World Scene

• French online hate speech law advances: A bill designed to curb hate speech online by requiring social media sites to remove offensive content has advanced to the French senate and could become law in the autumn. France follows Germany in this move, which is raising concerns about its possible threat to freedom of speech. Read more here. Also this week, in the USA the Trump administration is reportedly drafting an executive order to address anti-conservative bias in Silicon Valley. Read more here.
  
• US evangelicals unite ahead of 2020 election: Hundreds of pastors are meeting in Virginia this week to strategise ahead of the election next year. The event is organised by the American Renewal Project, which seeks to mobilise church leaders politically and help restore Judeo-Christian principles nationwide. Read more here.
  
• Human-monkey hybrids made in China: Spanish and US scientists working in China say they have created the world’s first genetic hybrid between a human and a monkey, ostensibly to conduct medical research for life-threatening illnesses. Read more here.
  
• China writes God out of Western classics: In its continued bid to push back against Christianity, China’s Communist Government has edited all references to God and Jesus out of Robinson Crusoe, Vanka and The Little Match Girl. Read more here.
  
• Abortion up to birth in Australia and New Zealand? A bill drastically liberalising New Zealand’s abortion laws passed its first stage this week by 94 votes to 23. If made law, it would permit abortion up to birth. Read more here. Meanwhile, another bill permitting abortion up to full term is being ‘rushed through’ parliament in New South Wales. Read more here.

Israel & Middle East

• 19-year-old yeshiva student stabbed to death: The unprovoked attack in the Gush Etzion region of the West Bank claimed the life of a young man who, though formally an IDF soldier, was unarmed, out of uniform and had received no military training. Read more here. Also this week, a major Hamas terror attack planned for Jerusalem has reportedly been foiled by Israel’s security services, while a Palestinian man who faced death threats after helping Israeli children during a terror attack has been awarded Israeli residency.
• Iran boosts aid to Hamas in return for intel: In return for a big increase in monthly cash (from under $6 million to $30 million), the terrorist group will seek to provide Tehran with intelligence on Israel’s missile stockpiles. Read more here.
  
• Germany refuses to help in the Gulf: Germany has officially declined to join a US-led naval mission including Britain and France to counter the threat of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. Read more here and here.

Events

• 'I Am John Wesley' performance, Saturday 31 August, Lincolnshire: A free Gospel-centred play by Sh'ma Kingdom Drama, using drama and dance to tell the story of the Wesley brothers. Broughton Village Hall. Click here to find out more.
• Abortion: Killing off the human race? Saturday 21 September (central London): Join Voice for Justice UK and speakers including the Rt Hon Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP in calling for a reduction of the time limit for abortion. The Emmanuel Centre, Westminster, 10am-5pm, tickets £30 (concessions £15). Click here to find out more and to register.
  
• Abortion: Choice, Necessity or Injustice? Thursday 26 September (Bristol): Join the Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform at their Bristol launch for an evening of inspiration, education and activation on this vital issue. Buckingham Chapel, 7:30pm. Click here to find out more and RSVP. The following day there is also opportunity to join apologetics training and take part in an educational street display in the city centre.
  
• SPUC annual conference, 13-15 September (Derbyshire): Join other SPUC supporters and a number of prominent speakers at this critical time in pro-life campaigning. The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick. Tickets £200. Click here to find out more and to book.