A new survey by the pro-EU group European Movement Ireland and polling company Red C shows that public support for Ireland’s membership of the EU has increased to 93%. The survey of 1,000 people aged 18 and over across the country shows support for the EU at the highest level since the poll began in 2013. 50% of people surveyed now believe that a united Ireland as a member of the EU is more likely in the wake of the UK’s decision to leave the union, while 41% do not think that this is likely. The highest backing for continued EU membership was among the 18- to 24-year-old and 65-plus age groups. The survey was conducted between 21 and 27 March 2019, when there was uncertainty around whether the UK would depart from the EU without an agreement as originally planned on 29 March.
Russia: internet censorship
02 May 2019
Reporters Without Borders and nine international human rights NGOs called on Vladimir Putin not to sign the 'sovereign internet' bill into law because it would take Russia across a major threshold in online censorship. The law the Russian parliament approved on 22 April, which Putin is poised to sign, would take Russia closer to the Chinese model of online censorship. It would establish a 'sovereign' internet, independent of the international internet and closely controlled by the Kremlin. Internet service providers would have to direct traffic through a centralised system of devices controlled by Russia, with approved internet exchange points, and to use a national domain name system that would facilitate surveillance and, in the event of unspecified 'security threats’ would allow the authorities to block traffic between Russia and the rest of the World Wide Web partially or fully, and within Russia.
Spain: far-right politics
02 May 2019
The Socialists won the recent Spanish election, but far-right party Vox will enter parliament for the first time. Vox opposes multiculturalism, migration, and feminism. Italy's deputy PM from the right-wing League party congratulated ‘our friends in Vox for joining the parliament in Spain’. Its views on immigration and Islam place it in line with far-right and populist parties elsewhere in Europe. With European elections only weeks away, nationalist and far-right parties across Europe are sensing an opportunity for a rise in European nationalism. Italy’s anti-establishment Five Star Movement has common cause with Germany's main opposition party, AfD, the Finns Party, the Danish People's Party (who seize migrants’ property to pay bills), Austria's Freedom Party, France's National Rally, Sweden’s anti-immigration party, and several others, including Nigel Farage’s Brexit party. See
Iran: devastating floods
02 May 2019
Since March, Iran has been ravaged by record rainfall and unprecedented flash flooding. At least 26 of 31 provinces have been impacted by deadly floods. One city received 70% of its annual rainfall in one day. 76 have died, with hundreds missing. It is the largest disaster to hit Iran this century. Entire villages were washed away in minutes, and countless homes and buildings were damaged or completely destroyed. The story has not reached international news headlines, but hundreds of thousands remain displaced and grieving. Christians in different places have been helping to provide food, clothing and basic necessities for those affected. The Iranian government has been accused of mismanaging disaster response, with residents of afflicted areas complaining that action has been slow and insufficient. Iran complains that US banking sanctions make it impossible to receive donations from outside the country. The US puts the blame on Iran's leaders. See
Ramadan 2019: 6 May to 5 June
02 May 2019
Muslims around the world begin the holy month of Ramadan on Monday 6 May. Over the following thirty days, they will fast each day as they intentionally seek Allah, presenting incredible opportunities for them to encounter Jesus instead! We can ask God to lead us in prayer for Muslims around the world to come into a living faith in Jesus Christ. There are many resources available to help us pray: one is the 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World. By joining this movement, you will be joining the Holy Spirit’s work in drawing Muslims to Christ. An illustrated prayer guide booklet has daily readings that focus on various topics, people groups and geographical areas of the Islamic world; each day’s subject focus is followed by prayer points. It also features informative background articles and resources for involvement.
China has upped its persecution of Christians, with Communist party officials in Guangzhou offering a reward of up to 10,000 Chinese Yuan (approximately £1,162) to those who can provide information about underground churches, secret Christians, religious leaders, and others involved in ‘illegal’ religious activity. Smaller rewards are offered for information about churches and other religious meeting places built or used without official permission. The regulation is called ‘Incentives to Motivate the Masses to Report on Illegal Religious Activities’. The persecution watchdog China Aid says that the new regulations will significantly increase the persecution of Christians in this officially atheist country. Inciting people to report on others with monetary incentives only appeared during the Cultural Revolution, when children would report their parents, a wife would report her husband, and colleagues would report one another.
India: unreached people
02 May 2019
Evangelicals believe the ‘evangel’ or Good News brings salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Nearly 10% of the world’s population are now evangelical believers. About 33% of the world’s population identify themselves as Christian. Out of all the regions in the world, India has the fewest Evangelicals or Christians. Unreached peoples and non-believers need missionaries either in their own people group or from abroad to ‘reach them with the message of God’s salvation for them through His Son Jesus Christ’. India is second only to China in having the most isolated peoples, with virtually no Christians of any kind in their own people group. Today almost half of the non-believers are culturally near to significant numbers of believers. The remaining missionary task of reaching these non-believers is smaller than ever before. However, the vast majority of missionaries are still going to the ‘Christian’ areas of the world.
Mozambique left in ruins by second cyclone
02 May 2019
For the first time in recorded history, Mozambique has been hit by two cyclones in one season. Category 4 Kenneth arrived six weeks after Idai killed 600+ people with flooding. Kenneth killed at least 41 people and destroyed thousands of homes across northern Mozambique. Ibo Island was particularly hard hit, receiving food aid only six days after Kenneth destroyed thousands of homes. The human cost of the disaster is only now being revealed. The UN described reaching Ibo as ‘incredibly difficult’. Initial estimates are that 90% of structures were damaged. ‘If somebody hasn’t lost everything, he’s a lucky guy because no-one has escaped,’ said a motorcycle taxi driver. Almost everybody lost their belongings. The World Food Programme said that Kenneth dumped twice as much rain as Idai, nine inches, or about a quarter of the average annual rainfall for the region - again raising concerns about climate change. See