Over 180 individuals and communities have been taken to court since ‘anti-missionary’ punishments came into force on 20 July 2016. Forum 18's list of known cases documents the wide range of people and communities across Russia subjected to such punishments.  The 180+ cases were punished for ‘issuing or distribution, within the framework of missionary activity, of literature and printed, audio, and video material without a label bearing this name, or with an incomplete or deliberately false label.’ Both Russians and foreigners were punished under this law, some were fined, some were deported. Vladimir Putin approved this law in a package of anti-terrorism laws and despite prayers and protests from religious leaders and human rights advocates, the Kremlin passed laws against sharing faith in homes, online, or anywhere that is not a recognised church building.

Fr Aidan Troy, of St Joseph's, Paris, has called for prayer following a suspected Paris terror attack on 9 August. A car drove into a group of six soldiers from the 35th infantry regiment in Levallois-Perret.  The soldiers served in Operation Sentinelle, created to guard prominent French sites after Islamic extremist attacks in 2015. The terrorist was arrested on the A16 highway in northern France. A counter-terrorism investigation was launched. Fr. Aidan said people should pray for Paris, saying that all who care about our world have to keep praying ourselves, and also saying to others 'will you pray with me and we will offer up a prayer for peace’ and I'm convinced that it will happen.’

The closure of the ‘Jungle’ failed to remove migrants from Calais. Since January 17,000+ have attempted to board UK-bound trucks and trains. Migrants haven't gone, they have moved into the woods where they live like animals. There are not as many as a year ago, but there are more than the French government would wish. The French interior minister said there were ‘about 350 ‘. He is wrong. It is clear from spending four days there that the number is much closer to the estimate by volunteers, who say 1,000 are playing a constant game of cat-and-mouse with the police. A recent Human Rights Watch report said that riot police are using brutal methods to disperse new arrivals. Regular attempts are made to remove migrants to processing centres. Some go and some hide. Many who go will return later.

The National Trust required staff and volunteers at Felbrigg Hall, in Norfolk, to wear rainbow badges and lanyards in support of their ‘Prejudice and Pride’ programme marking 50 years of homosexuality freedom. By 4 August over 30 (possibly 75, depending where you read) of 350 volunteers refused to wear the rainbow slogan or be part of the activity. National Trust management told those who refused to wear pride memorabilia they were free to step back from the volunteer role or take a behind the scenes role. By 7 August 240 National Trust members had revoked their membership and the volunteers went to the newspapers accusing the Trust of encroaching on their political freedoms. The trusts response was, ‘We are therefore making it clear to volunteers that the wearing of the badge is optional and a personal decision.’ But they will continue with the Pride programme and exhibition. see also http://www.christianvoice.org.uk/index.php/hurtful-national-trust-rainbow-row/