Mexican megachurch leader sentenced in US to 16-plus years for child sex abuse
Los Angeles, USReuters The head of a Mexico-based evangelical megachurch that claims about five million followers worldwide was sentenced on Wednesday in a Los Angeles courtroom to 16 years and eight months in prison for sexually abusing three girls. Naason Joaquin Garcia, leader and self-styled apostle of the Guadalajara-based church La Luz del Mundo (Light […]
Russia pushes Ukrainian forces to outskirts of key eastern city
Kyiv/Sloviansk, Ukraine Reuters Ukrainian forces pulled back to the outskirts of the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk on Wednesday in the face of a fierce Russian assault, the regional governor said, another big swing in momentum in one of the bloodiest battles of the war. Russia has concentrated its troops and firepower on the small industrial […]
Belgian King reiterates regrets for colonial past in Congo but no apology
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of CongoReuters Belgium’s King Philippe reaffirmed his deepest regrets on Wednesday for the exploitation, racism and acts of violence during his country’s colonisation of the Democratic Republic of Congo, but again stopped short of formally apologising. Philippe became the first Belgian official two years ago to express regret for colonisation, and some […]
Books: An exploration of how Christianity has shaped Western values – and what happens when they’re disconnected from Jesus
DAVID ADAMS reads Glen Scrivener’s ‘The Air We Breathe’…
Facing “severe” energy crisis, Pakistan reverts to five-day work week
Islamabad, PakistanReuters Pakistan will reduce its official work week to five days from six in a bid to reduce energy and fuel consumption as part of an energy conservation plan approved by the country’s cabinet on Tuesday, the information minister said. The move comes as hours-long power outages hit the South Asian country, with demand […]
StrangeSights: Prince Louis’ starring role; one big plant; and, left behind – in an Uber…
DAVID ADAMS provides a round-up of some stories on the odder side of life…
Analysis – “Sitting above a bomb”: Bangladesh’s missed fire-safety lessons
Dhaka, BangladeshReuters A deadly fire at a container depot in Bangladesh has laid bare the dangers still facing millions of the country’s workers a decade after a series of tragedies in the export-focussed garment industry spurred a safety revolution. Intense scrutiny of Bangladesh and the major international clothing retailers that rely on it for supplies […]
Alleged victims of Mexico-based church leader ask for maximum sentence
Mexico City, Mexico Reuters Several of the alleged victims of the leader of a Mexico-based church are speaking out ahead of his sentencing, asking for him to receive maximum prison time. Naason Joaquin, head of the evangelical La Luz del Mundo group, pleaded guilty on Friday to felony counts of sexually abusing three children. He […]
“Widen gaze from Ukraine” to avert famine in Somalia, UN agency warns
London, UKReuters The world must “widen its gaze from the war in Ukraine” to prevent Somalia sliding into famine, the United Nations’ children’s agency said on Tuesday, warning only a third of the $US250 million needed to stave off catastrophe had so far been raised. Four consecutive rainy seasons have failed in the Horn of […]
‘The Pope At War’: Vatican’s Pius XII archives begin to shed light on World War II pope
NICOLE WINFIELD, of Associated Press, reports on a new book about the role of Pope Pius XII during World War II…