Suffering and oppression in Gaza

The terrible poverty of occupied Gaza in graphics -

(h/t Gates of Vienna)



With the impoverished surroundings and just a 16-page menu, time for another round of aid money?

Pray for Rifqa

In a shocking new development, Rifqa Bary, the apostate from Islam who ran away from her parents to try to live a free life as a Christian, has developed an aggressive form of uterine cancer. This in the culmination of a year during which she:

• escaped from her parents, after allegedly being threatened with death for apostasy
• stayed with a Florida family for what she called the "best three weeks of her life"
• was taken into care by the State of Florida
• transferred to Ohio by a judge's ruling
• kept in solitary confinement, with no access to internet, telephone or visits from friends
  had motions filed to bar her from receiving Christmas cards
• came to an agreement to be in the custody of the State of Ohio, with her immigration status still uncertain.

All this may be more than most 17 year-olds would imagine to suffer, yet now Rifqa is faced with a new and even more terrifying struggle within her own body.

Tomorrow (May 27th) is the day of her third operation, due for 10am US Eastern time. The level of spread of the cancer should be known afterwards, and if the operation is successful, chemotherapy will begin soon. Please pray for Rifqa's recovery, wherever you are...

Farage survives plane crash

On the day of the UK general election, UKIP former leader Nigel Farage survives a plane crash with only minor injuries. In his own words he was "lucky to be alive".

From the BBC

The former UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage said he was "lucky to be alive" after his plane crashed in Northamptonshire.

The aircraft came down at Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield near Brackley.
Mr Farage is being treated at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford for broken ribs and other minor injuries. Pilot, Justin Adams, is also in hospital.

It is thought the aircraft came down when a trailing campaign banner became entangled.
'Trapped in wreckage'

Party leader Lord Pearson said Mr Farage had been visited by his wife in hospital.

He said: "Despite being in considerable pain, we deduce that Nigel is back to something like his normal form.
"We also understand that the injuries to the pilot, Justin Adams, may be less serious than previously feared though we have been unable to speak to his family.

"It is clear that both men had a remarkably lucky escape." 

This incident prompting one of his political opponents to write this tribute:

Nigel Farage always hated flying

He especially loathed having to take the tiny propellor-powered plane that was the only direct route to Strasbourg before the fast train link. But he bore those journeys with good-humoured stoicism, as he did most of the disagreeable aspects of our job.

Nigel is, I suppose, my chief rival in the South East. But he has always acted as a gentleman towards political opponents, and I like to think we have become friends. Nigel is in politics for the best possible reason: patriotism. He gave up a lucrative career to stand for the European Parliament, and there are plenty of other, more rewarding, things he could be doing.

It is typical of the man that, as he came round, his first words were to ask after the pilot. I hope all of us, whatever our parties, will join in wishing him a speedy and complete recovery.

Not long ago, he made this daring speech against the EU's new president:



And here, a recent interview with Jeremy Paxman:




This is a very lucky escape for someone who, in his stand against political correctness, could be described as the closest thing to a British Allen West or Geert Wilders. And an equally lucky escape for Britain, close to losing one of its only politicians willing to tell the truth as they see it.