OPEN BOOK – THE PRISONER’S LETTER: A CALLING TO A DIFFERENT LIFE
BRUCE C WEARNE looks at the first few verses of Ephesians, chapter four…
ON THE SCREEN: ‘THE RISE OF SKYWALKER’ BRINGS THE STAR WARS STORY TO A FITTING END
DAVID ADAMS reviews the last of the nine Star Wars films…
Tajik pastor freed after three years in prison for “singing extremist songs in church”
World Watch Monitor A Protestant pastor sentenced to three years in prison for “singing extremist songs in church and so inciting religious hatred” has been freed three months early (he was due to be freed in March, 2020). Bakhrom Kholmatov, 42, was sentenced in July, 2017, and has served his term in a prison in […]
Australian firefighters die as flames circle Sydney; Prime Minister cuts short holiday
Updated: 10.15amSydney, AustraliaReuters Two volunteer Australian firefighters died while battling blazes around Sydney, authorities said on Friday, forcing Prime Minister Scott Morrison to cut short a vacation in Hawaii as temperatures were again set to soar. Australia has been fighting wildfires across much of its east coast for weeks, leaving 8 people dead, more than […]
Pope denounces “torture, slavery” in Libyan migrant camps
Vatican CityReuters Pope Francis called for the closing of migrant detention camps in Libya on Thursday, saying they were rife with torture and slavery. Francis, who has made defence of migrants and refugees a key part of his pontificate, made his comments in to a group of refugees, including women and children, brought to Italy […]
GREENSIGHT: THE ‘SHIQMAH’ OR SYCAMORE
ALVIN JOHNSON looks at the sycamore tree – famous for being the tree Zaccheaus climbed to see Christ in Gospel accounts…
Explainer: What is a Queen’s Speech and why does it matter for Britain?
London, UK, Reuters Britain’s Queen Elizabeth will make a speech in parliament on Thursday, announcing Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s legislative agenda after his election win last week. What is Queen’s Speech?It is used by the government to lay out plans for the coming year and typically lists the main priorities and legislation the government aims […]
Backlash against migrant workers in Asia-Pacific sparks slavery concerns
Bangkok, ThailandThomson Reuters Foundation Public support for migrant workers in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand is decreasing, a United Nations poll found on Wednesday that campaigners said raised concerns about the risk of slavery. Most people in the three nations have limited knowledge about and increasingly negative attitudes towards migrant workers, and do not think they […]
“You have to fight”: For women refugees, finding work is doubly hard
Geneva, SwitzerlandThomson Reuters Foundation In the 25 years since she was forced to leave her homeland, Congolese refugee Jacqueline Zandamela has built up her own fashion business and raised four children alone after she was widowed in 2001. It has not been easy. Two women visit the second job fair for migrants and refugees in […]
In historic moment, US House impeaches Donald Trump for abuse of power, obstruction
Updated 2.10pm (AEST)Washington DC, USReuters Donald Trump on Wednesday became the third US president to be impeached as the House of Representatives formally charged him with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in a historic step that will inflame partisan tensions across a deeply divided America. The Democratic-led House’s passage of two articles of […]