Today's Top Five

1. Religious violence in Nigeria continues
The cities that have already experienced riots have been locked down with curfews and military presence. But Nigeria is a large country, and the violence continues to spread. Reuters reports: "In the northern town of Kontagora, machete-wielding Muslim mobs killed nine people and torched four Christian churches, a Nigerian Red Cross official in Lagos told Reuters. They also looted shops owned by minority Christians, police said. In the city of Enugu in the southeast, Christian youths armed with machetes and clubs attacked Muslims, beating one motorcycle taxi driver to death and burning a mosque. … In northeastern Potiskum, Muslim youths burned shops, churches, and houses belonging to minority Christians early on Friday." For an annotated map of this week's violence, click here.

2. "Anglicans hold archbishop under hostage"
Late last year, liberal British priest Nicholas Henderson was elected as the new bishop of Lake Malawi, but the appointment was rejected by church leaders, reportedly because he supported gay rights. "He has actively demonstrated that he was not of sound faith—that's what the court of confirmation decided," Archbishop Bernard Malango told the BBC in December. The matter became complicated with false rumors that Henderson himself was gay. Now that he has rebutted those rumors, some Anglicans say he should be allowed to be bishop. On Wednesday, Henderson supporters attempted to take Malango hostage in protest. When Malango escaped, the protesters shut down the diocesan headquarters. Ah, church politics.

3. Administration agrees against further funding for Silver Ring Thing The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has given more ...