IRAQ NOW ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES ON EARTH FOR CHILDREN WITH ONE IN FIVE AT “GREAT RISK”, SAYS UNICEF REPORT
One in five Iraqi children – 3.6 million – is at “great risk” of death, injury, sexual violence, abduction and recruitment into armed groups while one out of every three – 4.7 million – are in need of humanitarian aid as military operations around Fallujah and Mosul continue to create deteriorating living conditions, according to […]
VERDICT POSTPONED ON MALATYA MURDERS IN TURKEY
Turkish Christians are disappointed that no verdict was given on 28th June in a long-standing, nine-year murder trial following the killing of three Christians in Malatya in 2007. Court officials said that a verdict would be given, but the trial was adjourned until 28th September. Necati Aydin, Ugur Yuksel and Tilmann Geske were murdered on […]
ANGLICAN PRIMATE OF AUSTRALIA HIGHLIGHTS SOCIAL CHALLENGES FACING COMMUNITIES AHEAD OF FEDERAL ELECTION
The Anglican Primate of Australia and Archbishop of Melbourne, Philip Freier, has released a series of three short videos highlighting the social challenges facing some of Australia’s communities ahead of the federal election on Saturday. Archbishop Freier argues in the videos that Australia cannot separate economic and social challenges but must produce policies that help people […]
MORE THAN A THIRD OF SOUTH SUDAN’S POPULATION FACE SEVERE FOOD SHORTAGES, WARN UN AGENCIES
More than a third of South Sudan’s population are facing severe food shortages in the coming months – the highest level of food insecurity the country has seen since conflict broke out there two-and-a-half years ago, according to UN agencies. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World […]
CHRISTIAN LEADERS CONDEMN TURKEY AIRPORT ATTACK AS DEATH TOLL PASSES 40
Christian leaders have condemned the terrorist attack on Istanbul’s main international airport this week as the death toll rose to at least 41 with some 239 more people injured. Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, condemned the attack as an “odious crime”. “We pray for the victims and […]
DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH RETURNS TO WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
The Dutch Reformed Church – suspended from the World Council of Churches in 1962 because of its support of apartheid – has again become a member of the world churches body. The move was announced at a meeting of the WCC’s central committee in Norway this month. Other new members of the WCC announced at the […]
AT LEAST 36 DEAD IN ATTACK ON ISTANBUL AIRPORT
At least 36 people have been killed and scores more wounded following an attack on the main international airport in Istanbul – the latest in a series of attacks in Turkey’s capital in recent months. Three suicide bombers reportedly attacked at the airport, reportedly opening fire with guns before they detonated their explosives. Turkish President […]
IRANIAN CHRISTIAN AGAIN FORCED TO RETURN TO PRISON BEFORE THE END OF MEDICAL TREATMENT
Iranian Christian Maryam Naghash Zargaran has for the second time been sent back to prison before her medical treatment could be completed, after the prosecutor’s office refused to extend her medical leave. On 6th June, she had been granted temporary release from prison, but on 19th June the authorities demanded she return. Her family applied […]
POPE FRANCIS SAYS CHRISTIANS AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SHOULD APOLOGISE TO GAY PEOPLE
Christians and the Catholic Church should apologise to gay people and other people it has offended – including the poor and exploited women and children – for the way it has treated them, Pope Francis said over the weekend. In a wide-ranging interview conducted on a plane as he returned from a trip to Armenia, […]
CONCERNS MOUNT OVER KIDNAPPED CATHOLIC AID WORKER IN AFGHANISTAN
An abducted Catholic aid worker from India remained missing in Afghanistan last week despite fresh appeals for her release. Judith D’Souza, 40, was reportedly kidnapped in the capital Kabul on 9th June by a crime group who specialise in abducting foreign nationals. “So far there is no news of her whereabouts. But we are happy […]