Justin Welby criticised
16 Jun 2023
The Archbishop of Uganda has criticised Justin Welby’s condemnation of Uganda’s anti-homosexuality law. Most Rev Stephen Kaziimba hit out at Archbishop Justin for expressing opinions on global matters that he ‘knows little about firsthand’. Last week, Justin Welby asked the Ugandan leader to reject the new strict law forbidding the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ and introducing the death penalty for so-called ‘aggravated cases’, which include sex with a minor, incest, and having sex while HIV-positive. He said that supporting the law is a fundamental departure from the Anglican Church’s commitment to uphold the freedom and dignity of all people. Archbishop Stephen said, ‘Even if the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 was not signed into law, homosexuality would remain criminalised in Uganda, as it is in over a third of the world. Homosexuality was already criminalised in the colonial-era penal code.’ He concluded by reaffirming that the Ugandan Church no longer recognises Justin Welby as ‘the first among equals of the Primates’, and prayed for the Church of England to repent.
Nottingham attacks
16 Jun 2023
The period after summer exams is one of the happiest times to be a student, with balls and celebrations marking the end of hard work and studying. Nottingham’s strong student population had that atmosphere of peace and joy shattered as three people were killed, two of them 19-year-old students. School caretaker Ian Coates was the third victim. Grieving fellow-students say it has brought a tragic end to the academic year. 22-year-old Alice said she was too scared to leave the house after learning of the attacks, and was glad to be going home. Across the nation people watched the unfolding events on television. What emerged could have happened on any street near where we live. We can pray for God to comfort the families and friends of Ian Coates, Barnaby Webber, and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, and for peace to flow through the atmosphere of the student community and city.
Raising interest rates
16 Jun 2023
The chancellor has said the UK has no alternative but to raise interest rates to tackle rising prices, and the Government would be ‘unstinting in our support’ for the Bank of England to do what it takes to slow inflation. In theory, raising interest rates makes borrowing more expensive, so consumers have less to spend and buy less which should slow the rate of rising prices. Higher rates should benefit savers - if banks pass them on to their customers. But they have been reluctant to do so to savers this time, which has given customers less of an incentive to save. Housebuilder Ian Burns said people were being very cautious and were taking longer to make decisions. ‘Over the past three or four weeks, we've seen a slowdown in reservations. We can't just continue to build houses if we don't have customers for them.’
Synthetic human embryos created
16 Jun 2023
Scientists have created synthetic human embryos using stem cells, in a groundbreaking advance that sidesteps the need for eggs or sperm. These model embryos resemble those in the earliest stages of human development. They could provide a window on the genetic disorders and biological causes of recurrent miscarriage. However, the work also raises serious ethical and legal issues as the lab-grown entities fall outside current legislation in the UK and most other countries. The structure’s heart does not beat and it has no brain, but it does include cells that would go on to form the placenta, yolk sac and the embryo itself. Prof Magdalena Żernicka-Goetz, of the University of Cambridge and the California Institute of Technology, described the work as creating human embryo-like models by the reprogramming of embryonic stem cells. There is no immediate prospect of the synthetic embryos being used clinically. It would be illegal to implant them into a patient’s womb.
Ukraine: counteroffensive begins
16 Jun 2023
On 13 June President Zelenskyy said, ‘I thank our guys for every Ukrainian flag that is now returning to its rightful place’, as Kyiv’s forces were retaking villages in a counteroffensive against Russian troops and Ukrainian air defence systems repelled Russian air attacks in the Kyiv region. However, a Russian missile attack overnight on the city of Kryvyi Rih killed at least ten and wounded 28 in a residential building. See On 14 June, 22 Ukrainian prisoners including eight women went on trial for being terrorists. On the 15th Australia blocked the continuation of a Russian embassy being built near Canberra’s parliament because of security concerns. Ukraine is highly adept at masking strategic moves with feints, disinformation, and shuffling troops from one area to another, keeping Russia guessing their next move. Having promised to begin their counteroffensive in the summer, Kyiv’s forces are now stepping up attacks.
Greece: capsized boat disaster
16 Jun 2023
Greece is one of the main routes into the EU for migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa. On 14 June the deadliest shipwreck this year happened, fifty miles from Pylos. Survivors say up to 100 children may have been locked in the hold. 78 people are confirmed dead and about 100 survived. About 750 people were aboard the vessel. The air and sea search for survivors continues, but hopes of finding more survivors are now dwindling. Greece's coastguard said the boat was in international waters when they were spotted by an EU border agency aircraft. None were wearing life jackets. A few hours later the boat capsized, and strong winds complicated search and rescue operations. Last month the Greek government came under international criticism over video footage showing the forceful expulsion of migrants who were set adrift at sea. Over 70,000 refugees and migrants have arrived in Europe's frontline countries this year. 70,000 is also the number of recent fatalities overall in this part of the Mediterranean.
India / Pakistan: Cyclone Biparjoy
16 Jun 2023
Gale force winds and heavy rains are lashing coastal areas of north-west India and southern Pakistan as Cyclone Biparjoy (which means ‘disaster’ in Bengali) makes landfall to destroy homes and crops in its path. By 15 June over 170,000 people had been evacuated in India and 81,000 in Pakistan, with storm surges of 10 to 13 feet expected from Karachi to Gujarat. Pray for the Indian and Pakistan armed forces and coastguards to have clear uninterrupted communication between ships, helicopters, and aircraft as they are called in to rescue and implement relief operations. Pray for people to avoid travelling. Pray for the thousands in relief camps to have all the aid and provisions needed. 81,000 people from the south-eastern coast have benefited from the setting up ofup 75 relief camps at schools. Pray for the safety of those living in low-lying areas along the coasts and for them to have the wisdom to know if or when they need to evacuate.
Haiti: fuel, floods, fighting and prayer
16 Jun 2023
Haiti fuel tanks are mostly dry as all Haiti’s fuel is imported. When their president was assassinated the government was left with no elected leaders. Violent gangs run Port-au-Prince and control major ports where fuel enters. One gallon of black market gas costs nearly £24. Inflation is rife. The earthquake on 6 June caused flooding that displaced 13,000 Haitians and killed fifty. Many organisations use generators to operate because no electricity is available; but some hospitals and schools are closing down because they have neither fuel nor generators. One impactful radio outreach is a live midday Christian prayer programme where Haitians can call or message prayer requests. They’re praying for Haiti. A ministry leader said, ‘I’ve seen people pray for their country before, but I’ve never seen people pray like Haitians do. They’re looking to God to meet daily needs, provide comfort, heal, and intervene in Haiti to do what only He can do.’