BBC under fire for misleading public
Pentecostal church leaders are concerned the BBC has purposely misled the public with its story about pastors advising sick patients to give up their medicine and rely on faith alone to be healed. The story went out across BBC TV, radio and online platforms over the weekend, and was based on anecdotal evidence from 19 doctors and health professionals. Ten doctors said they had encountered HIV patients over the last five years who had felt under pressure by their pastors to stop taking their anti-retroviral drugs. But the story has been labelled ‘biased and unfounded’ by Rev John Glass – a member of the Alliance's One People Commission and general superintendent of Elim Pentecostal Churches, and Rev John Partington, general superintendent of the Assemblies of God. Together, the men lead the UK's two largest and longest established Pentecostal denominations.
Pray: that the truth will be exposed and any misleading reports be ignored. (Pr.12:7)
More: http://www.eauk.org/current-affairs/news/bbc-under-fire-for-misleading-public.cfm
Young people lack skills for workplace
Nick Hurd, the Minister for Civil Society, believes young people are not getting jobs because they lack the confidence, self control and ‘grit’ needed in the workplace. His comments come as the number of 16-24-year-olds not working has risen to more than one million also revealing, almost half have never worked at all. Mr Hurd, son of former Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd, said a number of young people are out of work because schools are concentrating solely on education and ignoring the social skills employers look for. He said something was going wrong at schools that meant pupils were not being stretched and challenged to give them self confidence at a ‘critical time in their lives’ to prepare them for work. Latest figures show the number of young people not in education, employment or training (Neets) has risen to 1.09 million – with more than 600,000 having never had a job.
Pray: for young people who are without work that ways will be found to encourage them. (Rom.12:8)
Heathrow: High alert for bombs hidden in breast implants
The UK's busiest airport, Heathrow, has been put on high terror alert after ‘credible’ intelligence emerged that al-Qaeda is plotting attacks on airlines flying out of London with the help of women suicide bombers with explosives concealed in breast implants. ‘There are genuine fears over this. We have been told to pay particular attention to females who may have concealed hidden explosives in their breasts. This is particularly difficult for us to pick up but we are on a very high state of alert,’ said an official with airport security, as quoted by the Daily Mail. ‘It's led to long queues here at Heathrow, much longer than usual at this time of the year. But because it's the summer holiday season, no one has complained,’ the official said.
Pray: against attempts to cause acts of terror and pray that the authorities will be given wisdom. (Pr.2:2)
European rail network now on al-Qaeda hit-list
Al-Qaeda is plotting attacks on Europe’s high-speed rail network, a German newspaper reported, citing intelligence sources. The extremist group could plant explosives on trains and tunnels or sabotage tracks and electrical cabling, said Bild, Europe’s most widely read daily. While Germany said its threat level had not changed and Austria said no additional security measures had been taken, a Czech rail official said authorities there had implemented new, unspecified security measures. Bild said the information came from the National Security Agency (NSA) in the United States, which had listened in to a conference call involving top al-Qaeda operatives. The attacks on Europe’s rail network were a ‘central topic’ of this call, Bild said. German authorities had responded to the threat with discreet measures such as deploying plain-clothed police officers at key stations and on main routes.
Pray: against terrorist attacks and pray that those involved in such acts will be captured. (Is.8:15)
More: http://freepressjournal.in/european-rail-network-now-on-qaeda-hit-list/
