were Christians are most persecuted
The Open Doors persecution watchdog has published its 2021 list of countries where it is most dangerous for Christians to practice their faith, Christianity Today reports. Published this month, the list is based on grassroots reports from Open Door workers between November 1, 2019, and October 31, 2020.

Worthy Watch
Faith Under Fire: Gingrich warns U.S. religious liberty in gravest peril since Revolutionary War
GameStop Making Waves on Wall Street
Social Influencer Being Charged for a Meme!
Around the World
US exploring new bases in Saudi Arabia amid Iran tensions
The U.S. military is exploring the possibility of using a Red Sea port in Saudi Arabia and an additional two airfields in the kingdom amid heightened tensions with Iran, the military said Tuesday.
US, Russia agree to extend ‘New START’ nuclear arms treaty
The United States and Russia "agreed in principle" to extend the New START arms treaty by five years, the Kremlin reported on its website Tuesday following a phone call between US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Declassified U.S. intelligence bolsters Wuhan lab theory in coronavirus outbreak
U.S. intelligence findings recently declassified by the State Department provide fresh evidence for the theory that the COVID-19 pandemic likely began at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, China’s sole high-security laboratory that has links to the country’s military.
China President says US may trigger next Cold War
Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Monday that US efforts to isolate China may trigger a “new Cold War,” the Washington Times (WT) reports. President Xi made his remarks during a video speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte resigns
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte resigned Tuesday after former PM Matteo Renzi pulled his Italia Viva party out of a deeply divided governing coalition, Sky News reports. Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella has asked Mr. Conte to stay on in a caretaker capacity while he begins consultations with the leaders of the other parties on Wednesday.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
U.S. announces restoration of relations with Palestinians
U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration announced Tuesday it was restoring relations with the Palestinians and renewing aid to Palestinian refugees, a reversal of the Trump administration’s cutoff and a key element of its new support for a two-state solution to the decades-old conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
IDF chief warns Israel won’t accept return to Iran nuclear deal, offensive military options on table
The head of the IDF warned Tuesday that Israel would not accept a direct return to the Iran nuclear deal and the military was preparing contingency plans in case the Iranians moved closer to producing a nuclear weapon.

Inside the United States
Trump’s Conviction Unlikely Vote Shows
A conviction of former U.S. President Donald J. Trump appeared unlikely as 45 Republican senators voted against holding an impeachment trial.
Judge Bars Biden from Enforcing 100-Day Ban on Deportations After Texas AG Files Federal Lawsuit
A federal judge on Tuesday barred the U.S. government from enforcing a 100-day deportation moratorium that is a key immigration priority of President Joe Biden.
Senate Filibuster’s Future Shaky, Meaning Radical Agenda Could Someday be Imposed by 51-to-50 Vote
Pretty much in every place in the nation’s capital, the majority rules. The lone holdout is the U.S. Senate, which was created to be a slower, more deliberative body. The filibuster slows things down by forcing the 100-member Senate to get 60 votes to move ahead on an issue.
Planned Parenthood victory: Supreme Court nixes rulings that upheld Texas pandemic abortion ban
In a victory for Planned Parenthood, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday overturned two lower court rulings that had sided with GOP officials in banning most abortion procedures in Texas in an effort to conserve medical resources at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
Seattle and Portland finally decide they don’t want rioting, but bail reform could hurt clampdown
Leaders in Oregon and Washington are finally pledging an end to near-nightly chaos caused by antifa and other radical groups they gave free rein to while former President Donald Trump was in office.
Declassified! The Russia informant transcript the FBI didn’t want Americans to see
Four days before the FBI secured a surveillance warrant against him in fall 2016, Trump campaign adviser Carter Page repeatedly knocked down the key allegations at the heart of the Russia collusion investigation while talking to a government informant who was wearing a wire.
All border wall construction to be stopped Tuesday night
Construction workers on the U.S.-Mexico border were notified to stop all border wall projects by the end of Tuesday, according to a congressman whose district sits on the international boundary.
Biden issues executive order allowing transgender people to join US military
President Joe Biden has issued an executive order that reverses the Trump administration’s ban on transgender people joining the US military, Voice of America reports. Transgender citizens had been allowed to serve in the military and receive transitioning treatment under former President Barack Obama, but new transgender recruits were subsequently banned under former President Donald Trump.

Christian News
Ethiopia: “Urgent” humanitarian crisis now unfolding
Ethiopia is in the midst of a full-blown humanitarian crisis as refugees flee to the border with Sudan and up to two million people face starvation while the government wars against a separatist group in the country’s Tigray region, CBN News reports. Among daily reports of mass killings on both sides is the reported massacre of over 700 Orthodox Christians outside their church in Tigray’s city of Aksum earlier this month.

Worthy Watch
Do you understand why they are going after Trump in a 2nd impeachment? Let MSNBC clarify.
John Solomon Reveals Explosive Statements Kept from the American People
Definition of a Dictator in the words of Biden in October
Senator Rand Paul Speaks Out in the Hypocrisy of Incitement
Flashback: “I hope” Democrats Break the Rules to take Down Trump
Fauci says wearing two face masks is ‘common sense’ and ‘likely’ more effective
Tucker Carlson Warns of H.R. 1 Radical Change Coming to America
Democrats Have Released a Roadmap to One-Party Rule