‘It’s going to bear a lot of weight on governments, on agencies, on the churches,’ says survivor WARNING: This story contains distressing details It’s about time. That was the response from a residential school survivor in Winnipeg on Pope Francis’s unqualified use of the word genocide to describe what happened to Indigenous Peoples forced to attend the schools in Canada. “It’s about time that they use these kind of words to describe what happened to our people. It’s about time that we’re saying words that have meaning and truth,” saidRead more

Cleric’s supporters object to Iran-backed parties leading efforts to form next government Thousands of followers of an influential Shia cleric breached Iraq’s parliament on Saturday, the second time this week, protesting government formation efforts led by his rivals, an alliance of Iran-backed groups. The alliance called for counter-protests, raising the spectre of civil strife. Iraqi security forces initially used tear gas and sound bombs to try to repel the demonstrators, causing several injuries. Once inside, the protesters declared an open-ended sit-in and claimed they would not disperse until their demands were answered. As the number ofRead more

It could take weeks to find all the victims of the record flash flooding, says governor At least 25 people died — including four children — when torrential rains swamped towns across Appalachia, Kentucky’s governor said Saturday. “We continue to pray for the families that have suffered an unfathomable loss,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “Some having lost almost everyone in their household.” Beshear said the number would likely rise significantly and it could take weeks to find all the victims of the record flash flooding. Rescue crews continue the struggleRead more

Drone explosion hits Russia’s Black Sea fleet headquarters in Crimea, governor says The possibility of the first grain-exporting ship leaving Ukraine’s ports on Monday is high, a spokesperson for President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday. Speaking in an interview with broadcaster Kanal 7, Ibrahim Kalin said the joint co-ordination centre in Istanbul will probably complete the final work on the exporting routes very soon. An agreement signed under the stewardship of the UN and Turkey on July 22 aims to allow safe passage for ships carrying grain out of three southernRead more

Blaze burning out of control in Northern California’s Klamath National Forest Crews battling the largest wildfire so far this year in California braced for thunderstorms and hot, windy conditions that created the potential for additional fire growth Sunday as they sought to protect remote communities. The McKinney Fire was burning out of control in Northern California’s Klamath National Forest, with expected thunderstorms a big concern Sunday just south of the Oregon state line, said U.S. Forest Service spokesperson Adrienne Freeman. “The fuel beds are so dry and they can justRead more