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

Society & Politics

• Opt-out organ donation from May: Under the current system, people are required to opt in to donate their organs after they die. As of May, it will be assumed that they have given permission unless they state otherwise. Relatives will still be consulted. Read more here.
  
• UK foreign policy to be overhauled: The Government has announced a wide-ranging review of its foreign policy, as part of redefining Britain’s place in the world post-Brexit. Read more here.
  
• Down’s Syndrome group challenges govt on abortion: Don’t Screen Us Out has sent an open letter to No 10 as the Government consults on legalising abortion up to birth in Northern Ireland for disabilities of all kinds. Read more here. The group is also backing a campaign to reduce the upper limit for abortion on the grounds of disability across the rest of the UK. Read more here.
  
• Attempt to hold BBC accountable fails: A call for a judicial review into the BBC’s impartiality has been rejected by three judges. Read more here.
  
• Pro-life activist challenges Stella Creasy in court: 29-year-old Christian Hacking, supported by Christian Concern, will appeal a legal injunction brought against him by the pro-abortion MP banning him from criticising her in her constituency. Read more here.
  
• New ‘Free Speech Trade Union’ set up: Journalist Toby Young has set up a ‘free speech trade union’ to provide assistance to anyone experiencing trouble because they express their opinions lawfully but others find them offensive. Read more here.

Church Issues

• David Pawson turns 90: The veteran Bible teacher has celebrated with a YouTube message – click here to watch.

World Scene

• Germany and Portugal move to legalise euthanasia: A court in Germany overturned the country’s ban on euthanasia this week, paving the way for a change in the law. The legalisation of euthanasia is also progressing through the Portuguese Parliament. After polling its members, the UK’s Royal College of General Practitioners has decided to maintain its opposition to euthanasia for at least the next five years. Read more here and here.
  
• Anti-Semitism rife in Europe: A new study of 14,000 people across 16 countries has revealed that nearly 1 in 4 Europeans hold some kind of anti-Semitic view, such as equating Israelis to Nazis. Read more here.
• New Greek migrant camps spark outrage: Plans to build new camps on five Aegean islands to house an overflow of refugees and migrants have prompted protests from local residents and clashes with police. Read more here.

Israel & Middle East

• Likud edges Blue & White in polls as election looms: Days before Israel’s unprecedented third election in a year, Netanyahu looks set to topple rival Benny Gantz – but a unity government is still the likely outcome. Read more 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: