Postcards: Malaysia’s mangrove-planting fishermen stumble at nature finance hurdle
BEH LIH YI, of Thomson Reuters Foundation, reports on the challenges facing those planting mangrove saplings on Malaysia’s west coast…
Kurdish-led forces say they have regained control of prison in Syria’s Hasaka
Amman, Jordan Reuters The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces regained full control of al-Sina’a prison in the north-eastern Syrian city of Hasaka on Wednesday, spokesman Farhad Shami said in a tweet, and all remaining Islamic State militants had surrendered. At least 200 prison inmates and militants and 30 security forces have died since Islamic State militants […]
Vatican defends Benedict after report faults abuse record
Rome, ItalyAP The Vatican on Wednesday strongly defended Pope Benedict XVI’s record in fighting clergy sexual abuse and cautioned against looking for “easy scapegoats and summary judgments,” after an independent report faulted his handling of four cases of abuse when he was archbishop of Munich, Germany. The Holy See’s editorial director, Andrea Tornielli, provided the […]
UN chief tells Security Council: Afghanistan “hanging by thread”
United NationsReuters Afghanistan is “hanging by a thread,” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council on Wednesday, calling for countries to authorize all transactions needed to carry out humanitarian activities in the Taliban-ruled state. He also pushed for a suspension of any rules or conditions constricting “lifesaving” aid operations as millions in the […]
Pope recalls Ukraine’s historical suffering during day of prayer; tells parents to support gay children
Vatican CityReuters Pope Francis on Wednesday led a day of prayer for peace in Ukraine, calling for dialogue to prevail over partisan interests to resolve the West’s standoff with Russia. Pope Francis looks on during the weekly general audience at the Vatican, on 26th January. PICTURE: Reuters/Remo Casilli. Francis last Sunday called on people of […]
Protests, citizenship festivities mark contentious Australia Day holiday
Melbourne, AustraliaReuters Thousands rallied against the mistreatment of Indigenous people across Australia on Wednesday as citizenship ceremonies took place to mark the country’s national day intended to celebrate the birth of the modern Australia. The 26th January public holiday marks the date the British fleet sailed into Sydney Harbour in 1788 to start a penal […]
In US state of Michigan, settlement lets faith agencies deny LGBT adoptions
Lansing, MichiganAP Faith-based adoption agencies that contract with the US state of Michigan can refuse to place children with same-sex couples under a proposed settlement filed in federal court Tuesday, months after the US Supreme Court ruled for a Catholic charity in a similar case. The state Department of Health and Human Services said the high […]
StrangeSights: Colombia’s upside-down house; an island ‘king’; and, a real-life lightsaber
DAVID ADAMS provides a round-up of some stories on the odder side of life…
Goats, sheep and livelihoods lost to floods and cold in northern Kenya
North Horr, KenyaReuters The carcasses of goats and sheep strewn across the scrubland of northern Kenya are testament to the devastation wrought by the once-in-a-generation floods that have hit the region. In just one area of Marsabit County, herders lost around 20,000 goats and sheep last week after the torrential rain, Roba Koto, the top […]
Mexican reporters plan nationwide protests over journalist killings
Mexico CityReuters Mexican journalists on Tuesday were set to start nationwide protests in 28 cities and towns to denounce the recent murders of three reporters, demanding an end to impunity that has often characterised the killings of their colleagues. The planned protests follow the murder of seasoned journalist Lourdes Maldonado on Sunday, some three years […]