Expert Steve Lowisz on how social media affect journalism, education, law enforcement and other areas of society.

Scotland becomes the final part of the United Kingdom to introduce anti-trafficking laws. Human trafficking is now a specific offence, and the punishment for offenders increases to a maximum life sentence.

“We appeal to all African societies to welcome migrants and refugees fleeing persecution.” Migration, corruption and relations between Christians and Muslims were discussed in the fifth ABLI conference, in Malawi. 

Evangelical groups fear “legitimisation of persecution”. 3,000 Baptist churches write to Putin: “If the country’s laws are in conflict with the Bible… Christians will always take the biblical position”.

One of the principles of Christianity is that the law must be obeyed, although we will see that there are a number of exceptions to this rule.

“Right-to-die bill” was rejected by 330 votes to 118, in the first vote on the assited dying in almost 20 years.

Anglican leader Justin Welby and the UK Evangelical Alliance “strongly oppose” euthanasia. Former Prime minister Gordon Brown argues palliative is the solution.

Government will ask 12,000 firms to prove they do not have trafficked workers in their supply chains. 

“No one shall attempt to change or convert someone from one religion to another”, the new Constitution draft says. Christians and Muslims have raised serious objections.

If attacks were to recur, would it not be appropriate to ask the LGBT community not to hide, and to speak up in defence of freedom of expression and conscience for every citizen? 

Greece accepted the negotiation of a third bailout and immediate structural reforms. Parlamentarians of Syriza say the “deal is unacceptable”, and define it as a “coup.”

The court ruled 5-4 in favour of the decision to allow same-sex marriage anywhere in the US. Obama said it is "a victory for America".
 

LGBT groups use Ireland’s referendum to put pressure on the government. Pro-family activists ask politicians to protect traditional marriage. 

Banning Christian university graduates from practising law over opposition to homosexuality isn't legal, rules Canadian court.

President Komorowski lost much support in the first round, and will need a second round against Andrzej Duda, who came first. 

The conservative Hungarian government has postponed until the autumn a redrafting of the controversial church law. 

Ethics expert Luc Olekhnovitch is grateful that France’s new end of life law excludes euthanasia, but hopes palliative care will continue to be developed.

The bill, which complements the previous law of 2005 about the end of life, is perceived as a compromise between pro-life and pro-euthanasia.

“We don’t have easy answers but we will play our part by praying for the authorities and by being a real presence in the area”, evangelicals write in an open letter to the local government.

Parliament approved initiative to stop radicalisation of Muslim leaders in the country. Imams will also be asked to speak German. 

Goldstein ("1984") is not simply Snowball/Trotsky. The “doublethink” in his text, prohibited in Oceania, “Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism”, is a type of mental discipline, both desirable for and required of all members of the party, enabling people to believe two contradictory truths simultaneously. And that, of course, is nothing new. We all do it.