After US church shooting, Iowa pastor tells flock: “God is near to the broken-hearted”
United StatesRNS At a Friday morning prayer service, stunned and shattered worshippers gathered to weep, pray, sing and mourn two young women killed at an Iowa church. The service was hours after a fatal shooting in the parking lot of Cornerstone Church in Ames, Iowa, home to Iowa State University. The shooting occurred on the […]
Ukrainians hold out as Russia storms eastern city on war’s 100th day
Sievierdonetsk, UkraineReuters Ukraine on Friday said it recaptured a large chunk of territory in fierce fighting for Sievierodonetsk and foiled an attempt by Russian troops to advance from the devastated eastern industrial city on the 100th day of Moscow’s invasion. Ukraine’s defence minister said his soldiers were training in Europe to operate advanced missile systems […]
Queen Elizabeth II thanked for being “still in the saddle” after 70 years
Updated: 9:45am, 4th June, 2022 (AEST)London, UKReuters Horse-loving Queen Elizabeth II was thanked for being “in the saddle” for 70 years as head of state at a service on Friday to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee, an event she missed due to ongoing mobility issues. Other senior members of the royal family joined a congregation of […]
Queen Elizabeth II misses out as royals attend Platinum Jubilee service
London, UKReuters Britain celebrates the second day of Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee on Friday, with the highlight a service of thanksgiving attended by senior royals and politicians that the 96-year-old monarch herself will miss due to ongoing mobility issues. The four days of events kicked off on Thursday, when a happy-looking Elizabeth waved to crowds […]
Snapshot: Sunset on the island of Orango, Guinea-Bissau
See TIAGO FERNANDEZ’ image…
Pitcairn Islands to light final Platinum Jubilee beacon
Wellington, New ZealandReuters The entire population of the Pitcairn Islands – 35 permanent residents – will make the Pacific Ocean territory the last place in the Commonwealth to light a beacon as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebration later Thursday. The beacon, which came on the last supply ship to the islands six weeks […]
At least 18 have died in Salvadoran police custody amid crackdown – Amnesty
San Salvador, El SalvadorReuters At least 18 people have died in Salvadoran police custody since the Central American country introduced a controversial state of emergency to combat gangs two months ago, according to an investigation presented Thursday by Amnesty International. President Nayib Bukele’s government declared an emergency regime at the end of March after a historic rise […]
Spain fires captain whose soldiers knelt at Franco memorial
Madrid, Spain AP Spain’s armed forces have fired an army captain after a video showed some 30 soldiers of the officer’s unit kneeling in front of the Valley of the Fallen mausoleum, the most potent existing symbol of the dictatorship of the late General Francisco Franco. The Defence Ministry said Thursday that the captain was […]
US megachurch pastor Rick Warren to retire in September, names Andy Wood as his successor
RNS After more than four decades, the pastor of one of the nation’s largest and most influential churches is ready to step down. And he has named a young couple to take his place. “This afternoon, at our all-staff meeting held at the Lake Forest campus, I was finally able to publicly announce that we […]
Millions at risk: Ukraine war hits Africa’s most vulnerable as aid costs spike
EDWARD MACALLISTER, of Reuters, reports on how the war in Ukraine is threatening lives across sub-Saharan Africa…