Afghanistan: Magnifying Jesus as Lord
God is using Hazara Herald Ministries to draw Afghans and Iranians to the LORD. While their special focus is on the people of Hazaras, through the years Hazara Herald Ministries has been used of God among all the people of Afghanistan. Afghan Christian Television programmes are being used very powerfully by God's grace. Viewers can see and hear how people from all ethnic groups including Pashtoons, Hazaras, Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Turkomans are giving their lives to Christ on the live shows. Missionaries are coming back to England and telling amazing testimonies of God working among the Afghans through this and other global ministries. At the moment they are asking God for more technicians to help design Christian websites.
Legislation to tackle human trafficking backed by MSPs
A new law to tackle human trafficking, with better protection for its victims and tougher penalties for those convicted of the crime, has been backed by the Scottish Parliament. Holyrood supported the general principles of the legislation, which creates a specific offence of human trafficking for the first time and increases the maximum penalty for offenders to life imprisonment. The Human Trafficking and Exploitation Bill was brought forward by the Scottish Government to strengthen existing criminal law against the practice, enhance the status of victims, and boost support for them. Under the proposals, prosecutors will be given guidance from the Lord Advocate setting out a presumption against prosecution of victims in cases where trafficked people have been forced into committing crime. The legislation will also commit Scottish ministers to publishing and updating a human trafficking strategy. Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said, 'We intend to make Scotland a hostile place for traffickers and those who exploit others, and to better identify and support potential and confirmed victims.'
No to police budget cuts – they’re vital to thwart growing terrorist threats
Britain’s counter-terror chief, Mark Rowley, said he will fight for police to be kept on the beat, amid fears that budget cuts will see fewer officers gathering vital intelligence needed to thwart a growing tide of people trying to stage terrorist attacks. His comments came as he warned that hundreds of people who travelled to Syria to join Islamic State had returned to Britain, and there is a growing threat of attacks (several plots to kill were foiled recently). There are five Government counter-terrorism threat levels. They indicate the stages of security needed to protect our nation. They range from LOW - an attack is unlikely - through to SEVERE - an attack is expected imminently. The current threat level from international terrorism is SEVERE. Terrorism in the UK remains real and serious. An attack could take place at any time and any organisation could be directly or indirectly affected. See also
Calls for ‘Olive's Law’ after suicide of UK's oldest poppy seller
The suicide of a 92 year-old Christian woman, dubbed Britain's oldest poppy seller, has prompted calls for an ‘Olive's Law’ to be introduced, to curb unsolicited phone calls from charities looking for money. According to her family and friends, Olive was driven to her death partly because she was ‘exhausted’ by the constant demands of cold calls and direct mail from charities, many of which she had supported over the years. Now the Government is being urged to take action, by introducing a so-called ‘Olive's Law’. Labour MP for Bristol East, Kerry McCarthy, said, ‘We don't want to impede charities in their efforts to raise much-needed support, but if a law change is needed to stop vulnerable people like Olive being harassed, then so be it.’ The Institute of Fundraising Standards Committee said it will bring together representatives from across the charity sector to review the case.
