• Wilberforce Academy deadline approaching: Do you know any young Christians who need equipping to defend their faith in the public square in Britain? If so, do let them know about the Wilberforce Academy, Christian Concern’s flagship week of intensive preparation for young people with a passion to see Jesus glorified in Britain once more. This year’s academy is 11-16 September in Cambridge; the application deadline is 29 May. Find out more here.
  
• Labour would immediately recognise state of Palestine: The Labour manifesto promises to refer to the Palestinian-held territories as ‘Palestine’ if they win in June. Read more here.
  
• Schools warn about suicide challenge: A number of schools in Britain are warning parents about a dare game being circulated on social media, and particularly targeting vulnerable young people, in which teens are dared to experiment with self-harm in ever-more drastic ways. Read more here.
  
• Private school to introduce gender-neutral uniform: Highgate School in North London is reportedly introducing a ‘mix and match’ uniform that would allow boys to wear skirts if they choose. Read more here.

World Scene

• Jewish graves desecrated in Rome and Ukraine: Both Jewish and Catholic headstones and memorials have been damaged in one of Rome’s main cemeteries last week. Meanwhile, similar damage has been reported in Ukraine, where Jewish gravestones were recently desecrated and spay-painted with swastikas. Read more here.
  
• Jihad Watch director poisoned in Iceland: Speaker and author Robert Spencer was deliberately poisoned in Reykjavik after lecturing on the threat of jihad. Read more here.
  
• Syrian government blocks investigation into mass killings: The Assad regime is systematically refusing UN requests to enter the prison/crematorium complex where, according to US allegations, thousands of executions have been carried out. Read more here and here.
  
• Morocco abolishes death penalty for apostasy: Those leaving Islam in the Muslim country will no longer be subject to the classic sharia punishment for conversion. Read more here.

Israel and Middle East

• Teen responsible for JCC bomb threats attempts suicide: The Jewish-American teenager currently in remand in Tel Aviv for making hoax bomb threats to Jewish communities across the USA has reportedly tried to take his own life 5 times in the last fortnight. Please pray for this troubled young man. Read more here.
  
• Trump to launch Arab NATO? During his tour of the Middle East, Trump is expected to meet with Saudi leaders and launch a regional pushback against Iran and ISIS. Read more here.

Upcoming Events

• An evening with Steve Maltz, Bournemouth (20 May): 7:30pm, Moordown Community Centre. Come along for a taste of Steve Maltz’s Foundations conferences. Click here for more information.
  
• Application deadline for Wilberforce Academy (29 May): See top of page. Click here for more information and to apply.
  
• ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ Wave of Prayer (25 May – 4 June): Join the Anglican Church’s call for a global wave of prayer between Ascension and Pentecost 2017. Click here for more information.
  
• A Night to Honour Israel (22 June): 7pm, Westminster. Unite with Christians and Jews in the Balfour centenary year to show your support for Israel. Click here to find out more and book tickets (£10 for adults, children free).
  
• Foundations Taster Day, Somerset (8 July): 10am-5pm, Rockwell Green Christian Centre, Wellington. Free. Click here to find out more and register your interest.

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 also 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)
• Family Watch International
• Barnabas Fund
• Kehila News (Israel)