UK man hands Cyprus Church icon taken by his officer father
Nicosia, Cyprus AP An 18th-century icon that a British officer spirited out of war-wracked Cyprus in 1974 was returned Wednesday to the island’s Orthodox Church by the officer’s son to reunite it with those “who really appreciate what it stands for”. A representative of the Cyprus Archbishop Chrysostomos II received the icon during a ceremony […]
Postcards: Trolley school helps Philippine children keep studies on track
ADRIAN PORTUGAL, of Reuters, reports in how a “trolley school” is making a difference for children in The Philippines…
World should send 60 million COVID-19 vaccines to North Korea, UN investigator says
Seoul, South KoreaReuters The international community should form a strategy to provide North Korea with at least 60 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to head off humanitarian disaster, an independent UN human rights investigator said on Wednesday. The vaccines could be a way to persuade the country to ease lockdowns that have left some of […]
Cyclone Emnati hits Madagascar; island’s fourth major storm in a month
Antananarivo, MadagasgarReuters Winds of up to 135 kilometres per hour battered Madagascar early on Wednesday as Cyclone Emnati made landfall, becoming the fourth major storm to hit the Indian Ocean island in a month. Emnati struck on the south-eastern side of the island, where another cyclone, Batsirai, killed scores of people just under three weeks […]
Pope Francis decries “folly” of war as tensions grow in Ukraine
Vatican CityRNS Pope Francis made an appeal for peace in Ukraine during his general audience Wednesday, urging world leaders to examine their conscience and act to prevent a looming war. Francis said he felt “a great pain in his heart for the worsening situation in Ukraine,” lamenting that despite numerous diplomatic efforts, “once again, everyone’s […]
Ukraine appeals for UN help, Russia says can’t ignore ‘genocide’
United NationsReuters Ukraine appealed to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday to stop Russia’s “aggressive plans,” while Russia said it could not ignore “the blatant genocide” of Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine and disparaged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Guterres and the United States have dismissed Moscow’s claims of genocide. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres […]
Migrants clash with police in southern Mexico
Tapachula, Mexico Reuters Dozens of migrants clashed with police in the southern Mexican city of Tapachula on Tuesday, as frustration boiled over due to authorities keeping them waiting for months to be granted approval for free passage across Mexico to the US border. Migrants, mostly from Haiti and Africa, have been demonstrating in Tapachula, near […]
More patients, fewer nurses: Hong Kong’s medical frontline struggles with COVID surge
Hong Kong, ChinaReuters Yee, a nurse on the frontline of Hong Kong’s fight against COVID-19, recently became one of the patients her hospital had to turn away, after isolation wards, and later corridors, became overpacked with people on gurneys. At home, the 25-year-old spread the virus to her father, and fears her mother and brother […]
StrangeSights: Talking numbers on ‘Twosday’; the world’s heaviest strawberry; and, a big fork…
DAVID ADAMS provides a round-up of some stories on the odder side of life…
Justin Bieber’s new tour offers incentives for fans to do good, support non-profits
RNS Justin Bieber is incentivising ‘Beliebers’ to take action on social justice during his Justice World Tour, which launched in San Diego on Friday. His “Justice in Action” initiative promises prizes, including free concert tickets and a Paris trip, for supporting religious and non-religious organisations alike. “Join Justin Bieber in taking action for your chance […]