News and Prophecy Staff

Ethnic violence has again broken out in the northeast India district of Assam.  Local people are predominantly Hindu and some are “Christian,” although there are more than 200 separate tribal groups in the region.  Much of the violence is aimed at Muslims—many of whom have come across the border from Bangladesh and Bhutan (The Globe and Mail, July 24, 2012).

Torrential rains inundated China’s capital city last weekend, overwhelming the drainage system.

Last Friday morning at the midnight opening of the latest Batman movie, a lone gunman burst into a packed theater in the Denver, Colorado suburb of Aurora, set off a smoke bomb and tear gas, and began firing his weapon into the crowd (Good Morning America, July 20, 2012).  Survivors recalled the terrifying confusion and panic of those trapped inside the theater.

The United States is experiencing the worst drought in 50 years, and the United Kingdom had the wettest April to June on record, with July following the same pattern.

Hailed as a breakthrough in HIV/AIDS prevention, the drug Truvada was approved by the FDA this week (CBS News, July 16, 2012). Truvada has been used for HIV/AIDS treatment, but will now be used to try to prevent infection in those at “very high risk” for contracting HIV—primarily injection drug users and homosexual men.