UK PM Johnson makes final Brexit offer, draws guarded welcome from EU
Manchester, UKReuters British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a final Brexit offer to the European Union on Wednesday, pitching a possible compromise for a last-minute exit deal that was cautiously welcomed by the EU though the two sides still remain far apart. In what Johnson’s supporters cast as a moment of truth after more than […]
US blocks import of goods from five nations in rare anti-slavery crackdown
New York City, USThomson Reuters Foundation The United States has blocked the import of goods suspected to have been made with forced labor from five countries, including clothing from China and diamonds from Zimbabwe, officials said on Tuesday following a rare crackdown on slave labor abroad. The US Customs and Border Protection said it seized […]
Artist aims to show reality of modern slavery in UK with art show
LondonThomson Reuters Foundation A new exhibition opened in London on Tuesday, seeking to overturn the popular stereotype of women who have survived modern slavery as “abstract victims” and instead capture the challenge of rebuilding their lives. Syrian-born artist Sara Shamma worked with academics at King’s College London to interview female survivors for her Modern Slavery […]
Imprisoned Iranian pastor on hunger strike over bar on children’s education
Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, currently serving a 10 year prison sentence in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison for “acting against the national interest”, has gone on a hunger strike in protest at his children being prevented from continuing their education. UK-based religious freedom advocacy CSW report that Nadarkhani started the strike on 23rd September, the day his […]
STRANGESIGHTS: HOW TO AVOID CRYING INFANTS ON YOUR NEXT LONG-HAUL FLIGHT; GARLIC BREAD TASTER WANTED; AND, AMERICA’S “MOST MISERABLE” CITIES…
DAVID ADAMS writes about the odder side of life…
Indonesian President open to dialogue with Papuan separatists
Jakarta, IndonesiaReuters Indonesian President Joko Widodo has opened the door to holding talks with separatists in the restive easternmost region of Papua, a departure from the stance of previous governments and some of his cabinet ministers. The offer, which drew a cautious response from Papuan leaders, comes after seven weeks of violence triggered by racist […]
Ethiopians celebrate Meskel festival
Via World Council of Churches Ethiopians have celebrated the annual festival of the Meskel (which means “cross” in Amharic), marking the finding of the “true cross” on which Jesus Christ was supposedly crucified. The festival is one of the major religious celebrations of the Orthodox Church in the Horn of Africa country. The main national […]
VATICAN: POPE FRANCIS SHOWCASES COMMITMENT TO IMMIGRANTS WITH NEW STATUE
CLAIRE GIANGRAVÉ, of Religion News Service, reports from Vatican City where a new statue was unveiled this week – the first new artwork in St Peter’s Square in 400 years…
Brazil to build network of social workers to support slavery victims
Rio de Janeiro, BrazilThomson Reuters Foundation Brazil is aiming to build a network of social workers nationwide to support people rescued from modern slavery, and help prevent would-be victims from being trafficked, a top prosecutor said. The social workers would be primed to offer immediate post-rescue care to victims, and provide follow-up assistance such as […]
ESSAY: HOW WE CAN USE THE CURRENT CRISIS IN POLITICS AND CHRISTIANITY TO RECLAIM JESUS
In an excerpt from his latest book – ‘Christ in Crisis: Why We Need to Reclaim Jesus’, Sojourners’ founder Rev JIM WALLIS argues that the current crisis in the US represents an opportunity to reconnect to “the person and teachings of Jesus”…