EU’s Ashton expects breakthrough In Kosovo dispute
The European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton says Serbia and Kosovo are close to a deal to end the ethnic partition of the former Serbian province. She spoke after the leaders of both nations expressed optimism about an agreement as early as this week. In a significant U-turn, Serbia offered to recognize the authority of Kosovo's government over the north, in exchange for autonomy for Serbs living there. The two sides were at odds however over the powers any Serb institutions in the north would have. But Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic now says they are in his words ‘never closer’ to settling their differences. Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci told reporters earlier they were at what he called ‘the beginning of the end’ in reaching an accord to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia. The two men spoke after separate talks with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in Belgrade and Pristina.
Pray: for the success of these discussions and pray for a breakthrough that will bring reconciliation. (Eph.4:13)
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/27189-news-watch-eus-ashton-expects-breakthrough-in-kosovo-dispute
World Prayer Assembly Follow-on in East Africa
Brief Report on Launch of WPA East Africa Chapter
The launch of the World Prayer Assembly East Africa Chapter was carried out on Friday 8th February 2013 in response to the request to the Kenyan team to implement the strategies they had received in Indonesia at the WPA 2012 meeting. About 50 people attended this event.
Pastor Mary Aruwa, Pastor Esther Kiarie, and Pastor Stephen Mutua all helped lead the gathering, reviewing the vision of the WPA and its history and hearing the responses of participants. Pastor Mutua, outlined the way forward as Kenyans come together under WPA East Africa chapter to begin to go out to the surrounding nations carrying revival and the new wave of God’s glory. He added that the work would extend to teaching and encouraging brethren to be more effective in prayer. He informed the team that the steering committee would work on the modalities and the planning strategies to ensure that in 2013 at least 6 nations in the region would experience the new wave of glory as the WPA Kenya team began to mobilize teams to go out. They then proceeded to launch the WPA EA chapter as he prayed powerfully and commissioned those present to go out to East Africa and the surrounding regions. Later participants were invited to share their responses to this vision and their responses were in agreement as they expressed their thoughts e.g. “this is a good vision”, they affirmed their commitment to this cause and asked the team to keep them informed as they were willing to participate in the activities that would be put in place by the steering committee.
For more information, please contact Pastor Stephen Mutua
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Catastrophic Antibiotic Threat: 'Untreatable Infections' Coming
Health officials in the United Kingdom are warning of possible catastrophic consequences after the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. One of the reasons antibiotic resistance is on the increase is the fact that bacteria are adapting quicker than researchers can develop new drugs to fight them, according to England's chief medical officer. "Antimicrobial resistance poses a catastrophic threat. If we don't act now, any one of us could go into hospital in 20 years for minor surgery and die because of an ordinary infection that can't be treated by antibiotics," Sally Davies, the chief medical officer for England, told Reuters. She added that there have only been a few drugs successfully developed and made available on the market in the past few decades which led to the current situation. It also means that procedures that were once thought to be routine may pose a serious health risk to patients.
Pray: for the work of medical researchers as they seek to find new solutions to this problem. (Ac.10:38)
More: http://global.christianpost.com/news/catastrophic-antibiotic-threat-untreatable-infections-coming-uk-and-us-doctors-warn-91611/
Majority of UK children 'living below the breadline by 2015', says TUC
Government welfare and tax changes, together with lower than forecast wage growth, will leave the majority of children in the UK living in families below the breadline by 2015, according to new Trades Union Congress research. Tax and welfare reforms alone - both existing and future changes - will be responsible for nearly half a million more children living below the breadline, says the TUC. In 'A Bleak Future For Families', the research finds that the cumulative impact of government policies and slower than forecast wage growth over the course of this parliament will mean that 690,000 more children will be living below the minimum income standard - the level of income needed to achieve a minimum acceptable standard of living in the UK - by 2015. TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Families are suffering the tightest squeeze in their living standards in nearly a century.” See also last week's Prayer Alert 'Archbishop of Canterbury attacks Government welfare reforms'.
Pray: for Government to ensure that children are not adversely affected by economic policies. (Pr.19:17)
More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/18176
