Ireland’s Catholic church, government clash over COVID-19 restrictions
Dublin, IrelandReuters Five Roman Catholic bishops from Ireland’s 22 dioceses are set to defy COVID-19 restrictions after instructing local parishes to hold communion and confirmation services this month, drawing a sharp rebuke from the government, which have pleaded with them to wait until they consider further easing curbs later this month. Ireland has been gradually […]
Fighting displaces 200,000 in Ethiopia’s Amhara region – UN aid chief
Addis AbabaReuters United Nations aid chief Martin Griffiths said on Tuesday that accusations by Ethiopian authorities that aid workers were favouring and even arming Tigrayan forces were “dangerous”. “Blanket accusations [against] humanitarian aid workers need to stop…They need to be backed up by evidence if there is any and, frankly, it’s dangerous,” he said. An […]
Japan to hospitalise only most serious COVID-19 cases in surge
Tokyo, JapanReuters Japan will hospitalise only COVID-19 patients who are seriously ill and those at risk of becoming so while others isolate at home, officials said, as worries grew about a strained medical system amid a surge in Olympics host city Tokyo and elsewhere. The country has seen a sharp increase in coronavirus cases, and […]
Caribbean’s St Lucia seeks climate cash to tackle storms, stinky seaweed
Bogota, ColombiaThomson Reuters Foundation St Lucia’s new Prime Minister, Philip J Pierre, has urged the United States and other rich nations to ramp up climate finance and disburse funds more quickly to vulnerable Caribbean nation states, as “fast and furious” hurricanes become the new normal. The tiny eastern Caribbean nation of St Lucia and other […]
EU puts sanctions on eight more Nicaraguans, as presidential race takes shape
Brussels, Belgium/Mexico City, MexicoReuters The European Union said on Monday it has imposed sanctions on eight Nicaraguans for human rights violations or undermining democracy or the rule of law, including Rosario Murillo, the vice president and wife of President Daniel Ortega. The step adds to growing international isolation of Ortega’s government, which has been criticized […]
US Supreme Court declines to hear church’s attack on COVID restrictions
Washington DC, USAP The US Supreme Court declined Monday to hear a lawsuit by a Maine church that sought to take a preemptive strike against future restrictions associated with a variant of the virus that’s spreading across the country. Calvary Chapel in Orrington asked the US Supreme Court to stop Democratic Governor Janet Mills from […]
Life after death
I met some religious people on holidays who said to me, while they believe in God, they didn’t believe in life after death. The Bible teaches that “no eye and seen, no heart can perceive what God has prepared for those who trust”. PICTURE: Milo Bauman/Unsplash They were too rational, they couldn’t conceive of […]
The Interview: John Lewis’ co-author talks faith, voting rights and their new graphic novel, ‘Run’
ADELLE M BANKS, speaks to Andrew Aydin about his new graphic novel, co-authored with late US congressman and civil rights activist John Lewis…
After award win in the US, Christian romance novel draws criticism for “romanticised genocide” of Native Americans
RNS Christian romance novels are generally known for their more “wholesome” take on the genre. But this year’s winner of the Romance Writers of America’s Vivian Award for best romance with religious or spiritual elements has still managed to stir controversy. “At Love’s Command” by Karen Witemeyer. The book – At Love’s Command by Karen Witemeyer […]
Memorial sculpture at Beirut port blast site draws mixed reviews
Beirut, LebanonReuters A sculpture of a giant angular figure made from the wreckage of last summer’s Beirut port blast was unveiled at the site on Monday, drawing support from some but also stoking anger among other Lebanese who believe justice should come before memorials. The artwork dubbed The Gesture is the creation of Lebanese architect […]