Globe Trot: Did Peter Kassig resist his ISIS executioner?

SYRIA:Video footage confirmed the fifth beheading of a Westerner by Islamic State. Peter Kassig, a 26-year-old humanitarian aid worker from Indiana (and an only child) who started his own relief effort in northeastern Syria, was captured at an ISIS checkpoint a year ago. Over the weekend, he was shown decapitated along with at least five others. This video was different from previous ones, though: It did not show the actual beheading. Analysts suspect that U.S. drone activity may have disrupted the filming, or Kassig, who allegedly converted to Islam in captivity but was a former Army Ranger, may have resisted.

NIGERIA: The Nigerian army claims to have retaken Chibok, a Christian town in the largely Muslim Borno State where Boko Haram kidnapped more than 300 students from a girls school earlier this year. Boko Haram captured the town last week, but our sources say it was hunters and vigilante groups largely responsible for ousting the Islamist fighters.

One of the north’s most influential Muslim leaders, the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi, has called on all residents of northern Nigeria to “acquire what they need” to protect themselves against Boko Haram. The tribal emirs typically do not speak on politics and defense.

VATICAN: Pope Francis wants to know what prominent American Protestants think about marriage leading into this week’s Vatican colloquium on marriage and family—and Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, explains why he accepted the pope’s invitation.

DANIELS: At WORLD, we’re working on our Daniel of the Year issue, an annual feature profile of someone we believe has displayed a public Christian witness in the face of strong opposition. It’s our 17th annual selection and, as always, remains a secret until publication. Some of those from the past include overseas figures—like our Anglican Daniels from Africa in 2006—who continue that calling even in retirement.

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