Society & Politics

• African slave’s headstone smashed in Bristol. Many were sickened by the frenzy of statue-removing incidents that took place across the UK as the Black Lives Matter movement gained force. In what is thought to be a retaliation attack for the removal of the statue of slave-trader, Edward Colston in Bristol, the headstone of an 18th century African male slave in the city has been smashed in two. Read more here.
• Mixed reaction to National Trust report. While many have applauded the National Trust’s recent admission that one third of the stately homes under its care have direct links to slavery, many others view the report as a betrayal of the Trust’s purpose and function. Scores of people have threatened to cancel their membership in protest. Read more here and here.
• Abortion clinic buffer zone bill blocked in Parliament. A radical bill that would ban prayer vigils from being held outside abortion clinics has failed to pass its second reading in the commons, to the relief of pro-life groups. Read more here.

World News

• Torrential rains and flooding in South Sudan leaves 700,000 destitute. Unprecedented flooding across large swathes of South Sudan has caused untold hardship to the lives of around 700,000 people, causing a hunger crisis amid the destruction of jobs and harvests – and all in the midst of ongoing violence and the COVID-19 economic crisis in the country. Read more here.
• Massive prayer rally in Washington DC. Up to 50,000 Christians from all across the US gathered in America’s capital on Sunday 27 Sept, to pray for the nation. The event, led by Franklin Graham and popular author, Jonathan Cahn, was focused on healing the nation in the midst of many trials, and included an address from vice-President, Mike Pence. Read more here.
• Christian forced out of most famous place for freedom of speech. As Christian preacher, Hatun Tash critiqued the Koran at London’s famous Speakers’ Corner last weekend, she was threatened by a group of angry Muslims, and forced to leave after being reprimanded by the police. The incident calls into question whether free speech is truly available to Christians in the UK. Read more in this week’s Editorial, and also here.

Israel & Middle East

• Improved Israeli relations in the UN. In an indication of the improved relations between Israel and Bahrain and the UAE, this week's UN meeting showed a significant change of tone. Israel's now friendly neighbours, whilst still calling for a Palestinian state, did not use the platform to criticise and condemn Israel, which has up until now been the default position of many of the Arab nations. Read more here.