Earlier this year 10,000 Gaza teenagers graduated from a Hamas terrorist training programme called ‘Pioneers of the Resistance.’ The Palestinian youths, aged 15 to 21, underwent intensive training using live ammunition and heard sermons from Hamas leaders in praise of armed attacks. They were trained in firing sniper rifles, using portraits of Israeli leaders for targets. The youths simulated attacks on Israeli destinations through model terror tunnels (recreating the experience of infiltrating Israeli territory). All training was conducted under strict military conditions. During the last week of their training Hamas published a series of photos showing Palestinian minors dressed in military uniforms and being given weapons training in how to kill Israelis with assault rifles. The new camp is an example of how the Iran-backed terror organisation influences Palestinian children with ideology and violates international laws. See also 

An anonymous report stated that three young British girls are trying to escape from their husbands - and possibly IS. A Facebook posting on 2 May said, ‘Three girls (foreigners, British) married to IS militants, are reported missing, and IS has ordered all its check points to search for them. It is believed that those girls have escaped.’ The author later added, ‘The latest info I have is they are still on the run in Mosul, and IS is thoroughly searching for them - not captured them yet. They are Brits, not immigrants, and they are very young teens (around 16 years old). That's all I have about them for now.’ See also article 6 in this week’s Prayer-Alert British Isles section.

A new earthquake hit Nepal on Tuesday, with shockwaves felt as far away as New Delhi and Dhaka. At the time of writing at least 65 people have been reported killed in India, Nepal and Tibet, with more than 1,100 injured. The epicentre was to the east of Kathmandu, close to the China border. There are massive recovery efforts under way to aid victims in Nepal. Hundreds of thousands of buildings, including many ancient sites, were destroyed and many more damaged. Tearfund said that they had not yet been able to contact their partner workers in the field and that in the capital Kathmandu there had been panic. ‘People are very scared, choosing to stay out in the streets. It's been doubly traumatic for them, and we need to pray and support them.’ 

American law enforcement's public image is at an all-time low, and the Justice Department is fielding calls to investigate departments across the country. Lawmakers from both political parties want to pass reforms, and presidential candidate Rand Paul met members of the Congressional Black Caucus this week to discuss criminal justice reform. He’s an outspoken advocate for changing the way the American criminal system prosecutes and sentences. This Wednesday he will begin working with black lawmakers to craft a strategy for advancing legislation. Law-enforcement issues have taken centre stage following the death of several unarmed black men at the hands of police. The Congressional Black Caucus has tried for decades to reform the criminal justice system. Senator Paul was instrumental in convincing the Senate to pass the Death in Custody Reporting Act, the first post-Ferguson Act of Congress. See also: 

Isolated Assyrian Christians have been caught for nearly three months between Kurdish militias and Syrian army forces battling with IS for control of Hassaka province, says Syriac Catholic Archbishop Jacques Behnan Hindo. 1,000 Assyrian families fled their village homes, sending them into exile in Qamishli and Hassaka city. In addition, 242 Assyrian Christians captured during these attacks are still being held incommunicado at an IS stronghold bombed last week by the Syrian army. Church officials have identified 93 women, 51 children and 98 men taken captive. After two months of behind-the-scenes negotiations through local intermediaries, church attempts to gain the release of the hostages were rebuffed by their IS captors. Australia’s Archbishop Mar Meelis said, ‘IS jihadists demanded a US $23 million ransom to release their Khabur captives’. An Assyrian church leader said the amount was beyond the capacity of a tiny church in a poor community.

The Orthodox Church's resurgence began in the 1990s with the collapse of the USSR. Now Georgia's liberal politicians want alignment with Europe and the US to allow the country to overcome its past and become an independent nation. Some are accusing the Orthodox Church of using schools to breed religious conservatives with beliefs aligned to Putin's Russia. More than 80% of Georgians call themselves Orthodox, with the young amongst the most religious. The church's conservative message is at odds with Georgia’s liberal, pro-Western direction. An example of school/church activity is in the village of Terjola. The Head Teacher often brings in Terjola’s priest to work with the children and she wants to have a school prayer room. On her desk is a large photograph of Patriarch Ilia II, the head of Georgia's Orthodox Church and the country's most popular public figure.

Since Nigeria's army began clearing areas of the country's northeast from Boko Haram, some internally displaced people have started returning home. But thousands could now face severe food shortages as reconstruction is delayed. Some trade has resumed in towns, but ghostly pockets and haunting reminders of the insurgent takeover are evident. Three months after the fighting ended, the smell of rotting corpses still clings to the air by the Church of the Brethren near Mararaba. People have returned to Adamawa province, but health clinics, banks and schools are still lacking and vast stretches of farmland stand barren. People are afraid and lack the equipment and manpower to farm, so for the moment they can’t live off the land. There is no sign of government aid. The rainy season comes next month and landmines are still dotted around. About a week ago a bomb exploded when people went to clear the land.

Last week Prayer-Alert reported the release of 234 women and girls from Boko Haram. The total number of hostages released in the past few days has risen to 700. This marks a revival of fortunes for Nigeria’s military. More hostages have been freed in the past few weeks than in the past six years of the Boko Haram insurgency. This is due to the military receiving vital equipment and more support from the Nigerian people, who gave valuable information to track down the insurgents. Getting the Nigerian people on the side of the army would have been unlikely a few months back, given the military's appalling human rights record in the north east. The imminent arrival of Muhammadu Buhari as President has piloted a new sense of confidence. The former military strongman has vowed to crush the Muslim extremists. As the assault on Boko Haram’s stronghold continues it is hoped more victims will be released.