At least six killed in attack on church in Burkina Faso
At least six people have been killed in an attack on a church in northern Burkina Faso, close to the country’s border with Mali. Gunmen, who arrived on motorbikes, opened fire as people were leaving the Protestant church following the end of the Sunday service in the village of Silgadji, reportedly killing the pastor, his […]
Sri Lanka on alert for attacks as Archbishop slams poor church security
Updated 10:15pmColombo, Sri LankaReuters Sri Lankan security officials have warned that Islamist militants behind Easter Sunday’s suicide bombings are planning attacks and could be dressed in uniform, as the Archbishop of Colombo complained about insufficient security around churches. The militants were targeting five locations for attacks on Sunday just passed or on Monday, security sources […]
Right-wing politics, social media fuel anti-woman violence – EU commissioner
New York CityThomson Reuters Foundation Attempts to end violence against women and girls in the European Union are being stymied by a mix of right-wing politics and social media that inflames sexism and stereotypes, a top women’s rights official said last week. Scant progress has been made in reducing gender-based violence despite legislation, education campaigns, […]
Mexico plans special minimum wage for domestic workers in drive to curb abuse
Monterrey, MexicoThomson Reuters Foundation Mexico’s government is planning to introduce a specific minimum wage for its 2 million domestic workers in a drive to boost their labour rights after years of neglect, a official said. Activists, academics, and government officials met this week to discuss fixing a unique minimum wage for the workers in a country where the […]
Pope appeals for evacuation of refugees in Libya as fighting escalates
Pope Francis has called for the safe evacuation of refugees being held in detention camps in Libya as fighting in the north African nation continues to escalate. Speaking to crowds in St Peter’s Square on Sunday, the Pope reportedly said the situation for the refugees, while already “very serious”, had become “even more dangerous due to […]
LAND RIGHTS: “BETTER TO KILL US” – ETHIOPIAN RESIDENTS FEAR EVICTIONS FROM SATELLITE TOWNS
TOM GARDNER reports for Thomson Reuters Foundation on an Ethiopian community’s fight against eviction…
Trump pulling US out of UN arms treaty, heeding NRA
Indianapolis, USReuters President Donald Trump told the National Rifle Association on Friday he was pulling the United States out of an international arms treaty signed in 2013 by then-President Barack Obama but opposed by the NRA and other conservative groups. Trump told members of the gun lobby at an annual meeting he intends to revoke […]
ESSAY: FREEDOM DAY IN SOUTH AFRICA – A REMINDER OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS
In an article first published on The Conversation to mark South Africa’s Freedom Day on 27th April, HENNING MELBER, of the University of Pretoria, looks at inequality in the southernmost African nation…
THIS LIFE: TAKE UP YOUR CROSS
In an article first published on ASSIST News Service, US columnist CAROL ROUND, in light of Easter’s recent passing, looks at what it means to take up our cross…
From Malaysia to Mauritius, UK aid funds six global anti-slavery projects
LondonThomson Reuters Foundation From sexually exploited girls in Ethiopia to migrant workers in Malaysia and Mauritius, Britain on Friday pledged £4 million to support global anti-slavery projects. Six organisations, such as charity Anti-Slavery International and the United Nations University, a research institution, will share the aid money from The Modern Slavery Innovation Fund. Rukmani Rajhansiya, […]