Sri Lankan Cabinet approves proposed ban on burqas in public
Colombo, Sri LankaAP Sri Lanka’s Cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposed ban on wearing full-face veils including Muslim burqas in public, citing national security grounds, despite a UN expert’s comment that it would violate international law. The Cabinet approved the proposal by Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekera at its weekly meeting, Weerasekara said on his […]
“Nation is on fire”: Nigerian lawmakers demand action on security crisis
Abuja, NigeriaReuters Nigeria’s parliament called on the presidency, armed forces and police to address the country’s mounting security crisis on Tuesday, with the lower house urging President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency. The resolutions come as a wave of violence and lawlessness sweeps across Africa’s largest economy. Security forces, including the military […]
Health Insight: Walking workouts are great for heart, bone, and muscle health – and almost everyone can do it
In an article first published on The Conversation, BRADLEY ELLIOTT, a senior lecturer in physiology at the University of Westminster, looks at the benefits of walking…
Enraged relatives say neglect caused deadly Baghdad hospital fire
Baghdad, IraqReuters Fire extinguishers didn’t work. Outdated medical equipment was being used. The fire alarm system in the hospital was broken. These are the accusations being levelled by witnesses, medical staff, emergency response teams and those who lost loved ones in a fire at a COVID-19 hospital in Baghdad on Saturday that killed more than […]
US unveils $US310 million in Central America aid, as Guatemala agrees to work together on migration
Washington DC, US/GuatemalaReuters Vice President Kamala Harris unveiled an additional $US310 million in US aid to Central America after a virtual meeting with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei on Monday, as the two countries agreed to work together to control migration. President Joe Biden gave Harris the job of leading US efforts with Mexico and Central […]
Prominent Georgia church leaves United Methodist Church over pastor’s reassignment
RNS The largest United Methodist church in the Atlanta metropolitan region announced it is leaving the denomination over the reassignment of its lead pastor. Earlier this month, Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson reassigned Rev Jody Ray, pastor of Mt Bethel United Methodist Church in Marietta, Georgia, to a newly created position related to racial reconciliation in the […]
Activists fear Hong Kong immigration bill will allow arbitrary travel bans
Hong Kong, ChinaReuters An immigration bill on Hong Kong’s legislative agenda for Wednesday would give authorities virtually unlimited powers to prevent residents and others entering or leaving the former British colony, lawyers, diplomats and rights groups say. The government says the bill merely aims to screen illegal immigrants at source amid a backlog of asylum […]
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison warns of social media dangers in speech to Christian conference
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned of the dangers of social media in a speech to a national Christian conference last week. Speaking at the Australian Christian Churches conference on the Gold Coast, Morrison spoke of the “corrosive” nature of what he described as “identity politics” – in which people tend to think of themselves […]
A “deep, dramatic scar”: As Brexit stirs tensions, Northern Irish clergy reprise peacekeeping roles
CHRISTINE LUBY, of Religion News Service, reports on how clergy are grappling with the rise of violence in Northern Ireland in recent weeks…
India sends army to help hospitals hit by COVID-19 as countries promise aid
New Delhi, IndiaReuters India ordered its armed forces on Monday to help tackle surging new coronavirus infections, as nations including Britain, Germany and the United States pledged urgent medical aid to try to contain an emergency overwhelming the country’s hospitals. The situation in the world’s second most populous country is “beyond heartbreaking”, World Health Organization […]