Tail of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 has been located

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Tail of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 has been located

Search teams looking for underwater wreckage from a crashed AirAsia passenger jet have located the tail of the aircraft, the section where the crucial black box flight recorders are housed, Indonesia’s search and rescue agency chief said on Wednesday.

Flight QZ8501 vanished from radar screens over the northern Java Sea on December 28, less than half-way into a two-hour flight from Indonesia’s second-biggest city of Surabaya to Singapore. There were no survivors among the 162 people on board.

“We’ve found the tail that has been our main target today,” Fransiskus Bambang Soelistyo, the head of the search and rescue agency, told a news conference in Jakarta.

The tail had been identified using an underwater remote operated vehicle, Soelistyo said, adding that the team “now is still desperately trying to locate the black box”.

Forty bodies and debris from the plane have been plucked from the surface of the waters off Borneo, but strong winds and high waves have prevented divers from reaching larger pieces of suspected wreckage detected by sonar on the sea floor.

An Indonesian naval patrol ship captain had said on Monday that his vessel had found what could be the tail, but there had been no confirmation of the find.

Locating the tail has been a priority because the cockpit voice and flight data recorders crucial for investigators trying to establish why the plane crashed are located in the rear section of the Airbus A320-200.

“I am led to believe the tail section has been found,” AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes tweeted minutes after the announcement.

“If right part of tail section, then the black box should be there … We need to find all parts soon so we can find all our guests to ease the pain of our families. That still is our priority.”

Soelistyo said a total of 12 objects had now been found, but he did not confirm whether all are parts of the aircraft. The wreckage is thought to also include parts of the fuselage, where many of the bodies of victims may still be trapped.

Indonesia AirAsia, 49 percent owned by Fernandes’s Malaysia-based AirAsia budget group, has faced criticism from authorities in Jakarta in the 10 days since the crash.

The transport ministry has suspended the carrier’s Surabaya-Singapore license, saying it only had permission to fly the route on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Flight QZ8501 took off on a Sunday, though the ministry said this had no bearing on the accident.

AirAsia has said it is cooperating fully with the ministry’s investigations. That investigation will be completed by Friday evening, the transport ministry said.

Indonesia has also reassigned some airport and air traffic control officials who allowed the flight to take off and tightened rules on pre-flight procedures in a country with a patchy reputation for air safety.

Source: Christian Today

In bid to influence World’s discussion on global warming, Pope Francis set to release first-ever papal letter on global warming

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In bid to influence World’s discussion on global warming, Pope Francis set to release first-ever papal letter on global warming

Pope Francis is expected to issue the first-ever papal letter regarding climate change in 2015, ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference at the end of November.

Vatican Pontifical Academy of Sciences Chancellor Bishop Marcelo Sorondo announced last weekend that the pope wishes to influence the world’s discussion on global warming, and lobby for committed action across nations.

“Our academics supported the pope’s initiative to influence next year’s crucial decisions,” Bishop Sorondo told Catholic development agency Cafod. “The idea is to convene a meeting with leaders of the main religions to make all people aware of the state of our climate and the tragedy of social exclusion.”

Pope Francis will visit Tacloban City, Philippines in March – the capital of the Eastern Visayas devastated by typhoon Haiyan in 2012. His groundbreaking letter on climate change is expected to follow that visit, and will be sent to 5,000 Catholic bishops and 400,000 priests around the world. The church leaders will then distribute the message to their parishioners.

Catholic Climate Covenant Executive Director Dan Misleh described the significance of the upcoming papal letter.

“It is the first time ever an encyclical letter has been written just on the environment,” he explained. “The faithful, including bishops, and all of us who adhere to the Catholic faith, are supposed to read it and examine our own consciences.”

He described a papal letter as “among the highest levels of teaching authority for a pope,” and pointed out that they “always make news, because they are rare and comprehensive.”

Vatican sources say that Francis will also meet with government and faith leaders at the UN General Assembly meeting in September in New York to discuss climate change and anti-poverty goals.

The pontiff spoke out about the environment in an October speech.

“The monopolising of lands, deforestation, the appropriation of water, inadequate agro-toxics are some of the evils that tear man from the land of his birth,” Pope Francis said. “Climate change, the loss of biodiversity and deforestation are already showing their devastating effects in the great cataclysms we witness.”

Source: Christian Today

The Lord’s Resistant Army commander surrenders

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The Lord’s Resistant Army commander surrenders

A senior commander in the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has surrendered to US forces in the Central African Republic (CAR).

Dominic Ongwen is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity and is regarded as a deputy commander to LRA head Joseph Kony.

His identity was confirmed by a Ugandan army spokesman.

Earlier, US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: “If the individual proves to be Ongwen, his defection would represent a historic blow to the LRA’s command structure.”

The LRA originated in Northern Uganda as a resistance movement among the Acholi people against atrocities committed by Ugandan forces. It is a terrorist militia responsible for the deaths of more than 100,000 people. It is noted for its abduction of thousands of children, whom it indoctrinates by forcing them to kill, mutilate or rape their parents or other relatives, seeking to ensure that they can never return to their former lives. Girls are used as sex slaves. Ongwen has claimed that he himself was abducted as a child.

The Ugandan government has failed to tackle the LRA, which has devastated the northern region. The US provided around 100 special forces troops in 2011 to support African troops seeking senior commanders and offered a $5 million reward for information leadin to Ongwen’s arrest.

Ongwen is believed to have commanded the LRA’s Sinia Brigade, which has been blamed for some of the worst atrocities the group carried out in northern Uganda.

The group, now thought to number as few as 200 fighters, operated in the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan before moving to the CAR.

Source: Christian Today

Islamists extremists hacked a Church and School websites Yorkshire

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Islamists extremists hacked a Church and School websites Yorkshire

The websites of a church and a primary school in Yorkshire have been hacked by suspected Islamist extremists.

The Danish Seamen’s Church of Hull and Sowerby Community Primary School were targeted by a group calling itself X-saad, which replaced their home pages with a hate message directed against the US and Israel. It said: “We Hackers We defend our religion, we do not forget we are without limits we do not believe in the laws.

“Islam is not a terrorist religion but Islam is the religion of coexistence and mercy and love, the real terrorists are Israel and america.”

Sowerby Community Primary School governor Charles Allen used social media to reassure parents and the wider community. He said in Twitter posts: “As a Community Governor I have been asked by Jean Yendall, Head Teacher, to post the following to inform and reassure parents.

“The school is aware the website has been hacked and will get the message taken down as soon as possible.

“The school has been in dialogue with North Yorkshire Police. There is no need for anyone to contact the police any further.

“The school and police believe it is perfectly safe to send your child/children to school today.”

It is not known why the school was targeted, but North Yorkshire police said they were investigating the incident.

Rev Torben Jorgenson, pastor at Skt Nikolaj church in Hull, told the Daily Mail that he was angry about the incident. “It is like a thief coming into your home when they are not invited,” he said.

“I am angry. We do not want our website to be used to promote this radical and political message. Our website is a friendly one and is used to post information about our social and cultural events. It is very shocking.”

The church is in the process of having the message removed.

The Danish Church is one of only two in Britain and is a hub for the region’s Nordic community.

No reasons have been given for either organisation to be targeted and during the last two weeks X-saad has targeted 22 other organisations, apparently randomly.

Source: Christian Today

Syrians accounted for quarter of World refugee population, says UN

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Syrians accounted for quarter of World refugee population, says UN

Syrians have overtaken Afghans as the largest refugee population aside from Palestinians, fleeing to more than 100 countries to escape war in their homeland, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

At more than 3 million as of mid-2014, Syrians accounted for nearly one in four of the 13 million refugees worldwide being assisted by the UN refugee agency, the highest figure since 1996, it said in a report. Some 5 million Palestinians refugees are cared for by a separate agency, UNRWA.

“As long as the international community continues to fail to find political solutions to existing conflicts and to prevent new ones from starting, we will continue to have to deal with the dramatic humanitarian consequences,” UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said in a statement.

At least 200,000 people have died and half the Syrian population has been displaced since the conflict began in March 2011 with protests that spiralled into civil war.

Worldwide, an estimated 5.5 million people were forcibly uprooted during the first six months of last year, 1.4 million of them fleeing abroad, the UNHCR said.

The Middle East and North Africa has become the main region of origin of refugees, overtaking the Asia and Pacific region that held the top spot for more than a decade.

Afghan refugees, the biggest group for three decades, have fallen to second place, with 2.6 million hosted by Pakistan and Iran at mid-year, it said. Somalis ranked as the third largest refugee group at 1.1 million.

Syria’s neighbours — Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan and Turkey — continue to bear the brunt of the crisis.

“With 257 refugees per 1,000 inhabitants, Lebanon remains the country with the highest refugee density at mid-2014,” UNHCR said, noting that Jordan ranked second.

Sweden, with 12 refugees per 1,000 inhabitants, is the only industrialised country among major hosts, ranking 10th, it said.

Syrians also formed the largest group of asylum-seekers worldwide during the first half of 2014, lodging 59,600 applications, it said. Germany and Sweden together received 40 percent of these claims, it added.

Iraqis fleeing conflict were the second largest group of asylum-seekers during the period, at 28,900, the report said.

Last year nearly 3,500 migrants perished while trying to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe, the UNHCR says.
Source: Christian Today

Christianity gradually disappearing in Middle East, says Open doors

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Christianity gradually disappearing in Middle East, says Open doors

Christianity in the Middle East is facing extinction, according to Open Doors – but other countries are seeing increases in persecution as well.

The charity has today issued annual World Watch list focusing on persecution around the world.

It reveals that persecution of Christians increased in 2014 in more countries and with more intensity than ever before.

The Middle East has been hit particularly hard and Christianity is in danger of disappearing from the region altogether as refugees continue to flee in vast numbers.

There are now only 300,000 Christians left in the Middle East, compared with 1.2 million in 1990. The World Watch List says that more than 700,000 Christians have left Syria since the conflict broke out in 2011, with 200,000 fleeing in 2014 alone. One of the key trends contributing to this rise is the increase in Islamist extremism, which is noted as a major factor in persecution against Christians in 18 out of the top 20 countries in the World Watch List.
However, persecution is far more widespread than the Middle East and in some countries is even more severe. According to Open Doors, one of the biggest trends is the rise in persecution in countries where it has not historically been an issue – in parts of Asia, Latin America, and especially sub-Saharan Africa. Even Christian-majority states are experiencing unprecedented levels of exclusion, discrimination and violence: Nigeria has moved up from number 14 to number 10.

For the 13th consecutive year, North Korea has topped the list of the 50 countries where it is hardest to be a Christian. However, Somalia is at risk of becoming as bad as North Korea as the country is ranked a surprisingly close second.

Lisa Pearce, Open Doors’ chief executive, said: “This report portrays a devastating picture of what is happening to the Church around the globe – the worst ever since this detailed research began. The rate of increase in persecution of Christians in the last year is shocking, and what will happens in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa in the next three to five years will define the future shape of the Church.

“Urgent action is now required by both the Church and state in the UK and Ireland. We cannot afford to sleep through it.”
Source: Christian Today

Likely effect of Buddhist nationalism against Muslims, says new cardinal

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Likely effect of Buddhist nationalism against Muslims, says new cardinal

Religious extremism could derail the much-vaunted reform process in Myanmar (Burma) , the Buddhist-majority country’s first Catholic cardinal, Charles Maung Bo, said on Tuesday.

Bo, who was named a cardinal by Pope Francis on January 4, warned that Buddhist nationalism directed against minority Muslims could drive the latter to connect with international extremist groups that would “retaliate”.

“So far they have been more on the quiet side, but if they come with the force of an international community of Muslims, then violence, terrorism, suicide bombers and all these things could happen,” Bo told Reuters in an interview at the red-brick cathedral in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city.

Bo called for mutual understanding and urged the government to do more to curb hate speech by radical monks.

Myanmar emerged in 2011 from half a century of military rule, and the semi-civilian government has lifted curbs on freedoms of speech, association and media.
But the reforms have been accompanied by a rise in Buddhist nationalism, with monks forming groups aimed at promoting the country’s Buddhist character.

The main target of the Buddhist nationalist movement has been the country’s Muslims, who account for about 5 percent of a population of 51 million.

Sectarian violence since June 2012 has killed at least 240 people, mostly Muslims, while almost 140,000 Muslims remain in displacement camps after their homes were destroyed.

Myanmar is also racked by conflicts with ethnic insurgents, who have been battling the government for autonomy, some for six decades. The government is pushing for a national ceasefire pact this year, but the peace process has faltered, with sporadic clashes.

Bo said he was optimistic about Myanmar’s reform process, but warned that the military could again seize control if the peace process failed and sectarian violence continued.

“We hope that chaos won’t happen,” he said, calling on the military to make greater efforts to build trust with ethnic armed groups, and for more monks to speak out against extremism.

“For peace in the country the Buddhist monks also have quite a major role to play too,” said Bo, leader of Myanmar’s Catholics, who make up about 1.6 percent of the population.

Francis appointed 20 new cardinals, 15 of whom will be eligible to vote for the next pope. It was the first time cardinals from Myanmar, Tonga and Cape Verde were appointed and the appointees from all three nations are electors.
Source: Christian Today

Nigeria stopped Palestine’s attempt for statehood

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Nigeria stopped Palestine’s attempt for statehood

A resolution to declare Palestine a state and end Israeli occupation of the territory was blocked by Nigeria at a United Nations vote. Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan reportedly told his country’s ambassador to abstain from voting, which denied Palestine’s request for statehood.

Breaking Christian News reports that Nigeria’s move was made at the last minute and surprised officials at the meeting. Previously, Nigeria had been politically neutral regarding issues between Israel and Palestine.

President Jonathan, however, sympathizes with Israel and previously made a statement saying, “Nigeria and the State of Israel have a very warm relationship.”

Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu said after Nigeria stopped Palestine’s attempt for statehood, “I would like to voice…special appreciation for…the president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan” who “told me and promised me, personally, that [he] would not support this resolution. [He] kept their word, and that’s what clinched this matter. I think this is very important for the state of Israel.”
Source: ChristianHeadlines

Bosnian Imam attacked for accusing ISIS

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Bosnian Imam attacked for accusing ISIS

A Bosnian Imam has been attacked seven times in the past year for urging Muslims not to join Islamic jihadists in Iraq and Syria.

The attacks, three of which have taken place in the past month, have been attributed to Muslim extremists. On one occasion, the Imam – Selvedin Beganovic – was stabbed in the chest three times in the grounds of his mosque.

Despite the attacks, Beganovic has pledged to continue to speak out against the ongoing violence in the Middle East. He has accused groups such as Islamic State of perpetuating a “perverted version of Islam”.

“When did (the Prophet) Muhammad ever behead anyone?” he asked in an interview with the Associated Press. “When did he take a knife and slaughter an innocent journalist?”

Beganovic added that Allah is known as “The Exceedingly Merciful” and “The Exceedingly Gracious”. “That is what we teach our children here,” he said.

Estimates suggest that around 150 Bosnians from a single conservative Muslim community have joined Islamic militant groups in Syria and Iraq. A man thought to be the leader of the community was charged with recruiting people to join the jihadist movement last month.

“This is not our war,” Beganovic insisted. “Our jihad in Bosnia is the fight against unemployment. The care for our parents who have small pensions. The care for the socially jeopardized.”
Bosnia is predominantly a Sunni Muslim country, and its most senior Muslim leader, Husein Kavazovic, has repeatedly spoken out against Islamic State.

In August, he released a statement urging IS to release British humanitarian worked David Haines, who had been held captive in Syria since Mach 2013 and was later murdered by the jihadi group.

“Islam teaches us that human life is sacred,” Kavazovic said. “Having suffered grave injustices and death themselves, Muslims of Bosnia and Herzegovina feel that it is their moral and religious obligation to express their serious concerns when innocent people are being killed or tortured.

“For this reason, and in the peaceful spirit of Islam, I appeal for the release of the detained British aid worker as the killing of an innocent person equals the killing of the whole humankind.”

“Our job is to keep repeating, to keep warning that this is evil and cannot be justified,” he told AP.
Source: Christain Today

YWAM yacht capsized, crew member missing

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YWAM yacht capsized, crew member missing

A sailing vessel operated by Youth With A Mission (YWAM), the Hawai’i Aloha, has capsized four miles from the Kona coast of the Big Island of Hawai’i. A crew member is missing and the captain has been hospitalised with injuries which are not life-threatening.

The boat is one of a fleet used by the Christian charity for mission and ministry in hard-to-reach places in the Pacific region and bring medical and dental care, clean water systems and educational initiatives.

According to YWAM, the 75-foot yacht headed out to sea after receiving a weather warning in order to ride out dangerous conditions. It was cutting into rough waves approximately four miles from shore when a series of large waves hit the vessel broadside, flipping it twice.

The crew shot off flares and four of the five abandoned ship into an emergency life raft, from which they were rescued by two jet ski operators.

The vessel was loaded with supplies and was due to depart for Christmas Island.

YWAM said in a statement: “This is the first marine tragedy in YWAM’s decades of service.

“Our first concern is for the safety and well being of the crew involved in this incident. Out of respect and privacy for these individuals, we ask for your patience and understanding at this time.

“YWAM Ships’ Fleet Support is working in cooperation and collaboration with Hawai’i Island’s Department of Land and Natural Resources and Hawai’i’s Coast Guard. A full search of the vessel is under way and the search for the missing crew member is ongoing.”
Source: Christian Today

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