A selection of the week's happenings to aid your prayers.

Society & Politics

• Jewish Chronicle appeals to all Brits: The largest Jewish newspaper in Britain has a front-page appeal this week to all non-Jewish British citizens, to stop Jeremy Corbyn from getting into No 10. Read more here. Also this week, the Times of Israel reports on a new memorial being planned for Clifford’s Tower, York, to better remember the notorious massacre of Jews which took place there in 1190. Read more here.
  
• Government to consult on NI abortion law: The UK Government is due to consult the Northern Irish public on what form the country’s abortion law should take, now that abortion has been decriminalised. Allowances are expected to be made for conscientious objection on the part of medics. Read more here.

Church Issues

• Swiss Protestants accept homosexuality: The historic Protestant Church of Switzerland has voted to allow same-sex marriages, despite criticism from evangelicals. Read more here.
  
• New freedom for Sudanese believers? Sudan’s new government is moving to return property stolen from Christians under the previous Islamist regime, which was ousted earlier this year. It has also invited expelled Jews to return and called for greater freedom of religion. Read more here. Also this week, news of ongoing violence against Christians in Ethiopia is prompting criticism of the country’s Christian Prime Minister, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last month for his peace and reconciliation work.

World Scene

• Yvette Lundy dies aged 103: The well-known French Resistance member and Nazi concentration camp survivor supplied fake papers to Jewish families, men fleeing forced labour and escaped prisoners-of-war during the Nazi occupation of France. Read more here.
  
• US begins withdrawal from Paris Agreement: On the third anniversary of the climate accord, the Trump administration has submitted formal notice that the US will be withdrawing from it this time next year. Read more here.
  
• Over 90% of New Zealanders reject abortion bill: As the Government moves to liberalise New Zealand’s abortion laws, public consultation shows overwhelming opposition. Read more here.

Israel & Middle East

• UNWRA head resigns amid corruption probe: The head of the UN’s Palestinian support agency has resigned amid an investigation into serious ethical allegations including abuses of authority and mismanagement of funds. Read more here. Also this week, research group Palestine Media Watch has reported that nearly $2 billion in international aid to the Palestinian Authority has either disappeared or been misused. Read more here.
  
• Iran announces doubling of advanced centrifuges: Marking 40 years since the US embassy takeover in 1979, the Iranian regime has announced new violations of the 2015 nuclear deal. Read more here, here and here.
  
• Iran moves to stop protests in Lebanon, Iraq: With the help of proxies including Hamas and Hezbollah, Tehran is trying to shut down populist protests in Lebanon and Iraq which have been calling for reform, democracy and the end of Iran’s regional entrenchment. Read more here.

Events

• Mark van Niekerk in Kurdistan (18-30 November): The Simon Initiative evangelist will be encouraging believers and dispersing funds to Kurdish refugees from Syria and the families of Kurds who died fighting ISIS. Mark sends his thanks to all Prophecy Today UK readers who have supported him financially or in prayer up to now. Read our last report on his work here.
  
• Bringing Hope (23 November, Central London): 10am-4pm, Emmanuel Centre, Westminster. Join Christian Concern at their annual celebration and find out about their Gospel witness in the nation. £15, including lunch. Find out more and book tickets here.

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