French archbishop under investigation for “inappropriate gesture” towards woman
Paris, FranceReuters A retired French archbishop is under investigation from judicial and church authorities for what he called “an inappropriate gesture” towards an adult young woman at the end of the 1980s. Monseigneur Jean-Pierre Grallet, 81, the retired former Archbishop of Strasburg, said in a statement on Wednesday that he had been informed this summer […]
Postcards: Children from Global South make their presence felt at climate summit
GLORIA DICKIE and MAI SHAMSELDIN, of Reuters, report from COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh…
As Trump launches new presidential bid, will former faith advisers back him?
Washington DC, USRNS When Donald Trump launched his 2020 reelection bid in Orlando, Florida, three years ago, the event was riddled with faith-speak. Both Trump and then-Vice President Mike Pence repeatedly referenced God, arguing the Almighty had blessed America. Trump’s closest evangelical adviser, Florida pastor Paula White-Cain, opened up the event with a passionate invocation in which she insisted […]
COP27 negotiators still far apart on strong climate deal
Sharm el-Sheikh, EgyptReuters Countries were far from agreeing the contours of a climate deal at the COP27 summit in Egypt on Wednesday, with the host country urging negotiators to resolve their differences ahead of a weekend deadline. The outcome of the conference in Sharm el-Sheikh is a test of world resolve to tackle global warming […]
Pope asks God to “hurry up” to end Ukraine war, condemns missile strikes
Vatican CityReuters Pope Francis condemned on Wednesday the latest wave of missile attacks on Ukraine, calling for a ceasefire to avert the risk of escalation of the conflict and asking God to “hurry up” to end it. He spoke at his general audience in St Peter’s Square as NATO allies investigated unconfirmed reports that an […]
Fears of war spillover ease after NATO says missile on Poland was Ukrainian stray
Warsaw/Przewodow, Poland/Brussels, BelgiumReuters A missile that crashed inside Poland was probably a stray fired by Ukraine’s air defences and not a Russian strike, Poland and military alliance NATO said on Wednesday, easing international fears that the war could spill across the border. Nevertheless, NATO’s chief said that Moscow, not Kyiv, was still to blame for […]
Jamaica declares regional states of emergency due to gang violence
Kingston, Jamaica Reuters Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Tuesday declared a state of public emergency in parts of the capital Kingston and in some central and western parishes in an attempt to control rising crime linked to gang violence. States of emergency give authorities increased powers, including the ability to search buildings and carry […]
Tuvalu turns to the metaverse as rising seas threaten existence
Reuters Tuvalu said on Tuesday it plans to build a digital version of itself, replicating islands and landmarks and preserving its history and culture as rising sea levels threaten to submerge the tiny Pacific island nation. Tuvalu’s Foreign Minister Simon Kofe told the COP27 climate summit it was time to look at alternative solutions for […]
Mexico’s Frida, beloved rescue dog turned national icon, dies
Mexico City, MexicoReuters Frida, the rescue dog who emerged as a hero and symbol of national pride after an earthquake devastated parts of Mexico in 2017, died on Tuesday of natural causes, the Mexican Navy said. Known for her custom-made doggy goggles and boots, Frida became a social media star and a symbol of Mexicans’ […]
StrangeSights: Banksy in Ukraine; stay in a shoe; and, cleaning sneakers for a good cause…
DAVID ADAMS provides a round-up of some stories on the odder side of life…