Ceasefire still elusive in Israel-Gaza conflict
Gaza/Jerusalem Reuters Israel bombarded Gaza with air strikes and Palestinian militants kept up cross-border rocket fire, with no firm sign on Wednesday of any imminent ceasefire despite international calls to end more than a week of fighting. Israeli leaders said they were pressing on with an offensive against Hamas and Islamic Jihad, but an Israeli […]
Scores missing at sea as cyclone pummels Indian coast, killing at least 29
Ahmedabad, India Reuters The Indian Navy mounted a massive air and sea rescue mission on Tuesday for 79 oil workers and crew whose barge sank in heavy seas following a powerful cyclone that tore up the west coast killing at least 29 people. Around 182 of those on board the barge, which sank off the […]
New Hong Kong bishop says will pray for Tiananmen victims, follow the law
Hong Kong, ChinaReuters Hong Kong’s incoming Catholic bishop said on Tuesday he will pray for the victims of China’s 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in and around Beijing’s Tiananmen square, but whether he could do that in a public venue depends on the city’s laws. Pope Francis on Monday named Stephen Chow, 61, head of […]
Myanmar activists say more than 800 killed by security forces since coup
Reuters More than 800 people have been killed by Myanmar’s security forces since a wave of protests broke out across the country after the military seized power in a coup in February, an activist group said. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the army ousted Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government and […]
UN refugee chief appeals for funds for Rohingya, sanctuary for Myanmar refugees
Reuters The head of the UN refugee agency said on Monday more international support was needed for hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, a day ahead of a donor conference aiming to raise $US1 billion to fund the response. Close to a million Rohingya have been living in crowded camps in southern Bangladesh […]
Books: A classic read on the importance of solitude gains new resonance in a 24/7 world
MATTHEW SMEAL, a writer and photographer who specialises in the humanitarian sector, finds “a depth that belies its simplicity” in Henri Nouwen’s 1974 book, ‘Out of Solitude’…
Full-blown boycott pushed for Beijing Olympics
AP Groups alleging human-rights abuses against minorities in China are calling for a full-blown boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, a move likely to ratchet up pressure on the International Olympic Committee, athletes, sponsors and sports federations. A coalition representing Uighurs, Tibetans, residents of Hong Kong and others issued a statement Monday calling for the […]
Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer statue lights up for vaccine equality
Reuters The world’s most famous statue of Jesus Christ was lit up in Rio de Janeiro to promote vaccine equality as Brazil and developing countries struggle to protect residents from COVID-19. The message “Vaccine saves, United for vaccines” was projected on Saturday onto the 30 metre high statue by Unidos Pela Vacina (United by the […]
US Supreme Court takes up major challenge to abortion rights
Washington DC, US Reuters The US Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider gutting the 1973 Roe v Wade ruling that legalised abortion nationwide, taking up Mississippi’s bid to revive a Republican-backed state law that bans the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy. By hearing the case in their next term, which starts in October […]
Forgiveness
I came across this prayer recently: “Lord help me forgive those who sin differently than I.” PICTURE: Zoe/Unsplash I could ponder that all day! It’s easy to forgive people who suffer the same sins and temptations as I do. I mean, those sins are real, and difficult. I know what that’s like – I can […]