For many of us this last year has been a year of the ‘unexpected,’ caught off guard by the surprising circumstances of 2020. I believe what the world needs now more than ever is HOPE. Our hope is not in the New Year, 2021, but in the one who makes all things new! 

Hope is the joyful expectation of God’s goodness coming our way in every area of our lives. Hope is always future orientated. It is a vision of God’s good future before us, meaning where you are going is better than where you are and where you are coming from.  Our ultimate hope is discovered in seeing and savoring, prizing and praising, recognizing and relishing the glory of God in the face of Christ. 

Christ is our HOPE! He is the summation of all the promises of God, the source of all the riches of God, now and forevermore.  In Christ we have been given an inheritance of HOPE.

This glorious future is revealed to us through the written and reliable word of God!  God promises, commands, and reveals himself to us through his written Word! When our prayers are shaped by the Word, we are building on solid ground. We are responding to who God is and what he is doing! We are claiming his promises, and obeying his commands… there is no better way to pray! The Scriptures declare to us that God is much better than we think he is, and is doing much more than we  think he is doing and as we pray he will do even more for His glory and our good. As Paul prays in Ephesians 3:20-21,

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen”

Together we can Ignite Hope as we pray God’s word in 2021!

Fostering a culture of Hope is critical to effective and sustainable intercession!  As Paul declares to us in 1 Cor 13:13, “Now these three remain, faith, hope and love but the greatest of these is love.”  The greatest of these three is love, however I believe hope comes first. Hebrews tells us that faith is the substance of things hoped for. And of course we know that faith needs to work itself out in love (Gal. 5:6). 

So we could look at this way:  our hope is in hearing the music of the future, our faith is dancing to that music NOW!  And our love is brining others into the dance with you!  The song being sung is the beauty, majesty, and supremacy of Jesus Christ.   Let’s create a culture of Hope-empowered prayer in 2021!

As we pray the Bible, we are pleading the good promises of God!  Promises predict the answers by foretelling what to expect!  They are the molds into which we pour our prayers.  Promises like these, “call unto me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know” (Jer. 33:3). Promises like, “whatever things you ask for in prayer, believing, you will receive” (Matt. 21:22). Promises like, “if you ask me anything in my name I will do it” (John 14:14).

When we pray God’s word we pray from the answer … with the answer in mind! When we plead God’s promises we are praying from the answer to the answer!  In intercession we are asking him what he asks us to ask him!  As we ask according to his will and for his renown, his activity increases releasing his power, his love, and his truth!  Five times in John 14-16, Jesus asks us to ask him or his Father, ‘in his name’  and then promises to do it!  In this way not only does answered prayer satisfy us, it also delights the heart of God by fulfilling his own Word and accomplishing his own purposes! 

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (Isa 55:10-11).  

We pray fervently to the ‘Lord of the Harvest to hurl forth laborers into the harvest fields’ … why? Because Jesus promised, ‘the harvest is ripe.’ We ‘go and make disciples of all nations’… why? Because he promised us that all authority in heaven and earth has been given to him and that he will always be with us even to the end of the age! We pray that every people group on the earth will hear the gospel, why?  Because Jesus promised that the gospel of the kingdom WILL BE preached in every nation and then the end will come (Matt. 24:14).  We pray Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven… why?  Because he promised that the Knowledge of the Glory of the Lord would cover the earth as the waters cover the sea (Hab. 2:14).

There’s no better fuel for our prayers than the Bible. By praying Scripture, we are ensuring that our prayers are anchored to God’s truth and aligned with God’s will.   If we don’t form the habit of praying the Scriptures, our prayers will almost certainly degenerate into vain repetitions around our immediate concerns, rather than God’s larger purposes. As Dennis Fuqua says, “Praying and meditating on Scripture is how his word produces his life and power in our lives. It is how the Spirit of God writes the Word of God on the hearts of the people of God.” The basic method is simple, “Open the Bible, start reading it, pause at every verse and turn it into a prayer” (John Piper).

According to Jesus, sitting at his feet and listening to his word is the most necessary thing in our lives! (Luke 10:41). Think about these promises of God’s word about God’s word!

• God’s Word releases God’s Fire within us!  (Luke 24:32, Jer. 23:29)
• God’s Word sanctifies us and produces the life of Christ within us! (John 17:17, 2 Cor. 3:18, Rom. 12:2-3)
• God’s Word feeds us and nourishes us! (Matt. 4:4)
• God’s Word awakens and revives us (Psalm 119:107, 154).
• God’s Word washes us clean (Eph. 5:25b-27).
• God’s Word sets us free! (John 8:31-32)
• God’s Word gives us power to overcome sin and walk in purity (Psalm 119:9-10).
• God’s Word provides direction and guidance (Psalm 119:105).
• God’s Word is our weapon of warfare that tears down strongholds as we wield it in prayer (Eph. 6:18-9).
• God’s Word teaches, corrects and equips us to be effective in ministry (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
• God’s Word blesses us making us happy and joyful (Psalm 1, Psalm 119:1-2).
• God’s Word gives us Hope (Rom. 15:4).

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have HOPE”

So let’s pray and plead God’s promises and make the Bible our prayer book this year! Here is a link to a prayer guide full of bible promises that we can use! 

We have a saying in our house of prayer, “little keys open big doors.” As we pray God’s word in 2021, we can be like little keys in the hand of the Lord to open up big doors called Awakening and Revival!  And this can only happen out of the place of abiding intimacy and fascination with Jesus. Jesus said, “If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you” (John 15:7).

And as we listen and hear his voice this year, let’s open the door and “let him in!”

“If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him and he with me” (Rev. 3:20).

In the midst of increased shaking and uncertainty, let’s ‘Together Ignite Hope in 2021’ as we pray God’s Word!

Dr. Jason Hubbard

Download Jason’s free ‘Pray the Word’ Guide, - packed with teaching, outlines and practical advice on going deeper into praying the scriptures and unlocking the HOPE that we all share in Jesus.

This is an invitation to join in an extraordinary 24-7 / 365 Prayer Room that is running online for the whole of 2021!  It is a partnership project between IPC and a number of international ministries and organisations.

Prayer and Worship leaders from every continent are facilitating each hour in 10+ languages.

Whether you are able to drop in for 5 minutes here and there or for hours or days at a time, you would be most welcome to join us as we worship and glorify the Lamb of God – and offer our prayers for the Church and its mission and the needs of the world. 

More info and sign up at:

www.globalfamily24-7prayer.org/

To Christ be the Glory,

Jonathan Friz, 10Days   |   Dr. Jason Hubbard & John Robb, IPC   |   Dr. Jonathan Armstrong, AQ
Elizabeth Adleta, FPS   |   Soloman Lujan, the Seed Company   |   Jenny Oliphant, Ethne Prayer Team

This is the first of a series of articles that will introduce you to some of the Council members at IPC.

Tom Victor is one of our key global leaders at International Prayer Connect, and is respected across multi-national missions and prayer ministries around the world.  He has been with IPC for 20 years during which time he has spoken at numerous events and conferences. He currently serves on the Executive team and is a Senior Advisor.

Tom has 8 years of pastoral experience in the Chicago and New York areas together with 15 years with the Christian Broadcasting Network.

While with CBN he served as Vice President of the Ministries Division where he led a staff of 500 employees and over 10,000 volunteers in 90 ministry centers worldwide.

Tom is also serving as Facilitator for the Go 2020 Kids Global Team and now leads the ministry Great Commission Coalition, committed to serving Christ's body to fulfil the Great Commission.

Tom was originally from Bellingham, Washington State, but is now settled in Texas.

We are copying Tom’s most recent report below which succinctly tells the story of some of his main activities, connections and involvements during 2020.  It also conveys his calling and passion to ensure that the Gospel message is accessible to all peoples groups - and all ages - across the world. 

A February prayer report looking at the opportunities and challenges of vaccinations, Covid-19 Hot Spots and some suggested Prayer Pointers with Links to Resources:

As of 29 January, the total global figure for people infected by Covid-19 stood at 101.6 million according to Johns Hopkins University. In addition to this, the recorded number who have died totalled 2,195,871.

Covid-19 hot spots

Here are those countries / regions which are currently showing high levels of infection:

The US continues to be the country with the highest numbers confirmed cases and deaths related to Covid-19 globally with figures at around 25,793,302 and 433,719 respectively. The daily infection rate has fallen steadily after a peak in late December to around 285,000 new cases per day and new deaths are projected at around 2939 a day (7 day average) according to Worldometer.

India is the second worst-hit country in the world pandemic after the United States based on case counts.  The health ministry's 29 January figures reported 18,855 infections and 163 deaths in the past 24 hours - bringing the overall case count above 10.7 million and the death toll to 154,010. This is the lowest figure in 8 months and follows a steady decline since mid-September

In South America, Colombia and Brazil continue to see high levels of infection. There have been at least 9 million cases of the coronavirus in Brazil and 221,547 deaths.  In Colombia, a leading politician and defence minister, Carlos Holmes Trujillo recently died with Covid-19, one of 52,913 deaths and over 2 million infected people.

New waves and Variants

The United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa have identified new variants of COVID 19, all more infectious and potentially more deadly.  These have had particular effects on the UK, which on 26 January passed 100,000 deaths due to Covid-19, and Brazil where the most vulnerable communities have been affected as ICU’s are overwhelmed and oxygen supplies are running low.  The South African variant is of concern as it may reduce the efficacy of some vaccines, as well as being more transmissible.

Vaccines

12 months after the start of the pandemic it is worth reflecting that to bring this pandemic to an end, a large share of the world needs to be immune to the virus. The safest way to achieve this is with a vaccine. It is therefore right to thank God for the work of the many scientists who have defied expectations and, less than 12 months after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, risen to the challenge and developed vaccines that protect from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

As of 28 January 86.7 million doses of various vaccines have been administered worldwide across 62 countries according to Ourworldindata.  There are currently 6 vaccines being administered across the globe - The pharmaceutical organisations Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca have developed vaccines being widely distributed in western nations. Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute has agreed to sell its Sputnik V vaccine to a number of countries while two Chinese manufacturers, Sinopharm and Sinovac Biotech, have signed deals with more than a dozen countries.

Additionally, new vaccines continue to emerge and add to potential worldwide capacity.  A coronavirus vaccine developed by the US firm Novavax has been shown to be 89 per cent effective in preventing Covid-19 in clinical trials. Janssen, a subsidiary of US firm Johnson & Johnson, announced that its Covid-19 vaccine showed 66 per cent efficacy in an international trial. These results are based on a single dose of the vaccine, which makes it easier to administer than the two-shot vaccines that have already been approved. The company has said it will sell its vaccine on a not-for-profit basis.

Vaccines provide optimism for the future, however Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, outlined the ‘hope and hardship’ currently facing the continent where 25 million vaccine doses have been administered in 35 countries in the region, but 25 European countries are in partial/full nationwide lockdown due to high COVID19 transmission & new variants. He highlights the paradox of communities across Europe sensing an end is in sight with the vaccine but, at the same time, having to adhere to restrictive measures in the face of a new threat, which is causing tension, angst, fatigue and confusion.

Whilst this may be a problem for the rich western countries of Europe, the challenges of worldwide vaccine supply and the potential for vaccine inequality have been acutely highlighted in recent days.  Dr Margaret  Harris from the World Health organisation stated "Currently we are seeing squabbles amongst the cake by a few countries whilst there are lots of workers in countries that haven't even got access to the crumbs.” Most of the vaccines currently being distributed around the world have been used by 10 countries, and only two middle or low income countries have started to vaccinate.

Hope still rests on the COVAX  initiative - established by the World Health Organization, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi) – which by mid-December 2020 had reached its target of securing two billion doses of various coronavirus vaccines for the world’s poorest nations according to the World Health Organisation’s Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Nonetheless, he still fears that ‘the world is on the brink of a catastrophic moral failure – and the price of this failure will be paid with lives and livelihoods in the world’s poorest countries.’

There are also concerns about the prioritisation and take-up rates for vaccinations among ethnic minorities. According to the British Medical Journal, globally, ethnic minority communities have been disproportionately affected by Covid-19.  It goes on to highlight vaccine hesitancy among a range of communities, identifying lower levels of confidence in vaccination in several South Asian and other developing countries compared with Europe and the need for ‘Cultural Competence’ within Healthcare systems.  In the USA, new President Biden has moved to address the disparity in levels of vaccination and wider healthcare for concerns for Black and Latino Americans.

Let’s Pray… Let us continue to declare that the novel coronavirus is defeated by the blood of Jesus.

We pray for divine intervention and for God's name to be glorified even as each nation and government tries its best to flatten the curve, prevent and lessen the impact of second and third spikes, manage the wave of new variants and finally arrest this epidemic.

We release wisdom, skill, and integrity upon our leaders.
We pray that leaders and nations will see their moral duty to the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people.
We pray for protection, wisdom and strength, for those working to bring treatment and comfort to the sick and their families.
We pray release and healing from mental illnesses as a result of the lock-downs.
We pray special grace and help for the vulnerable and lesser-developed nations.
We pray for refugees and displaced peoples. We pray against domestic violence and other crimes that have become rampant during lockdowns.
We give thanks that safe, effective, and affordable vaccines are being released.  We pray for the continued development of a range of vaccines to supply the whole world.  We pray that the vaccine will be accessible to all nations and plead generosity of spirit from the wealthier economies.
We continue to release faith, hope, and love over the peoples of the world. May the Church seize this opportune time to manifest Jesus our Lord and Savior to those who are seeking answers and peace.

Join in Online Prayers:

World Prayer Centre, Birmingham, UK – Virtual House of Prayer

iHop Kansas Prayer Room

247 Prayer Coronavirus Prayer Room 

Additional Prayer Resources for Coronavirus

God and the Pandemic – Tom Wright
Beyond the Pandemic - Rev Dr Clifford Hill
A coronavirus prayer from Pete Greig

19 Things to Do in response to Coronavirus

Prophecy Today UK’s Responses to Coronavirus

PrayerCast Video and Prayer Briefing
CSM Nigeria Article

Lausanne Resources
Operation World EBook on the impact on Mission

WW11 Veteran Gets 180k Praying

On a lighter note… 50 countries affected by Covid 19 sing Amazing Grace in this video

Reporting from John Hopkins University: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/mortality

Further data on Europe and the world: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/geographical-distribution-2019-ncov-cases

Myanmar's military has seized power after detaining civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior members of her governing party.

All authority has been given to the top army commander and a one-year state of emergency has been declared, a statement on military TV said.

The coup follows a landslide win by Ms Suu Kyi's party in an election which the army claims was marred by fraud.

She urged her supporters to "not accept this" and "protest against the coup".

In a letter written in preparation for her impending detention, she said the military's actions put the country back under dictatorship.

Myanmar, also known as Burma, was ruled by the armed forces until 2011, when democratic reforms spearheaded by Aung San Suu Kyi ended military rule.

She spent nearly 15 years in detention between 1989 and 2010. She was internationally hailed as a beacon of democracy and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.

In the early hours of Monday the military said it was handing power to commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing because of "election fraud". Soldiers are on the streets of the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, and the main city, Yangon.

The military says it found millions of irregularities in parliamentary elections lost by the army-backed opposition in November. The election commission has rejected the fraud claims.

But the army had threatened to "take action" and now says it will use its emergency powers to organise a new vote.

Mobile internet data connections and some phone services have been disrupted in major cities. Communications with Nay Pyi Taw are down and it is difficult to assess the situation there.

BBC World News television, as well as other international broadcasters, are blocked while local stations are off air.

Banks have temporarily halted all financial services, according to the Myanmar Banks Association.

IPC’s senior team members are attempting to make contact with our representatives on the ground.  We will report back as soon as the situation is clarified.

More: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-55882489

Pray: for firm intervention from the international community that will resolve the situation peacefully.
Pray: that the leadership of Myanmar is swiftly returned to the democratically elected party without loss of life or violence.
Pray: for the people of Myanmar for whom this coup will have brought fear and anxiety.  The people suffered severely under military rule for 50 years and they do not want to see it recurring.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens... a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak" (Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 7).

Our friends at Asia Harvest have been a consistent voice and advocate for the Church in China. During 2020, however, they felt it was a season when they could better serve God's people in China by being a little quieter than usual.  Here's why...

As the verse at the top of this page says, there is a time to be silent and a time to speak. The Apostle Paul knew the importance of discerning the seasons and following God accordingly. Paul once boldly declared: "I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 21:13), but on another occasion he was hidden inside a basket and lowered over the wall of Damascus to escape from those who wanted to kill him (see Acts 9:20-25).

In partnership with their co-workers, the Asia Harvest China Bible distribution project has continued to operate strongly. 2020 saw the print and delivery of more Chinese Bibles than any other year in nearly a decade.

However, the situation for believers in China has been extremely difficult, as Xi Jinping and the Communist Party gradually prepare for what seems like a final assault to try to rid Christianity from the country once and for all.

The Body of Christ, however, has grown to such a size under Communism that they will find it impossible to completely eradicate God's people. Instead, the authorities have been putting plans into place to corrupt the Gospel. By doing so, they hope to control the Church and ultimately render it powerless and subservient to the Communist system.

To that end, the government has openly announced plans to "reinterpret" the Bible and other religious texts, so they will have "socialist characteristics". A glimpse into what that might look like was seen recently when a government publisher altered the ending of the account of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery. Their blasphemous version now has Jesus concluding his talk by saying: "I too am a sinner," instead of, "Go now and leave your life of sin."

The battle lines are drawn. Please pray for our precious brothers and sisters in China. This year, tens of thousands of house church pastors and evangelists have gone missing, especially in those provinces with a large concentration of Christians.

Most of those tens of thousands are still alive, but in preparation for the struggle ahead, they have gone into hiding. They have completely disconnected from all phones and computers, because those devices are used by the government to track their location.

Furthermore, each person in China must have an ID card. It is impossible for a person to catch a flight or train, open a bank account, get a job, or rent an apartment without using their card. Each ID card contains a computer chip which is also used to track people's movements. Many Christian leaders, before they go into hiding, have placed their cards inside a microwave oven for a few seconds, which ruins the chips and renders them useless.

Asia Harvest recently passed the milestone of 13 million Chinese Bibles printed and delivered to house churches in China.

Pray: for the Church in China, that it will continue to thrive amidst the persecution and oppression.
Pray: for the Church leaders under house arrest, imprisoned or who have disappeared.  Pray for comfort, divine wisdom and guidance for them and their families.  Pray for provision for their immediate needs.
Pray: for continued success for Asia Harvest and other ministries who print and distribute Chinese language Bibles.
Pray: in agreement, for an immediate cessation of the ill-treatment of Christians by the Chinese authorities.  Luke 6:28

More: https://asiaharvest.org/china-update-the-battle-for-chinas-one-billion-souls/

More than 2,000 demonstrators have been detained as Russians nationwide took to the streets on January 31 for a second-straight weekend of protests demanding the release of jailed opposition politician and anti-corruption activist Aleksei Navalny amid a sweeping crackdown on his supporters.

Riot police were out in force in Moscow and St. Petersburg, rounding up protesters as they assembled for nationwide rallies that had been scheduled to begin at noon local time.

More than 460 people in the capital had reportedly been arrested as demonstrations there were delayed after city transportation links were closed.

In St. Petersburg, one police officer waved a baton in front of a RFE/RL journalist's face when questioned why he was detaining one of the more than 200 people reportedly arrested there.

Protesters in the Far East and Siberia braved subfreezing temperatures and a heavy riot-police presence to start the day's demonstrations

OVD-Info reported more than 2,100 arrests early in the day's events, including more than 120 people in the Far East city of Vladivostok, over 190 in Krasnoyarsk, and several journalists in other towns and cities.

This is #Kazan. Police are randomly and brutally detaining people, beating them with batons and literally jumping on them. pic.twitter.com/8zjAtYtM6Y

An accredited freelance correspondent working for RFE/RL's Russian Service, Andrei Afanasyev, was detained in the Far East city of Blagoveshchensk as he was heading to cover protests there.

As reports that multiple journalists wearing jackets identifying themselves as members of the press had been detained in rallies across the country, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow called on Russian authorities to respect international human rights and the freedom of the press.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, meanwhile, said in a tweet that the United States "condemns the persistent use of harsh tactics against peaceful protesters and journalists by Russian authorities for a second week straight. We renew our call for Russia to release those detained for exercising their human rights, including Aleksei Navalny."

One protester told Current Time that "the scale of the government's reaction to the last rally [on January 24] gives reason to believe that there were worries" that led to "panicked excuses" to close central Moscow.

Russian authorities had braced for a groundswell of protests, with police issuing warnings that participants at "illegal" rallies will face criminal charges for violating coronavirus-related health restrictions.

Last weekend, almost 4,000 people were detained in demonstrations in more than 110 cities in some of the largest anti-government rallies in years.

With last weekend's protests some of the biggest the country has seen in years, Russian authorities this week ramped up pressure by detaining a number of close Navalny supporters in an apparent effort to limit their ability to mobilize.

Many were detained and charged with violating restrictions in place due to the coronavirus pandemic by calling for mass protests.

More: https://www.rferl.org/a/russians-rally-navalny-detentions-second-weekend-protests-demanding-release-/31077854.html

Pray: For the release of Navalny and all of those being detained illegally.
Pray: For corruption to brought into the light and for perpetrators to be held accountable and brought to justice.
Pray: For a return to true democracy and freedom of speech in Russia.

International troops plan to stay in Afghanistan beyond the May deadline envisaged by the insurgent Taliban’s deal with the United States, four senior NATO officials said, a move that could escalate tensions with the Taliban demanding full withdrawal.

“There will be no full withdrawal by allies by April-end,” one of the officials told Reuters.

“Conditions have not been met,” he said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. “And with the new U.S. administration, there will be tweaks in the policy, the sense of hasty withdrawal which was prevalent will be addressed and we could see a much more calculated exit strategy.”

The administration of then-President Donald Trump signed an agreement with the Taliban early last year calling for the withdrawal of all foreign troops by May in return for the insurgents fulfilling certain security guarantees.

Trump hailed the accord — which did not include the Afghan government — as the end of two decades of war. He reduced U.S. troops to 2,500 by this month, the fewest since 2001.

Plans on what will happen after April are now being considered and likely to be a top issue at a key NATO meeting in February, the NATO sources said.

The positions of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are becoming increasingly important after the alliance was side-lined by Trump, diplomats and experts say.

Peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban began in September in Doha, but violence has remained high.

“No NATO ally wants to stay in Afghanistan longer than necessary, but we have been clear that our presence remains conditions-based,” said NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu. “Allies continue to assess the overall situation and to consult on the way forward.”

She said about 10,000 troops, including Americans, are in Afghanistan. Those levels are expected to stay roughly the same until after May, but the plan beyond that is not clear, the NATO source said.

Kabul and some foreign governments and agencies say the Taliban has failed to meet conditions due to escalated violence and a failure to cut ties with militant groups such as Al Qaeda, which the Taliban denies.

The administration of Joe Biden, who replaced Trump on Jan. 20, has launched a review of his predecessor’s peace agreement.

A Pentagon spokesman said the Taliban have not met their commitments, but Washington remained committed to the process and had not decided on future troop levels.

A State Department representative said Biden was committed to bringing a “responsible end to the ‘forever wars’... while also protecting Americans from terrorist and other threats.”

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters the insurgents remained committed to the peace process.

“No doubt that if the Doha deal is not implemented there will be consequences, and the blame will be upon that side which does not honor the deal,” he said. “Our expectations are also that NATO will think to end this war and avoid more excuses for prolonging the war in Afghanistan.”

NATO and Washington will have a challenge getting the Taliban to agree to an extension beyond May.

If the situation remains unclear, the Taliban may increase attacks, possibly once again on international forces, said Ashley Jackson, co-director of the Centre for the Study of Armed Groups at the British think tank ODI. The lack of a resolution “gives voice to spoilers inside the Taliban who never believed the U.S. would leave willingly, and who have pushed for a ratcheting up of attacks even after the U.S.-Taliban deal was agreed,” she said.

A Feb. 17-18 meeting of NATO defense ministers will be a chance for a newly empowered NATO to determine how the process would be shaped, said one source, a senior European diplomat.

“With the new administration coming in there will be a more cooperative result, NATO countries will have a say.”

More: https://www.voanews.com/south-central-asia/nato-sources-foreign-troops-stay-afghanistan-beyond-may-deadline

Pray: for wisdom and tenacity for those working behind the scenes to re-negotiate the way forward in the light of the troop withdrawal pre-requirements not being met.
Pray: for an end to the ongoing hostilities and insecurity.
Pray: for lasting peace to be brought about across Afghanistan.

Ethiopia moved heavy weapons to disputed territory on its border with Sudan, according to people familiar with the matter.

The military build-up in an area known as the al-Fashqa triangle signals increasing tensions, after deadly clashes in recent weeks raised international concern. Sudanese officials met Saudi Arabian officials in Riyadh on Wednesday to discuss the crisis, after the U.K. last week called for a de-escalation of tensions.

The Ethiopian army deployed armaments including tanks and anti-aircraft batteries to the border region in the past two weeks, said two foreign diplomats who asked not to be identified because the information isn’t public. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s spokeswoman Billene Seyoum referred a request for comment to the Foreign Ministry, and Redwan Hussein, spokesman for the government’s emergency task force, didn’t respond to a request for comment sent by text message.

Ethiopia’s government earlier this month accused the Sudanese military of carrying out organized attacks using machine-guns and armored convoys at their border. Those attacks killed “many civilians,” according to Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry.

Tensions between the two nations have ratcheted up since conflict erupted in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region on Nov. 4. Regional analysts and diplomats have said Abiy is under pressure from powerful Amhara politicians in his government, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen, not to back down on the border dispute.

The state of Amhara, whose fighters backed the Ethiopian federal army’s incursion into Tigray, claims ownership of parts of al-Fashqa, including areas that are within Sudanese territory. Historically, Khartoum has allowed Amhara farmers to conduct business and live in the fertile area as long as they pay taxes and operate under Sudanese laws. In turn, Ethiopia has recognized the land as Sudanese.

The border dispute is straining relations already weakened by an impasse over a giant hydropower dam Ethiopia is building on the main tributary of the Nile River. Sudan and Egypt depend on the flow of the river for fresh water, and both countries want Ethiopia to agree to rules on the filling and operating of the reservoir to safeguard supplies.

Sudan says the border area around al-Fashqa was demarcated under colonial-era treaties dating back to 1902, putting the land firmly inside its international borders.

Mohamed al-Faki Suleiman, a member of Sudan’s transitional government, said Wednesday he’d sought political support from Saudi Arabia in talks he held in Riyadh, Sudan’s state-run SUNA news agency reported. Any eruption of war could affect security in the wider region, including the Red Sea, he said.

Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-28/ethiopia-moves-artillery-to-sudanese-border-after-deadly-clashes

More background: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-55476831

Many Syrians forced from their homes by their country's brutal, decade-old war are now shocked to discover that their family farms have been taken over by regime loyalists and cronies.

Rights groups and legal experts say local authorities in parts of northwest Syria recaptured by government forces have staged auctions to effectively "confiscate" fertile land and punish opponents.

One refugee, 30-year-old Salman, said he always knew it would be difficult to return to the family plot in Idlib province he abandoned during an offensive a year ago by President Bashar al-Assad's forces. But whatever hopes he still had to return one day were all but crushed when he learnt the rights to cultivate the land had been sold off to a complete stranger.

"What right does someone have to come and take it?" the refugee, who asked to use a pseudonym, told AFP by phone from Greece where he illegally moved a few months ago.

Salman said he used to plant lentils, barley and black cumin on the 37 acres (15 hectares) of land he owns with his brothers, earning up to $12,000 each harvest. He discovered through a post on social media that the rights to the land were being auctioned off.

"We were shocked," he told AFP. "This land was left to us by our ancestors and we want to pass it down to our children."

Exploiting displacement

Several other Syrians displaced from southern Idlib and adjacent Hama and Aleppo provinces told AFP that they too have had their plots expropriated.  Some learnt about it through social media advertisements run by the regime-affiliated Farmers' Union in Idlib or through acquaintances still living nearby. In October, the Farmers' Union said that it was auctioning off the right to use and cultivate plots owned by Syrians "who don't reside in government-controlled areas".

It's a facade

In November, an Aleppo security committee said it was taking bids for plots in reconquered villages, according to documents obtained by The Day After activist group and the Observatory.

Amir, a displaced 38-year-old from Aleppo, said he was informed less than two months ago by his former neighbour that authorities were taking offers for his 20 acres of land there.

Amir asked the neighbour to bid on his behalf, but he declined.

"Someone who has relatives with intelligence services in the area" won the bid, said Amir, a father of five who now makes less than $2 a day picking olives in Idlib.

According to judge Anwar Mejni, a member of a UN committee tasked with overseeing the drafting of a new Syria constitution, the land auctions are "a kind of punishment".

"The auctions may not transfer ownership of the land, but they violate the rights" of original owners to access and cultivate them.

Another issue, said Mejni, is that "there is no legal framework" governing the auctions.

Even if the ACB indeed organised them to settle debts, he said, this "should be done under the supervision of the judiciary".

Another farmer, Abu Adel, abandoned his village in Hama back in 2012 as battles raged nearby but continued to visit his plot until regime forces seized his area last year.

The 54-year-old hired people to tend to it while he is away, but in July an "affiliate" of a local security committee won rights to use it in an auction.

They "are all part of the same clique", Abu Adel said. "It's a facade."

More: http://silkwavemission.com/board.php?board=english&command=body&no=1144

Pray: for an end to the tyranny of the Syrian regime and for the corruption.

Pray: for the continued success of the advocates including Amnesty, working to protect the rights of the displaced people.

Pray: for peace, so that the people can return and re-settle in their homes once more.