World Council of Churches urges Patriarch Kirill to lobby for Easter ceasefire
RNS The head of the World Council of Churches is urging Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, to call for a ceasefire in Ukraine as Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter this weekend. “People lost their trust and hope in politicians and in a possible peaceful negotiation and a ceasefire,” Rev Ioan […]
Russia sets new Mariupol ultimatum in ‘Battle of Donbas’ as West pledges more help
Kyiv/Kharkiv, UkraineReuters Russia was intensifying its attack on Ukraine’s east on Tuesday as it seized a frontline city and sought a decisive victory in Mariupol, prompting Western governments to pledge more arms and sanctions. Thousands of Russian troops backed by artillery and rocket barrages were advancing in what Ukrainian officials called the Battle of the […]
At least six killed in blasts at Kabul high school
Kabul, AfghanistanReuters Three explosions at a high school in western Kabul killed at least six people and injured a number of students, Afghan security and health officials said. Many residents in the neighbourhood belong to the Shia Hazara community, an ethnic and religious minority frequently targeted by Sunni militant groups, including Islamic State. “Three blasts […]
Finns living near border watch Russia warily, recall dark past
Imatra, Finland Reuters The once bustling border crossing of Imatra, on Finland’s frontier with Russia, now stands idle as the town’s inhabitants cast a nervous eye towards their giant eastern neighbour following its invasion of Ukraine. Imatra, home to 26,000 people, is one of nine land crossing points along Finland’s 1,300-kilometre border with Russia. A general view of […]
Hong Kong zero-COVID policies create mountains of plastic waste
Hong KongReuters Hong Kong arrivals meet plastic everywhere in quarantine hotels: Remote controls are wrapped in cellophane, pillows are encased in plastic bags, food comes with plastic cutlery. Hong Kong’s strict quarantine policies – intended to halt COVID-19 at the border and in the community – have been criticised for damaging the economy and mental […]
Russian invasion damaged up to 30 per cent of Ukraine’s infrastructure, says minister
Kyiv, UkraineReuters Russia’s invasion has damaged or destroyed up to 30 per cent of Ukraine’s infrastructure at a cost of $US100 billion, a Ukrainian minister said on Monday, adding reconstruction could be achieved in two years using frozen Russian assets to help finance it. Ukraine has not previously outlined the specific impact on infrastructure, such […]
Worldwide COVID cases surpass 500 million as Omicron variant BA.2 surges
Reuters Global COVID-19 cases surpassed 500 million last week, according to a Reuters tally, as the highly contagious BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron surges in many countries in Europe and Asia. The rise of BA.2 has been blamed for recent surges in China as well as record infections in Europe. It has been called the “stealth variant” because […]
Satellite evidence: Troops burn villages in Myanmar heartland, seek to crush resistance
WA LONE and POPPY MCPHERSON, of Reuters, report on how satellite images show widespread torching of villages in the central part of the country…
Sweden links riots to criminal gangs that target police
Helsinki, FinlandAP Swedish police said Monday that the riots that have shaken several cities and towns in the Nordic country are extremely serious crimes against society and suspect some protesters are linked to criminal gangs that intentionally target police. Sweden, a nation of 10 million, has seen unrest, scuffles, arson and violence since Thursday that […]
Essay: The killing of Father Arsanious Wadid is a reminder more needs to be done to ensure religious equality
ELLIS HEASLEY, of UK-based religious freedom advocacy CSW, says the killing of a Coptic Orthodox priests in Alexandria earlier this month is “just the latest reminder of the continuing persecution of Egypt’s Coptic Christian community”…