A selection of recent happenings to aid your prayers.
Society & Politics
- Down’s test introduced in Wales: The controversial prenatal screening is likely to increase the number of abortions and possibly eradicate Down’s children altogether. Read more here.
- Freedom of speech outcry against abortion buffer zones: A number of high-profile campaigners, themselves pro-abortion, have spoken out in defence of pro-life vigils outside of abortion clinics on the grounds of freedom of speech. Read more here.
- Gambling crackdown: Culture Secretary Matt Hancock has announced the slashing of maximum bets on fixed-odds betting terminals from £100 to £2, despite experiencing strong opposition from betting firms. Read more here.
- Vicar leads call for gay couples on Strictly: The popular dancing show may see homosexual couples in future thanks to Rev Richard Coles, a former contestant and openly gay vicar whose call is gaining traction. Read more here.
Church Issues
- CofE urges government to keep civil partnerships: The Government is gathering information about the value of civil partnerships now that ‘marriage’ is available to all, regardless of sexual orientation. The established Church believes they should remain an option. Read more here.
World Scene
- California assisted suicide law overturned: A judge has ruled that the bill was passed illegally two years ago because it did not receive an open vote. The ruling may be appealed. Since the bill was passed, hundreds of terminally ill Californians have chosen to end their own lives. Read more here.
Israel & Middle East
- US embassy opens in Jerusalem: As Israel continues to celebrate her 70th birthday, the US embassy officially opened on Monday, despite international condemnation. Read more here and here, and watch the inauguration ceremony in full here.
- At least 50 of the 62 Gaza deaths were Hamas members: Out of tens of thousands attacking the border fence and amidst smoke from tyre fires, the IDF has managed an astounding record in targeting only terrorists with live fire. Senior Hamas figures have boasted openly about the violent nature of the riots, but Egyptian intervention has curbed them.
- Hamas turns away Israeli aid: Humanitarian aid to Gaza from the West Bank and from UNICEF was accepted, but IDF shipments of medical equipment were turned away. Read more here.
- Israel’s diplomatic standoff with Turkey: In protest over the death toll of the Gaza riots, Turkey has expelled its Israeli consul general and recalled its own diplomatic envoys from Israel. Erdogan is holding a pan-Arab summit on Friday 18 May in condemnation of Israel. Read more here and here.
Recommended Sources
At Prophecy Today UK we are aware that the world is moving very quickly and it is difficult to keep up with all the latest developments – especially when the material circulated by our mainstream media is increasingly far from reality and definitely not devoted to a biblical perspective!
Though we are not a news service, we want to help keep you informed by passing on updates and reports as we are led. This will be a selective, not an exhaustive, round-up, which we hope will be helpful for your prayers. Click here to browse our News archive.
We also recommend the following news services for regular updates from a Christian perspective:
- Christian Concern (UK)
- Christian Institute (UK)
- JNN News (Barry and Batya Segal, Israel)
- Worthy News (Israel)
- Family Watch International
- Barnabas Fund
- Kehila News (Israel)
