Iranian opposition activist executed, as hangings surge

AN IRANIAN opposition activist was executed on Sunday. Gholamreza Khosravi Savadjani was arrested in 2008 and convicted of supporting the People's Mojahedin Organisation of Iran, an opposition group. He was later sentenced to death after being convicted of "enmity against God". The UN has warned of a "staggering" surge in executions in Iran (News, 14 March).
 

Invasion of church leaves 15 dead

AN ATTACK on a church in the Central African Republic has left at least 15 people dead. On Wednesday, Muslim fighters, firing machine guns, invaded Notre-Dame de Fatima in the capital, Bangui, where thousands of people were seeking refuge. In an apparent retaliation the following day, a mosque was destroyed. On Tuesday, Médecins Sans Frontières reported that it had evacuated staff fromm Ndélé after suffering attacks.
 

Bishop Venables 'bruised and battered', but grateful to God

THE Bishop of Argentina, the Most Revd Gregory Venables, said he was "bruised, battered, but better than ever" last week, after being attacked by robbers in his home in Buenos Aires. On 25 May, he and his wife surprised the gang in the act of burgling their house. He wrote on Facebook: "They beat and tied me up, but didn't hurt Sylvia. Having spent an hour ransacking the house and removing everything of value, they left. It could have been much worse, and God's presence was unmistakable and tangible to us."