Vatican number two and deputy both positive for COVID
Vatican City AP The Vatican Secretary of State and his deputy have both tested positive for the coronavirus, Vatican officials said Tuesday. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin smiles during a meeting at the Bellevue palace in Berlin, Germany on 29th June, 2021. PICTURE: AP Photo/Michael Sohn/File photo. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who serves as the […]
Lifestory: George O Wood, dead at 80, remembered as “door-opener” in leadership of Assemblies of God
ERICA RAMIREZ, in an article published on Religion News Service, looks at the life of longtime US Assemblies of God leader George O Wood, who died earlier this month at the age of 80…
As rabbi was held hostage in Texas synagogue, interfaith colleagues gathered to help end the standoff
RNS If there’s a word that comes up repeatedly when friends discuss Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, the rabbi who was taken hostage with three others at his Reform synagogue Saturday, it’s “kind.” “Kind doesn’t begin to cover it,” said Lindsey Weiss, who attended Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, since she was 11. “He’s the nicest […]
All homes on one of Tonga’s islands destroyed, three dead
Sydney, Australia/Wellington, New Zealand Reuters All the homes on one of Tonga’s small outer islands have been destroyed by a massive volcanic eruption and tsunami, with three people so far confirmed dead, the government said on Tuesday in its first update since the disaster struck. With communications badly hampered by the severing of an undersea cable, […]
Around 20 killed in deadliest coalition strikes on Yemen’s Sanaa since 2019
Aden, Yemen Reuters Air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthi group on the capital Sanaa killed at least 20 people overnight, including civilians, Houthi media and residents said, in one of its deadliest attacks since 2019. Around 14 people were killed when coalition planes struck the home of a high-ranking Houthi military official, […]
Australia suffers deadliest day of pandemic as Omicron drives up hospital cases
Sydney, Australia Reuters Australia on Tuesday suffered its deadliest day of the pandemic as a fast-moving Omicron outbreak continued to push up hospitalisation rates to record levels, even as daily infections eased slightly. Australia is dealing with its worst COVID-19 outbreak, fuelled by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus that has put more people in […]
Guatemala pushes back 622 migrants from US-bound caravan
Guatemala City, Guatemala Reuters Guatemalan authorities said on Monday they have sent back more than 600 migrants who entered the country in a caravan that was bound for the United States. Guatemala’s foreign ministry said 622 people, mainly from Honduras and Nicaragua, entered through border posts with Honduras, with minors making up about a quarter […]
Invest in nature and reap cash benefits, World Economic Forum urges cities
Barcelona, Spain Thomson Reuters Foundation After a landslide in 2017 killed 1,141 people and left more than 3,000 homeless in Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown, the recovery plan included training residents to plant 21,000 native trees to reduce the risk of future disasters on bare hillsides. Amid erratic and unusually heavy rains, as well as urban […]
Fund to preserve, assist Black churches in US gets $US20 million donation
Birmingham, Alabama, US AP A new effort to preserve historic Black churches in the United States has received a $US20 million donation that will go to help congregations including one that was slammed during the tornado that killed more than 20 people in Mayfield, Kentucky, last month. Lilly Endowment Inc, which supports religious, educational and […]
Damage on tsunami-hit Tonga’s main island hampering relief efforts
Sydney, Australia/Wellington, New Zealand Reuters Significant damage was reported along the western coast of Tonga’s main island on Tuesday following the weekend’s massive volcanic eruption and tsunami, but a closed airport and downed communications are hampering international relief efforts. The New Zealand High Commission reported the damage along the western coast of the main island […]