5th September 2026

In May, Syria’s new leadership located ⁠remnants of previous President, al-Assad’s chemical weapons programme and has now stated destroying its the remnants.  This includes raw materials and munitions similar to those used in deadly gas attacks during the country’s civil war.  Last month, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) deployed a team to Syria to verify the destruction of “category-three” chemical weapons, defined as unfilled munitions and other equipment used to release chemical weapons. Izumi Nakamitsu, the ⁠UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, said the team verified “the irreversible destruction of 42 aerial bombs” ⁠as part of that mission. Syria’s UN envoy Ibrahim Olabi  the United Nations Security Council on Thursday that Syria was “protecting the world and the region through such work”. However, he added that repeated Israeli attacks had ⁠impeded some search-and-destruction operations and exposed the Syrian teams at work to risk. “We cannot safeguard the security of ⁠the region if our security is exposed to attacks ⁠at the hands of Israel, and they are flouting the security of the region at large and they are breaching the conventions and treaties we have talked about,” he added. 

Loving God, we give you thanks and praise for this good news.  We thank you that these weapons are being destroyed so they are unable to be used. As the authorities continue this work we ask your protection for all involved.  May no external forces interrupt, hinder, or put at risk the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons.  May the UN support Syria in returning the country to peace and stability. In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

Two people have been pulled out alive from a hydropower tunnel in Nepal nine days after flash floods left them trapped behind mud and boulders. Sanjay Shah, a foreman, was the first to be rescued and was taken to the army barracks in Trishuli. Another person, identified as Kabir Maharjan, a project supervisor, was also pulled from the tunnel. They were recovered from a depth of 170 metres (558ft) inside the tunnel according to the army spokesperson Brig Gen Raja Ram Basnet. Both men were flown to hospital in Kathmandu. The latest figures show that more than 270 people have been rescued so far.

Prayer based on a hymn by William Howard Doane

Glory be to you O God

You have done great things.

You loved the world so much

that you gave us your Son,

who yielded his life as an atonement for sin,

and opened the life gate that all may go in.

We praise you Lord,

let the earth hear your voice!

We praise the Lord, and we rejoice!

We come to you Father, through Jesus your Son,

and give you great glory,

great things you have done.

Amen.