New York air pollution is ‘hazardous’, in the Very Unhealthy category, with no end in sight for the thick smoke pouring south from more than 400 Canadian wildfires. At least 13 US states have air quality alerts issued, impacting approximately 115 million people. Experts said the pollution could persist into the weekend. There have been mass evacuations in Quebec province. Canadian officials warned that this could be the country’s worst wildfire season on record, with over 6.7 million acres already scorched. By 8 June hundreds of uncontrolled forest fires were threatening Canada’s critical infrastructure and forcing evacuations. Wildfires are common in Canada’s western provinces, but this year they rapidly spread east. About 9.4m acres have already burned. Canada’s wildfires are part of our new climate reality.

As gun violence increases and shootings make headlines every few days, the fear of getting caught in one is changing the lives of millions of Americans. The shops, the schoolroom, the teenager's house party have all suffered mass shootings in recent weeks. It feels as if it could happen anywhere. 60% of adults have talked to their children or other relatives about gun safety, according to a survey by an organisation focused on health policy. Gun violence has caused some to uproot their lives and move to a different neighbourhood or city. As it has worsened, there has been a surge in demand for bulletproof backpacks for children, says the owner of a self-defence item manufacturing company. Pray for more psychiatric help to be available for children growing up in areas where gunshots are frequently heard. Pray for all schools to have a wise safety plan and provide medical training for staff.

Faulty electronic signalling caused India’s worst train crash in two decades, killing over 300 people and injuring 1,100, many seriously. It happened when a passenger train hit a stationary freight train and another passenger train. The trains were carrying 2,296 people. A hundred unidentified bodies, still in mortuaries without refrigeration, are being embalmed. See  The railway ministry wants India’s top detective agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to investigate the crash: it usually investigates high profile criminal causes such as serious financial fraud and murder. The railway minister said the root cause of the accident and people responsible for a ‘criminal act’ were identified. Pray for those still searching for their loved ones and those mourning the dead. Pray for healing of emotional and physical wounds. The government wants the British colonial-era railroad network modernised, but despite efforts to improve safety, several hundred accidents occur every year.

Mainstream Americans, including many Christians, are speaking out against retail giant Target’s Pride Collection for 2023. Its LGBTQ+ clothing, celebrating Pride Month, includes onesies for infants featuring pro-LGBTQ content. One onesie includes the text ‘Being Proud’, while another features what appear to be LGBT rainbows and hearts with the transgender flag colours. Target is also selling children’s books with the LGBTQ theme, including ‘Bye-Bye Binary’ and ‘What Are Your Words’, which tells kids how to use transgender pronouns. Some products for kids also appear to feature drag queens, according to products sold on the company’s website. Target sells adult ‘tuck-friendly’ swimwear, for transgenders who are biological males, and have upped the ante by targeting children with this obscene line, according to Christian apologist Michael Brown. Target also features the products of an overtly satanic, radical LGBTQ+ supplier. The company has lost $11 billion since a boycott over its pride merchandise.

Recently gunmen opened fire at a birthday party, killing at least four guests and injuring many. Two girl victims were severely hurt and on ventilators for weeks. Then during a live stream church broadcast Pastor Michael kept hearing the word ‘shooting’. He believed God wanted to heal someone injured in a shooting and began to pray, not knowing who he was praying for. Meanwhile an Alabama resident who had been interceding for the girls was watching the live stream. When Pastor Michael called out for the shooting victims God wanted to heal, she immediately shared the video. They agreed with his prayer and stood in the gap for the girls. The girls woke up the next day. One girl at once said, ‘Jesus’, and she started singing, ‘Jesus, do it for me.’ Then the second girl woke from her coma. Doctors were amazed, believing they would never recover. But with God, all things are possible.

Evangelist Daniel Kolenda’s Facebook post on 10 May stated: 11 crusades, 11 cities in Zambia in two weeks. 55 meetings, resulting in over one million documented decisions for Christ! Countless miracle healings! An entire nation shaken with the Gospel! In a YouTube video, Daniel shared, ‘Souls have been saved, healings have taken place, and hearts have been transformed through powerful corporate worship.’ In one testimony on GOD TV a man wheelchair bound for 13 years joined the crusade and was healed. He walked again. The evangelist said. ‘The power of God was felt by everyone as they witnessed the miracle of this man walking to the stage and leaving his wheelchair behind. God wants to save His lost children.’ May this good news remind us that God is alive. 

Heidi Crowter is a woman with Down's syndrome who has previously challenged legislation allowing foetuses with the syndrome to be aborted up until birth. But judges at the Court of Appeal decided the Abortion Act did not interfere with the rights of the living disabled. Heidi is taking her case to the European Court of Human Rights ‘because it is downright discrimination that people with disabilities are treated differently. Disabled people are valued equally after birth but not in the womb.’ In England, Wales and Scotland there is a 24-week time limit for abortion, unless there is a substantial risk that the child would suffer from physical or mental abnormalities, including Down's syndrome. If Heidi’s appeal is successful, it would not only have implications for the UK, it would set a legal precedent for all 46 member countries of the Council of Europe.

Hatun Tash, a Christian street evangelist who regularly preaches at Hyde Park's Speakers’ Corner, has raised concerns about freedom of speech in the UK after Edward Little, 21, pleaded guilty on 19 May to attempting to kill her. In September, police arrested him when they found him in possession of thousands of pounds in cash, intending to purchase a gun to murder Tash and her camera crew. He was apprehended before he could carry out his plan. In response to his admission of guilt, Tash said, ‘l am glad that the police were able to act and stop Mr Little before he harmed me and people around me. This should concern everyone in the UK. It shows that the teaching of Islam is not compatible with British values if it inspires men to attempt to murder Christian evangelists.’

An Afghan colonel who fought alongside British troops in Helmand province joint operations has been threatened with deportation to Rwanda. He was not helped in any way after Kabul fell to the Taliban, and recovering from a combat wound he fled to find safety. After journeying across 11 countries he reached the UK on a small boat last September. He has now received a notice of intent from the Home Office threatening him with deportation. While he was still in Afghanistan he applied to the Ministry of Defence’s resettlement scheme, known as Arap (the Afghan relocations and assistance policy). He received one follow-up call from a British official but heard nothing since. He is one of many Afghan veterans who had to use illegal routes to get to the UK due to restrictions and delays plaguing the government’s dedicated Afghan resettlement schemes.

Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, died in a bike crash in Cardiff. Shortly afterwards rumours spread across social media that they were being chased by the police when they crashed. The rumour spread like wildfire and sparked a riot. 150 masked vandals set vehicles alight and aimed missiles and fireworks at police, injuring 15. 12 were hospitalised. The clean-up operation will cost about £22,500. The vicar at the local church said, ‘I can't even begin to imagine the amount of pain and grief the family of Kyrees and Harvey will be feeling. It is absolutely vital that communication between the police and community is handled properly. This community is very difficult to police. We have some people who are very antagonistic towards police; a police presence anywhere will wind them up.’ May God’s peace fill the atmosphere in this community and for police enquiries to run smoothly. See