The World This Week

INDIA, PAKISTAN: Heavy rain on Tuesday caused flash floods and landslides, killing more than 280, while rescuers search for more than 80 still missing in the Himalayan mountains of Kashmir.  EUROPE: As temperatures soar and wildfires rage across GREECE, PORTUGAL and SPAIN, thousands have been displaced and at least three have died. About 15 firefightersContinue reading “The World This Week”

Wildfires Across the World

New wildfires have broken out in CYPRUS (where two have died), TURKEY (where at least 15 have died since June), GREECE, ALBANIA, MONTENEGRO, SERBIA, SPAIN, CANADA, and the USA. In addition, Greece, ITALY, Spain, PORTUGAL and Turkey suffer from extreme heat, with an all-time high of 50.5 Celsius (122.9 Fahrenheit) recorded in Silopi, Turkey Friday.Continue reading “Wildfires Across the World”

Christians Arrested Post-Ceasefire in Iran

In the two weeks following the June ceasefire with Israel, at least 21 Christians were arrested in several Iranian cities. Some relate to the alleged possession of Bibles, but other details are yet unknown, although evangelical Christians are often accused of being spies or “Zionists.” In addition, the well-being and whereabouts of some of theContinue reading “Christians Arrested Post-Ceasefire in Iran”

Deadly U.S. Floods, Europe Heat

The death toll from last weekend’s flash floods in Texas has risen to 120, with some 173 still missing, including a camp counselor and five girls from Camp Mystic, where at least 27 campers and counselors died. A total of more than 59 adults and 36 children died in Kerr County, including Mystic’s numbers, withContinue reading “Deadly U.S. Floods, Europe Heat”

May Your Kingdom Come

This past year has been one of persecution, wars, displaced families, as well as record-breaking heat, fires, floods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes…. We can all add to that list our own trials. But have they changed you? Have you allowed the difficulties you have faced to deepen your faith, strengthen your resolve and break free fromContinue reading “May Your Kingdom Come”

Hurricane, Heatwave, Landslide, Missiles

USA: Hurricane Beryl left about two million without power in Texas during dangerously high temperatures, and killed one in Louisiana and six in Texas, adding to the death toll of at least 11 in the Caribbean. US states in its northeasterly pathway now face heavy rain and flooding. Meanwhile, heatwaves have caused at least fourContinue reading “Hurricane, Heatwave, Landslide, Missiles”

Headline Prayers These Days

BANGLADESH: After weeks of heavy rains have flooded farmlands and homes in the northeast, nearly two million stranded people face the threat of food shortages and waterborne diseases. In the south, at least ten Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, including three children, died from mudslides and heavy rainfall in refugee camps. INDIA: Landslides, heavy rains andContinue reading “Headline Prayers These Days”

A Hot and Deadly Summer

Up to 448 people have died from intense heat in INDIA since March, and more than 40,000 cases of heatstroke have been reported in recent days, with temperatures over 100F on a constant basis. Most vulnerable to heat exhaustion (dizziness, headaches, shaking, thirst) are those without electricity, such as the homeless and poor. If temperaturesContinue reading “A Hot and Deadly Summer”

More Than 1,000 Die in Hajj Heatwave

More than 1,000 Muslims from around the world have died over the past few days in Saudi Arabia, as temperatures soared to 51.8C (125.24F) during the annual Islamic pilgrimage of hajj. Among the dead are more than 600 Egyptians, almost 100 Indians, 60 Jordanians, at least 11 Americans, five Iranians, and an unknown number ofContinue reading “More Than 1,000 Die in Hajj Heatwave”

China Floods, Heatwave, Persecution

After last month’s expressway collapse that killed 50 people in Guangdong, and violent rain and hailstorms that killed seven in Jiangxi province earlier this year, China now faces two extreme conditions in the north and south. Heavy rain, flooding and landslides in the south displaced some 36,000 people in Fujian and killed at least oneContinue reading “China Floods, Heatwave, Persecution”