Cellphone Coverage Superceeds Basic Services in African Nations

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Cellphone Coverage Superceeds Basic Services in African Nations

More Africans have access to cellphone networks than basic services like tap water and education, according to a survey released Wednesday.

According to polling group Afrobarometer, 93 percent of African communities had mobile phone coverage, while access to critical sewerage infrastructure languished at 28 percent.

The study sampled communities in 34 African countries, mainly in the sub-Saharan region, between 2011 and 2013.

In Mali, only nine percent had no mobile phone service, while Madagascar had a 29 percent rate of non-connectivity, the highest measured.

It revealed that poor access to basic infrastructure remained “a key impediment” to the welfare of African communities, where water and electricity supply remained scarce, particularly in rural areas.

At 89 percent, Liberia topped the list of countries with no piped water supply, while more than half of Namibian communities did not have schools within a walking distance.

Liberia also had the highest number of areas without electricity.

The report said the findings highlighted “the enormous needs still confronting much of the continent for a basic infrastructure of development services.”

Source and Original Content by Ndtv

Muslim Nation Swears in Christian Governor

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Muslim Nation Swears in Christian Governor

Jakarta’s first Christian governor in nearly 50 years was sworn in on Wednesday in the face of protests from religious hardliners opposed to a non-Muslim taking over one of Indonesia’s most powerful political jobs.

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known by his nickname “Ahok”, has been acting governor of the Indonesian capital since Joko Widodo stepped aside last month to become president.

Hundreds of Islamic hardliners over the last few weeks have protested against the inauguration of Ahok, underlining the growing religious intolerance in a nation with the world’s biggest Muslim population.

Thousands of police were deployed around the capital this week in case of violence, but there was only a small group of peaceful protesters on Wednesday.

“I don’t need to be approved by everyone,” Ahok told reporters after being sworn in by the president. “The ones that deny me aren’t Jakartans. They come from Bekasi, Depok, Bogor, which are not in my territory.”

Ahok, who is the first ethnic Chinese governor of Jakarta, has a reputation for being a transparent, no-nonsense and at times abrasive leader. His style has been praised by residents long weary of a graft-ridden and inert bureaucracy.

Many Muslim organizations have also voiced support for Ahok…Read More

Source and Original Content by Charisma News

Asia Bibi’s Death Sentence: Pakistani Court moves to Fix ‘legal glitch’

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Asia Bibi’s Death Sentence: Pakistani Court moves to Fix ‘legal glitch’

The Pakistani court that upheld Asia Bibi’s death sentence last month has now called on the government to enact legislation that will make it more difficult to make blasphemy convictions.

The appeals judges at the Lahore High Court are asking for a law that requires courts to apply a test to accusers, to ensure that they meet “strict standards of Islamic piety”, World Watch Monitor (WWM) reports.

A 1992 decision by the Pakistan Supreme Court ruled that courts must make an “elaborate enquiry into the piety, uprightness and integrity of the witness from the men of the same virtues” in blasphemy cases. It is a legal principle known as tazkiya al shuhood.

However, Bibi’s accusers were not held to this standard during her original trial in 2010, and her lawyer – Naeem Shakir – therefore insists that her conviction is invalid.

Muhammad Anwaarul Haq and Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi, the judges who upheld her death sentence, now say they had no choice on the matter. They claim a weak defence, with no cross-examining of witnesses, left the prosecution to win “by default”.

They also said there are no guidelines in place to help justices carry out tazkiyah al shuhood. Bibi’s case may have had a different outcome if those guideline were available, they suggested.

“The bench has referred the case to the executive for consideration after identifying a legal glitch,” Abid Saqi, former President of Lahore High Court Bar Association, said…Read More

Source and Original Content by Christian Today

Prince Charles Expresses Pains Over Tragedy Faced by Middle East Christians

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Prince Charles Expresses Pains Over Tragedy Faced by Middle East Christians

The Prince of Wales has spoken of his heartbreak at the ‘soul destroying tragedy’ facing Christians in the Middle East.
Prince Charles said Christianity is being ‘quite literally, grotesquely and barbarously assaulted’, particularly in Syria during the nearly four-year-long civil war.

The heir to the throne addressed the congregation of the St Yeghiche Armenian Church in South Kensington, London today.
He said: ‘We must all as Christians seek to do. For some time now I have been troubled by the appalling atrocities faced by Christians suffering in the Middle East… It is the most soul destroying tragedy.’

Prince Charles added that Armenian Christians had long lived peacefully with their neighbours.The community have suffered as a target of Syria’s civil war and from the violent unrest in the wider region.
The Prince said: ‘It is heartbreaking to learn of the attacks on Christians and on Churches where they gather, such as the Church in Deir el Zour (Syria) earlier this year.’

The Prince finished his address by expressing his sympathies to the congregation for the ongoing attacks, saying: ‘They seem so hopelessly inadequate but please, please just know truly heart felt they are.’
During the service, Avak Asadourian, the Archbishop of Iraq, spoke of the problems facing Armenian Christians in the region from his own experiences.

‘Due to assaults Iraqi Christians are leaving the country of their forefathers. In 1980 there were 1.5 million, this is now down to 400,000 due to the encroachment of Isis,’ he said.
‘If political measures are not adopted very soon, then in the Middle East Christian manifestations will cease to exist in its own birthplace,’ he said.

While at the church, Charles also spoke with Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate of the Armenian Church in the UK, and doctor Armen Sarkissian, the Armenian ambassador.
Charles has existing ties with the Armenian community and has shown an interest in encouraging inter-faith dialogue over the years.

He visited Armenia in May 2013 and spoke with some of the country’s leading Christian figures.
In December last year Charles expressed concern about the challenges facing Christians in some Middle-Eastern nations in a visit to the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre in Stevenage and the Syrian Orthodox Church in Acton.

Source and Original Content by Daily Mail

Prayer Was Never Meant to be Complicated

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Prayer Was Never Meant to be Complicated

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Prayer Was Never Meant to be Complicated

Men made it complicated

Just talk to God as you frequently talk to a friend or loved one

That is Prayer

Now, talk to God

Pope Condemns Jerusalem Synagogue Attack

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Pope Condemns Jerusalem Synagogue Attack

The Clip features Pope Francis Speech after the tragic act that took place in the Jerusalem Synagogue were Five People were reported dead and others wounded. The Pope in this video sends out his heart felt sympathy to the victims of the tragic incident and pleads that religious violence of every sort be brought to an end.

http://youtu.be/dCt0BgpEL78

Video: World Leaders on Lunch Break at G2O

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Video: World Leaders on Lunch Break at G2O

The Video below is a rough 47 Seconds clip that features World leaders at the G20 summit in Brisbane break for lunch, on the first official day of talks.It certainly shows that all Work and No play…….
No reporter narration.

http://youtu.be/LA-keQDAV68

Group Aims to Make Christianity the State Religion in Mississippi

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Group Aims to Make Christianity the State Religion in Mississippi

A group in Mississippi is pushing to name Christianity the official state religion. The Magnolia State Heritage Campaign’s Initiative 46 also seeks to make English the state language, “Dixie” the state song and assign April as “Confederate Heritage Month.”

According to the group’s website, the Magnolia State Heritage Campaign “passionately believe in the heritage, culture, values, traditions, and Southern hospitality of Mississippi.”

Arthur Randallson of Magnolia State Heritage Campaign said, “We have taken a little bit of time to prepare an initiative that covers promoting Christianity, which is recognized as the principal religion of Mississippi from the founding of the state in 1817 to the present, and affirmed in the state constitution prayer acknowledging the Holy Bible.”

Initiative 46 must obtain 110,000 signatures to be included on the next ballot.

Source and Original Content by Christian Headlines

US Man Kicked Out of Gym for Message on T-Shirt

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US Man Kicked Out of Gym for Message on T-Shirt

A man in Florida was asked to leave a Planet Fitness gym on two separate occasions because other gym patrons found his pro-life t-shirts offensive.

Mike Amoroso’s first shirt read, “Abortion kills a person.” When a worker at the establishment asked him to change his shirt or leave, Amoroso complied. He came back the next day wearing a shirt with a softer pro-life message: “Pray to end abortion.” Again, Amoroso was told his shirt was offensive.

Amoroso said, “She told me, ‘I am very sorry. We have someone who is not happy with your shirt. Someone is offended by your shirt.’ I said, ‘You know, I wear them all the time.’ She said, ‘You’ll have to leave,’ and I left.”

Planet Fitness said that all of its gyms are independently owned and it would not claim responsibility for the incident which Amoroso says is in violation of Freedom of Speech.

“At Planet Fitness, we are committed to providing a comfortable and welcoming environment for everyone. The majority of Planet Fitness clubs, including this location in Orange City, FL, are owned and operated by individual franchisees. The dress code policy is enforced at the discretion of club staff and the local franchisee,” the company said in a statement.

Source and Content by Christian Headlines

Young Pakistani Christian Girl Murdered Right Before Her Father by Muslims

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Young Pakistani Christian Girl Murdered Right Before Her Father by Muslims

Muslims in Pakistan took a young Christian girl and smashed her against some rocks, and she died right in front of her father, Akram Masih. Her and her father and mother, Parveen Bibi, were slaves to a Muslim brick kiln, and they were constantly beaten and cruelly abused by their slaver owners. The Christian girl was terribly ill and her parents begged their slave owners to loan them some money to pay for her treatment, but instead they murdered her before the father’s eyes. The daughter was very ill, and her brutal murder was recounted by her father who said:

They pushed her as well and she fell down on the nearby stones and she died on the spot. My daughter died in front of my eyes, they pushed my sick daughter, which led her to her death and I was helpless and was unable to do anything.

Her parents came to our organization, Rescue Christians, and told us of all their sufferings and how their daughter was killed, and our team in Pakistan rescued them by taking them to a safe house. As the father said:

About 10 days ago we met with team members of Rescue Christians. They came to us and we shared our entire situation with them. They promised us that they will surely help us. The RC team gave us the plan and during the night they managed our escape, and brought us to a safe place.

Rescue Christians conducted an interview with the mother and the father, here is the video of their horrifying story of slavery, persecution, and heartless murder:

Source and Original Content by Shoebat

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