Globe Trot: ISIS is knocking on Baghdad's door

BAGHDAD: Canon Andrew White—chaplain of the only Anglican church in Baghdad—posted an SOS on his Facebook page late Monday: “ISIS are now just 5 miles away from Baghdad. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy. We need you.” The renowned cleric—known as the “Vicar of Baghdad”—reported Islamic State militants were advancing toward the capital city, despite American airstrikes.

White offered a brief update on Tuesday, saying it appeared the militants’ advance had been halted, but that residents in Baghdad still feared for their security. On the same day, a wave of car bombs and mortar attacks killed at least 35 people in the capital. No one immediately claimed responsibility, but Islamic State militants claimed they carried out similar attacks in Baghdad earlier this year.

Meanwhile, ministry continued for Canon White. In a posting earlier today, he reported:

“I have baptized five people today. One of the Christian politicians came to me and pleaded with me to baptize a mother and her four children. I listened to them and it was clear they all loved Jesus. I therefore baptized them all. Afterwards the 11 year old boy came up to me and said I feel new, I said you are.”

HONG KONG: Massivepro-democracy demonstrations continue in Hong Kong, as the largely student-led protesters demand Chinese leaders allow the city to hold open and free elections.

Though many of the protesters are young citizens, one of the movement’s co-founders is a 70-year-old Baptist pastor. Rev. Chu Yiu-ming admitted: “I am really afraid of being sent to jail. … I am really afraid of the Communist Party.” But he also added: “I come out just in the hope of clearing some obstacles and paving a smoother road for our next generation, so that they can have an easier life.”

Churches in Hong Kong have developed divided opinions over the demonstrations, according to the same story in the South China Morning Post. A Catholic leader reportedly said participating in restricted elections would be pointless, but an Anglican minister urged Christians to “remain silent” on the political issue.

The Communist Party in China left no doubt about its opinion. In the party’s main newspaper, Communist ideologue Li Shenming wrote: “In current-day China, competitive elections with ‘one man, one vote’ would be sure to quickly lead to a state of turmoil, chaos, even civil war.”

UKRAINE: Despite a fragile ceasefire between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, at least 10 people died when a shell hit a playground and minivan at a local school in the rebel-held region of Donetsk. No children died in the bombing on the first day of school, but witnesses said the dead included a biology teacher and a parent.

EBOLA: For those tracking the growing Ebola crisis, this map shows the countries with confirmed cases, including one yesterday here in the United States.