US toughens ban on “abhorrent” female genital mutilation
Thomson Reuters Foundation The United States has toughened its ban on the “abhorrent practice” of female genital mutilation in a move campaigners hope will bolster efforts to end an ancient rite forced on millions of girls worldwide. The United States had already outlawed the widely condemned ritual, which dates back more than 2,000 years, but […]
Sight-Seeing: The simple, yet difficult, way of loving people as Jesus does
NILS VON KALM argues that too many Christians have become too focused on intellectual assent to a list of beliefs than living out the love of Christ…
Australia reviewing funds transfers after Vatican seeks clarification
Vatican CityReuters Australia’s financial watchdog is reviewing its calculation that transfers worth $US1.8 billion had been sent to the country from the Vatican since 2014, after Vatican and Australian Church calls for clarification. A senior Vatican official and an Australian bishop told Reuters last week they had no knowledge of the transfers and would be […]
Poorer countries could start getting COVID vaccines this month – WHO
Zurich, SwitzerlandReuters Poorer nations could start receiving COVID-19 vaccines as soon as this month from a World Health Organization-backed program aiming to divvy up shots fairly to help end the pandemic, WHO immunisation director Kate O’Brien said on Thursday. The COVAX facility has raised $US6 billion of the $US7 billion that it has sought in […]
US Catholic leaders, progressive and conservative, condemn the violence at the Capitol; Faith groups join calls for impeachment
Vatican CItyRNS Progressive and conservative Catholic leaders condemned the storming of the Capitol, calling the mob’s actions on Wednesday “sinful” and “appalling,” while reminding Catholic faithful “this is not who we are as Americans”. “We Americans should honor the place where our nation’s laws and policies are debated and decided,” said Cardinal Wilton Gregory, the […]
US Congress certifies Biden win hours after harrowing Capitol Hill assault
Washington DC, USReuters Hours after hundreds of President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the US Capitol in a harrowing assault on American democracy, a shaken Congress on Thursday formally certified Democrat Joe Biden’s election victory. Immediately after the certification, the White House released a statement from Trump in which he pledged an “orderly transition” on 20th […]
Explainer: Can Trump be removed from office before his term ends on 20th January?
Reuters The storming of the US Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump on Wednesday has prompted calls by some lawmakers to remove him from office before President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in on 20th January. The chaotic scenes unfolded after Republican Trump, who has refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power, addressed […]
Updated: Under heavy guard, Congress back to work after Trump supporters storm US Capitol
Updated: 5.30pm (AEDT)Washington DC, USReuters Hundreds of President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday in a stunning bid to overturn his election defeat, battling police in the hallways and delaying the certification of Democratic President-elect Joe Biden’s victory for hours. In the gravest assault on the symbol of American democracy in more […]
Australia says COVID-19 vaccinations likely to begin February
Canberra/Sydney, AustraliaReuters Australia is on course to begin administering the first COVID-19 vaccines in February, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday, as the country moves to accelerate its inoculation program as two states try to contain outbreaks. Morrison said Australia’s pharmaceutical regulator is expected to approve the use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine by the […]
GreenSight: The ‘egoz’ or walnut
ALVIN JOHNSON looks at where the walnut is mentioned in the Bible…