France, Germany, and Britain have voiced concern to the UN's secretary-general that Iran has developed a ballistic-missile system capable of delivering a nuclear weapon in violation of the international body's Security Council resolution.
A letter the three countries circulated widely at the UN on December 4 stated that "Iran's development of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles" was inconsistent with a UN Security Council resolution that endorses a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, and which urges Tehran not to pursue activity related to such missiles.
The EU countries that drafted the letter are three of the six signatories of the nuclear agreement, along with the United States, Russia, and China.
A flight test of a medium-range missile variant in particular is mentioned in their joint letter: "The Shahab-3 booster used in the test is a Missile Technology Control Regime category-1 system and as such is technically capable of delivering a nuclear weapon."
In a tweet, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called the letter "a desperate falsehood to cover up" the three European countries' "miserable incompetence" in fulfilling their commitments to the nuclear deal.
If Britain, France, and Germany "want a modicum of global credibility, they can begin by exerting sovereignty rather than bowing to US bullying," Zarif wrote.
Last year in May, President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the nuclear accord that offered Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. However, the remaining signatories still support the pact.
Washington has since re-imposed crippling sanctions on the Iranian economy, while Tehran has gradually reduced some of its commitments under the deal.
Citing a UN Security Council resolution on Iran, the three EU countries urged Tehran "not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons."
Trump wants to force Iran to renegotiate the agreement, arguing that the terms were not tough enough to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, and agree curbs to its ballistic-missile program.
Iran has refused, insisting that its nuclear program is strictly for civilian energy purposes.
With reporting by AP, Daily Journal, and Bloomberg
Pray: that Iran will stop developing its nuclear potential.
Pray: for fresh negotiations to find a workable way forward that adheres to the UN resolution.
Here are four specific ways you can pray for the church in Iran right now (courtesy of The Voice of the Martyrs):
1. Pray for Christians and all Iranians affected by the economic downturn. Pray for churches and Christian ministries that are seeing expenses skyrocket.
2. Pray for the wisdom and discernment of church leaders amid the upheaval. They are praying that God will give them strategies to use the current unrest to advance His kingdom.
3. Pray that Iranians seeking peace will meet the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. Pray for outreach ministries inside the country as well as broadcasting and internet ministries reaching into Iran from outside.
4. Ministry work is very dangerous right now because of heightened alertness from police, religious authorities and others. Pray for the safety and protection of Christian workers.
The Voice of the Martyrs has prepared a special report on the situation for the church in Iran right now. Click the link below to request your copy. https://www.persecution.com/iranreport/
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban’s ruling council agreed Sunday 29th December to a temporary cease-fire in Afghanistan, providing a window in which a peace agreement with the United States can be signed, officials from the insurgent group said. They didn’t say when it would begin.
A cease-fire had been demanded by Washington before any peace agreement could be signed. A peace deal would allow the U.S. to bring home its troops from Afghanistan and end its 18-year military engagement there, America’s longest.
The White House said it would have no comment.
The U.S. wants any deal to include a promise from the Taliban that Afghanistan would not be used as a base by terrorist groups. The U.S. currently has an estimated 12,000 troops in Afghanistan.
The Taliban chief must approve the cease-fire decision but that was expected. The duration of the cease-fire was not specified but it was suggested it would last for 10 days. It was also not specified when the cease-fire would begin.
Four members of the Taliban negotiating team met for a week with the ruling council before they agreed on the brief cease-fire. The negotiating team returned Sunday to Qatar where the Taliban maintain their political office and where U.S. special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has been holding peace talks with the religious militia since September, 2018.
Talks were suspended in September when both sides seemed on the verge of signing a peace pact. However, a surge in violence in the capital Kabul killed a U.S. soldier, prompting President Donald Trump to declare the deal “dead.” Talks resumed after Trump made a surprise visit to Afghanistan at the end of November announcing the Taliban were ready to talk and agree to a reduction in violence.
Khalilzad returned to Doha at the beginning of December. It was then that he proposed a temporary halt to hostilities to pave the way to an agreement being signed, according to Taliban officials.
A key pillar of the agreement, which the U.S. and Taliban have been hammering out for more than a year, is direct negotiations between Afghans on both sides of the conflict.
Those intra-Afghan talks were expected to be held within two weeks of the signing of a U.S.-Taliban peace deal. They will decide what a post-war Afghanistan will look like.
The first item on the agenda is expected to address how to implement a cease-fire between the Taliban and Afghanistan’s National Security Forces. The negotiations, however, were expected to be prickly and will cover a variety of thorny issues, including rights of women, free speech, and changes to the country’s constitution.
The intra-Afghan talks would also lay out the fate of tens of thousands of Taliban fighters and the heavily armed militias belonging to Afghanistan’s warlords. Those warlords have amassed wealth and power since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001 by the U.S.-led coalition. They were removed after Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida carried out the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States. The Taliban had harbored bin Laden, although there was no indication they were aware of al-Qaida’s plans to attack the United States.
Last year, Afghanistan was the world’s deadliest conflict.
Reporting by Associated Press: Gannon reported from Islamabad.
More at: https://apnews.com/caa4c5aaf88e982ed0cdb4e132b0d89c
Pray: giving thanks for these renewed talks and the hope that this temporary ceasefire brings.
Pray: for grace and commitment to finding a workable, lasting accord on all sides of this complex situation.
Pray: for peace and an end to these deadly hostilities in Afghanistan.
Thousands shelter on beaches as fires rip through Victoria and New South Wales
Australia’s bushfire crisis has claimed at least two more lives, authorities confirmed on Tuesday, as dozens of fires tore through several towns on the east coast and forced thousands of people to take shelter on beaches.
Two people – a father and son – died when fire hit the New South Wales town of Cobargo on Tuesday, while emergency services officials held grave fears for a third person, near Narooma, on the state’s south coast.
In Victoria, where more than 200,000ha has burned in the state’s east, at least four people were unaccounted for. The armed forces stand ready to evacuate those sheltering on the state’s beaches if needed.
Eleven people have been confirmed dead across all states in this year’s bushfire season so far.
The NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, said it was “absolutely” the state’s worst bushfire season on record as he warned the reality of the damage would become clear only once the fires were under control.
“We need to brace ourselves for a considerable number of properties, a considerable number of homes that are likely to have been damaged and or destroyed right across these eight emergency warning fire areas, given the extraordinary nature of the fire behaviour and fire spread today,” he said.
In his New Year’s message, the prime minister, Scott Morrison, said the fires were having a “devastating impact” and warned that the weeks and months ahead would “continue to be difficult”.
Pray: for those whose lives, livelihoods and homes have been affected by these devastating fires.
Pray: for safety and wisdom for the brave servicemen and volunteers who are fighting the fires.
Pray: that rain will come and the winds will change supernaturally, to stop the fires in their tracks.
Pray: for those helping with the aftermath both with rebuilding neighbourhoods and also caring for the habitat, wildlife and animals.
Pray: for the Church in Australia to rise up and be united amidst controversial legislation being debated in several states.
Martyrdoms by Boko Haram splinter group occur as US finally adds West African nation to religious freedom watch list.
In another filmed massacre, 11 Nigerian Christians were executed by the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) over the Christmas holiday.
Wearing the orange jumpsuits made familiar by similar executions of Egyptian and Ethiopian Christians in Libya, the first Nigerian victim was shot in the head by the black-clad terrorists who then slit the throats of the remaining ten. It is understood to be the largest group killed by ISWAP, a Boko Haram splinter group, so far.
“This message is to the Christians in the world,” stated the 56-second propaganda video, released December 26, in both Arabic and Hausa, according to The New York Times. “Those who you see in front of us are Christians, and we will shed their blood as revenge for the two dignified sheikhs.”
The reference is to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the former ISIS caliph killed by US troops in an October raid in Syria, and Abu al-Hassan al-Muhajir, his purported successor, who was killed the next day.
The video offered no information about the victims, other than that they were recently seized in Nigeria’s northwest Borno state. But an earlier video was released by ISWAP in which captured aid workers appealed to Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
The International Crisis Group estimates the jihadist group consists of between 3,500 and 5,000 fighters.
“These agents of darkness are enemies of our common humanity, and they don’t spare any victim, whether they are Muslims or Christians,” stated Buhari, according to al-Jazeera.
Nigeria’s population of 200 million is evenly divided between Muslims and Christians.
Muslim victims have been many, agreed CAN in an earlier statement. But it stated the widespread killing in Nigeria’s north has predominately targeted Christians, who make up 95 percent of those currently detained by jihadists.
“The government has been paying lip service towards securing their freedom,” stated CAN, mentioning in particular the case of Sharibu.
The Christian Association of Nigeria disagreed with the Nigerian government’s position, and commended the US State Department for “standing with the oppressed and the truth.”
The association also criticized Buhari for creating an imbalance in the religious composition of the security council, through recent appointments. “The bitter truth,” CAN stated, “is that Christians are yet to be given any sense of belonging since this government came on board.”
Report by JAYSON CASPER
Full article at: https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2019/december/isis-nigeria-executes-christians-iswap-christmas-boko-haram.html
Pray: for these brutal terrorists to be brought to justice and for ISWAP to be defeated by the Nigerian authorities.
Pray: for the families of the 11 victims, that they will know divine comfort and the assurance of the Gospel amidst their grief.
Pray: for the Christian Church in Northern Nigeria, who have suffered persecution and terrorist attacks for many years. May it remain strong and practice biblical forgiveness in the face of adversity.
Pray: that the rights and freedoms of Christians in Nigeria will not be marginalised by changes to the law and constitution.
The French government and a key trade union on Sunday exchanged bitter accusations over who was to blame for France’s over three-week transport strike against pension reforms, as the stalemate showed little sign of relenting.
Deputy Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari accused the hardline CGT union of a “systematic opposition to any reform” while the union’s chief Philippe Martinez charged the government with strewing “chaos” in the conflict.
The strike—now longer than the notorious 22-day strike of winter 1995 -- has lasted 25 days and is on course to surpass the longest transport strike in France, which lasted for 28 days in 1986 and early 1987.
Aside from two driverless lines, the Paris metro was again almost completely shut down on Sunday while only a fraction of high-speed TGV trains were running.
The government and unions are only due to hold their next talks on January 7, two days ahead of a new day of mass demonstrations against the reform, which is championed by President Emmanuel Macron.
In an interview with the Journal de Dimanche newspaper, Djebbari angrily accused the CGT of “attitudes of intimidation, harassment and even aggression” against railway workers who had opted not to down tools.
He accused the CGT of showing a “systematic opposition to any reform, of blocking and sometimes intimidation”.
“The CGT wants to make its mark through media stunts. But the French are not going to be duped by the extreme-left politicisation of this movement,” he added.
‘Like Thatcher’
But in an interview with the same newspaper, Martinez accused the government of trying to ensure the conflict deteriorated further.
“Emmanuel Macron presents himself as a man of a new world but he is imitating Margaret Thatcher,” he said, referring to the late British prime minister who sought to break the power of the unions in 1980s standoffs.
“There is real anger. Of course, not being paid for 24 days is tough. But the conflict is the result of two-and-a-half years of suffering,” Martinez added.
He said he was awaiting concessions from Macron in a New Year’s address Tuesday evening as well as recognition that “most people are not happy and that he (the president) was wrong”.
The unions are demanding that the government drops a plan to merge 42 existing pension schemes into a single, points-based system. The overhaul would see workers in certain sectors—including the railways—lose early retirement benefits. The government says the pension overhaul is needed to create a fairer system. But workers object to the inclusion of a so-called pivot age of 64 until which people would have to work to earn a full pension—two years beyond the official retirement age.
With thanks to (AFP)
Pray: for talks and conciliation negotiations to be successful.
Pray: that demonstrations and marches will remain peaceful and will not escalate into civil unrest.
Pray: that the growing public anger can be defused quickly - at the highest level.
Pray: that France shall be saved.
Go 2020: Calling the whole Body of Christ to prayer and action for a lost world
The early church turned the world upside down when, following Jesus’ command, they stayed in Jerusalem and “joined constantly together in prayer”. This culture of united prayer brought the empowering of the Holy Spirit and ignited remarkable spiritual breakthroughs as the Gospel began to spread throughout the then known world. This same pattern of prayer preceding evangelism has been a consistent pattern in all the great revivals and mission advances from then on through church history.
Now, tens of thousands of churches with hundreds of mission organizations and prayer movements are joining forces for an epic prayer and mission initiative unlike anything the world has known. The goal is to reach one billion who are still unreached by Christ’s Good News. Together, by May 2020, we aim to mobilize 100 million Christians to pray for those in their communities that do not know the Lord as well as those across the seas that are part of unreached people groups. No one organization or movement can accomplish such a staggering feat, but if we flow together like tributaries in one unstoppable river, this can be achieved! Getting God’s heart of love for the lost through prayer will lead to our sharing Jesus with them in the power and sensitivity of the Holy Spirit just as the early church experienced.
Would you and your church or ministry organization consider joining with us in such an awesome undertaking for His glory and so that everyone may hear? Together, as we pray, mobilize, and trust the One who has all power, we can see the following happen by the end of May next year:
• One billion people being reached with the Gospel and millions upon millions getting saved all over the world through May 2020.
• Unreached people groups hearing the Gospel for the first time and planting new churches among them.
• 100 million Christians inspired and empowered by the Holy Spirit to pray and share the Gospel with as many as possible in their own communities and to the ends of the earth.
• 50 million new believers integrated into existing and new churches.
Personal Prayer: Lord here I am, use me! I will pray for and share the Gospel with others who need to hear it. https://www.go2020.world/get-involved
A suggested five-fold strategy to mobilize believers for prayer and outreach is described in this four-minute video. GO2020 video: https://vimeo.com/342384375
The attached brochure can also be used to give others the vision of Go 2020 (some translations are also available). Further information can be found at www.go2020.world/prayer with a sign-up page to receive future communications and coordinate with others in your nation and region. Please have a look at these resources and share them with others in your unique network of relationships.
Imagine how God could use you, your friends, and colleagues to ignite a movement for Jesus in your city and beyond!
Here is the link to that guide which we hope you will share with those in your network or organization: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EksUzKPVPfkKg8Ki2bLnDaeaCqFa3UZC/view
Please let me know if you are willing to help with this mobilization process. The fulfillment of Christ’s Great Commission is closer than we realize if we can join our prayers and efforts together to make Him known through Go 2020. Click on this link to get helpful resources and information updates:. https://www.go2020.world/get-involved
Yours in Christ,
Jenny Oliphant / IPC Leadership Team
Australia Calls the World to Pray for the Nations
Australia Christian prayer leaders invite their brothers and sisters in Christ, prayer groups, prayer networks and churches to join with them all over the world to pray at sunrise on New Year's Day 2020. This prayer gathering can take place at a public location such as a hill, lookout, landmark or church in your area. It could even be your own home.
Watch the new video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx_6rVOv9mo
This year our focus is to pray for the nations. Over the last two years we had registrations from 50 different countries including USA, South Africa, Namibia, Pakistan, Japan, United Kingdom, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Zealand, and Australia.
Warwick Marsh, coordinator for Australia’s National Day of Prayer & Fasting said, “David said in Psalm 108:2, “I will wake the dawn with my song.” During this time of prayer, we want to focus on giving great praise to God. We also want to pray for revival and transformation, that God will bring healing to each of our nations: 2 Chronicles 7:14.”
Marsh continued, “In declaring Jesus Christ as Lord at this worldwide Sunrise Prayer Relay we are circling the globe with prayer, praise and worship and surrendering our lives to Jesus Christ for the glory of God. This year we want to challenge people to pray for the nations. Use the prayer resources on the website and social media and register your location at: www.sunriseprayerrelay.org This year we are asking you to help reach a billion people and get behind www.go2020.world/home
Pat Steele, a prayer & evangelist leader in Wollongong Australia, said, “We encourage you to pray the Lord's Prayer together aloud as the sun rises and make a declaration that Jesus Christ is Lord of your life, your family, your region and your nation. Let’s also join to pray for the nations. At your location we encourage you to include praise and worship, prayers, and scripture readings. We suggest 30 minutes, but you can pray for longer. You could even take communion, shine a torch, or light a candle. What you do for your sunrise celebration is up to you.”
Share photos and videos from your location on social media.
Use the hashtag: #sunriseprayerrelay
Website: www.sunriseprayerelay.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sunriseprayerrelay
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sunriseprayerrelay
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx_6rVOv9mo
Contact:
Warwick Marsh 61 418 225212 or Pat Steele by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Prayer Summit 2020
Global Prayer for Northeast Asia
Theme: Let the fire fall on the Church, let the Church change the nations
Venue: Olympic Gymnastics Arena, Seoul, Korea
Schedule:
April 7-9, 2020
Objectives
1. Repentance. It is paramount for believers to recognize that the severe discord we see among nations and within nations is an outgrowth of the grievous division we see within churches and among believers. Let us repent of our ways in which we contributed to the division, of prioritizing ‘factional’ interests over Kingdom interests, of remaining apathetic to God’s mourning heart for the unity of His body.
2. Unity. Strife abounds everywhere we look. North Korea’s nuclear arms issue has precipitated and complicated deep-seated chasms among surrounding nations, and heightening competition among greater powers have put additional strain in the region already clanking with dissonance. Generational rifts seem to turn into gulfs, while disputes along ideological lines show little hope of repair. It is at this point that we gather for united prayer, for it is only the united prayer of believers that can demonstrate the uniting power of God that goes beyond political fault-lines.
3. Revival. Many churches across Northeast Asia are experiencing the reviving fire of the Holy Spirit in the midst of persecution. We are gathering to receive, multiply and fan this fire of the Holy Spirit so that it would spread to more believers, churches, nations and regions. May we see great harvest, and may His Kingdom come!
Prayer Summit 2020 - Strategic Prayer Points
1. Pray that churches and leaders across the world will “hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
2. Pray that there would be true repentance during and through the assembly, that the church would be sanctified.
3. Pray that heavenly strategies and wisdom regarding social issues would be imparted during the assembly.
4. Pray that, as the church prays with those strategies and wisdom in accordance with His will, it would bear real fruit in individuals and nations.
5. Pray that the great reviving work of God would set every person and nation on fire.
6. Pray that this reviving fire will be brought from and taken to peoples and nations, so that the great harvest of souls would be accelerated.
7. Pray that the entire process of preparation and mobilization leading up to the assembly would be Spirit-filled and Spirit-inspired.
For more info and to book, visit the website or please do email us:
Website: www.prayersummit2020.com
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.