Be informed. Be challenged. Be inspired.

Count Binface, Elmo and AI Steve: the UK election’s unusual candidates

London, UK Reuters When either Rishi Sunak or Keir Starmer take to the stage to hail victory in the British election on Friday, they will be joined at their moment of triumph by either a man with a trash can on his head or someone dressed as “Elmo” from the Muppets. Among the more than […]

Kenyan police arrival in Haiti marks new era for security, Prime Minister tells UN

United Nations Reuters Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille told the UN Security Council on Wednesday that the arrival of the first Kenyan police officers under a UN-backed mission marked a critical stage to restoring security in a country ravaged by gang violence. “The arrival of the first contingent of the Multinational Security Support kicks off […]

The Episcopal Church revises clergy misconduct protocols for fairness, transparency

United States RNS As it elected Bishop Sean Rowe its new presiding bishop at last week’s General Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, the Episcopal Church adopted more than 20 resolutions related to Title IV, a section of the church bylaws that governs its response to allegations against clergy of abuse or misconduct. Over the past year, […]

UN says Israel evacuation order “wiped out” bid to improve Gaza aid

United Nations Reuters An Israeli military evacuation order covering a third of the Gaza Strip has “wiped out” the United Nations’ attempts to improve humanitarian aid deliveries via the Kerem Shalom crossing, a senior UN aid official said on Wednesday. Israel has been critical of UN-led aid operations in the enclave of 2.3 million people, […]

France’s far-right seen falling short of majority in run-off, poll shows

Paris, France Reuters Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) will not win a majority of seats in next Sunday’s parliamentary run-off election, according to a poll on Wednesday, suggesting efforts by French mainstream parties to block the far right might work. A Harris Interactive poll for Challenges magazine – the first to be published after […]

Russia claims control of part of Chasiv Yar; five killed, 53 injured in Dnipro

Moscow, Russia Reuters Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Wednesday that its forces had taken control of a district in the key Ukrainian town of Chasiv Yar, while Ukraine said the area was engulfed by intense fighting. Chasiv Yar stands on high ground 20 kilometres to the west of Bakhmut, a town Russian forces seized a […]

Flood fears in China’s east as rain swells Yangtze River levels

Beijing, China Reuters Rising water levels in the Yangtze River following intense rains in southern China have prompted eastern regions downstream to prepare for possible flooding. Water levels in the Jiangsu section of China’s longest river continued to rise on Wednesday as a result of the increased flow from its upper reaches as well as […]

Camping in schools, hungry Haiti families ask: when will normality return?

Port-au-Prince, Haiti Reuters Majorie Edoi sells food from a stand in Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince – or she used to, until a conflict with armed gangs cut off the city from suppliers, paralysed trade routes and pushed the Caribbean country to its highest levels of hunger on record. The 30-year-old mother of three now sells food […]