Globe Trot: Assyrians divided over ransom paid to ISIS

SYRIA: Islamic State militants have released the last group of Assyrian Christians captured from villages along the Khabur River last February. Assyrian leaders I’ve spoken to in Iraq and Syria say the negotiations with the terrorist group have divided church authorities—as one negotiator made public that Assyrian groups set up a bank account to collect donations and paid “less than half the amount” demanded, $18 million for the roughly 200 men, women, and children.

“The ransoming process to release the hostages abducted by terrorist group is different than collecting money for a patient in a hospital,” an Assyrian leader told me. “It should go in top secret.” He said church officials now worry about more kidnappings and ransom demands from ISIS.

CUBA: As U.S. lawmakers make plans to block President Barack Obama’s plan to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, former Secretary of State Colin Powell says he supports the decision, including Obama’s plan to move the remaining 50 detainees (including 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed) to the United States.

Here’s a timeline of all the times Obama said he would close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay.

NIGERIA: The ongoing Boko Haram violence targeting Christians in northern Nigeria is having further dire affect—450 children forced into camps for the displaced have died of malnutrition.

TURKEY has backed down on closing the only church in the city of Bursa.

ARGENTINA: A nationwide strike is underway in Buenos Aires, as government belt-tightening (imagine!) frustrates workers. If you want to try to understand the country’s protracted debt crisis, Bloomberg has a good recap. On this Oscar’s eve week, I personally may wait for the Adam McKay version (think The Big Short).