UK independent body: China committed genocide in Xinjiang
London, UKAP An independent, unofficial body set up by a prominent British barrister to assess evidence on China’s alleged rights abuses against the Uyghur people concluded Thursday that the Chinese Government committed genocide and crimes against humanity. The Uyghur Tribunal, made up of lawyers, academics and businesspeople, doesn’t have any government backing or powers to […]
Americans concerned too many are seeking religious exemptions to vaccines – survey
Washington DC, US RNS A new poll reveals most Americans are in favour of offering religious exemptions for the COVID-19 vaccines, yet express concern that too many people are seeking such exemptions. In the same survey, more than half of those who refuse to get vaccinated say getting the shot goes against their personal faith. […]
Aid groups warn of rise in Darfur violence, dozens killed
Khartoum, SudanReuters Dozens of people have been killed in violence this week in three separate areas of Sudan’s West Darfur region and thousands of people have fled the violence, local medics said. The West Darfur Doctors Committee said in statements on Wednesday and Thursday that attacks in the Kreinik area killed 88 and wounded 84, […]
WHO warns against vaccine hoarding as poorer countries go without
Geneva, SwitzerlandReuters The World Health Organization warned wealthy countries on Thursday against hoarding COVID-19 vaccines for booster shots as they try to fight off the new Omicron variant, threatening supplies to poorer countries where inoculation rates are low. Many Western nations have been rolling out boosters, targeting the elderly and people with underlying health issues, […]
New Zealand to ban cigarette sales for future generations
Sydney, AustraliaReuters New Zealand plans to ban young people from ever buying cigarettes in their lifetime in one of the world’s toughest crackdowns on the tobacco industry, arguing that other efforts to extinguish smoking were taking too long. People aged 14 and under in 2027 will never be allowed to purchase cigarettes in the Pacific […]
India’s defence chief to be laid to rest with full military honours
New Delhi, IndiaReuters The bodies of India’s defence chief and 12 others who died in a helicopter crash will be brought to New Delhi on Thursday, where the top general will be laid to rest with full military honours, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said. General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 12 defence personnel were en […]
Indonesia considers relocations after deadly volcanic eruption
Jakarta, IndonesiaReuters Indonesia’s volcanology agency is sending a team of researchers to the Mount Semeru volcano to identify areas too dangerous for villagers to stay after it erupted on Saturday, killing dozens of people on the slopes of Java island’s highest mountain. In the days since the disaster, questions have been raised about the effectiveness […]
Number of jailed journalists reached global high in 2021, at least 24 killed for their coverage -CPJ report
Reuters The number of journalists worldwide who are behind bars reached a global high in 2021, according to a new report from the non-profit Committee to Protect Journalists, which says that 293 reporters were imprisoned as of 1st December this year. At least 24 journalists were killed because of their coverage, and 18 others died […]
Rachael Denhollander named Calvin University’s 2021 Kuyper Prize recipient
RNS Activist and abuse survivor Rachael Denhollander will be awarded the 2021 Abraham Kuyper Prize for Excellence in Reformed Theology and Public Life, Calvin University announced Tuesday. Denhollander will receive the prize, which includes a $US10,000 award, and deliver a lecture at a 15th December event hosted by Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary in […]
A Sustainable Life: Sustainable Christmas trees – an ecologist’s buying guide
UK-based ecologist PAUL CAPLAT, in an article first published on The Conversation, looks at what factors to consider when aiming to buy a more sustainable Christmas tree…