As soldiers mutiny in Burkina Faso, government dismisses talk of coup
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Reuters Sustained gunfire rang out from military camps in Burkina Faso on Sunday as mutinying soldiers demanded more support for their fight against Islamist militants and protesters ransacked the headquarters of President Roch Kabore’s political party. The government called for calm, denying speculation on social media that the army had seized power […]
Conversations: Author and singer Jakki Civeriati on her experiences of emotional abuse and how she overcome them with Christ’s help
SAMANTHA ELLEY speaks to Jakki Civeriati about her book ‘Goodbye for Now or Goodbye Forever’…
“Another crime” say survivors of coalition strikes on Yemeni detention centre
Saada, Yemen Reuters Yemeni detainee Mohammed Ali Salem was lucky that a missile fired by warplanes of the Saudi-led coalition on the next ward caused a wave strong enough to shatter the door of his own cell. That was how he was able to escape before a second bomb fell. People gather to protest outside […]
Pope calls for world day of prayer over Ukraine crisis; confers lay ministries on women, formalising recognition of roles
Vatican City Reuters Pope Francis on Sunday called for an international day of “prayer for peace” on 26th January to stop the Ukraine crisis from worsening, saying the tensions were threatening the security of Europe and risking vast repercussions. Francis announced the prayer day and made the appeal for dialogue to defuse the crisis during […]
Tonga struggles with ash, psychological trauma after eruption and tsunami
Sydney, Australia Reuters Families have stopped children playing outside as Tonga struggles to deal with ash and the psychological fallout of last week’s volcanic eruption and tsunami, aid workers and residents said. Communication with the outside world remained difficult on Sunday, with few internet services, and outlying islands still cut off from the phone service. […]
US opposes plans to strengthen World Health Organization
Brussels, Belgium Reuters The United States, the World Health Organization’s top donor, is resisting proposals to make the agency more independent, four officials involved in the talks said, raising doubts about the Biden administration’s long-term support for the UN agency. The proposal, made by the WHO’s working group on sustainable financing, would increase each member […]
Two priests, two lay people beatified in El Salvador
San Salvador, El Salvador AP The Roman Catholic Church beatified two priests and two lay people Saturday, all victims of right-wing death squads during El Salvador’s civil war. Rev Rutilio Grande, a Jesuit priest killed alongside friends Manuel Solorzano and teenager Nelson Lemus on 12th March, 1977, was known for his ministry to the poor […]
Residents of Ukrainian city near Russian border brace for the unknown
Kharkiv, Ukraine Reuters Residents in Ukraine’s second biggest city Kharkiv said they hoped for the best but would prepare for the worst, as Russia massed tens of thousands of troops near Ukraine’s borders and diplomatic talks failed to produce a breakthrough. Kharkiv, an industrial city in eastern Ukraine that is home to tank, aircraft and […]
Nigeria extremists still “very dangerous”, says UN official
Abuja, Nigeria AP The Islamic extremist insurgency in north-east Nigeria is a “very, very dangerous [and] very threatening” crisis that needs more than $US1 billion in aid in 2022 to assist those hit by the decade-long conflict, United Nations humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said. In an interview with The Associated Press, Griffiths, head of the […]
Girls in school: In Uganda, Anglican Church and government disagree on policy allowing pregnant students to return to school
JOHN SEMAKULA reports on how the Anglican Church’s ban on allowing expectant girls to attend schools has put them at odds with government policy and sparked a heated debate in the country…