Syria: US - Russian truce plan
26 Feb 2016
The USA and Russia announced plans for a cessation of Syrian hostilities to take effect tomorrow. It excludes IS and Nusra Front. UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon welcomed the announcement, which followed a failed attempt to restart peace talks by Staffan de Mistura in Geneva. De Mistura said, ‘We can now relaunch, very soon, the political process needed to end this conflict.’ Under the cessation terms, parties would indicate their agreement to the United States and Russia by noon Damascus time today, and the truce would take effect at midnight. To succeed, the deal will require both countries to persuade their allies on the ground to comply. Fighting and airstrikes s continued this week, according to a British-based monitoring group. Meanwhile, the Turkish government has said it doesn't think a deal will be respected by all.
A car bomb which destroyed a convoy of military vehicles last Wednesday during Ankara's evening rush hour killed 28 and wounded over sixty. This act of terrorism was blamed on three assailants but claimed by none. Complicating the situation is the Russian attempt to draw Turkey further into the Syrian military conflict; some see it as payback for the Turkish downing of a Russian bomber several months ago. Russia's bombing of rebel groups fighting the Assad regime has angered and frustrated the Western allies; they feel that Daesh is the target, and consider the Kurdish YPG militia in Syria (which Turkey and Russia are attacking) an important partner in the war. The many separate rebel and militia groups appear to be controlled by more powerful regimes, such as Russia and Iran. The recent attack in Ankara only complicates what is already a clandestine proxy war.
Australia: Play School to feature gay fathers
26 Feb 2016
A popular early learning TV programme, Play School, plans to feature a child with two fathers in a segment which profiles different types of blended families. Executive producer of the beloved preschool show, Jan Stradling, confirmed that the programme will feature an adopted family, an extended family, a blended family, an indigenous nuclear family and a family with two dads in its ‘Through the Windows’ segment to be screened later this year. A similar segment in 2004 featuring two gay mothers was attacked by the conservative press and the then Prime Minister John Howard, who described the ABC's decision to broadcast as foolish. But since then public support for same-sex marriage has grown, and the Turnbull government plans to develop a plebiscite on same-sex marriage after the next federal election.
The world’s deadliest terrorist group is not in the Middle East, but in Nigeria, where the Islamist insurgency Boko Haram and other forces killed more than 4,000 Christians in 2015 - a 62% increase from 2014. In response, Nigeria's largest confederation of Christian churches is, for the first time, jointly endorsing a commitment to revive the Church in the country's north, before it collapses from a decade of violence that has killed thousands of Christians and driven away more than a million. Christians in the northern region have for long been abandoned to their own fate by the Nigerian authorities. ‘This is the first time we’re going public to sign a declaration which gives the true picture of the persecution Christians are going through in this country,’ said Rev Musa Asake.
Canada: condemning discrimination against Israel
26 Feb 2016
The Canadian parliament passed a historic motion on Monday which formally condemned the anti-Israel BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement. The motion stated, ‘Given that Canada and Israel share a long history of friendship as well as economic and diplomatic relations, the House rejects the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which promotes the demonisation and de-legitimisation of the State of Israel. We call upon the government to condemn any and all attempts by Canadian organisations, groups or individuals to promote the BDS movement, both at home and abroad.’ Foreign affairs minister Stéphane Dion noted that the world will win nothing for boycotting Israel but deprive itself of the talents of its inventiveness. ‘We must fight anti-Semitism in all its forms,’ he added.
USA: Trump's tax returns a 'bombshell'?
26 Feb 2016
Mitt Romney called for the top three Republican presidential candidates to release their tax documents - especially Trump. Romney accused Trump of ‘dodging and weaving’ on the issue, noting that he had been vague about when he would make the records public. Romney said, ‘We’re going to select our nominee. We really ought to see from all three of these fellas what their taxes look like to see if there’s an issue there. I think in Donald Trump’s case, it’s likely to be a bombshell. There’s no question that Trump has the clearest path to the Republican nomination. I think that for the other people still in the race, their path is becoming a slimmer and slimmer opening. But should Trump release his tax returns, that opening could swell.’
Middle East Update
25 Feb 2016
Throughout 2015 we often invited you to join us as we concentrated our praying into the Middle East. We trust you will agree that concentration needs to be intensified as we go into the New Year. Every day our media is reporting from the area on political upheaval, millions of displaced people, acts of terrorism, a generation of children and young people with no hope, and nation fighting nation.
In the first days of this year we see the breakdown in contact between Saudi Arabia and Iran; Riyadh and Tehran vying for religious and political influence in the region. This breakdown has serious consequences for the two countries as Shia and Sunni battle for supremacy. The consequences for the whole region especially Syria and Yemen are equally serious and of course sitting in the middle of all this waring is Israel. A destabilised Middle East will increasingly have global spiritual, political, social and economic repercussions.
At the same time we are receiving reports of increasing numbers of people in that region becoming followers of Jesus. Even in the face of severe persecution, both Sunni and Shia men and women of all age groups, often through dreams and visions, are willingly risking everything to follow the One who they met in their dreams.
So today we renew the call to pray for the Middle East and here are some suggestions for prayer for you, your prayer group and your church.
• We declare the sovereignty of Christ over the whole region.
• We declare God's love for every Middle East country and every person in those countries, including those who govern each nation.
• We pray for courage and wisdom for every Christian.
• We pray for God's mercy on the children and young people.
• We pray for every agency endeavouring to bring comfort, food and shelter to those in need.
• We pray for every peace maker.
• We bless those who persecute and pray they too will find Jesus the Prince of Peace.
• We pray, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done across the Middle East in 2016".
Uganda: Thursday’s elections – backstory
19 Feb 2016
At the time of posting this article the people of Uganda are voting after days of violence, at least one person killed and a leading opposition candidate briefly detained twice when he tried to hold campaign rallies. Why should we care about the election? A win would give President Museveni a fifth term in office and delay the question of political succession for five years, amid speculation that he is preparing the way for his son or wife - both powerful individuals. Museveni’s original election ended a civil war and created impressive economic growth. But recently the economy and development have faltered, corruption is rife, public services are badly resourced and poorly functioning. Uganda is sitting on a demographic time-bomb with 38 million people aged under 20. The average Ugandan is 15. The faltering economy will struggle to create jobs for the youth bulge, adding to the 10 million unemployed. Past elections resulted in violence and accusations by the opposition of repression.