Israel asks Pope, Red Cross to help recover four citizens held in Gaza
JerusalemReuters Israel appealed to Pope Francis, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations Secretary-General on Wednesday to help it recover four citizens held in the Gaza Strip for more than seven years. Pope Francis arrives for the weekly general audience at the Vatican, on 18th January, 2023. PICTURE: […]
Postcards: Nigeria’s social media fact-checkers fight fake news as vote nears
BUKOLA ADEBAYO, of Thomson Reuters Foundation, reports on how big tech companies are enlisting independent fact-checkers to tackle online disinformation ahead of the 25th February election…
Christian persecution higher than ever as Open Doors’ World Watch List marks 30 years
United StatesRNS In the three decades since the religious liberty organisation Open Doors has been compiling its World Watch List of the 50 countries where Christians face the most persecution for their faith, that persecution has never been worse. That’s according to the 2023 World Watch List released in the US on Tuesday evening, which showed North […]
Abducted Burkina women flee jihadist gunmen through bush
Ouagadougou, Burkina FasoReuters Piercing thorns and stones underfoot did not stop the young woman as she charged through thickets, baby strapped to her back, fleeing armed militants who had kidnapped her with dozens of others in northern Burkina Faso last week. Now back home in the town of Arbinda along with a few who also […]
Nobel laureate Ressa cleared in Philippine tax case, cheers win for justice
Manila, Philippines Reuters Philippine Nobel laureate Maria Ressa and her news site Rappler were acquitted by a court of tax evasion charges on Wednesday, in a ruling that media watchdogs and human rights groups described as a win for press freedom and rule of law. Ressa, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize alongside a […]
Church of England refuses to back same-sex marriage
London, UKAP The Church of England said Wednesday it will allow blessings for same-sex, civil marriages for the first time but same-sex couples still will not be allowed to marry in its churches. The decision followed five years of debate and consultation on the church’s position on sexuality. It is expected to be outlined in […]
Ukraine helicopter crash kills interior minister in Kyiv as fighting rages on in east
Updated: 8:20am, 19th January, 2022 (AEST)Brovary Ukraine Reuters Ukraine’s interior minister and a child were among at least 14 people killed on Wednesday when a helicopter crashed into a nursery and set it ablaze in a suburb of the capital Kyiv. Separately, Ukraine said its forces again blunted Russian attempts to advance on the frontline […]
Tech bosses could face jail after UK Government backs down over online harm
London, UKReuters Tech bosses could be jailed in Britain if their platforms fail to protect children from online harm after the government agreed to toughen a proposed law to avoid the prospect of a first parliamentary defeat for the Prime Minister. Rishi Sunak faced losing a vote in the House of Commons on Tuesday after […]
Trump chides onetime evangelical supporters who haven’t endorsed him
United StatesRNS Former President Donald Trump is chiding evangelical Christian pastors who previously supported him but haven’t endorsed his new presidential campaign, accusing the faith leaders of “disloyalty”. During an appearance on the Real America’s Voice show The Water Cooler on Monday, host David Brody asked Trump about evangelical leaders such as Robert Jeffress, a Texas […]
StrangeSights: “Dress like a cabbage”; a swan rescue; and, outhouse racing
DAVID ADAMS provides a round-up of some stories on the odder side of life…