Central African Republic: ‘Christian’ criminals and militia
On Tuesday Reuters reported, ‘three Muslim youths were killed and mutilated by 'Christian' militia in CAR. They were travelling to a reconciliation soccer game between Muslim and Christian youths that was set up to forge a peace between mostly Muslim Seleka rebels who seized power last year and the rival anti-balaka militia. Meanwhile on Tuesday a Christian worker reported, ‘Yesterday there was more gunfire in Bangui. A vehicle carrying its full capacity of armed Muslims pulled up at a Muslim-controlled area and deposited them there, causing the onlookers to flee. It was in response to preparations being made by the anti-balaka for further attacks. These ‘anti-balaka’ are criminals, whose sole aim is to drive out the inhabitants and plunder their houses and shops. They had their base in our Christian part of town for a good while, before they finally cleared off. It is a constant, intolerable threat. Please pray for our protection.'
Eritrea: 21st birthday but 1,000 Christian prisoners don’t celebrate
Eritrea is ruled by President Isaias Afewerki, who won independence from Ethiopia in 1991. He became a dictator, repressing soldiers then turning on religious dissenters and critics within the party. Today the Eritrean regime tolerates no dissent of any kind. There is no free media, no university, and even the ruling party - renamed the People’s Front for Freedom and Democracy - has not held a party conference for years. Tens of thousands of young Eritreans have fled the country, escaping across the border to Ethiopia or Sudan to face a difficult and uncertain future. Others have attempted to reach Europe, some of them drowning in the Mediterranean Sea on smuggler ships. Eritrea’s 6 million people live under a regime that has earned a reputation as the most repressive in Africa. Exiled human-rights group, Release Eritrea, reports that 1,000+ Christians are currently in detention. The group bases its tally on phone calls to friends and colleagues in the country.
Global: Three newborns challenge pro-abortion assumptions
Decklen was born at 22 weeks in California. He was just 10 inches long and weighed 14 ounces. His parents had to choose whether or not to have an emergency operation. They wanted to give Decklen a chance. ‘If he’s a fighter, you know, we want him to fight and make his own decisions,’ his dad said. His words forced journalists in the secular, pro-abortion media to acknowledge Decklen’s value. Meanwhile doctors in Australia have criticised another couple’s decision to allow their conjoined twin girls a chance at life. The girls, born six weeks early, have diprosopus. They share everything and when
the condition appeared on an ultrasound at 19 weeks doctors said, ‘None of the 35 other children born with diprosopus in recorded history is alive today’. But the parents refused an abortion and named the girls Faith and Hope. Doctors now say if the girls can continue progressing for five weeks, they have a good chance of survival.
Afghanistan: Thousands of US troops to stay
US President Barack Obama has announced a pull-out plan for Afghanistan that will leave 9,800 troops in the country after 2014, overriding previous plans of a complete withdrawal by the end of the year. He has been insistent that at the beginning of 2015, the war in Afghanistan will officially be over, but leaving almost 10,000 there after 2014 may make it difficult to realise that distinction on the ground. US troops will still be armed and conducting ‘counter-terrorism’ missions. With this announcement the president is reinvesting in his strategy, giving the military what it says it needs but also giving them a timeline. The president says by 2017 the US will only provide the normal numbers that are needed to secure an embassy.
