Society & Politics
A selection of the week's happenings to aid your prayers
Society & Politics
- RSE guidelines delayed by a year: The Department for Education has announced that schools can delay introducing Relationships and Sex Education until the summer term of 2021, giving schools more time to consult with parents. Read more here and here. Meanwhile, a new website giving guidance on parental rights has been launched by The Values Foundation.
- N. Irish MPs reject abortion legislation: Stormont has passed a motion rejecting the change in abortion law being imposed from Westminster, sending a strong message to the UK Government. Read more here. Also this week, a bill to ban late-term abortion on the grounds of very minor disabilities has received its first reading. It already has the support of a group of cross-party MPs. Read more here and here.
- LGBTQ+ activists push back in Warwickshire: After the county council dropped its controversial pro-transgender ‘toolkit’ for schools following outcry from parents, Warwickshire Pride is pushing to have the guidance reinstated. Read more here.
Church Issues
- Church leaders petition Govt to open churches: A group of church leaders are calling on the Government to change its stance regarding collective worship, which is not being considered an ‘essential’ service during the pandemic. Read more here.
- Wycliffe reports translators battling starvation: According to the well-known Bible translation group, translators around the world representing more than 50 languages are facing severe food shortages due to Covid-19. Read more here.
World Scene
- George Floyd unrest goes global: Protests and riots have erupted across the US and cities worldwide after the death of an African-American in Minneapolis police custody on 25 May. The unrest has seen mass rallies and at least 17 further deaths, widespread looting and the destruction of property, including the vandalism of churches and synagogues. Concern has been raised about its impacts on Covid-19 transmission.
- Trump rejects UN Covid agreement, WHO co-operation: The US Government has rejected a UN coronavirus aid plan that promotes abortion. Read more here. Last week Trump announced that the US is ‘terminating’ its relationship with the World Health Organisation over its handling of the pandemic and its close relationship with China. Read more here. This week the President signed an executive order earmarking $50 million for religious freedom projects around the world.
- Hollywood to portray Jesus as female, lesbian: The Christian Film and Television Commission and CitizenGO are mobilising Christians to protest the latest blasphemous film to come out of Hollywood. Read more here.
- Congo battles Covid-19, measles and ebola: A fresh ebola outbreak in the Congo – the 11th since 1976 – adds to the woes of the embattled country, already facing coronavirus and the world’s largest measles outbreak. Read more here.
Israel & Middle East
- US ‘unlikely’ to back 1 July annexation: The Whitehouse has declared that a joint US-Israel mapping committee must finish its work – which could take months – before any annexation takes place. Read more here.
- Iran attack on Israel’s water supply foiled: An Iranian cyber-attack on an Israeli water treatment plant in April, seeking to poison Israelis by increasing the levels of chlorine in their water, may mark the start of a new era of cyber-warfare. Read more here.
- Israel and Saudi Arabia in Temple Mount talks: Clandestine talks have reportedly been held since December to water down the Palestinian and Turkish influence in the Temple Mount Waqf Council by introducing Saudi members. Read more here and here.
Events
- Europe Awakening Conference (Saturday 6 - Sunday 7 June): Streamed live from San Remo, the delayed conference on 'end times Bible prophecy and Kingdom living' will feature many international speakers and guests. Find out more and register 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 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)
For regular news briefings about Israel, the Jewish News Syndicate is also recommended.
