Gospel singer on X Factor
A Gospel singer from Camden, London, has made it through to the next stages of the televised X Factor competition. Over the weekend Jennifer Phillips, 49, made it through the Boot Camp phase of the show. When she performed Mary Mary's Shackles,her rendition of the classic got the whole crowd up on their feet, including the judges - with the exception of Simon Cowell. Lyrics of the gospel song include ‘Been through the fire and the rain. Bound in every kind of way. But God has broken every chain.’ The final episode will be aired before Christmas and the winner will release their own original track. The next show will be aired this weekend on ITV. Another church-inspired group, BEKLN, is also doing well. The five members met in the London Community Gospel Choir, and have been praised on the show for the harmonies they have been delivering.
Northern Ireland: Shooting, semtex, and Church plea for reconciliation
A 25-year-old man was shot in the leg in Belfast on 14 September. Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan said, ‘This attack must be condemned by everyone. Those who carried it out are not doing it in the name of the local community who have rejected these groups. There is no justification for these attacks.’ Meanwhile, over half a kilo of Semtex, two handguns, 200+ rounds of ammunition and two detonators were discovered on the Ballymurphy Road in a terrorist activity investigation. A 45-year-old man was charged on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday, Irish Catholic and Protestant leaders united to urge politicians to take a ‘critical opportunity’ to restore hope, saying that a plan was needed to rebuild trust and advance the work of reconciliation. See also: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-34321179
Justin Welby to host refugees in Lambeth Palace cottage
The Archbishop of Canterbury, who said last weekend, ‘Jesus was a refugee’, will give a home to a family of Syrian refugees in a cottage at his London residence. A spokeswoman said, ‘There are refugees here who are desperate for sanctuary from war-torn places, and the Archbishop wants to make a difference.’ He has also criticised David Cameron's plans to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees, saying the action was a ‘very slim response’ that is ‘going to have to rise over the next five years’. Earlier this month Pope Francis announced that the Vatican would house two refugee families, and called on Roman Catholic organisations to take in families and displaced individuals. The UK Green Party leader said that we hold 12% of the EU economy and should host a fair proportion of the two million refugees - urging the government to host 240,000 displaced Syrians.
Belarus: Russian military base poses threat to Belarus's independence
Russia is preparing to establish a military airbase in Belarus, fuelling concerns over potential threats to Poland and the Baltic states. The decision is the latest example of Moscow’s determination to assert its influence beyond Russia’s borders and rebuild its military capacities, which were eroded after the collapse of the Soviet Union. By giving permission to open a Russian airbase in Belarus, the official authorities help increase offensive capabilities of Putin's Russia by pitting Belarus against other countries in the region and the Euro-Atlantic community as a whole. Also the illegal annexation of Ukrainian Crimea by Russia demonstrates the Kremlin's readiness to use its foreign military bases against the countries that allowed them to open them in their territory. For two years Nato members have complained about increasingly assertive Russian behaviour along Nato’s borders in eastern Europe. See also: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d0ae3166-5f84-11e5-9846-de406ccb37f2.html#axzz3mYII0zRS
