Pope calls Ukraine war a “perverse abuse of power” for partisan interests
Geneva, Switzerland, USReuters Pope Francis, ramping up his implicit criticism of Russia, on Friday called the war in Ukraine a “perverse abuse of power” waged for partisan interests which has condemned defenceless people to violence. The Pope has not actually named Russia in his condemnations but he has used phrases such as “unacceptable armed aggression” […]
US warns China not to fuel Russia’s assault on Ukraine as fears for Mariupol grow
Kyiv/Lviv, Ukraine Reuters US President Joe Biden warned China against helping Russia attack Ukraine in a video call with President Xi Jinping on Friday as concern grew over mass civilian casualties in the besieged southern port of Mariupol. Russia’s advance in Ukraine has largely stalled but the Russian defence ministry said it was “tightening the […]
Ecuador’s prisons blighted by state abandonment, says rights body
Quito, EducadorReuters Ecuador’s prison system, blighted by state abandonment and the absence of a comprehensive policy, has unprecedented high levels of violence and corruption and poor conditions for inmates, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights said on Thursday. A delegation from the IACHR visited Ecuador in December after violent clashes in prisons across the country […]
Snapshot: Cartagena, Colombia
See LEANDRO LOUREIRO’s image…
Poor the hardest hit in Latam by Russia’s Ukraine invasion – IMF
New York City, USReuters The poorest will be the hardest hit across Latin America and the Caribbean by the economic fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with the region facing further inflationary pressure, a senior official at the International Monetary Fund said this week. “High inflation, especially food inflation, affects the poor in our region […]
Ukrainian refugees hope for peace, but more expected to flee
Przemysl, Poland/Budapest, Hungary Reuters Thousands more refugees crossed into Eastern Europe on Thursday, many hoping that peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv may end the war soon, though more people were expected to flee in the days ahead. As the conflict in Ukraine entered its fourth week, about 3.2 million have fled abroad, United Nations […]
UK police warn younger children involved in far-right terrorism
London, UKReuters Britain’s head of counter-terrorism policing said on Thursday the police had serious concern about a rise in the number of young people and children becoming caught up in far-right extremism. Matt Jukes said youngsters, mainly boys in their early teens, were becoming self-radicalised online and then progressing to actually planning terrorist attacks. “We’re […]
Australian campaign aims to raise funds for Ukraine medical supplies
Sydney, Australia HealthServe Australia has announced a new campaign to fundraise for health and medical supplies in Ukraine. The campaign aims to raise $A125,000 for the Christian Medical Association of Ukraine. HealthServe Australia is working with partner organisations to help resource and support Ukrainian Christian doctors through communications, medical supplies, and aid. Australians packing medical […]
A second life?: Thousands of churches close every year. What will happen to their buildings?
BOB SMIETANA, of Religion News Service, reports on how, as congregations close down, some church leaders are looking to give their former buildings a second life…
Christians find unity in restoring holiest Jerusalem church
Jerusalem, IsraelAP The three Christian communities that have uneasily shared their holiest site for centuries are embarking on a large-scale project to restore the ancient stone floor of the Jerusalem basilica. The project includes an excavation that could shed light on the rich history of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City, […]