An illegal abortion clinic in Selma, Alabama, was shut down due to the power of prayer and God at work. Last June Bound4LIFE Birmingham, along with a coalition of organisations and citizens committed to seeing an illegal abortion clinic closed, gathered for a day of intercession in a church where they heard messages from a number of speakers. The next day, they put their words into action with a public declaration. They put tape over their mouths and held placards as they marched across the town’s bridge. They then held a press conference, asking state authorities to take action to prevent Samuel Lett from continuing his illegal abortions. The protesters saw God work. On December 30, Father Terry Gensemer shared the good news that the abortion facility had been shut down and the city of Selma was abortion-free.

With anti-Semitism on the rise in Europe, a pro-Israel rally made its way through the streets of Warsaw on Sunday in solidarity with the Jewish state. Waving the blue-and-white Star of David flag along with the Polish flag, Jews and Christians danced and sang side-by-side as they marched to Grzybowski Square and the Israeli Embassy. Israel's ambassador to Poland, Anna Azari, addressed the crowd, stating, ‘I've never seen such a large demonstration of support for Israel.’ The purpose of the march was to protest at growing anti-Semitism in Europe as a result of the rise of Islam and the numerous ‘unjust UN resolutions’ against Israel. Christians who took part in the public pro-Israel display explained that their presence was to show support that the covenant between God and the Jews is still in effect.

Slovenia will request from Croatia a list of refugees who are being transported, and detailed information about them. ‘If it does not receive such information, Slovenia will refuse to accept the refugees’, said the state secretary at its Ministry of the Interior. The introduction of controls on the internal borders between some Schengen countries is a temporary measure, but Slovenia is ready to introduce additional control measures on its border with Croatia if the migrant crisis continues. Slovenia recently requested a meeting with the Croatian authorities in order to clarify its proposals about additional controls of migrants passing through the Balkan route, for the purpose of their identification. In future, Croatian police must submit with each train sent to Dobova a list of migrants with their personal data. If the lists are not delivered, Slovenia will refuse to accept the migrants. Some media outlets report that Slovenia has discovered terrorist suspects among migrants.

Irish minister for children James Reilly was challenged on his knowledge of child poverty rates at a United Nations committee on Thursday. Addressing the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva, Dr Reilly said child poverty and family homelessness were the two most important children’s rights issues in Ireland. The minister is leading a delegation of senior civil servants and legal advisors, as Ireland is examined on its compliance with the Convention of the Rights of the Child. The state was last examined by the committee ten years ago. Norwegian commissioner Kirsten Sandberg said, ‘It is my understanding that the level of consistent child poverty last year in Ireland was one in nine.’ 330,000 people lost their jobs in the recession, which had an enormous impact on Irish society. A family escapes poverty when the head of the household has a job paying more than welfare.