World Scene

• Austria to ban burqas from October: The legislation, which follows similar bills passed in other European countries, will prohibit the full Islamic veil being worn in public places. Other measures being introduced include an integration programme for immigrants. Read more here.
  
• Ontario passes new law allowing removal of LGBT-identifying children from parents: The state describes parents who disagree with LGBT ideology as ‘child abusers’ and can now force the removal of children questioning their sexuality from parents who defend a biblical stance. Read more here.
  
• Anti-Iran Sunni Arab block emerges – led by the US: New confrontation lines are being drawn in the Middle East as the Arab blockade of Qatar seeks to roll back Iranian influence in the region. Read more here.
  
• Republican politicians targeted in Virginia shooting: The house majority whip is in a critical condition and four others have been injured as a lone gunman targeted an early morning baseball practise on Wednesday. Read more here.

Israel and Middle East

• Preparations allowed for first West Bank settlement in 25 years: The houses will include homes for residents from the Amona outpost, who were evicted in February. The permit allows ground preparations only, not construction. Read more here.
  
• Terror tunnel discovered under UN school in Gaza: The latest proof that Hamas uses Gazan civilians as human shields has led Israeli PM Netanyahu to call for the UNRWA to be closed down. Read more here and here.
  
• Israel/Gaza electricity crisis: Israel has ceded this week to PA demands to cut Gaza’s electricity supply. The PA is refusing to continue paying for Hamas-run Gaza’s electricity, which is sourced mostly from Israel. Hamas taxes Gazans for electricity but has not been passing that money on to the PA. Read more here and here.
  
• Israeli Parliament moves to disincentivise PA terrorist payments: If the new bill passes, it would withhold from Israel’s monthly payment to the PA (agreed under the Oslo Accords) the equivalent amount being paid to the families of terrorists. Read more here.

Upcoming Events

• Great Day of Prayer – Focusing on Islam (17 June): 10:30am-6pm, Regent Hall, Oxford St. Intercessors for Britain are calling a special day of prayer focusing on the challenge of Islam and the church’s response. Main speaker Tim Dieppe (Christian Concern). Click here to find out more.
• ***POSTPONED*** A Night to Honour Israel (22 June): This event has been postponed due to security concerns.
• Foundations Taster Day, Somerset (8 July): 10am-5pm, Rockwell Green Christian Centre, Wellington. Free. Click here to find out more and register your interest.
• London Bible Week (17-22 July): Emmanuel Centre, Westminster. Click here to find out more.
• Foundations South (11-13 August): High Leigh Conference Centre, Herts. Weekend conference of Hebraic teaching, worship and fellowship, on the theme of 'controversy'. Featuring teaching from Prophecy Today's Resources Editor Paul Luckraft. Click here for more information.

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)