USA: pray for peace in Baltimore
A Baltimore police officer has been acquitted of assault and other charges in the arrest of Freddie Gray, a young black man who died a week after he was critically injured in police custody. A judge found Officer Edward Nero not guilty of misconduct in office and reckless endangerment. He announced his verdict on Monday. Nero was one of six Baltimore police officers charged in the case. He waived his right to a jury trial, opting instead to argue his case himself. An earlier trial for an officer charged with manslaughter in the case ended in a hung jury in December. Gray's death about a year ago led to protests and rioting in the city and fuelled the Black Lives Matter movement. See:
Egypt: air crash investigations continue
European companies are being hired to find EgyptAir 804’s flight recorders, which are the best chance of finding out what happened on the flight from Paris to Cairo. Egyptian authorities believe terrorism is a more likely explanation than equipment failure for the crash last week. So far no hard evidence has emerged. Debris including life vests, personal belongings, parts of wreckage and small fragments of human remains have been found. Officials in Cairo are trying to identify and match them to victims. Families of the victims have nearly completed giving DNA samples to help with the grim task. Pray for the teams investigating the crash, particularly the forensics department trying to match DNA to family members. Pray for the families in mourning visiting the morgue to give samples. Pray for the Egyptian submarine and for the ships and planes from Britain, Cyprus, France, Greece and the United States taking part in the search.
Ramadan: 1.7 billion fasting and praying Muslims from 7 June
Muslims welcome Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, as a period of fasting, self-evaluation and spiritual growth. 1.7 billion people (25% of the Earth’s population) will pray and fast during daylight hours. In the UK, that is nineteen hours a day. Muslims everywhere are encouraged to be devout in prayer, read the Quran and practise kindness to the people around them. Muslim believers are the majority in 49 countries, which makes Islam a huge part of the world; the effects of the fast are so great that they affect the global economy. During Ramadan, Muslims worldwide will seek blessing on their lives and families and peace for those in their communities. During this time, the Church can be praying for Muslims, particularly for practising Muslim refugees, many of whom are homeless, without possessions, needing refuge, seeking ‘spiritual relief’ in their brokenness.
Canada: update on fire disaster
Many are calling it the worst natural disaster in Canada's history: a mammoth inferno sweeping across the northern regions. At the time of writing, 26 May, fire conditions are high to extreme, Fort McMurray remains out of control, and fire covers 566,188 hectares. Fifteen different wildfires are burning. Firefighters are conducting controlled burns to limit potential flare-ups later. There are 2,054 firefighters, 88 helicopters, 256 pieces of heavy equipment and 25 air tankers currently battling the fires. Wildfire crews from across the world are supporting Canada’s efforts. The forecast for today is 22 Celsius, humidity 30%, with a possibility of thundershowers on Thursday or Friday. Pray for rain. Pray for firefighters and their families. Pray for the safe re-entry of residents to burnt-out areas. Pray for those organising and receiving temporary housing support. Pray for the information centres being set up throughout the region to offer resources for returning residents.
