Ukraine warns about new Russian offensives amid push for Mariupol
Kyiv/Lviv, Ukraine Reuters Ukraine warned on Wednesday that Russia was ramping up efforts in the south and east as it seeks full control of Mariupol, in what would be the first major city to fall, while Western governments committed more military help to bolster Kyiv. The Kremlin’s nearly seven-week-long incursion, the biggest attack on a […]
South African leader visits flood victims as death toll rises to 306
Johannesburg, South AfriicaReuters South African President Cyril Ramaphosa pledged on Wednesday to help the victims of devastating east coast floods, as the death toll rose to 306 from heavy rains that washed out roads and disrupted shipping in one of Africa’s busiest ports. Ramaphosa visited families who had lost loved ones in KwaZulu-Natal province, including […]
European rights experts say Russia has committed war crimes in Ukraine
Vienna, Austria Reuters A mission of experts set up by Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe has found evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity by Russia in Ukraine, the mission said in a report on Wednesday. The mission was set up last month by 45 of the OSCE’s 57 participating states to […]
A small tent camp in Sri Lankan city becomes focus of national protests
Colombo, Sri LankaReuters On a patch of grass near Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office in the commercial capital Colombo, around two dozen tents have been erected in a small but growing camp that is becoming the focal point of national protests. Thousands of people have taken to the streets nearby and across the country […]
Interfaith leaders gather in Ukraine to appeal for peace
RNS A group of prominent faith leaders gathered in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, on Tuesday to denounce violence and express solidarity with Ukrainians amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of the country. At the meeting near the Romanian border were former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, president of the Council of Christians and Jews, as […]
StrangeSights: Getting away from it all; why a cowboy rides through the drive-through; and, Charles Darwin’s notebooks mysteriously reappear…
DAVID ADAMS provides a round-up of some stories on the odder side of life…
Baroque meets Australia’s Dreamtime in a unique musical experience for Easter
Sydney, Australia A unusual performance of German composer Johann Sebastian Bach’s Mass in B Minor – thought to have been arranged specifically to gain the Catholic Church’s interest – will take place in Sydney this Saturday. The Sydney Philharmonia VOX Young Adult Choir and the Chamber Choral Singers will perform the Mass at the Sydney Town Hall, […]
Philippine expert says some drug war death certificates falsified
Manila, The Philippines Reuters The Philippine justice secretary pledged on Tuesday to launch an investigation after a forensic pathologist said some death certificates issued for victims of the country’s crackdown on drugs had been falsified to show they died of natural causes. The South-East Asian country has come under international pressure to hold a thorough […]
Lebanon disburses funds to temporarily avert bread crisis, minister says
Beirut, LebanonReuters Lebanon’s government has agreed to disburse $US15 million to temporarily resolve growing bread shortages in the country, Economy Minister Amin Salam told Reuters, while saying that the funds would only last a few weeks. Long lines had begun forming outside bakeries across the country since Monday after industry insiders warned that the government […]
The Interview: Shannon Bream explores flawed families of Biblical women
KATHRYN POST, of Religion News Service, speaks with Fox News host Shannon Bream about her new book, ‘The Mothers and Daughters of the Bible Speak’…