Orthodox Church blasts posters of doctors as saints in Romania
Bucharest, RomaniaAP Romania’s Orthodox Church on Wednesday criticised a billboard campaign showing doctors dealing with the coronavirus epidemic as saints with halos shaped like the virus. According to a church spokesman, the “blasphemous” campaign created by international advertising agency McCann Worldgroup in conjunction with local artist Wanda Hutira is “a visual abuse of Christian iconography.” […]
COVID-19 complication seen in children is “rare”, WHO says; spread latest
Geneva, SwitzerlandReuters The “vast majority” of children with COVID-19 have mild cases and recover completely, but a small number in a few countries have developed a rare inflammatory syndrome, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday. Italian and British medical experts are investigating a possible link between the coronavirus pandemic and clusters of severe inflammatory […]
Murders of women in Mexico rise amid fears of lockdown violence
Mexico City, MexicoThomson Reuters Foundation Almost 1,000 women were murdered in Mexico in the first three months of this year, according to government data, showing a spike in violence that combined with coronavirus lockdown measures, advocates say, puts women in double jeopardy. The rate was eight per cent higher than in the same period last year, according […]
One in three Americans found losing work, income due to coronavirus
New York City, USThomson Reuters Foundation Almost one-third of Americans have lost work or income due to the coronavirus, especially low-income earners, by getting fired, laid off or having their hours cut, research showed on Monday. Gallup, a US-based polling company, found 30 per cent of adults in America – a nation with nearly 256 […]
Aggressive testing to underpin France’s coronavirus lockdown exit
Paris, FranceReuters France will adopt an aggressive doctrine on COVID-19 testing from 11th May so that it can slowly unwind its lockdown and avoid economic meltdown, its Prime Minister said on Tuesday, warning that citizens have to be disciplined to avoid a new outbreak. The government has set itself a goal of carrying out at […]
Care in a time of coronavirus: Medical respite tackles “time bomb” among US homeless
CAREY L BIRON, of Thomson Reuters Foundation, reports on the key role respite programs are playing in helping the homeless in the US during the coronavirus outbreak – and the “painful lessons” they’re confronting…
List India as top religious freedom violator, says US watchdog group
RNS India, which recently passed legislation that experts say is detrimental to Muslims, should be placed on the US Government’s list of most egregious religious freedom violators, a watchdog agency says in its new report. The Citizenship Amendment Act, passed in December by the Parliament in majority-Hindu India, violates religious freedom especially for Muslims, said the […]
More than $US400,000 so far raised for small US churches at risk during COVID-19
RNS An initiative that seeks to financially help small and struggling churches in the wake of COVID-19 has raised more than $US400,000 and received nearly 1,000 applications for funding. Through the Churches Helping Churches Initiative, a relief fund was set up to provide $US3,000 grants to churches at risk of closing due to a decrease in financial […]
Essay: Responding to COVID-19 is a marathon, not a sprint
US Catholic commentator THOMAS REESE, in an article first published by Religion News Service, says we should be taking the long view on the COVID-19 pandemic…
Coronavirus to have “catastrophic” impact on women with domestic abuse up 20 per cent
London, UK/New York City, USThomson Reuters Foundation The coronavirus lockdown could lead to a 20 per cent surge in domestic violence as victims remain trapped at home with their abusers, the United Nations predicted on Tuesday, warning the pandemic will have a “catastrophic impact” on women. Tens of millions of women may be unable to […]