Italy’s Catholic Church reintroduces handshakes during Mass
Rome, Italy Reuters Italy’s Catholic Church is reintroducing handshakes for the “sign of peace” during Mass as part of a wider relaxation of anti-COVID-19 measures. “It will be possible to restore the usual form of exchanging the sign of peace,” the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI) said in a letter to bishops. A limited number of […]
Iran state body reports 200 dead in protests, Raisi hails ‘freedoms’
Reuters President Ebrahim Raisi on Saturday hailed Iran’s Islamic Republic as a guarantor of rights and freedoms, defending the the ruling system amid a crackdown on anti-government protests that the United Nations says has cost more than 300 lives. A top state security body meanwhile said that 200 people, including members of the security forces, […]
El Salvador deploys 10,000 troops to gang-run capital suburb
San Salvador Reuters El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele announced Saturday the deployment of 10,000 security forces to a suburb of San Salvador known to be a stronghold for gangs. The move is the latest escalation in a crusade against gang violence that began in March, which human rights groups say has been marred by unjustified […]
People cut Banksy mural off battle-scarred Ukraine wall – Governor
Kyiv, UkraineReuters A group of people tried to take a mural by graffiti artist Banksy in Ukraine on Friday by cutting it off a battle-scarred wall where it was painted, the Governor of Kyiv region said. A new graffiti in Banksy’s signature style, although not posted by the mercurial artist on social media, is seen […]
Italy to evacuate 1,000 people from landslide-hit Ischia town
Rome, ItalyReuters More than 1,000 people need to be evacuated from a landslide-stricken town on the Italian island of Ischia where more heavy rains are expected, a government official said on Friday. Six days ago the small port of Casamicciola Terme was overwhelmed by a wave of mud, debris and stones that fell from the […]
Looting, forced removals plague Ethiopia’s Tigray despite truce – witnesses
Nairobi, KenyaReuters Ethiopia’s allies are looting towns, arresting and killing civilians and relocating thousands of people from a disputed part of Tigray despite a truce between the government and local forces, witnesses and aid workers in the northern region say. The violence raises fresh concerns about whether the ceasefire signed on 2nd November by Ethiopia’s […]
Malta’s Catholic bishops urge lawmakers not to back “abortion law’
Valletta, MaltaReuters Malta’s Catholic bishops have urged lawmakers not to back a bill now before parliament which they view as opening the door to abortion in the only European Union country that does not permit it under any circumstances. The government-sponsored bill would remove the risk of criminal action against doctors when a pregnancy is […]
“They tried to erase us”: Myanmar’s Rohingya IDs deny citizenship
RINA CHANDRAN, of Thomson Reuters Foundation, reports on claims Myanmar’s identity card system has been used as a surveillance tool against the persecuted minority…
US targets Russian mercenary group over religious freedom
Washington DC, USAP The Biden administration on Friday placed a well-known Russian paramilitary organisation on a list of religious freedom violators alongside a number of notorious terrorist organisations. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, from right, Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Representative. Barbara Lee, a Democrat from […]