Church body calls for release of Syrian bishops abducted five years ago
World Watch Monitor The World Council of Churches has called for the release of two Syrian archbishops kidnapped five years ago. “The Central Committee recalls with heavy hearts the abduction five years ago of the archbishops of Aleppo, Yohanna Ibrahim and Paul Yazigi,” the WCC said in a statement following a six-day meeting last week. “We […]
Rising disaster risk but little insurance interest in Pacific islands
Thomson Reuters Foundation Pacific island nations are some of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, yet only a handful have signed up to an insurance scheme that dispenses rapid payouts in a crisis – a situation experts hope to change. The United Nations says only about eight per cent of disaster losses are covered in the […]
Indian state’s ‘anti-conversion law’ to be repealed
World Watch Monitor Christian groups have welcomed a surprise announcement by a nationalist chief minister of a state in north-east India that he will ensure that a law preventing conversions from one faith to another is repealed. Pema Khandu, a Buddhist who heads the nationalist BJP-led state government in Arunachal Pradesh, told an audience of […]