Germany: Train stabbing - warning of lone attacks
Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere warned Germans to be prepared for further attacks carried out by small groups and radicalised ‘lone wolves’. Five people were wounded by a 17-year-old on a train in Bavaria on Monday. He arrived in Germany in 2015 as an unaccompanied migrant. Questions have now been raised about whether he was really from Afghanistan. A Pakistani document was found in his room. It is common for Afghan refugees to be given asylum in Germany rather than migrants from Pakistan so, many migrants pretend to come from Afghanistan. He was shot dead holding an axe and a knife. In a video he said he was a soldier of IS. It is believed he had been ‘incited’ by IS propaganda but there was no evidence that he was following the group's orders. The government was doing all it could to prevent such attacks, the minister said, but there could be no guarantee.
Pokémon Go is dangerous
Pokémon Go is a smartphone reality game that could improve mental and physical health. But it has been called a public nuisance. Players capture, battle and train virtual Pokémon creatures on device screens as they walk in the real world. It uses GPS and cameras of compatible devices. However, in Northern Ireland the police issued a warning to Pokémon Go users after catching a car ‘cruising slowly’ at 15 mph trying to catch Pokémons on the road. A police spokesperson said ‘This is a massive road safety issue’. Meanwhile the Royal Stoke hospital is designated as a Pokémon ‘gym’ where players train their characters. Consequently players are roaming the accident and emergency areas providing an unwanted distraction to the important work of the hospital. Players are now warned not to enter the hospital to hunt for monsters! Bosnians playing Pokémon Go are warned to avoid straying into areas still sown with landmines from the 1990’s war. See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36841828
Northern Ireland: Less people claiming unemployment benefits
The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in Northern Ireland has dropped, according to new figures. The unemployment rate was 5.9% between March and May this year, a decrease of 0.4% over the year.
The latest Labour Force Survey revealed in June that the number of unemployment claimants stood at 36,700, a decrease of 600 over the month. Economy Minister Simon Hamilton MLA welcomed the new figures, saying,
‘Our recovery has been characterised by strong employment growth and I am encouraged that the latest figures indicate that this remains the case. Our unemployment rate continues on a downward trend along with a reduction in the number of people in Northern Ireland claiming unemployment related benefits, a reduction of over 7,000 people in the year to June 2016. In addition, the Northern Ireland unemployment rate continues to compare favourably with the April 2016 rate for the European Union (8.7%) and Republic of Ireland (8.4%).’
Church is changing England with free education
The Church of England is opening free Christian schools. They will be a way for the Church to have a voice in an increasingly secular government, a voice many secular leaders want diminished. England's new initiative to open 500 free schools for underprivileged children has been derided by many critics as a poor decision, but the Church sees it as an opportunity to teach children the Christian faith. The schools are funded by the government but can be set up and run by charities, parents, trusts, businesses, teachers, or religious groups. That is why the Church has set its sights on opening 125 faith schools across the country during the next four years. They currently run 10. ‘This is a moment to be bold and ambitious and offer more than an apologetic for church schools but a vision for education,’ said Bishop Stephen Conway, Chair of the Church’s Board of Education .
UK Disability Rights Are ‘A Badge of Shame’
David Isaac, the new chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, described disability rights in the UK as ‘a badge of shame’, saying that disabled people are discriminated against in every area of life – from transport to housing and employment. He has called for a new national focus on disability rights so that disabled people are no longer treated as ‘second class citizens’. He is calling on the government to show stronger leadership by implementing all remaining provisions in the Equality Act without delay to allow better access to transport, housing and representation in politics for disabled people. He has also called on restaurants, theatres, concert venues, sports stadia and all those providing services to raise their game so that the disabled are not disadvantaged. Denying access to a large customer base is not good business practice and large venues must make it easier for disabled customers to access and buy tickets.
Home for Good
The last five years have seen a significant increase in the number of unaccompanied children leaving their homes and claiming asylum in the UK because of war, persecution or lack of safety in their country of birth. Because of the ongoing crisis in Syria and violence in the Middle East and North Africa, the UK Government has been working with a number of organisations and agencies to welcome refugee children. Home for Good is just one of them. These organisations are involved in meeting the need for foster carers who are ready to welcome an unaccompanied asylum seeking child into their home. But they need people to volunteer to become foster carers. Pray for more individuals to register their interest in fostering to local authorities and agencies across the country.
Archbishop welcomes refugee community sponsorship scheme
Home Secretary Amber Rudd and Archbishop Justin Welby launched the Full Community Sponsorship scheme at Lambeth Palace on Wednesday morning. Justin Welby has welcomed this new scheme to allow community groups to sponsor a refugee family directly. Archbishop Justin Welby said the scheme would allow churches and other civil society groups ‘to provide sanctuary to those fleeing war-torn places.’ It will enable charities, faith groups, churches and businesses to take on the role of supporting resettled refugees in the UK.
Justin said, ‘Refugees, like all people, are treasured human beings made in the image of God who deserve safety, freedom and the opportunity to flourish. It is an enormous privilege to welcome a family to live in a cottage in the grounds of Lambeth Palace.’
Changes in offices of state
Prime Minister Theresa May made six senior appointments - Foreign Office, Chancellor, Defence, Home Office and two new post-Brexit positions - Secretary of State for Brexit and Secretary of State for International Trade. BORIS JOHNSON heads the Foreign Office. He speaks five languages, including German and Russian. The latter will be helpful as he pursues positive engagement with Russia. Like Theresa May, he is pro-Israel. PHILIP HAMMOND is Chancellor of the Exchequer. Pray for him to have the great wisdom and vision that job needs at any time, but especially at this time. MICHAEL FALLON - Secretary of State for Defence. Pray for a Defence Secretary who is a man of peace and whose strength is in the Lord. He voted against ‘gay marriage’ and doctor-assisted dying. AMBER RUDD - Home Secretary voted against having a referendum at all. She voted for ‘gay marriage’ and military action in Syria. Pray for her wisdom and discernment as she holds this vital office of state. DAVID DAVIS, a veteran parliamentarian, is Secretary of State for Brexit. He is opposed to the EU and gay marriage. Pray for God to lead him as he negotiates our exit with the European Union . LIAM FOX, the new Secretary of State for International Trade, will be responding to nations across the world who want trade deals with the UK. Pray that we will do more for fair trade and that overseas aid is given wisely.
Plane crash survivor's miraculous tale of faith
‘I have looked death in the eye and sat and glanced over the edge of eternity and I have to say, I believe that death is nothing to fear because I know that this life will just usher in the next life.’ Helen Young Hayes boarded United Airlines Flight 232 in Denver, bound for Chicago. That flight never made it. It suffered catastrophic failure of its tail-mounted engine and crashed in Sioux City, Iowa. Miraculously, Hayes survived. Now she is publicly sharing her remarkable story of faith. ‘I remember every minute of it as vividly as if it were last week!’ Hayes told CBN News. The harrowing experience tested the faith of the successful money manager seated in row 9, seat B. Armed with faith, she prayed the impossible. To read her story of how God led her to pray exactly what was needed at the time, and how He answered her prayers, click the ‘More’ button.
China: Next generation coming to Christ
China's next generation is turning to Christianity, looking to the Church for answers to life's big questions. Christian leaders are hopeful this generation will bring their nation closer to God. Twenty-four million people live in Shanghai and 3/4 of them are Millennials - between the ages of 20 and 33. Many are joining the Christian community. One study from the Chinese Education Department found that 62% of China's religious believers are aged between 19 and 39. To cope with societal pressure they are turning to spirituality. ‘One day, my friend invited me to church after work. It was new to me. As I listened to the music, all of a sudden, I felt so peaceful. I felt something special,’ Li Gang, a young believer said. Another youth said, ‘Now, I am a Christian. I am not afraid of anything. Jesus is always with me. I am not alone when I face difficulties. I won't see church as a building, it means a family to me,’