German bishops assure Vatican but vow to proceed with reform

Vatican City AP Germany’s Catholic bishops insisted Saturday that their reform process won’t lead to a schism and vowed to see it through, after tense meetings with Vatican officials who want a moratorium on proposals to ordain women, bless same-sex unions and rethink church teaching on sexuality. The head of the German bishops’ conference, Bishop […]
Iran leader says “enemies” may target workers as protests rage

Dubai, United Arab Emirates Reuters Protests raged on at Iranian universities and in some cities on Saturday as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned the country’s “enemies” may try to mobilise workers after failing to topple the Islamic government in more than two months of unrest. One of the boldest challenges to Iran’s clerical leaders […]
Ukraine’s prosecutor general says more than 400 children killed in war to date

Kyiv, Ukraine Reuters At least 437 Ukrainian children have been killed as a result of Russia’s invasion, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s office said on Saturday. More than 837 children have also been injured in a tally officials said was “not final” because they were still verifying information from zones of active fighting, liberated areas and territory […]
Ukraine sells last batch of bracelets made from Azovstal steel

Kyiv, Ukraine Reuters The last batch of bracelets made from metal produced by the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, a symbol of Ukrainian resistance to Russia’s invasion, have gone on sale across Ukraine. Proceeds from the bracelets, which are on sale for around $US40, will go to an organisation helping finance the procurement and maintenance […]
Vatican urges German Catholic Church to put brakes on reform

Rome, Italy AP Top Vatican cardinals tried to put the brakes on the German Catholic Church’s controversial reform process on Friday, fearing proposals concerning gays, women and sexual morals will split the church and insisting they would be better debated later. The Vatican and the German bishops conference issued a joint statement after a week […]
Tunisia’s milk shortage leaves farmers poor and the public angry

Tunis, Tunisia Reuters Tunisian dairy farmer Maher Gizmir has sold nearly half his cows this year and reduced his daily output by 85 per cent, adding to a shortage of milk around the country as a cash-strapped government wrestles with inflation. Like many other dairy farmers, Gizmir says he can no longer afford to produce […]
Malaysia votes in general election, Anwar expected to lead tight race

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Reuters Malaysians were voting in a closely run general election on Saturday, a contest that may not end years of political instability as polls point to no clear winner in the South-East Asian nation. Longtime opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition is forecast to win the greatest number of parliamentary seats but fail […]
No water: Middle East’s Fertile Crescent dries up as rains fail

AMINA ISMAIL and MAHA EL DAHAN, of Reuters, report on the climate crisis facing Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries that could fuel more turmoil in the region as communities fight over dwindling water resources…
Nigerian churches provide material and spiritual support to those impacted by floods

Nairobi, Kenya Hundreds of churches in Nigeria continue to help victims of flood disasters that left more than 600 people dead in the worst floods the country has experienced in more than a decade. The floods that began in the West African nation of more than 200 million in July have spread to 34 of […]