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?"
Today's Breaking News
Around the World
Obama, Merkel push for trade deal as foreign crises weigh
U.S. President Barack Obama said on Sunday he would do whatever he could to advance a controversial trade deal with the European Union in his last eight months in office, but warned that time was running short.
Obama to send more U.S. troops to Syria
President Obama is expected to announce Monday that he is sending another 250 military personnel to Syria to assist local forces combat the Islamic State, according to multiple reports.
German court asked to ban political party agitated by refugees
Amid a refugee crisis and a surge of violence targeting foreigners, Germany's highest court is weighing a move it has taken only twice since the fall of the Nazis: banning a political party.
Obama rejects North Korea's offer to suspend missile tests
President Obama said Sunday he doesn't take seriously North Korea's offer to suspend its missile program if the U.S. ends annual military exercises with South Korea.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel's New Half-Billion Dollar Submarine
Israel's fifth submarine cost half a billion dollars and it is 68 meters long (10 meters longer than the existing Dolphin submarines), but the secret to its military might is the fact it can stay deep underwater for longer periods of time, 10 times, and at times even longer, than other submarines. The stealth capabilities of the new submarine, and of its 'sister' INS Tanin, allows them to be completely silent while underwater, thanks to their electric engines.
Worshipers and police swarm Western Wall for priestly blessing
Tens of thousands of people thronged to the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City under heavy police guard for a twice-annual mass blessing ceremony Monday morning.
Jordan: Stop Jews from visiting Temple Mount or face consequences
The Jordanian government warned on Monday that there would be 'serious consequences' if Israel continues to allow Jews to ascend the Temple Mount following a busy Sunday where over 100 Jews visited the holy site in honor of the first of the intermediary days of Passover on Sunday, according to reports by Israel radio.
Inside the United States
Paul Ryan teases 'very comprehensive' tax plan
Americans can expect congressional Republicans to offer a "very comprehensive" plan to simplify the tax code in the near future, House Speaker Paul Ryan said Sunday.
White House poised to release secret pages from 9/11 inquiry
The Obama administration will likely soon release at least part of a 28-page secret chapter from a congressional inquiry into 9/11 that may shed light on possible Saudi connections to the attackers.
No One Works in 1 in 5 U.S. Families
There were one in five families in the United States in 2015, or 19.7 percent, in which no one in the family worked, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
U.S. Politics
GOP chair calls for unity at RNC meeting
The head of the Republican National Committee called on the party to consolidate behind the eventual GOP presidential nominee, saying it is necessary to capture control of the White House in November.
Republicans Cruz, Kasich reach 'stop-Trump' deal
Republican White House rivals Ted Cruz and John Kasich announced a deal on Sunday to stay out of each other's way in some upcoming state primaries in hopes of blocking front-runner Donald Trump from winning the party's presidential nomination.
McAuliffe restores voting rights for 206K ex-felons; GOP calls it move to boost Clinton
Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed an executive order Friday restoring the voting rights of 206,000 ex-felons, a sweeping action the governor said was aimed largely at rectifying Virginia's 'long and sad history' of suppressing African-American voting power.
Christian News
Uganda: Muslims Destroy Church
Muslims in Uganda last week killed pigs owned by Christians and then destroyed their church.
Oklahomans to Vote on Whether to Return Ten Commandments Monument to State Capitol
Controversy over a Ten Commandments monument removed from the grounds of the state Capitol in October continues with an effort to reinstate the monument.
Around the World
Obama, Merkel push for trade deal as foreign crises weigh
U.S. President Barack Obama said on Sunday he would do whatever he could to advance a controversial trade deal with the European Union in his last eight months in office, but warned that time was running short.
Obama to send more U.S. troops to Syria
President Obama is expected to announce Monday that he is sending another 250 military personnel to Syria to assist local forces combat the Islamic State, according to multiple reports.
German court asked to ban political party agitated by refugees
Amid a refugee crisis and a surge of violence targeting foreigners, Germany's highest court is weighing a move it has taken only twice since the fall of the Nazis: banning a political party.
Obama rejects North Korea's offer to suspend missile tests
President Obama said Sunday he doesn't take seriously North Korea's offer to suspend its missile program if the U.S. ends annual military exercises with South Korea.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel's New Half-Billion Dollar Submarine
Israel's fifth submarine cost half a billion dollars and it is 68 meters long (10 meters longer than the existing Dolphin submarines), but the secret to its military might is the fact it can stay deep underwater for longer periods of time, 10 times, and at times even longer, than other submarines. The stealth capabilities of the new submarine, and of its 'sister' INS Tanin, allows them to be completely silent while underwater, thanks to their electric engines.
Worshipers and police swarm Western Wall for priestly blessing
Tens of thousands of people thronged to the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City under heavy police guard for a twice-annual mass blessing ceremony Monday morning.
Jordan: Stop Jews from visiting Temple Mount or face consequences
The Jordanian government warned on Monday that there would be 'serious consequences' if Israel continues to allow Jews to ascend the Temple Mount following a busy Sunday where over 100 Jews visited the holy site in honor of the first of the intermediary days of Passover on Sunday, according to reports by Israel radio.
Inside the United States
Paul Ryan teases 'very comprehensive' tax plan
Americans can expect congressional Republicans to offer a "very comprehensive" plan to simplify the tax code in the near future, House Speaker Paul Ryan said Sunday.
White House poised to release secret pages from 9/11 inquiry
The Obama administration will likely soon release at least part of a 28-page secret chapter from a congressional inquiry into 9/11 that may shed light on possible Saudi connections to the attackers.
No One Works in 1 in 5 U.S. Families
There were one in five families in the United States in 2015, or 19.7 percent, in which no one in the family worked, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
U.S. Politics
GOP chair calls for unity at RNC meeting
The head of the Republican National Committee called on the party to consolidate behind the eventual GOP presidential nominee, saying it is necessary to capture control of the White House in November.
Republicans Cruz, Kasich reach 'stop-Trump' deal
Republican White House rivals Ted Cruz and John Kasich announced a deal on Sunday to stay out of each other's way in some upcoming state primaries in hopes of blocking front-runner Donald Trump from winning the party's presidential nomination.
McAuliffe restores voting rights for 206K ex-felons; GOP calls it move to boost Clinton
Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed an executive order Friday restoring the voting rights of 206,000 ex-felons, a sweeping action the governor said was aimed largely at rectifying Virginia's 'long and sad history' of suppressing African-American voting power.
Christian News
Uganda: Muslims Destroy Church
Muslims in Uganda last week killed pigs owned by Christians and then destroyed their church.
Oklahomans to Vote on Whether to Return Ten Commandments Monument to State Capitol
Controversy over a Ten Commandments monument removed from the grounds of the state Capitol in October continues with an effort to reinstate the monument.
Today's Breaking News
Around the World
France announces global summit on Israel-Palestinian peace process
France will host a meeting of ministers from 20 countries on May 30 to try and relaunch the Israel-Palestinian peace process, Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault announced on Thursday. He told the international press, however, that Israel and the Palestinian officials would not be invited to the meeting, which will take place in Paris.
Japanese prototype stealth plane makes first flight
Japan's first domestically manufactured stealth plane has made its first flight, making Japan one of only a handful of nations with airplane stealth capabilities.
China could build nuclear plants for South China Sea, paper says
China is getting closer to building maritime nuclear power platforms that could one day to used to support Chinese projects in the disputed South China Sea, a widely-read state-run newspaper said on Friday.
North Korea may have restarted tunneling at key nuclear site
Satellite images reveal North Korea may have restarted a tunnel-excavating project at its main nuclear test site signaling that another major launch could be on the way, a key monitoring website says.
UK issues travel warning about anti-LGBT laws in U.S. states
The U.S. is now one of a number of countries and territories about which the UK Foreign Office offers advice to LGBT travelers. 'The U.S. is an extremely diverse society and attitudes towards LGBT people differ hugely across the country,' it says. 'LGBT travelers may be affected by legislation passed recently in the states of North Carolina and Mississippi.'
Talks stalled, Syrian opposition to stay in Geneva next week
The main Syrian opposition group says it's keeping 'technical experts' in Geneva next week to focus on humanitarian aid for the war-ravaged country, a wobbly cease-fire and a stepped-up push to win the release of detainees.
China Confirms Multiple-Warhead Missile Test in South China Sea
China's Defense Ministry on Thursday confirmed that Beijing fired its newest long-range missile into the South China Sea in a test this week, amid growing tensions between Washington and Beijing.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu hails 'very successful' meeting with Putin
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday labeled his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier in the day as “very successful,” adding that the two countries reached understandings over issues that had previously not been sufficiently clarified.
Russian forces fired on Israeli jets at least twice
Russian forces fired on Israeli Air Force planes at least twice in recent weeks, according to a Friday morning report in the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.
Israel will never leave Golan, Netanyahu tells Putin
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday informed Russian President Vladimir Putin of his 'red lines' regarding the security of Israel's northern borders, and stressed that the Jewish state was determined to maintain its control of the Golan Heights.
Fearing terror attacks, IDF closes West Bank, Gaza ahead of Passover
Israel will close off the West Bank and Gaza Strip for 48 hours beginning Friday, amid fears of attacks by the Hamas terror group during the Jewish holiday of Passover, which begins Friday night, the army announced Thursday.
Inside the United States
Longest Cross-Border Drug Tunnel Discovered Had Elevator, Ventilation and Lighting, U.S. Atty. Says
Authorities on Wednesday revealed the details of the longest cross-border drug smuggling tunnel ever discovered in California. An estimated $1.2 million worth of marijuana and about $22 million worth of cocaine was seized.
FBI paid more than $1.3 million to break into San Bernardino iPhone
Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey said on Thursday the agency paid more to get into the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino shooters than he will make in the remaining seven years and four months he has in his job.
Pro-life group blasts Donald Trump for suggesting change to GOP platform on abortion
One of the largest pro-life groups in the nation on Thursday blasted Republican primary front-runner Donald Trump for saying he would work to change the GOP platform on abortion to include exceptions for rape, incest and threat to the life of the mother.
Pentagon to Counter Hypersonic Missiles with Lasers
The U.S. is moving to counter Chinese and Russian hypersonic strike vehicles using lasers, the director of the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency revealed last week.
U.S. Politics
Trump's Harriet Tubman reaction highlights GOP problems with black voters
When the U.S. Treasury Department announced that they were bumping Andrew Jackson off the front of the $20 bill to be replaced by Harriet Tubman, most conservatives and Republicans praised the decision. But not Donald Trump.
Christian News
China: Pastor and Wife Bulldozed Alive
The wife of a church leader in China's Henan province was buried alive with her husband under the rubble of their demolished church where she suffocated and died on April 14.
Hundreds of Formerly Antagonistic Hindus Turning to Christ
Hundreds of Hindus who were fiercely antagonistic toward Christianity have been turning to Christ.
Around the World
France announces global summit on Israel-Palestinian peace process
France will host a meeting of ministers from 20 countries on May 30 to try and relaunch the Israel-Palestinian peace process, Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault announced on Thursday. He told the international press, however, that Israel and the Palestinian officials would not be invited to the meeting, which will take place in Paris.
Japanese prototype stealth plane makes first flight
Japan's first domestically manufactured stealth plane has made its first flight, making Japan one of only a handful of nations with airplane stealth capabilities.
China could build nuclear plants for South China Sea, paper says
China is getting closer to building maritime nuclear power platforms that could one day to used to support Chinese projects in the disputed South China Sea, a widely-read state-run newspaper said on Friday.
North Korea may have restarted tunneling at key nuclear site
Satellite images reveal North Korea may have restarted a tunnel-excavating project at its main nuclear test site signaling that another major launch could be on the way, a key monitoring website says.
UK issues travel warning about anti-LGBT laws in U.S. states
The U.S. is now one of a number of countries and territories about which the UK Foreign Office offers advice to LGBT travelers. 'The U.S. is an extremely diverse society and attitudes towards LGBT people differ hugely across the country,' it says. 'LGBT travelers may be affected by legislation passed recently in the states of North Carolina and Mississippi.'
Talks stalled, Syrian opposition to stay in Geneva next week
The main Syrian opposition group says it's keeping 'technical experts' in Geneva next week to focus on humanitarian aid for the war-ravaged country, a wobbly cease-fire and a stepped-up push to win the release of detainees.
China Confirms Multiple-Warhead Missile Test in South China Sea
China's Defense Ministry on Thursday confirmed that Beijing fired its newest long-range missile into the South China Sea in a test this week, amid growing tensions between Washington and Beijing.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu hails 'very successful' meeting with Putin
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday labeled his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier in the day as “very successful,” adding that the two countries reached understandings over issues that had previously not been sufficiently clarified.
Russian forces fired on Israeli jets at least twice
Russian forces fired on Israeli Air Force planes at least twice in recent weeks, according to a Friday morning report in the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.
Israel will never leave Golan, Netanyahu tells Putin
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday informed Russian President Vladimir Putin of his 'red lines' regarding the security of Israel's northern borders, and stressed that the Jewish state was determined to maintain its control of the Golan Heights.
Fearing terror attacks, IDF closes West Bank, Gaza ahead of Passover
Israel will close off the West Bank and Gaza Strip for 48 hours beginning Friday, amid fears of attacks by the Hamas terror group during the Jewish holiday of Passover, which begins Friday night, the army announced Thursday.
Inside the United States
Longest Cross-Border Drug Tunnel Discovered Had Elevator, Ventilation and Lighting, U.S. Atty. Says
Authorities on Wednesday revealed the details of the longest cross-border drug smuggling tunnel ever discovered in California. An estimated $1.2 million worth of marijuana and about $22 million worth of cocaine was seized.
FBI paid more than $1.3 million to break into San Bernardino iPhone
Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey said on Thursday the agency paid more to get into the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino shooters than he will make in the remaining seven years and four months he has in his job.
Pro-life group blasts Donald Trump for suggesting change to GOP platform on abortion
One of the largest pro-life groups in the nation on Thursday blasted Republican primary front-runner Donald Trump for saying he would work to change the GOP platform on abortion to include exceptions for rape, incest and threat to the life of the mother.
Pentagon to Counter Hypersonic Missiles with Lasers
The U.S. is moving to counter Chinese and Russian hypersonic strike vehicles using lasers, the director of the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency revealed last week.
U.S. Politics
Trump's Harriet Tubman reaction highlights GOP problems with black voters
When the U.S. Treasury Department announced that they were bumping Andrew Jackson off the front of the $20 bill to be replaced by Harriet Tubman, most conservatives and Republicans praised the decision. But not Donald Trump.
Christian News
China: Pastor and Wife Bulldozed Alive
The wife of a church leader in China's Henan province was buried alive with her husband under the rubble of their demolished church where she suffocated and died on April 14.
Hundreds of Formerly Antagonistic Hindus Turning to Christ
Hundreds of Hindus who were fiercely antagonistic toward Christianity have been turning to Christ.
Today's Breaking News
Around the World
Russia Moves Artillery Units to Northern Syria
Russia has reportedly been moving artillery units to parts of northern Syria populated by President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, a move that could indicate that Russia is readying to bolster its ally should full-scale fighting resume.
Iran Conducts Space Launch
Iran this week conducted the first launch of a new rocket that the Pentagon views as a key element of Tehran’s effort to build long-range missiles.
NATO security chiefs warn of ISIS plan for nuclear attack on Europe
Islamic State terrorists are plotting to carry out biological and nuclear attack on Europe warned NATO security experts on Wednesday according to reports by the Telegraph.
Zika virus: 2.2 billion people in 'at risk' areas
The Zika virus, which is spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, triggered a global health emergency this year.
Nato and Russia trade accusations
Renewed Nato-Russia talks ended in 'profound disagreement' on Wednesday (20 April) over Ukraine and over Russia's harassment of Nato assets.
Japan earthquake Japan faces fresh earthquake panic as 6.1 magnitude tremor hits coast near Fukushima nuclear plant
Japan was plunged into fresh panic today as a 6.1 magnitude tremor hit the northern coast - the third major earthquake within a week.
Russia Bolsters Its Submarine Fleet, and Tensions With U.S. Rise
Russian attack submarines, the most in two decades, are prowling the coastlines of Scandinavia and Scotland, the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic in what Western military officials say is a significantly increased presence aimed at contesting American and NATO undersea dominance.
Justice opens criminal investigation into Panama Papers
The Justice Department has an open criminal investigation into the Panama Papers, according to a letter the department sent this week.
Conservatives won big last night, in election nobody noticed
Just months after the Conservative Party went down to defeat in Canada to Justin Trudeau's Liberals, they've come roaring back at the local level in the prairie province of Manitoba. Brian Pallister's Progressive Conservative Party got 40 seats in the 57-seat provincial parliament, the NDP got 14 and the Liberals 3.
Obama Seeks Meeting With Iranian President
President Barack Obama has sent two letters to senior Iranian leaders in recent months requesting a meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, according to Persian language reports recently translated by a Middle East research organization.
Saudi Arabia takes out $10bn in bank loans
Saudi Arabia is raising $10bn from a consortium of global banks as the kingdom embarks on its first international debt issuance in 25 years to counter dwindling oil revenues and reserves.
Obama Admin Unsure If Iran Spent $3 Billion in New Cash on Terrorism
Obama administration officials disclosed Tuesday that Iran has been granted access to about $3 billion in unfrozen assets in the months since the nuclear agreement was implemented, but it remains unclear to the administration if the Islamic Republic has spent any of this money to fund its global terrorism enterprise, according to top officials. In the coming months, the U.S. and foreign governments will help Iran access another $50 billion to $55 billion in assets.
China Flight Tests New Multiple-Warhead Missile
China conducted another flight test of its newest and longest-range intercontinental ballistic missile last week amid growing tensions with the United States over the South China Sea.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu heads to Moscow for talks on Syria
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was slated to travel to Russia Thursday morning for a quick round of a meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin during which the leaders are expected to discuss Syrian fighting and weapons sales to Iran.
Lamb slaughtered at Passover re-enactment in Jerusalem
At a model Passover sacrifice ceremony on the Mount of Olives attended by approximately 400 people, several public figures expressed the hope that the Dome of the Rock shrine and the al-Aqsa mosque will soon be removed from the Temple Mount.
Hamas praises Jerusalem bus bomber as 'martyr'
The Islamic militant group Hamas is praising a Palestinian as a 'martyr' for carrying out a bus bombing that injured about 20 people in Jerusalem this week.
Islamic radicalization fuels 'dire' threat to Jews in Europe, congressional panel hears
A congressional human rights commission heard testimony from experts on how Islamic radicalization in Europe has ramped up risk for Jewish communities.
Jerusalem pride parade stabber convicted of murder
Yishai Schlissel, who stabbed six people at the Jerusalem pride parade in July 2015, was on Tuesday convicted of murder and six counts of attempted murder. One of Schlissel's victims, 16-year-old Shira Banki, succumbed to her wounds after having been critically injured.
Inside the United States
House votes to rein in IRS
The House Wednesday passed two bills aimed at reining in the Internal Revenue Service and holding the agency accountable.
Movement pursues the 'real story' of Saudi involvement in Sept. 11
Saudi Arabia’s grass roots of Muslim clerics, mosquegoers and wealthy oilmen funded al Qaeda’s $30 million annual budget at the time a Saudi-dominated platoon of terrorists carried out the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America.
Across U.S., thousands puff for legal pot at 4/20 parties
Thousands of people sent up a cheer and a collective plume of marijuana smoke at the stroke of 4:20 p.m. Wednesday in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert signs resolution calling porn a 'health hazard'
A state with a national reputation for wholesomeness is taking aim at a medium with quite a different reputation: the pornography industry.
Abortion clinics accused of fetal-tissue profiteering
Cecile Richards' longstanding insistence that Planned Parenthood has never profited from fetal-tissue sales drew scrutiny Wednesday as House Republicans noted that abortion clinics essentially get paid for doing nothing.
US Supreme Court: Iran owes $2b to terror victims' families
The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a judgment allowing families of victims of Iranian-sponsored terrorism to collect nearly $2 billion.
Court troubled by surveillance excesses at FBI, NSA
In a just-released court opinion, a federal court judge overseeing government surveillance programs said he was 'extremely concerned' about a series of incidents in which the Federal Bureau of Investigation and National Security Agency deviated from court-approved limits on their snooping activities.
GAO to Investigate Federal Funding of Planned Parenthood
The Government Accountability Office has announced plans to investigate the federal funding of Planned Parenthood.
Utah declares pornography a 'public health hazard'
Utah state Sen. Todd Weiler finds pornography 'vile' and 'degrading,' but it's more than that: As far as he's concerned, it's also bad for you.
Federal Researchers Build Massive Online Database of Genomic Data
A new online portal would let scientists access vast amounts of genomic data from patients involved in heart, lung, blood and sleep research studies.
Nation's largest health insurer to exit majority of Obamacare exchanges
UnitedHealth, the nation's biggest health insurer, will remain in public health insurance exchanges in only a handful of states next year after expanding to 34 this year.
U.S. Politics
Home field advantage: Trump, Clinton win New York
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton won New York's Republican and Democratic primaries, respectively.
Republican establishment warms to Trump after big New York win
U.S. Republican officials began meeting on Wednesday, a day after Donald Trump's crushing victory in a New York presidential nominating contest, and said he has been winning growing acceptance within their ranks - but they want to see the billionaire do more to mend fences with the party establishment.
GOP delegates: Trump's attacks could backfire
Republican delegates are warning Donald Trump that attacks on them and their party's presidential selection process could backfire, sinking him at the convention or damaging his prospects in November if he wins the nomination.
Clinton scores dominant win in N.Y.
Hillary Clinton cruised to victory in the New York primary Tuesday night, securing the dominant win she needed to halt Sen. Bernard Sanders' momentum and tighten her grip on the Democratic presidential nomination.
New York values Trump as The Donald demolishes Kasich, Cruz in Empire State
Donald Trump crushed his opponents Tuesday night en route to a major victory in New York's Republican presidential primary, scoring a needed boost after a string of setbacks and putting himself back in the driver's seat as the campaign nears the final stretch.
Gallup: 63 percent say nomination fight hurting the GOP
More than six in 10 Republicans worry the party's nomination process is taking a toll on the GOP, according to a new Gallup poll.
Christian News
Turky: Gov't seizes six church buildings
The Turkish government has seized control of six church buildings in the country's Diyarbakir region.
Indonesia: Authorities attack prayer gathering
Authorities in Indonesia opened fire on a peaceful meeting in Timika, West Papua, as thousands of protesters gathered to pray for an independence referendum on April 5.
Noah's Ark theme park to search for all-Christian staff
The Ark Encounter, a theme park in Williamstown, Kentucky, modeled on the biblical tale of Noah's Ark, will soon be hiring, but non-Christians need not apply.
Church Leader's Wife Buried Alive, Killed by Chinese Authorities for Protesting Church Demolition
A Christian house church leader and his wife were buried alive in China's central Henan province for protesting against the government-ordered demolition of their church, and while the man managed to escape, his wife suffocated to death.
Vietnamese Police beat wife of jailed Mennonite pastor
Tran Thi Hong is married to Nguyen Cong Chinh, a Mennonite pastor who is in prison on charges of being an enemy of the state. Last Thursday (14 April), she was beaten by Vietnamese police in Pleiku, Gia Lai province (central Vietnam), because she refused to reveal the contents of a meeting she had with a US human rights delegation.
Around the World
Russia Moves Artillery Units to Northern Syria
Russia has reportedly been moving artillery units to parts of northern Syria populated by President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, a move that could indicate that Russia is readying to bolster its ally should full-scale fighting resume.
Iran Conducts Space Launch
Iran this week conducted the first launch of a new rocket that the Pentagon views as a key element of Tehran’s effort to build long-range missiles.
NATO security chiefs warn of ISIS plan for nuclear attack on Europe
Islamic State terrorists are plotting to carry out biological and nuclear attack on Europe warned NATO security experts on Wednesday according to reports by the Telegraph.
Zika virus: 2.2 billion people in 'at risk' areas
The Zika virus, which is spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, triggered a global health emergency this year.
Nato and Russia trade accusations
Renewed Nato-Russia talks ended in 'profound disagreement' on Wednesday (20 April) over Ukraine and over Russia's harassment of Nato assets.
Japan earthquake Japan faces fresh earthquake panic as 6.1 magnitude tremor hits coast near Fukushima nuclear plant
Japan was plunged into fresh panic today as a 6.1 magnitude tremor hit the northern coast - the third major earthquake within a week.
Russia Bolsters Its Submarine Fleet, and Tensions With U.S. Rise
Russian attack submarines, the most in two decades, are prowling the coastlines of Scandinavia and Scotland, the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic in what Western military officials say is a significantly increased presence aimed at contesting American and NATO undersea dominance.
Justice opens criminal investigation into Panama Papers
The Justice Department has an open criminal investigation into the Panama Papers, according to a letter the department sent this week.
Conservatives won big last night, in election nobody noticed
Just months after the Conservative Party went down to defeat in Canada to Justin Trudeau's Liberals, they've come roaring back at the local level in the prairie province of Manitoba. Brian Pallister's Progressive Conservative Party got 40 seats in the 57-seat provincial parliament, the NDP got 14 and the Liberals 3.
Obama Seeks Meeting With Iranian President
President Barack Obama has sent two letters to senior Iranian leaders in recent months requesting a meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, according to Persian language reports recently translated by a Middle East research organization.
Saudi Arabia takes out $10bn in bank loans
Saudi Arabia is raising $10bn from a consortium of global banks as the kingdom embarks on its first international debt issuance in 25 years to counter dwindling oil revenues and reserves.
Obama Admin Unsure If Iran Spent $3 Billion in New Cash on Terrorism
Obama administration officials disclosed Tuesday that Iran has been granted access to about $3 billion in unfrozen assets in the months since the nuclear agreement was implemented, but it remains unclear to the administration if the Islamic Republic has spent any of this money to fund its global terrorism enterprise, according to top officials. In the coming months, the U.S. and foreign governments will help Iran access another $50 billion to $55 billion in assets.
China Flight Tests New Multiple-Warhead Missile
China conducted another flight test of its newest and longest-range intercontinental ballistic missile last week amid growing tensions with the United States over the South China Sea.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu heads to Moscow for talks on Syria
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was slated to travel to Russia Thursday morning for a quick round of a meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin during which the leaders are expected to discuss Syrian fighting and weapons sales to Iran.
Lamb slaughtered at Passover re-enactment in Jerusalem
At a model Passover sacrifice ceremony on the Mount of Olives attended by approximately 400 people, several public figures expressed the hope that the Dome of the Rock shrine and the al-Aqsa mosque will soon be removed from the Temple Mount.
Hamas praises Jerusalem bus bomber as 'martyr'
The Islamic militant group Hamas is praising a Palestinian as a 'martyr' for carrying out a bus bombing that injured about 20 people in Jerusalem this week.
Islamic radicalization fuels 'dire' threat to Jews in Europe, congressional panel hears
A congressional human rights commission heard testimony from experts on how Islamic radicalization in Europe has ramped up risk for Jewish communities.
Jerusalem pride parade stabber convicted of murder
Yishai Schlissel, who stabbed six people at the Jerusalem pride parade in July 2015, was on Tuesday convicted of murder and six counts of attempted murder. One of Schlissel's victims, 16-year-old Shira Banki, succumbed to her wounds after having been critically injured.
Inside the United States
House votes to rein in IRS
The House Wednesday passed two bills aimed at reining in the Internal Revenue Service and holding the agency accountable.
Movement pursues the 'real story' of Saudi involvement in Sept. 11
Saudi Arabia’s grass roots of Muslim clerics, mosquegoers and wealthy oilmen funded al Qaeda’s $30 million annual budget at the time a Saudi-dominated platoon of terrorists carried out the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America.
Across U.S., thousands puff for legal pot at 4/20 parties
Thousands of people sent up a cheer and a collective plume of marijuana smoke at the stroke of 4:20 p.m. Wednesday in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert signs resolution calling porn a 'health hazard'
A state with a national reputation for wholesomeness is taking aim at a medium with quite a different reputation: the pornography industry.
Abortion clinics accused of fetal-tissue profiteering
Cecile Richards' longstanding insistence that Planned Parenthood has never profited from fetal-tissue sales drew scrutiny Wednesday as House Republicans noted that abortion clinics essentially get paid for doing nothing.
US Supreme Court: Iran owes $2b to terror victims' families
The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a judgment allowing families of victims of Iranian-sponsored terrorism to collect nearly $2 billion.
Court troubled by surveillance excesses at FBI, NSA
In a just-released court opinion, a federal court judge overseeing government surveillance programs said he was 'extremely concerned' about a series of incidents in which the Federal Bureau of Investigation and National Security Agency deviated from court-approved limits on their snooping activities.
GAO to Investigate Federal Funding of Planned Parenthood
The Government Accountability Office has announced plans to investigate the federal funding of Planned Parenthood.
Utah declares pornography a 'public health hazard'
Utah state Sen. Todd Weiler finds pornography 'vile' and 'degrading,' but it's more than that: As far as he's concerned, it's also bad for you.
Federal Researchers Build Massive Online Database of Genomic Data
A new online portal would let scientists access vast amounts of genomic data from patients involved in heart, lung, blood and sleep research studies.
Nation's largest health insurer to exit majority of Obamacare exchanges
UnitedHealth, the nation's biggest health insurer, will remain in public health insurance exchanges in only a handful of states next year after expanding to 34 this year.
U.S. Politics
Home field advantage: Trump, Clinton win New York
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton won New York's Republican and Democratic primaries, respectively.
Republican establishment warms to Trump after big New York win
U.S. Republican officials began meeting on Wednesday, a day after Donald Trump's crushing victory in a New York presidential nominating contest, and said he has been winning growing acceptance within their ranks - but they want to see the billionaire do more to mend fences with the party establishment.
GOP delegates: Trump's attacks could backfire
Republican delegates are warning Donald Trump that attacks on them and their party's presidential selection process could backfire, sinking him at the convention or damaging his prospects in November if he wins the nomination.
Clinton scores dominant win in N.Y.
Hillary Clinton cruised to victory in the New York primary Tuesday night, securing the dominant win she needed to halt Sen. Bernard Sanders' momentum and tighten her grip on the Democratic presidential nomination.
New York values Trump as The Donald demolishes Kasich, Cruz in Empire State
Donald Trump crushed his opponents Tuesday night en route to a major victory in New York's Republican presidential primary, scoring a needed boost after a string of setbacks and putting himself back in the driver's seat as the campaign nears the final stretch.
Gallup: 63 percent say nomination fight hurting the GOP
More than six in 10 Republicans worry the party's nomination process is taking a toll on the GOP, according to a new Gallup poll.
Christian News
Turky: Gov't seizes six church buildings
The Turkish government has seized control of six church buildings in the country's Diyarbakir region.
Indonesia: Authorities attack prayer gathering
Authorities in Indonesia opened fire on a peaceful meeting in Timika, West Papua, as thousands of protesters gathered to pray for an independence referendum on April 5.
Noah's Ark theme park to search for all-Christian staff
The Ark Encounter, a theme park in Williamstown, Kentucky, modeled on the biblical tale of Noah's Ark, will soon be hiring, but non-Christians need not apply.
Church Leader's Wife Buried Alive, Killed by Chinese Authorities for Protesting Church Demolition
A Christian house church leader and his wife were buried alive in China's central Henan province for protesting against the government-ordered demolition of their church, and while the man managed to escape, his wife suffocated to death.
Vietnamese Police beat wife of jailed Mennonite pastor
Tran Thi Hong is married to Nguyen Cong Chinh, a Mennonite pastor who is in prison on charges of being an enemy of the state. Last Thursday (14 April), she was beaten by Vietnamese police in Pleiku, Gia Lai province (central Vietnam), because she refused to reveal the contents of a meeting she had with a US human rights delegation.