Heatwave dries up lake in Serbia, triggers fires in Balkan “extreme weather event”

Belgrade, Serbia Reuters The Balkans, along with much of Europe, continued to swelter in a prolonged heatwave on Wednesday, triggering forest fires and drying up a Serbian lake for the first time, as a meteorologist warned such heatwaves could become more regular. “At the moment, we are amid an extreme weather event, a heatwave characterized […]
US military ends Gaza floating pier mission to bring aid to Palestinians by sea

Washington DC, US Reuters The US military announced on Wednesday that its mission to install and operate a temporary, floating pier off the coast of Gaza was complete, formally ending an extraordinary but troubled effort to bring humanitarian aid to Palestinians. The pier, announced by President Joe Biden during a televised address to Congress in […]
A Sustainable Life: How to protect your home from wildfires – here’s what fire prevention experts say is most important

US-based wildfire risk researchers BRYCE YOUNG and CHRIS MORAN, in an article first published on The Conversation, provide some tips for those facing summer fires…
At the Republic National Convention in the US, an uneven, awkward embrace of religious pluralism

United States RNS Connecticut businesswoman and former US Senate candidate Leora Levy’s prayer before this year’s Republican National Convention was filled with distinctive Jewish references. After thanking God on Monday night for former President Donald Trump, Levy, who is on the national leadership of the Republican Jewish Coalition, prayed for Corey Comperatore, who was killed […]
New York storm topples B-52 bomber, tears roof off church

New York, US Reuters A view of a damaged building in the aftermath of a storm in Rome, New York, US, on 16th July, 2024 in this still image obtained from social media video. PICTURE: @_angels_brows via Instagram/via Reuters A storm powerful enough to knock a B-52 bomber off a platform and tear the roof […]
Russia, Ukraine exchange 190 prisoners in third swap in weeks

Moscow, Russia/Kyiv, Ukraine Reuters Russia and Ukraine conducted a major exchange of prisoners on Wednesday, 190 in all, in their third such swap over the past seven weeks, following negotiations mediated by the United Arab Emirates. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said all 95 Ukrainians who were freed were from the military, and thanked the UAE for […]
Top Republicans in Congress call for Secret Service chief to step down

Washington DC, US Reuters Top Republicans in the US Congress called on Wednesday for the head of the Secret Service to resign after an assassination attempt wounded former President Donald Trump on Saturday, and the House launched a bipartisan probe into the security failures. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said his chamber would launch […]
Netherlands commemorate 10th anniversary of downing of MH17 airline

Amsterdam, The Netherlands Reuters The Netherlands commemorated on Wednesday the 298 victims of flight MH17 that was shot down over Ukraine 10 years ago with a ceremony attended by the bereaved and representatives from Malaysia, Australia, Britain, Belgium and Ukraine. Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down over eastern Ukraine […]
Fire at shopping centre in China’s south-west kills 16

Beijing, China Reuters Smoke billows at a shopping centre following fire in the city of Zigong, Sichuan province, China, in this still image obtained from social media video on on 17th July, 2024. Sixteen people were killed in a fire at a department store in Sichuan province in China’s south-west on Wednesday evening, state media […]
Film: In ‘Disciples in the Moonlight’, US Christians are persecuted and the Bible is banned

Mike Pence praised the Christian action film as a “cautionary tale” that should “inspire people of faith to do even more to protect religious freedom in America”. KATHRYN POST, of Religion News Service, reports…