Europe

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife URK, NETHERLANDS (BosNewsLife)-- The Dutch town of Urk, known for its many churches and fishing traditions, says it will not dismiss public servants refusing to officiate at gay weddings, despite a draft law adopted by parliament forcing municipalities to fire registrars opposing same-sex marriage.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BRUSSELS/KIEV/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- The United States and the European Union have expressed caution about a new Ukraine peace agreement reached during talks in Minsk between the Russian, Ukrainian, French and German leaders. Thursday's accord includes a ceasefire starting Sunday, followed by the withdrawal of weapons, the establishment of a demilitarized zone and the exchange of prisoners.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife with reporting from Kyrgyzstan BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN (BosNewsLife)-- Christians in Kyrgyzstan continued praying and caring for injured survivors of their Central Asian nation's bloody uprising that killed at least 84 people, as gunfire interrupted a rally Thursday, April 15, of ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, witnesses and Christians said.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife

Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent reporting from Budapest

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- Amid a major global financial crisis, Eastern European governments were anxiously awaiting Thursday, January 29, if and when European Union funding will come for the Nabucco pipeline, in hopes of making Europe less dependent on Russian natural gas.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife SREBRENICA, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA (BosNewsLife)-- U.S. President Barack Obama has urged the world to mourn the loss of thousands of victims of Europe's worst massacre since World War Two, ahead of the 20th anniversary of the atrocity in the Bosnian town Srebrenica. "We can offer no solace that fully addresses the pain borne by the victims' families. But we must look back at Srebrenica with clear eyes, commemorate the tragedy, and learn from it," he said.

By BosNewsLife News Center TOULOUSE, FRANCE (BosNewsLife)-- The man held responsible for killing a rabbi and three young children at a Jewish school in France and three French paratroopers has died after jumping from a window while "shooting" at police, French authorities confirmed Thursday, March 22.  

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife with additional reporting by Charles Collins and Christopher Wells, Vatican Radio KYIV, UKRAINE (BosNewsLife)-- The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, whose denomination has been threatened with closure by authorities, appealed for peace Wednesday, February 19, after at least 25 people died and over 240 others were injured in the worst violence in Ukraine's post-independence history.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife reporting from Budapest BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- European Union monitors arrived in Kiev Friday, amid international pressure on Ukraine and Russia to settle their dispute over natural gas prices that has effected shipments to at least 20 countries.