Russia moves ahead with deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus
Moscow, RussiaReuters Russia moved ahead on Thursday with a plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, whose leader said the warheads were already on the move, in the Kremlin’s first deployment of such bombs outside Russia since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union. The US State Department denounced the deployment plan, but said […]
Pope blasts “consumerist greed” on World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation
Vatican CityRNS Pope Francis condemned “consumerist greed” and “selfish hearts” as responsible for the climate crisis in his yearly message for World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, which occurs on 1st September and was presented at the Vatican on Thursday. Inspired by the words of the Prophet Amos, the Pope chose “let […]
Fresh fighting threatens Sudan’s week-long ceasefire
Dubai, United Arab EmiratesReuters Sporadic clashes between Sudan’s army and a paramilitary force spilled over into Thursday, puncturing the relative calm in the capital Khartoum and raising the risk of a week-long truce deal crumbling as concerns grew over a humanitarian crisis. The ceasefire, monitored by Saudi Arabia and the United States, was reached after […]
Bangladesh promises free, fair elections in response to US visa curbs
Dhaka, Bangladesh Reuters Bangladesh will take steps to tackle and prevent unlawful practices or interference in its elections, authorities said on Thursday, a day after the United States threatened curbs on citizens of the South Asian nation who undermine them. Concern flared after accusations of vote-rigging and the targeting of the political opposition marred national elections in […]
Red Sea epidemic kills off sea urchins, imperilling coral
Tel Aviv, IsraelReuters A deadly epidemic that is spreading through the Red Sea has killed off an entire species of sea urchin in the Gulf of Aqaba, imperilling the region’s uniquely resilient coral reefs, an Israeli research team has found. The whole population of black sea urchins, a species known for helping keep coral reefs […]
Helpdesk: Four ways to take control of social media algorithms and get the content you actually want
MARC CHEONG, a senior lecturer of information systems at The University of Melbourne in Australia, looks – in an article first published on The Conversation, at how you can help ensure you see the content you want…
Key aid group says Taliban signals exemption for women in southern heartland
United NationsReuters An international aid agency in Afghanistan hopes to have an interim arrangement within days to allow its Afghan female staff to return to work in the southern province of Kandahar – the birthplace of the Taliban and home to the supreme spiritual leader. Norwegian Refugee Council Secretary General Jan Egeland spokes to Reuters […]
Danish astronaut flying on SpaceX shuttle warns Europe not to fall behind in space
CopenhagenReuters Europe is at risk of falling behind in the global space race and missing out on key technologies, Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen said ahead of his second trip into space onboard Elon Musk’s next SpaceX mission in August. Mogensen, who will be the first non-American pilot to steer the SpaceX Crew Dragon shuttle to […]
Vatican takes climate activists to court on Laudato Si’ anniversary
Vatican CityRNS Climate change activists faced trial at the Vatican on Wednesday on vandalism charges for gluing themselves to the statue of “Laocoön and His Sons” in the Vatican Museums last summer. The trial of Ester Goffi, a 25-year-old art history student, and Guido Viero, a 61-year-old health worker, took place on the eighth anniversary of […]
UN gets $US2.4 billion in pledges for Horn of Africa aid efforts
United NationsReuters The United Nations received pledges of $US2.4 billion on Wednesday to help fund aid operations for some 32 million people across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, but the donations fell short of what the UN was seeking as it warned against a possible “catastrophe.” The UN has appealed for more than $US7 billion for […]