Priest killed in Mexico, threats force concert to cancel
Mexico City, MexicoAP A priest in western Mexico has been shot to death, the eighth killed under the administration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The church’s Catholic Multimedia Center identified the priest as Rev Juan Angulo Fonseca. The centre said Sunday that eight priests, including Angulo Fonseca, have been murdered during the current administration, […]
The Explainer: Why is a love poem full of sex in the Bible? Readers have been struggling with the Song of Songs for 2,000 years
As the world marks Valentine’s Day, JONATHAN KAPLAN, associate professor of Hebrew Bible and ancient Judaism at the The University of Texas at Austin, looks – in an article first published on The Conversation – at the Biblical book, Song of Songs…
Jerusalem Christians say they feel growing harassment
JerusalemReuters For several weeks, members of the small Christian community in Jerusalem’s Old City say they have felt under pressure from what they say is growing harassment and intimidation from violent Jewish ultranationalists. Earlier this month, a man later identified by church authorities as a Jewish radical was wrestled to the ground and detained after […]
Russian forces bombard Ukraine’s Bakhmut in major new offensive, NATO chief says
Kyiv, Ukraine Reuters The eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut endured heavy artillery fire on Monday as the NATO chief backed reports from local officials that a major new Russian offensive had begun, days before the first anniversary of Moscow’s invasion. Ukrainian defenders, who have already held out for months, were braced for new ground attacks, Ukrainian […]
Thousands of children abused by members of Portugal’s Catholic Church over 70 years – report
Lisbon, PortugalReuters At least 4,815 children were sexually abused by members of the Portuguese Catholic Church – mostly priests – over the past 70 years, a report by the commission investigating the issue said on Monday, adding the findings are the tip of the iceberg. “[We want] to pay a sincere tribute to those who […]
Turkey finds more survivors as anger grows a week after earthquake
Kahramanmaras/Antakya, Turkey Reuters Rescuers in Turkey pulled several children alive from collapsed buildings on Monday, a week after the country’s worst earthquake in modern history, but hopes of many more survivors were fading and criticism of the authorities grew. In one city, rescuers were digging a tunnel to reach a grandmother, mother and daughter, all […]
Ruling out aliens? Senior US general says not ruling out anything yet
Washington DC, US Reuters The US Air Force general overseeing North American airspace said on Sunday after a series of shoot-downs of unidentified objects that he would not rule out aliens or any other explanation yet, deferring to US intelligence experts. Asked whether he had ruled out an extraterrestrial origin for three airborne objects shot […]
Australia marks anniversary of ‘Stolen Generation’ apology; promises more funds
Sydney, Australia Reuters Australia on Monday committed about $US300 million to improve life outcomes of its Aboriginal people, as the country marked 15 years since a national apology for forcibly removing Indigenous children from families under old assimilation policies. The government announced $A424 million would go towards “Closing the Gap”, which includes providing safe and […]
In a quake-hit Turkish town, one survivor just wants help to leave
Antakya, Turkey Reuters Aslihan Kavasoglu has spent the last six days camped out with her family in a small building in a park in the Turkish city of Antakya, mourning lost relatives. Now all she wants to do is to leave her quake-devastated hometown. “I lost my two sisters, brother and mother in the quake. […]
Spain health workers hold huge Madrid protest over state of health system
Madrid, Spain Reuters Hundreds of thousands of Spain’s health workers protested in Madrid on Sunday over what they say is the destruction of the public health system by the conservative regional government. The Madrid government has been the target of criticism in recent years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020, over poor staffing […]