Tunisia: Terror group had warned of shooting in tweet
A spokesman for the arm of IS in Tunisia, which has pledged allegiance to the main extremist IS group, had warned British and western tourists last month in a tweet not to go there for their summer holidays and that they were planning an attack. It said the warning was aimed at countries taking part in the coalition against IS in Iraq and Syria. ‘To the Christians planning their summer vacations in Tunisia, we can’t accept u in our land while your jets keep killing our Muslim Brothers in Iraq & Sham’, it said (Sham is the word usually translated as ‘the Levant’). ‘But if u insist on coming then beware because we are planning for u something that will make you forget #Bardoattack.’ The reference to the coalition is significant because one witness to the shootings said the attacker, Seifeddine Rezgui, told him to ‘get out of the way’ as he was looking for ‘British and French’. Britain and France have both joined the coalition against IS. See also: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/tunisia/11704849/Tunisia-attack-gunman-told-local-worker-Im-not-here-to-kill-you-as-he-tried-to-protect-British-tourists.html
2014 Record-breaking year for Bible translation globally
A new record in Bible translation may have been set in 2014 for the highest number of new translations published in one year. According to the Global Scripture Access Report, last year there were complete translations in 51 languages spoken by more than 1.3 billion people. Some were launched in countries facing significant challenges. In Nigeria the Bible Society launched four new translations, one being the Bura Bible, which was launched despite a Boko Haram bomb attack on the translation office. All of these were first-time translations, potentially giving 2.1 million Nigerians access to the full Bible in their heart language for the first time. Liberia also faced enormous difficulties, losing more people to Ebola than any other country, but the Bible Society launched two first-time full Bible translations. The Bible in Kpelle and Southern Kisi, spoken by nearly a million people, arrived at a time when people needed God's Word in their language more than ever before.
Northern Ireland: A&E waiting times deteriorate
Only 73.8% of people attending Accident & Emergency departments were treated and discharged or admitted within four hours of their arrival during 2014/15 despite the target being 95%, according to the latest A&E waiting times. Ulster Unionist Party health spokesperson Jo-Anne Dobson MLA, said last year's performance was a further deterioration on the year before and demonstrates that the crisis facing hospitals is continuing to deepen. She said, ‘This gridlock is not only bad for our hospitals and staff, but it’s bad for the health of patients. Delays in receiving treatment can often lead to conditions worsening, and I am often told by medical practitioners that hospitals are not always a safe place for patients if they do not absolutely need to be there.’
UK fracking hits setback
Jubilant anti-fracking protesters danced in the street, popped champagne and chanted ‘Frack-free Lancashire’ outside the county hall in Preston after council leaders blocked a contentious drilling campaign by shale gas explorer Cuadrilla. Among energy executives there was stunned disbelief. For Britain’s shale explorers, hoping to replicate the ‘fracking’ boom in America that has sent US oil and gas output soaring, much was hanging on Cuadrilla’s proposals to drill up to four wells at a site in Little Plumpton, near Blackpool. The decision raises serious doubts over the longer-term prospects for fracking in the UK, putting one county council sitting on top of possibly substantial gas resources at odds with David Cameron’s claim to be ‘going all out for shale’. Electricity can be generated from wind, water, geothermal and solar energy. These energy resources are renewable. All resources have advantages and disadvantages. See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/znn9q6f/revision
