Bangladesh to lift Rohingya internet ban as anniversary nears
Dhaka, BangladeshThomson Reuters Foundation Bangladesh will lift internet restrictions imposed on nearly a million Rohingya refugees, a senior official said on Monday, ahead of the third anniversary of their exodus from Myanmar. The Bangladesh Government has been under pressure from the United Nations and aid groups to end the restrictions over fears they are hampering […]
WHO says 172 countries engaging with global COVID-19 vaccine plan
Geneva, Switzerland/London, UKReuters Some 172 countries are engaging with the COVAX facility designed to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, the World Health Organization said on Monday, but more funding is needed and countries need now to make binding commitments. Countries wishing to be part of the global COVAX plan have until 31st August to […]
Survey says US college students learn less about religion
New York City, USAP US college students spend significant time learning about people of different races, political affiliations and sexual orientations and much less time learning about people of different religious and worldview groups, according to a new study released Monday. The Interfaith Diversity Experiences and Attitudes Longitudinal Survey study surveyed 3,486 college students from […]
Explainer: Reaching herd immunity in a viral pandemic
Sydney, AustraliaReuters The novel coronavirus pandemic has brought “herd immunity” to the public consciousness, kindling hope the phenomenon can help slow or even end the outbreak. Herd immunity refers to a large portion of a community developing a degree of immunity to a virus, thereby reducing person-to-person spread. As a result, the whole community gains […]
Australia’s Victoria state reports lowest rise in COVID-19 cases in seven weeks
Sydney, AustraliaReuters The Australian state of Victoria reported its lowest daily rise in new coronavirus infections in seven weeks on Monday, fuelling optimism that a deadly second wave there is subsiding. Victoria on Monday reported 116 cases and 15 deaths from the virus in the past 24 hours, down from a peak of more than […]
“Life or death”: Baking US cities legislate for air conditioning
CAREY L BIRON, writing for Thomson Reuters Foundation, reports on how US cities are moving to response to extreme heat…
Caribbean Indigenous people return to roots as COVID-19 shrinks tourism
Bogota, ColombiaThomson Reuters Foundation Indigenous cultures in the Caribbean, struggling as their tourism-dependent economies are ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic, are returning to traditional farming and fishing roots for their livelihoods, local experts said last week. Being forced to look to older, more organic ways of survival can be a silver lining within the devastation […]
Essay: On the dangers of mixing faith and partisan politics
Rev TIM COSTELLO looks at how the fear of secularism is driving support for conservative politics in the US – and elsewhere…
Essay: Another mutiny turned coup – Mali is no stranger to military unrest
In an article first published on The Conversation, US-based academics CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL FAULKNER, JACLYN JOHNSON, JONATHAN POWELL and REBECCA SCHIEL look at the situation in Mali and what the country’s history shows us…
Postcards: With closed churches, open beaches, California surfer ministry hits the waves
LIZA VANDENBOOM, writing for Religion Unplugged, reports on how a Californian ministry to surfers has returned to the water as coronavirus restructions have eased…