P&O Ferries sackings 'illegal'
24 Mar 2022
800 P&O ferry staff were sacked over Zoom recently. The Government said it was told the night before but assumed a redundancy consultation was being announced. Three P&O ships were moored at Dover when the company suspended sailings ahead of a ‘major announcement’ but insisted it was ‘not going into liquidation’. Then the staff were sacked without warning, with the aim of replacing them with overseas agency staff from India on as little as £1.80 an hour - well below the UK's minimum wage. Frances O'Grady, head of the TUC, said the move was illegal and ‘one of the most shameful incidents in British industrial relations’. He called for them to have their jobs reinstated. The workers were 'forced to sign gagging orders in return for redundancy pay’.
Churches across the UK have marked the second anniversary of the first Covid-19 lockdown with walls of reflection and remembrance in cathedrals and churches as people brought photos, prayers and memories to honour those who have died. Cathedrals and other landmarks across the country have lighted up their buildings in yellow as a sign of support. The Bishop of London, chair of the UK Commission on Bereavement, said, ‘I recall how helpless so many people, including myself, felt in the early days of the pandemic, surrounded by constant reminders of the magnitude of loss being experienced across the country. Today is a day to reflect, pause and remember those we have lost over the past two years and pray for the millions bereaved during the pandemic.’
Ukraine: church believes for miracles
24 Mar 2022
Ukraine’s Christians are praying for God's protection, peace, and His will to be done, seeking Him in churches, bomb shelters, and homes. They are believing for miracles, healing and the supernatural presence of God to manifest itself powerfully throughout Ukraine. There is such faith being exercised, with crying out to God, as shown on videos, that some wonder if the presence and glory of God will become so pervasive that Russian soldiers will kneel down and repent on the battlefield, while Ukrainians extend grace, forgiveness and mercy, showing the love of Christ. In the midst of trial and war, the church is singing. It is standing against the wave of evil, bringing a standard of righteousness and holiness in the midst of calamity. Worship and prayer, spiritual warfare tools, are cutting through the darkness and joining brothers and sisters in Christ worldwide.
Prayer for the Russian people
24 Mar 2022
Pray that the Russian people learn the full truth about the war in Ukraine. Their main source of information comes from state-owned television. There is an increasing awareness of being lied to among the younger people who are active in social media. Truth sets free, and it can set alight a resistance against this war that Putin cannot ignore. Pray for Russian mothers! Sooner or later, the truth about the rising number of Russian casualties must come out. In 1994, after Chechnya tried to gain independence from Russia, the ‘Committee of Soldiers’ Mothers’ opposed the senseless and bloody war and went into the battle zone to confront and negotiate with the military. Many soldiers were released to return home. The Ukrainian government has already called the Russian mothers to come and collect their captured sons. God can raise up the mothers in Russia, once more, as instruments of peace.
Russians in Ukraine kidnap missionary
24 Mar 2022
Orphan's Promise has ministered to the needs of tens of thousands of people across Ukraine for many years. Valentina is an Orphan's Promise aid worker; when Russian troops arrived and learned that she was helping the Ukrainians they kidnapped her. Orphan's Promise provides food and shelter to desperate Ukrainians and shares Jesus with them. Valentina’s team evacuates women, children, the sick and elderly from hot spots. While under fire they drive to bakeries, also working under fire, and deliver bread to hungry people while also providing them with spiritual food. Valentina's friends and colleagues are very concerned for her safety, asking Christians to pray that she will not be tortured and will be released soon. Pray also for all those bringing urgent humanitarian aid to areas which have faced countless air strikes and are now occupied by Russian forces.
NATO extraordinary summit
24 Mar 2022
An extraordinary NATO summit has addressed the most serious security crisis in a generation. NATO's core task was to address the need for a reset of deterrence and the defence of Ukraine in the longer term. Four new battlegroups have been established in the eastern part of the Alliance. There is a new sense of urgency as many countries invest more money in Ukraine and supply essential air, sea and land equipment to defend it and deter attack. President Zelensky, addressing the leaders, asked people everywhere to take to the streets in a show of support for Ukraine to mark one month of the Russian invasion. The UK sanctioned 65 more Russian individuals including the Wagner Group of mercenaries, described as ‘Putin’s private army’. When the NATO meeting ended leaders left for a G7 meeting where sanctions were discussed. See also
Iran: Houthis should be on terrorist list
24 Mar 2022
The Houthi terrorists are based in Yemen. Recently, senior Houthi leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi went on an antisemitic tirade supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine, stating, ‘It is because Ukraine’s President is Jewish. Any country run by a Jew ends up going to war.’ His statement gives an insight into what to expect from Iran and its proxies. Many are saying, ‘We must recognise Iran for what it is and redesignate the Houthis, who operate as a weapon of war for the Iranian regime.’ Currently Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are raising serious concerns about any new agreement between the USA and Iran that involves Iran acquiring nuclear weapons capability. They see that embracing Iran comes from a false hope that it will lead to better behaviour by its regime and terrorist proxies.
USA: ‘protect against potential cyberattacks’
24 Mar 2022
The White House has stated that there is evolving intelligence of Russia exploring options for cyberattacks. The US administration has prioritised strengthening, modernising and improving the security of widely-used technology. The President launched action plans to shore up the cybersecurity of the electricity, pipeline, and water sectors and has urged departments and agencies to mandate new cybersecurity and network defence measures, stating, ‘We will do everything in our power to defend the nation and respond to cyberattacks. But much of our infrastructure is owned and operated by the private sector and they must act to protect the critical services on which all Americans rely.’ Pray for American commerce and industry to successfully authorise authentication on all systems to make it harder for attackers to enter. Pray for cybersecurity professionals as they patch, protect and employ multi-factor passwords and authentication.