Global downturn looms as countries struggle to contain coronavirus outbreak
Geneva, Switzerland/Beijing, ChinaReuters The coronavirus spread further on Friday, with cases reported for the first time in at least six countries across four continents, battering markets and leading the World Health Organization to raise its impact risk alert to “very high”. Hopes that the epidemic that started in China late last year would be over […]
New Zealand’s PM says Australia’s deportation policy is “corrosive”
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Australia’s deportation policy is so “corrosive” that it has soured its bilateral relationship with New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Friday, a rare bust-up between the two historic allies. Australia’s conservative government has in recent months moved to deport thousands of foreigners convicted of crimes as part of an immigration crackdown […]
SNAPSHOT: SRI LANKA’S TUK TUK RALLY
See the image from DIMITRI CRUSZ of Red Bull Media House…
MUSIC: ‘GO’, A RETRO ROCK ALBUM FROM THE VOICE OF PETRA
MARCUS CHEONG listens to John Schlitt’s new solo project…
Soundbite – The TCM Update: The success of “heritage acts”
‘Heritage act’ Rosanna’s Raiders Listen to this week’s TCM Update…
Crowdfunding campaign helps Indian slavery survivors rebuild lives
Chennai, IndiaThomson Reuters Foundation Indian trafficking survivors are using crowdfunding to help cover their legal costs, pay for public awareness campaigns and enable them to become more self-reliant. In a rare move, the India Leaders Forum Against Trafficking, an umbrella organisation of 11 survivor groups from across the country, raised more than 500,000 Indian rupees […]
Pay more tax to fight climate change? British district puts it to the vote
London, UKThomson Reuters Foundation A British district has said it will ask residents whether they would be willing to pay more tax to help it become carbon neutral by 2030, in a first-of-its-kind referendum. Warwick District Council wants to raise an extra £3 million a year to pay for green measures including energy-efficient social housing […]
THE INTERVIEW: REV DAVID KENNEDY, SOUTH CAROLINA MINISTER WHO FOUGHT KLAN SHOP AND PREACHES LOVE NOW DEPICTED IN MOVIE
ADELLE M BANKS, of Religion News Service, speaks to Rev David Kennedy, the real-life person behind a main character in the new movie ‘Burden’…
Coronavirus outbreak in Italy challenges Lenten celebrations
Vatican CityRNS As parts of northern Italy are under curfew and quarantined amid growing coronavirus concerns, Catholic priests in the region look for new and creative ways to administer Mass in the days leading up to Lent. Catholic dioceses from the Italian cities of Milan and Venice have asked their priests not to say Mass […]
ESSAY: SEVEN LESSONS FROM ‘HIDDEN FIGURES’ NASA MATHEMATICIAN KATHERINE JOHNSON’S LIFE AND CAREER
In an article first published on The Conversation, DELLA DUMBAUGH, professor of mathematics at the University of Richmond in the US, reflects on the life of Katherine John, who died this month at the age of 101…