Papua New Guinea faces coronavirus crisis as infections rise
Sydney, AustraliaReuters The Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea is facing a fresh wave of COVID-19 infections around the capital Port Moresby, which neighbouring Australia and aid groups fear could overwhelm the country’s small and overstretched health system. The Pacific Friends of Global Health warned if health services are overwhelmed by COVID-19 the treatment […]
This Life: Pray and be transformed by His peace
US columnist CAROL ROUND, in an article first published on ASSIST News Service, says prayer does make a difference…
Vatican says church cannot bless same-sex unions
Vatican CityReuters The Vatican said on Monday that priests cannot bless same-sex unions and that such blessings are not valid, in a ruling that greatly disappointed gay Catholics who had hoped their church was becoming more welcoming under Pope Francis. In some countries, such as the United States and Germany, parishes and ministers have begun […]
“Don’t panic”: WHO says after widespread suspension of AstraZenaca vaccine
Reuters The World Health Organisation on Monday urged countries not to panic as several nations halted the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. The WHO appealed to countries not to suspend vaccinations against a disease that has caused more than 2.7 million deaths worldwide. WHO Director-General Tedros said systems were in place to protect public […]
Military tightens grip, death toll among anti-coup protesters rises as Myanmar seethes
Reuters Myanmar security forces shot dead at least 20 pro-democracy protesters on Monday, an activist group said, and the military junta imposed martial law in parts of the main city Yangon, giving commanders wide powers to stamp out dissent. Supporters of detained elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi took to the streets again despite the […]
Black-clad women rally in Australia to demand gender violence justice
Canberra/Melbourne, AustraliaReuters Tens of thousands of women gathered outside Australia’s parliament and across the country on Monday, calling for gender equality and justice for victims of sexual assault. The March 4 Justice rallies were spurred by a recent wave of allegations of sexual abuse, discrimination and misconduct in some of Australia’s highest political offices. […]
Immigrant facing deportation leaves US church sanctuary
Amherst, Massachusetts, USAP A Guatemalan man has left the Massachusetts church he lived in for more than three years to avoid deportation after being granted a reprieve from federal immigration officials. Lucio Perez stepped out of the First Congregational Church in Amherst on Saturday. Rev Margaret Sawyer, of the Pioneer Valley Workers Center, a local […]
Explainer: What’s driving a possible boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics?
AP Some kind of boycott is almost sure to affect next year’s Beijing Winter Olympics. It’s driven by the widely reported internment of Muslim Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in China, which has been termed a genocide by human rights groups. In this 3rd February, file photo, exiled Tibetans use the Olympic Rings as a […]
Malala Yousafzai says educate girls to fight climate change
London, UKThomson Reuters Foundation Keeping girls in school and taking young climate leaders seriously are keys to tackling climate change, Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai said on Friday. Speaking to a virtual panel, Malala, 23, said educating girls and young women, particularly in developing countries, would give them a chance to pursue green jobs […]
Sri Lanka to ban burqas, close over 1,000 Islamic schools
Colombo, Sri LankaAP Sri Lanka on Saturday announced plans to ban the wearing of burqas and said it would close more than 1,000 Islamic schools known as madrassas, citing national security. Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekara said he signed a paper on Friday seeking the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers to ban burqas […]