ISIL jihadists 'offered teenager $25,000 to carry out bombings in Vienna'
A 14-year-old boy suspected of planning a series of bombings in Vienna was reported on Thursday to have been offered $25,000 (£16,000) by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to carry out the attacks amid claims that two other youths recruited in the same way remain at large. The arrested youth has not been named by authorities, but has been identified by the Austrian media as Mertkan G, the son of Turkish immigrants who has lived in the country for eight years. He was arrested on Tuesday but details are only now emerging about his case. Among the sites in which he has admitted planning to plant explosives is Vienna's Westbahnhof station, used by 40,000 travellers each day. He had confessed to planning to plant a series of bombs in crowded areas around Vienna, said Michaela Obenaus, a spokesman for the prosecutors' office in the boy's home city of St Pölten
Ukraine to send reinforcements to key cities in case of rebel attacks
Kiev will send reinforcements to key Ukrainian cities to prevent potential attacks from Russia-backed separatists, President Petro Poroshenko said on Monday. He also called on Ukraine’s parliament to rescind a law giving special status to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the east of the country, much of which is under the control of separatists. Kiev essentially has no control over rebel authorities in the east, who held their own elections over the weekend and have suggested they may attempt to capture other cities in the region, such as the port city of Mariupol. At a meeting of the country’s security council, Poroshenko said the reinforcements would be for the ‘construction of fortifications’ against a ‘possible offensive in the direction of Mariupol, Berdyansk, Kharkiv and Luhansk north’. Speaking earlier he said he would ask the council and parliament to end the ‘special status’ law for rebellious eastern regions, agreed as part of a ceasefire deal in September.
Imprisoned pastor’s mother escapes Iran
The mother of Imprisoned American pastor Saeed Abedini went to Iran to support her son and try to secure his release. However, while in Iran she has been facing increasing violent threats against her, and although she did not want to leave Iran and did not want to say goodbye to her son, she had to leave to guarantee her safety. Fox news reported on Wednesday, ‘Saeed's mom is now safely out of the country, we look forward to seeing her soon here in the United States. It has been a difficult time for everyone
When the medicine failed
One Chadian man’s violent fits were healed by the ceaseless prayers of the Guinebor II Hospital staff. Bousanna Barnabus probably did not expect to be healed with prayer when he came to the BMS World Mission hospital, located outside N'Djamena, Chad. After four days of continuous epileptic fits, Bousanna’s family brought him semi-conscious to the hospital for treatment. The attacks left him mentally and physically exhausted and very afraid. Bousanna had one moment of clarity and he used it to ask for prayer. When he did this it felt as if something amazing was happening. And it was. As Christians, we know that prayer is a powerful thing. We ask for safety, healing, wisdom and more, knowing that God will provide what we need at precisely the right time. In Bousanna’s case this is exactly what happened, and we give thanks.
Imprisoned pastor’s mother escapes Iran
The mother of Imprisoned American pastor Saeed Abedini went to Iran to support her son and try to secure his release. However, while in Iran she has been facing increasing violent threats against her, and although she did not want to leave Iran and did not want to say goodbye to her son, she had to leave to guarantee her safety. Fox news reported on Wednesday, ‘Saeed's mom is now safely out of the country, we look forward to seeing her soon here in the United States. It has been a difficult time for everyone
When the medicine failed
One Chadian man’s violent fits were healed by the ceaseless prayers of the Guinebor II Hospital staff. Bousanna Barnabus probably did not expect to be healed with prayer when he came to the BMS World Mission hospital, located outside N'Djamena, Chad. After four days of continuous epileptic fits, Bousanna’s family brought him semi-conscious to the hospital for treatment. The attacks left him mentally and physically exhausted and very afraid. Bousanna had one moment of clarity and he used it to ask for prayer. When he did this it felt as if something amazing was happening. And it was. As Christians, we know that prayer is a powerful thing. We ask for safety, healing, wisdom and more, knowing that God will provide what we need at precisely the right time. In Bousanna’s case this is exactly what happened, and we give thanks.
Prayer movement launched for climate agreement
Christian charities from across the UK are joining forces to launch a year of prayer and fasting for the climate. A number of church services are taking place around the country where believers will be encouraged to pray on the first day of every month during 2015. In December 2015 a new international climate agreement will be signed in Paris. Charities like Operation Noah, A Rocha, Christian Aid, Christian Concern for One World, Christian Ecology Link, OurVoices, Hope for the Future and Shrinking the Footprint are all involved. The campaign is aiming to highlight the political and spiritual significance of prayer and fasting as a powerful platform for change. Canon Giles Goddard, board member of Operation Noah said: ‘The need for change is urgent and everyone can help bring it about. Praying and fasting for the climate will inspire action and encourage people to think about what needs to happen.'
Poll shows voters ‘concerned’ over religious liberty threats
Only eleven per cent of voters in marginal constituencies think religious liberty has improved since David Cameron became Prime Minister, according to a new survey. The ComRes poll, commissioned by The Christian Institute, found that over four in ten (44 per cent) of those surveyed support legal protections for people with ‘sincere, profoundly-held beliefs’. ComRes surveyed 1,000 British adults living in the 40 most marginal Conservative/Labour constituencies last month. Only 21 per cent disagreed that the ‘tide of equality legislation has gone too far in elevating equality over religious freedom’. Colin Hart, Director of The Christian Institute, said the results should act as a ‘wake up call’ to party leaders, as voters in key marginal seats are ‘very concerned about threats to religious liberty and free speech. Those surveyed rightly believe that religious freedom in this country has not improved under Mr Cameron’s leadership.
Paedophiles grooming women to bear children
Paedophiles are grooming women to bear their children, giving them easy access to victims, according to a child abuse charity. MOSAC - a charity which supports the non-abusing parents and carers of abused children - says a third of all calls to its helpline are from women who believe they have been groomed into conceiving a child. Director Nigel Newton Sawyerr said: ‘Paedophiles who are very devious will go to any lengths to access children. Who's more vulnerable than their own children?’ Barrister Sophia Cannon says the law under the Children's Act will always take into consideration the wellbeing of a child. But she adds that it is ‘skewed towards the idea that all mothers and fathers who want to be involved in a child's life can be involved. What it doesn't look at are the parents to whom responsibility has certainly fallen short,’ she said. MOSAC is now lobbying the Government for change
Child sex abuse inquiry: They must get the appointment right this time
Fiona Woolf is a person of great integrity, as indeed is Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, but the task of heading an inquiry into allegations of historical child sex abuse is a special one. The two candidates for the post fell by the wayside not because of their personal qualities but because of their family and social connections. That the Home Office failed to spot the problem in both cases and then took so long to accept that it was a problem reflects badly on her department and ultimately on Theresa May, the Home Secretary, herself. That, however, is the past. Ms May's sincerity should not be doubted, even if her department's competence and her judgement might have been found wanting. What matters now is to learn the lesson and get it right the third time. This is an important inquiry and it will be hard to find the right person to lead it.