Havana announces blackouts, cancels carnival as crisis deepens
Havana, CubaReuters The Cuban capital of Havana will begin electricity blackouts in August, has cancelled carnival and is taking other measures as the country’s energy crisis worsens, state media reported on Saturday. The capital, home to a fifth of the population of 11.2 million and centre of economic activity in Cuba, had been spared the […]
Sadr’s followers set up for long sit-in at Iraq parliament
Baghdad, IraqReuters Supporters of Iraqi populist leader Moqtada al-Sadr erected tents and prepared for an open-ended sit-in at Iraq’s parliament on Sunday, in a move that could prolong political deadlock or plunge the country into fresh violence. Thousands of the Shi’ite Muslim cleric’s loyalists stormed into the fortified Green Zone in Baghdad on Saturday, taking […]
Russia hits southern Ukraine city, killing grain export tycoon, Governor says
Kyiv, UkraineReuters Heavy Russian strikes hit the southern Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv early on Sunday, killing the owner of one of the country’s largest grain exporters, while Russia said a Ukrainian drone struck its Black Sea fleet headquarters in Sevastopol. Oleksiy Vadatursky, founder and owner of agriculture company Nibulon, and his wife were killed […]
Australia PM unveils draft Indigenous recognition referendum question
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Saturday unveiled the wording of a draft referendum question as part of moves to enshrine an Indigenous voice in parliament. The government is seeking a referendum, which is necessary to make changes to the constitution, on recognising indigenous minorities in the constitution and requiring governments to consult […]
Brazilian city’s homeless get incentive for going to shelter: beds for their pets
Canoas, Brazil Reuters A small city in southern Brazil has found a way to attract more homeless people to one of its shelters on chilly winter nights: They now also take in people’s pets. Canoas – a city with an estimated population of 348,000 in the state of Rio Grande do Sul – came to […]
Amy Grant out of hospital, postponing August tour dates
RNS Contemporary Christian musician Amy Grant is out of the hospital but needs to recuperate at home and postpone some concerts after a bike accident. “Due to the doctor’s orders she has had to postpone her upcoming August concerts,” said Velvet Kelm, Grant’s spokeswoman, in a Friday statement. Amy Grant performs during the Dove Awards […]
Disability access: 10 ways to make your worship space less ableist
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to ending ableism, but disability activists from across different faiths spoke with KATHRYN POST, of Religion News Service, about where religious communities can start…