The EU, along with UNHCR and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), is organising a high-level international conference on 28 and 29 October in Brussels. They are calling for urgent and concerted action for Venezuelan refugees and migrants. On 23 October Brussels highlighted the dramatic flight of millions of Venezuelans - one of the direst displacement crises in the world, and the largest in the recent history of the region. Nearly 80% of the 4.5 million who left their country have remained in Latin America or the Caribbean. Although countries in the region show solidarity towards them, their capacity and resources are reaching breaking point. The conference aims to raise awareness of the crisis, reaffirm global commitments, and assess best practices.

On 10 November Spain will have its fourth general election in four years. The Socialists received the most votes in April’s election, with Catalan separatist parties increasing their number of MPs. Since then, the supreme court has sentenced nine pro-independence politicians and civic leaders to a total of 100 years in prison. These sentences brought thousands of Catalonians onto the streets of many cities, and further violent clashes by far-right counter-protesters. Petrol bombs, blazing barricades, and vandalised buildings are new for Catalan’s pacifist independence movement, but the graffiti on a Barcelona wall read, ‘You have shown us that being peaceful is useless’. Hundreds have been injured in confrontations with security forces. The latest event was a ‘clean protest’ when protesters put detergent in a fountain, as a message to ‘clean up the mess from Spain’. One protester said demonstrations would continue until all the political prisoners were freed. See

‘Father, thank You for creating everyone in Your image, including those who have become terrorists. May godly people of peace meet and influence radicals so that lives are transformed and hatred turned to peace. May the Holy Spirit prepare hearts of individual extremists, bombers, kidnappers and assassins to come to know Christ. Father, please keep us from stereotyping terrorists. Remind us that Jesus loves and died for them too, and help us to understand the roots of terrorism and what causes people to walk that path (policies, corruption, greed, pride, etc). Grant wisdom and protection to those under attack, giving nations insight and military intelligence concerning aggression against them. Father, we ask You to thwart all Satan’s plans with communication breakdowns, weapon malfunction, and leaked plans. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem and God’s children worldwide. Remove long-standing hatred between Jews and Muslims, and grant peace and blessing to both. We pray in the precious name of Jesus.’

The Free Burma Rangers (FBR) deliver emergency medical assistance to sick and injured internally-displaced people, and train teams in frontline medical treatment, humanitarian relief and reconnaissance techniques. On 21 October one ranger wrote, ‘We evacuated more people from Seri Kani, including some wounded. We drove through the Free Syrian Army (FSA) who looked at us threateningly but when we smiled, some smiled back. The city is in ruins. The hospital was damaged and is controlled by FSA - I came face-to-face with them. I walked up to one and said ‘God bless you’ as I smiled and hugged him. He smiled back. We found civilians hiding behind the hospital and we helped evacuate them. On the way out there was more shooting. None of the bullets hit us and we thank God. As we left, we passed an FSA group by the roadside with their weapons and chanting “Allahu Akbar!” We thank God and all who made this operation possible.’