A selection of current happenings to inform your prayers.

Society & Politics

• Local Labour committee resigns following trans bullying: An entire local executive committee has quit in support of one of its members, who endured months of abuse and harassment from a transgender activist. Read more here.
  
• UK medical workers call for abortion decriminalisation: The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health joins a growing professional chorus of disapproval at the current law. Liberalisation will pave the way for abortion on demand, and without time limit – the ultimate aim of the pro-abortion lobby. Read more here.
  
• UK to buy Israeli Iron Dome for Falklands defence: As part of a bigger investment in defence of the Falkland Islands, the UK will purchase the Israeli-made command and control system used in Israel’s Iron Dome shield, at a cost of £78 million. Read more here.
  
• Calls to CAP surge after TV endorsement: Since acclaimed money expert Martin Lewis plugged Christian debt charity CAP on morning television, the charity has been overwhelmed with calls to its helpline. Read more here.

Church Issues

• Faith schools failing to comply with Government values teaching: Ofsted is concerned that compared to secular schools, faith schools are not applying the new Government teaching on British values with quite as much rigour. Read more here.
• Prominent evangelical resigns from Archbishop’s Council: Lorna Ashworth has quit the council, jointly overseen by Archbishops Sentamu and Welby, over the CofE’s ‘revisionist agenda’ and ‘heretical teaching’. Read more here.

Israel & Middle East

• IDF humanitarianism being unveiled? Though little-recognised in the West, the Israeli army’s work helping victims of the Syrian civil war is gradually getting more press exposure, at least in the USA. E.g. see here and here.
  
• Russia and Iran consolidate in Syria: Putin meets with Turkey and Iran to bring peace to ailing Syria and so strengthen Russia’s presence in the region, whilst Iran also looks to embed its position there by offering Assad help to rebuild. Iran has now all but completed its land bridge to the Mediterranean Sea.
  
• Lebanese PM puts resignation on hold: Hariri is back in Beirut and may well resume his former position, following diplomatic efforts led by French President Macron. Lebanon is caught in the middle of a standoff between Saudi Arabia and Iran that is causing many to fear an outbreak of regional war. Read more here.
  
• PA severs diplomatic ties with USA: Following Palestinian moves to prosecute Israelis through the International Criminal Court, the US closed down the PLO’s office in Washington, prompting this latest retaliation from PA President Abbas. Read more here.