ISIS threatens to behead Another Journalist

 

Hours after American journalist James Wright Foley was beheaded by a member of Jihadist group ISIS, there is a threat that another journalist will be killed.

A militant from the Islamic State who appears to be the person that beheaded Foley, is threatening to kill another journalist Steven Sotloff.

The figure in the black robe says the life of Sotloff depends on how the US responds.

In a video posted on Youtube, also titled “A Message to America”, the man purported to be Sotloff was filmed being held by the militant.

According to The Independent UK, the video claims Foley’s death is a revenge killing for the ongoing US air strikes in Iraq.

The jihadist who speaks with a British accent, then addresses the US President Barack Obama saying, “The life of this American citizen, Obama, depends on your next decision.”

Sotloff from Miami was kidnapped near Aleppo in August 2013. His family was reportedly made aware of his disappearance but had chosen not to go public on the advice of officials.

His sister Lauren Sotloff‘s boyfriend this morning, took to Facebook urging people to sign a White House petition calling on the US government to “do everything possible to free the reporter from ISIS in Syria.

“My girlfriend Lauren Sotloff’s brother Steven Sotloff was taken hostage by ISIS on August 04 2013 and up to this point it has been all under wraps as due to a media blackout.

People please not only sign the following petition, but PLEASE SHARE so the more the better. Thank you in advance and pray for his safe return home.” he said.

According to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, about 20 reporters are missing in Syria.

Read More

Ebola: Nigerian Woman Suspected of Virus Faints at Job Centre in Germany, 600 People Quarantined

On Tuesday, a Nigerian woman was rushed to a hospital, after showing signs of Ebola virus at Job Center, Berlin, Germany.

As many as 600 visitors and staff at the office were all stopped from leaving for several hours as emergency services sealed off part of the street.

Daily Mail UK reports that woman who fainted hails from Nigeria. She later said that she had recently been in contact with people infected with Ebola.

Several people who had been with the woman inside the building in the north-eastern district of Prenzlauer Berg were all taken to the hospital for testing.

Rolf Erbe, a spokesman for the Berlin Fire Department said that the woman came from “an area affected by a highly contagious disease, we took these precautions.”

He added that, “The patient was isolated inside the ambulance, the staff took the appropriate protective measures. An emergency medic, the public health officer, arrived and the necessary precautions were taken.”

The Nigerian woman is said to have arrived the employment bureau with a high fever. Emergency services were called after she collapsed.

All the 600 people in the centre were quarantined because they were in the victim’s vicinity before she collapsed.

                                                           Street Closed Down

Read More

Ebola: Catholic Diocese of Makurdi Bars Corpses in Churches

Makurdi (NAN) –  The Catholic diocese of Makurdi, Benue, has barred the faithful from taking corpses of late relations to churches for funeral Mass as a measure to check the spread of Ebola virus.

The diocese directed that corpses of deceased members should be given immediate burial.

It, however, said that it would allow corpses to be brought to the churches in the area only when death certificates issued by relevant medical authorities were produced.

This is contained in a statement by the Director of Communications in the diocese, Rev. Fr. Moses Iorapuu, in Makurdi on Saturday.

The statement, which was issued on behalf of Bishop of the diocese, Rev. Athanissius Usu, also announced changes in two aspects of activities during mass, including the mode of administering the Holy Communion.

According to the statement, parishioners will henceforth be served the eucharistic feast on their hands as against the practice of putting it on their tongue by the priest.

Also, it said, the exchange of the sign of peace, involving handshakes has been replaced with other suitable gestures to avoid the possibilities of contacting the Ebola virus.
The diocese advised priests, who conduct pastoral visitation to hospitals to be cautious and seek doctor’s permission before touching sick people with undisclosed illnesses.
It also announced the prohibition of group prayer sessions that involved touching and praying over unknown sicknesses.
According to the statement, the measures, which are in accordance with Federal Government’s directive on ways to prevent the spread of Ebola virus, are aimed at safeguarding the health of members.
“We hope that with these preventive pastoral and standard procedures and with prayers and steadfastness in responsible behaviours, the Lord will keep this virus away from us.
“We also encourage personal hygiene, washing of hands regularly, clean environment and eating habits.
“We urge you not to ignore government’s advice and other official statements on how to prevent the outbreak of Ebola virus,” it stated.

Read More

Ebola: Heartbreaking Photos Detailing Outbreak in Liberia

 

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has claimed the lives of more than a 1,000 people. Every day, at least one person dies.

In Monvoria, Liberia, where the outbreak is extremely severe, a photographer John Moore risked getting the virus by heading down there to take images of the sad state of the nation.

The United Nations has also revealed that it will send food to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea as the outbreak has collapsed the economies. They will bring in the food items with their own aircraft to each of the countries.

It is expected to feed 1 million.

Read More