Ukraine says it routs Russian brigade, Kremlin acknowledges ‘very difficult’ campaign
Reuters A Ukrainian unit said on Wednesday it had routed a Russian brigade near the stronghold of Bakhmut in an incident underlining the task facing the Kremlin as it carries out what it calls a “very difficult” military operation. The unit’s claim appeared to buttress comments by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner private […]
Egypt starts mediating an end to Israel-Gaza strikes, rockets
Gaza/Jerusalem Reuters Israel hit Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza for a second day on Wednesday and Palestinian militants launched hundreds of rockets across the border, setting off sirens as far away as Tel Aviv, while Egypt began efforts to mediate an end to the fighting. The second round of cross-border fire in a week came […]
Pakistan calls in army to stop protest violence after ex-PM Khan’s arrest
Islamabad, Pakistan Reuters Pakistan’s government called in the army on Wednesday to help end deadly unrest in the wake of the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, warning protesters against any further attacks on state installations. At least five people have died in violence that has aggravated instability in the South Asian country of […]
Battles shake Sudan’s capital, ceasefire talks reported to make progress
Dubai, United Arab EmiratesReuters Fighting in Sudan’s capital escalated on Wednesday with fierce clashes and air strikes, but rival military factions were reported to be close to a ceasefire agreement in talks in Saudi Arabia. Residents reported ground battles in several neighbourhoods of Khartoum between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, as well as […]
Migration through Panama’s Darien Gap spikes despite US plan
Panama City, Panama Reuters The number of people arriving in the treacherous Darien Gap linking Panama with Colombia soared in April and early May, Panamanian government data shows, dealing a blow to US efforts to curb undocumented migration to the north. According to figures from Panama’s Security Ministry seen by Reuters on Tuesday, 40,297 migrants […]
Ecuador seals record debt-for-nature swap with Galapagos bond
London, UK/New York, US Reuters Ecuador sealed the world’s largest “debt-for-nature” swap on record on Tuesday, selling a new “blue bond” that will funnel at least $US12 million a year into conservation of the Galapagos Islands, one of the world’s most precious ecosystems. Having bought back roughly $US1.6 billion of the country’s debt at a […]
In the US, breakaway Texas UMC megachurch reveals plans for new Methodist denomination
Southlake, Texas, USRNS Last year, White’s Chapel, a large congregation in a wealthy suburb outside of Dallas, overwhelmingly voted to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church. Today, the church, which draws more than 2,000 people on a Sunday, belongs to a denomination of one, a network it is calling the Methodist Collegiate Church. White’s Chapel Methodist […]
Attack near Tunisia synagogue kills four
Tunis, Tunisia Reuters An attack near a synagogue in Tunisia killed two security officers and two visitors on Tuesday the government said amid an annual pilgrimage to the island of Djerba that draws hundreds of Jews from Europe and Israel. The attack was staged by a guard at a naval installation on Djerba who used […]
Myanmar’s crisis overshadows ASEAN summit in Indonesia
Labuan Bajo, Indonesia Reuters South-east Asian leaders gathering in Indonesia on Wednesday will wrangle over how to resolve the crisis in Myanmar as patience in the ASEAN bloc wears thin over escalating violence in the military-ruled country. The summit comes just days after unidentified assailants shot at a convoy carrying ASEAN diplomats and aid workers […]
Africa aid: Sudan deepens crisis as UN sees five million more needing aid
MAHAMAT RAMADANE, JOE BAVIER and EMMA FARGE, of Reuters, report on Africa’s growing humanitarian crisis…