BY MELISSA SIEGLER
Staff Writer
ISIS beheads fourth captive
ISIS, also known as ISIL, released a video on Friday, October 4, of one of their militants beheading British captive, Alan Henning. This is the fourth video of its kind to be released by ISIS. This particular malicious act was blamed on the United Kingdom for joining the United States in airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against the terror group. Henning was kidnapped from a Syrian airport in December 2013. He was in the country to assist in aid work. As in the other videos, another captive, Peter Kassig, was shown and threatened if the airstrikes continued. Kassig, a former Army Ranger, was also taken captive while doing humanitarian work in Syria.
“Alan had gone to Syria to help get aid to people of all faiths in their hour of need,” said British Prime Minister, David Cameron. “The fact that he was taken hostage when trying to help others and now murdered demonstrates that there are no limits to the depravity of these ISIL terrorists.”
http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/03/world/meast/isis-alan-henning-beheading/index.html
Protests continue in Hong Kong
Protesters have been filling the streets and government buildings of Hong Kong in opposition to the Communist Party’s decision to disallow free elections for Hong Kong’s chief executive in 2017. The protests have prevented government employees from working and the Hong Kong government issued a warning that the protesters need to disperse so they can return to work or else. Protesters overlooked this ultimatum as thousands of pro-democracy citizens, led by student groups, continued to fill the streets on Saturday, October 4 and into the early morning of Sunday. These protests are becoming increasingly more violent. Police have begun to use tear gas and anti-protesters reportedly attacked protesters in a nearby province as the police stood by.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/04/world/asia/china-hong-kong-protests/index.html
Vatican to hold debate on divisive family issues
Pope Francis has announced that a debate about controversial family issues will open Sunday, October 5. Progressives are hoping for change in Catholic Church’s views on certain issues, while Conservatives want the views that the Church holds now to be maintained. Bishops will take part in a two-week meeting where they will discuss the church’s teaching on sex, marriage, divorce and homosexuality. Pope Francis wants the bishops to truly listen to what Catholics have to say and have a “sincere, open and fraternal” debate about these types of issues that affect Catholic families today.