Syria: attack on Damascus church shakes Christian community
A deadly attack on the Mar Elias Church in Damascus on 22 June has shaken Syria, especially its Christian community. At least 25 people were killed when an armed man opened fire and detonated a suicide bomb. The attack, claimed by both IS and another group, has spotlighted serious security concerns for Syria's new government. Labour affairs minister Hind Kabawat called for unity, stressing the shared pain of Christians and Muslims. The end of Bashar al-Assad's brutal regime was meant to usher in a hopeful era, yet the recent attack raises questions about the new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and his ability to protect religious minorities. Despite promises of inclusivity, tensions and mistrust linger. The Mar Elias attack intensifies fears that minorities may be forced to leave the country, highlighting the fragile nature of Syria's recovery. The government's response to these security and sectarian threats will define its legitimacy and shape its future.
Sudan: devastating attack on hospital
A brutal attack on Al Mujlad Hospital in West Kordofan has left over forty dead, including children and medical staff, in one of the deadliest assaults on a medical facility since the war began in April 2023. WHO chief Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus condemned the attack as ‘appalling’; it is not yet clear whether the army or the RSF was responsible. The fighting between the two sides has deepened a crisis which has left millions displaced and malnourished. Al Mujlad was the area’s only functioning hospital, and its loss intensifies the plight of communities already grappling with disease, famine, and displacement. Humanitarian organisations have warned that children bear the greatest toll, with rising malnutrition and exposure to exploitation. As Sudan’s war enters its third year, the call from global health leaders is clear: the targeting of hospitals and health workers must end immediately to prevent further humanitarian catastrophe.
Colombia: 57 soldiers kidnapped in rebel area
57 Colombian soldiers have been seized by civilians and armed rebels in the Micay Canyon area, a vital cocaine-producing area in the southwest. The first group was captured on 21 June during an army operation in El Tambo; then another platoon was surrounded by roughly 200 residents near El Plateado. General Federico Alberto Mejía called the incidents a ‘kidnapping’ by rebels who infiltrate local communities, acting under the command of a FARC dissident group that refused the 2016 peace accord. President Gustavo Petro, committed to peace, announced that the release of the soldiers is ‘imperative’ as tensions rise. The government is struggling to regain control of rural areas as splintered armed groups move to dominate territories abandoned by FARC after the peace agreement. This crisis has reignited fears across Colombia, evoking memories of the bloody cartel violence and political assassinations which plagued the nation in the 1980s and 1990s.
USA: Surprise result in New York mayoral primary
Zohran Mamdani, a 33‑year‑old state lawmaker and self‑described socialist, has won New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani, focusing sharply on rising living costs, promised free buses, free childcare, affordable housing, and a higher minimum wage, financed by taxing the wealthy. If elected in November, he would be the city’s first Muslim and Indian mayor. His victory reflects growing progressive momentum. Cuomo, seeking a comeback after a sexual harassment scandal, conceded defeat, stating, ‘Tonight is his night’. Critics question Mamdani’s experience, fearing he may be ill‑prepared for crisis management. Current mayor Eric Adams, indicted on corruption charges, announced he will run as an independent.The outcome of the primary, held amid sweltering temperatures, and the outcome of this race could indicate the type of leader Democrats are looking for during Donald Trump's second term.
Woman Meets Jesus During Shocking NDE*: ‘I Was Preparing to Die’
Vanessa Joy Lancellotti was a newlywed in 2016 when she suddenly suffered a ruptured arteriovenous malformation in her brain. Unaware she even had this condition, the terrifying incident occurred while having tea with her sisters. As her pain intensified, she collapsed and was rushed to the hospital, fearing she was about to die. En route in the ambulance, she prepared to meet Jesus, repenting and reviewing her life. Then, unexpectedly, she experienced what she believes was a supernatural encounter: pain and fear vanished, and she found herself in a place of pure peace and radiant light. There she encountered Jesus, who embraced her lovingly and told her, “It is not yet your time.” Though never clinically dead, Vanessa believes she was taken to paradise. Her miraculous survival transformed her spiritually, igniting a deeper relationship with Christ and a new understanding of the Holy Spirit’s power. Today, she shares her story through her book, Miracles Really Do Happen, encouraging others with the hope and reality of Christ’s love and healing presence. * Near Death Experience
'A huge victory': Christian leaders react to Supreme Court's Skrmetti ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld Tennessee’s law banning gender transition surgeries and hormone treatments for minors, ruling 6-3 that the law does not violate the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. The decision in Skrmetti v. United States establishes a precedent allowing similar legislation in over 20 states to remain in effect. Christian leaders have welcomed the ruling as a decisive step in protecting children. Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel called it a “victory for children everywhere,” arguing that experimental procedures should not be allowed under the guise of equality. Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council praised the affirmation of FRC’s “SAFE Act” model. Brent Leatherwood of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission emphasised that the state has a duty to protect children from harmful and irreversible decisions. However, progressive voices such as Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush of Interfaith Alliance criticised the ruling as religious overreach. The case marks a pivotal moment in defining the boundary between child protection and personal medical autonomy in U.S. law.
'A stain on our society': Yvette Cooper promises change after 'damning' grooming gang report
A damning report by Dame Louise Casey has revealed systemic failures across England and Wales in addressing grooming gangs that have sexually exploited thousands of children. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper responded with an unequivocal apology to victims and survivors, announcing a full national inquiry and promising the most comprehensive reforms ever taken by a UK government to combat child sexual exploitation. The Casey report highlights years of obfuscation by public institutions, with suspects often disproportionately of Asian heritage or with ethnicity data missing and agencies failing to act. Recommendations include broadening the legal definition of rape, improving data sharing, and initiating a nationally coordinated criminal investigation. A new national operation will be led by the National Crime Agency. Controversially, Cooper also announced that asylum seekers found guilty of grooming or sexual offences will be barred from claiming refuge in the UK. Criticisms remain over previous government inaction and political posturing, yet survivors and campaigners have welcomed the long-overdue steps. Casey called for definitive action, stating, “We must right the wrongs of the past.”
HS2 line to be delayed again with no new date given
The UK government has confirmed that the HS2 high-speed rail project will be delayed beyond its 2033 target, with no revised opening date provided. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described the project as an “appalling mess,” citing a "litany of failure" in cost management and missed deadlines. Originally budgeted at £33bn in 2012, costs have surged by £37bn, with some estimates reaching up to £106bn. Alexander criticised years of ineffective contracts, poor oversight, and scope changes under successive Conservative governments. Two recent reports into HS2’s management have exposed systemic failings: premature construction, lack of technical expertise, and bloated administrative structures. Mark Wild, HS2’s current CEO, acknowledged external pressures like the pandemic and Brexit but emphasised persistent internal issues. The project's scope has been repeatedly reduced, with the Birmingham-Leeds and Birmingham-Manchester links scrapped. The government has now appointed Mike Brown, former Transport for London commissioner, as the new HS2 chair to lead a reset in UK infrastructure planning. Alexander promised a further update on costs and deadlines by the end of the year.
Predator who drugged and raped 10 women gets life sentence
Zhenhao Zou, a 28-year-old Chinese engineering student, has been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 24 years in the UK for drugging and raping 10 women across London and China, with fears that he may have assaulted dozens more. Following a harrowing trial, Zou was found guilty of 11 counts of rape, along with multiple charges including voyeurism, false imprisonment, and possession of drugs and extreme pornography. Only two victims have been identified, while the remaining eight are yet to come forward. Police discovered hundreds of hours of filmed assaults, suggesting over 50 more potential victims. Zou used WeChat and dating apps to lure fellow Chinese students to his flats, where he drugged and raped them, often filming the abuse. Officers believe Zou may be one of the UK’s worst sex offenders. The case has chilling similarities to past high-profile sex crimes, such as Reynhard Sinaga and Stephen Port. With support from Chinese authorities, UK police are now exploring ways to reach victims in China. Zou remains under investigation as more women come forward. See
MPs vote to decriminalise abortion for women in England and Wales
In the most significant and concerning change to abortion legislation in England and Wales in nearly 60 years, MPs have voted by a landslide to decriminalise women who end their pregnancies outside the existing legal framework. The amendment, brought by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, will prevent police from investigating or prosecuting women, such as those who miscarry after taking abortion medication beyond 24 weeks. The change does not alter the 24-week limit or the requirement for clinical oversight, but removes legal penalties for the women themselves. Antoniazzi argued that vulnerable women deserve compassion, not criminalisation, citing distressing cases such as Nicola Packer’s prosecution after a stillbirth. The amendment was supported by 379 MPs and over 50 organisations, including the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. While praised as a milestone for reproductive rights, the vote drew criticism from pro-life advocates such as SPUC, who warned that it removes all legal protection for unborn children. The legislation still requires passage through the House of Lords before becoming law.