Ukraine says fighting in east has intensified
Kyiv, Ukraine Reuters Fighting in eastern Ukraine has “somewhat intensified” as Ukrainian and Russian forces clash in at least three areas on the eastern front, a senior Ukrainian defence official said on Sunday. Ukrainian servicemen, of the 10th separate mountain assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, prepare to fire a mortar at their […]
Vatican and Vietnam to take major step forward in relations
Vatican City/Hanoi, Vietnam Reuters The Vatican and Vietnam are due to take a major step towards improving their long strained relations by finalising a deal in which Hanoi will allow the Holy See to have a resident representative in the communist-run country, sources say. The deal will likely be announced during a visit to the […]
Rescuers retrieve eight bodies from flooded South Korea underpass
Seoul/Cheongju/South KoreaReuters The bodies of eight people trapped in a tunnel flooded by heavy rain in central South Korea were retrieved on Sunday, authorities said, with the death toll from days of torrential downpours that have pounded the country rising to 37. Seo Jeong-il, head of the west Cheongju fire station, said an estimated 15 […]
“Heat storm” stretches into southern Europe while US faces flash floods, heat warnings for 25 per cent of population
Updated: 12:30pm (AEST)Rome, Italy Reuters Italy issued hot weather red alerts for 16 cities on Sunday, with meteorologists warning that temperatures will hit record highs across southern Europe in the coming days. A person seeks shelter from the heat in Rome. PICTURE: Reuters/Guglielmo Mangiapne EXTREME HEAT SIZZLES US WEST AS DEADLY FLASH FLOODS PERSIST IN NORTH-EAST […]
Brazilian school awarded UNESCO stamp for efforts to protect the ocean
Rio de Janeiro/Brasilia, BrazilReuters A group of Brazilian school children gleefully remove pieces of plastic and trash on the sand of a Rio de Janeiro beach during an outing to teach them about the importance of protecting the environment. Their school, called Notre Dame, is located on the city’s tourist hot spot of Ipanema beach […]
Coca price crash contributing to Colombia food insecurity – UN
Bogota, Colombia Reuters A crash in the price of coca, the chief ingredient in cocaine, is contributing to food insecurity in Colombia and causing displacement, as people leave areas that depend on the illicit crop, according to an internal United Nations presentation seen by Reuters. Historically coca crops have provided better incomes than legal alternatives […]
US state of Mississippi, under judge’s order, starts allowing religious exemptions for childhood vaccinations
Jackson, Mississippi, US AP The US state of Mississippi is starting the court-ordered process of letting people cite religious beliefs to seek exemptions from state-mandated vaccinations that children must receive before attending day care or school. Mississippi is one of the poorest states and has high rates of health problems such as obesity and heart disease. But […]
Pakistan army concerned over Afghan militant “safe havens”, threatens response
Islamabad, PakistanReuters Pakistan’s army said on Friday it was seriously concerned that militants had found safe havens in neighbouring Afghanistan and threatened to take an “effective response” two days after 12 of its soldiers died in two attacks. Nine soldiers died after Islamist fighters stormed an army base in Pakistan’s southern Balochistan province, which borders […]
“Lost, confused, scared”: Syrians who fled Assad fear he will soon choke off aid
MAYA GEBEILY and KHALIL ASHAWI, of Reuters, report…
Rev Jesse Jackson steps down as leader of civil rights group he founded in 1971
Chicago, USAP Rev Jesse Jackson announced Saturday that he will step down as president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Chicago-based civil rights group he founded more than 50 years ago. Jackson, 81, announced his resignation during a quiet farewell speech at the organization’s annual convention, where the group paid tribute to him with songs, kind words […]