Globe Trot: Ukraine's pro-Russian protests turn violent

UKRAINE: In Odessa, a mob stormed a police station to free pro-Russian militants after a weekend of street violence left dozens dead. Reverse-flow deliveries of gas from Europe via Slovakia to Ukraine may blunt Russian threats to turn off the gas tap, changing one important aspect of the conflict. But large sections of Ukraine seem to be spinning out of Kiev’s control.

SOUTH SUDAN: Samaritan’s Purse is building a new hospital in Mabaan, bringing help to many thousands of South Sudanese who have repeatedly been battered by civil war. This is the same area where years ago I watched a young girl die.

“We see a lot of the extreme, and there is no referral from here, so you do your best,” said Dr. Rob Congdon.

IRAQ: The numbers say Christians may soon be no more in the Middle East, but the beleaguered churches in Baghdad are fighting risk with resilience—my reporting from last month’s trip to Baghdad.

SYRIA: Al-Qaeda-backed rebels are executing residents in the predominantly Christian area of Raqqa and hanging them, crucifixion-style. Last week in a city square, ISIS summarily executed seven people accused of planting bombs, crucifying two of the men, according to the latest in The Los Angeles Times.

BENGHAZI: President Barack Obama should release his daily intelligence briefings to the select committee on Benghazi to clarify what he knew—and was being told—about the 2012 attack on the diplomatic post there. Bush did the same for briefings leading up to 9/11. Correction: Declassified White House emails released last week on Libya resulted from a Freedom of Information Act request by Judicial Watch, not a citizens commission.

WORLD: For additional resources to guide prayers for the persecuted church, visit Open Doors and its affiliated World Watch Monitor. Other resources familiar to Globe Trot users are the Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin and Morning Star News.