Pope calls for commitment to care for others
Vatican CityAP Pope Francis said he was very saddened that some people during COVID-19 pandemic holiday lockdowns managed to slip away on vacations while so many are suffering economic problems or are ill. During noon prayer remarks Sunday at the Vatican, Francis said that “we don’t know what 2021 has in store for us”. But, […]
Sight-Seeing: Revisiting ‘The Last Battle’- CS Lewis’ Narnia tale for our times
BOB SMIETANA, of Religion News Service, looks at the lessons from the last book in CS Lewis’ Narnia series, ‘The Last Battle’…
Prelate blocked for months by Belarus resigns Minsk post
Vatican CityAP Pope Francis on Sunday accepted the resignation of Minsk’ Archbishop who had been blocked for months by Belarusian authorities from returning to his homeland after criticising a crackdown on anti-government protesters there. Monsignor Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, in charge of the Minsk-Mohilev diocese, had only returned to Belarus on 24th December, just in time to […]
Updated: Pastor dead, two hurt in shooting at Texas church – sheriff
Updated: 5.30pm (AEDT)Winona, TexasAP A 21-year-old man who hid from police in an East Texas church was charged with first-degree murder and felony assault in a shooting that left the pastor dead and two other people injured Sunday, a local sheriff said. Authorities had been using dogs and drones to search for the man late […]
India approves two COVID-19 vaccines; US death toll passes 350,000; UK looks to more onerous restrictions
New Delhi, IndiaAP India authorised two COVID-19 vaccines on Sunday, paving the way for a huge inoculation program to stem the coronavirus pandemic in the world’s second-most populous country. India’s drugs regulator gave an emergency authorization for the vaccines developed by Oxford University and UK-based drugmaker AstraZeneca and another developed by the Indian company Bharat […]
How can the world boost efforts to end child labour in 2021?
Thomson Reuters Foundation The world is set to boost efforts to stop children working as 2021 marks the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour, amid concerns that COVID-19 has fuelled the practice. The resolution by the 193-member United Nations General Assembly aims to increase awareness and spur action to end child labour worldwide by […]
Islamist militants executed five Christian men after kidnapping in Nigeria over Christmas – reports
Islamist militants executed five Christian men in Nigeria, according to reports. The five, whose deaths were claimed by the Islamic State West Africa Province – a group which splintered off from Boko Haram in 2016, were reportedly among 11 people kidnapped on Christmas Day from thir homes in the north-eastern town of Garkida. In a 49 […]