The Ebola virus epidemic is an overwhelming human catastrophe and health workers risk their lives daily, intervening often without gloves and protective supplies. Travel bans to infected countries are hampering their work by restricting the arrival of essential expertise and equipment, as well as fuel for electricity, medications and food to famine-ravished areas. The citizens of infected countries have produced a call to action petition stating, ‘In the name and interest of our common humanity, we are collectively launching this urgent Citizens' Call to Action. We call on our respective Heads of State and Government to avoid a full embargo against Ebola-affected states.’ On Wednesday a hungry Ebola patient caused panic in Liberia when he fled from a clinic to find food. He was later found by medical staff. At least 1,378 people have been infected with Ebola in Liberia and 694 have died so far. See 

Three Americans held in North Korea spoke to the media on Monday, pleading for their release. Kenneth Bae, Jeffrey Fowle, and Matthew Miller imploring the White House to send an official to negotiate their release, and deliver messages to their families. Fowle has a wife and three children in Ohio and has been held captive since April 29, accused of leaving a Bible in a nightclub. ‘Within a month I could be sharing a jail cell with Ken Bae, I'm desperate to go home’. American Kenneth Bae has been in prison for 20 months.  He was a tour guide, but officials allege the tour company was a front for Christian evangelical missions. ‘The only hope I have is for someone from the US to come’He felt abandoned by the US government. There are concerns about his health. A third American, Mathew Miller, has been detained since April 10.

On Monday hundreds of anti-government protesters invaded the state television channel, taking broadcasts off-air before army and paramilitary forces secured the building. The intruders were well trained and took instructions via cell phones. Meanwhile thousands of protesters swarmed around the Prime Minister's house, parliament and foreign embassies calling for the premier's resignation. Three died and 400 were injured. There have been two weeks of demonstrations by opposition leader Imran Khan and politician Tahir-ul-Qadri demanding Sharif step down amid accusations of corruption and election fraud. Police restrained 25,000 demonstrators outside Sharif’s residence on Saturday night. Demonstrations have brought the city to a halt. A Pakistani Christian writes, ‘Many Christians are moving to Malaysia and Bangkok. They don´t feel safe any longer. More than twenty families left Peshawar recently. Pray for strength, courage, comfort, grace, divine protection and clear guidance by the Holy Spirit for Christians in Pakistan. Pray for wisdom for pastors leading their people in these stressful times.’

Most of the members of non-Muslim communities held by IS who have been able to communicate with their families have reported persistent pressures to convert to Islam. Pressures ranged from promises of freedom to death-threats. In Kocho, where scores of men were murdered, residents said they would be killed if they didn’t convert. A social media video on 20 August showed Yezidi men converting to Islam. An IS commander said those who do not convert die of hunger and thirst on the mountain (Mount Sinjar, where Yezidi have been surrounded by IS fighters since 3 August). Some converted to save their lives and are now trapped in the area. A member of one such family said, ‘We agreed to convert because we thought this would solve our problem but we are prisoners. We are under surveillance, we are scared of what could happen to us. Can someone come to get us out of here?’

The International Director of Barnabas Fund comments on an IS magazine now being produced in English and other languages. It’s called Dabiq. Dabiq is prophesied by Muhammad to be an end times battle when Muslims conquer Christians then take over the world. Muslims believe Jesus (who they call Isa) will descend via a minaret in Damascus, and from there he will lead armies to destroy every cross, kill every Jew and pagan, and either convert every Christian to Islam or kill them. This apocalyptic dimension is now shaping IS as it sees itself fighting an end time battle. The first issue of Dabiq addressed the ‘return of the Caliphate. The second issue links Noah and the flood to IS removing ‘polluted ideologies affecting the world and condemns the idea of leaving people to choose for themselves what to believe. We are asked to pray against radical Islam with ideologies propagated by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, funded by their vast oil resources, and now effectively reshaping Islam.

In the early hours of Monday morning scores of people were killed by Boko Haram militants shooting sporadically on the residents of Gamborun Ngala, a community which shares its border with Cameroon. A survivor, Abdulfatah Ibrahim, said that many of the residents fled to a neighbouring community for refuge in Cameroon as the attackers threw explosives into their houses. ‘I was in the mosque when the shooting started. We fled to the bush for safety. More than 70 people fled to Cameroon.’ Local media reported that Boko Haram was increasingly expanding its control in the country`s northeast region.

There has been escalation of tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan with violence on the contact line causing deep concerns of renewed fighting between the two countries who have been at loggerheads since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The border region became part of Azerbaijan, but the predominantly Armenian population sought unification with Armenia, leading to the 1991-1994 confrontation when 25,000 died. Since 1994 a volatile cease-fire has existed. The two countries have no diplomatic relations and are technically still at war. Armenians are forbidden to enter Azerbaijan. 40 clashes between the Nagomo-Karabakh conflict lines are reported each year. In July, Azerbaijani armed forces renewed attacks against Armenian defence positions. In early August 19 soldiers were killed. On Tuesday Moscow expressed regret over unresolved fighting that is still claiming more lives. See 

ISIS has been giving non-Muslims in Iraq three options - leave, convert or die since June. Only 25 Christians remain in Mosul; 9 have converted to Islam, and the rest are paying a tax for non-Muslims. Now ISIS has given these 16 Christians one week to decide to either convert, leave or die. Justin Welby said Christian persecution in Iraq is ‘off the scale.’ Many refugees are sheltering in Ankawa, a predominantly Christian suburb in Erbil. Local Christian volunteers are serving breakfast lunch and dinner to more than 1,000 refugees, 216 of them live in the church's courtyard. Furthermore, for the past 7 weeks the city of Amerli has been completely surrounded by ISIS militants. The UN called for action to prevent the massacre of Turkmen living there. Ask God to protect the 36 tribes of minority people groups living in Iraq. See

Protests over Michael Brown’s shooting travelled to St Louis on Tuesday as demonstrators pressed for reforms to local and federal laws They were organised under the banner of Hands Up United,  who on their website state ‘We are striving for a world where we deal with harm in our communities through healing, love, and kinship. This means an end to state sponsored violence, including the excessive use of force by law enforcement.  We are committed to an America that comes to terms with the trauma of its painful history and finds true reconciliation for it. Mass incarceration and the criminalisation of black and brown people must for-ever end, leaving in its place a culture that embraces our histories and stories. This means an end to racial bias and white supremacy in all its forms. Our dreams are directly linked with those resisting militarism, war, and state repression around the world. We will achieve this new beloved community hand in hand, step by step, in global solidarity with all people committed to lasting peace and full justice.’

Australian warplanes could be involved in military action in Syria and Iraq. The New York Times has reported Obama administration officials saying the president is close to deciding to authorise further airstrikes against Islamic State forces laying siege to the northern Iraqi town of Amerli (see article below). Tony Abbott said Australia stood ready to provide more humanitarian support and was discussing with America what could be done to provide ‘peace and safety.’ The US has begun surveillance flights over Syria to collect information on possible Islamic State targets for airstrikes. Kurdish forces fighting in northern Iraq have been pledged weapons and ammunition from Albania, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, France, Italy and Britain. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the national security committee was considering a letter from the Kurdish representative in Canberra requesting support. Debate is simmering in Australia and America on the legal basis for any stepped-up military action in Iraq and Syria.