Disasters caused total of $US122 billion in insured losses in 2022 – Swiss Re

Zurich, Switzerland Reuters Hurricane Ian and other natural catastrophes have caused an estimated $US115 billion of insured losses so far this year, well above the 10-year average of $US81 billion, Swiss Re estimated on Thursday. Natural and man-made disasters did economic damage of $US268 billion, of which $US122 billion was covered by insurance, making 2022 […]
Postcards: In Philadelphia, artwork brings Catholic Church’s synod to life

KYLE DESROSIERS, of Religion News Service, reports on how artwork reflecting the thoughts of young Catholics in Philadelphia points to the contentious issues swirling as the continental phase of the Synod on Synodality begins…
Pope reschedules Congo, South Sudan trip

Vatican City AP Pope Francis has rescheduled his delayed trip to Congo and South Sudan for 31st January to 5th February, cutting out a stop in Congo’s conflict-ravaged east but fulfilling a years-long wish to accompany other Christian leaders to the young nation of South Sudan. The Vatican on Thursday published the itinerary of the […]
From Ukraine to Yemen, UN seeks record $US51.5 billion for “shockingly high” aid needs

Geneva, Switzerland Reuters The United Nations and partners on Thursday appealed for a record $US51.5 billion in aid money for 2023, with tens of millions of additional people expected to need assistance, testing the humanitarian response system “to its limits”. The appeal represents a 25 per cent increase on 2022 and is more than five […]
Ukraine says Russia pulls back forces from river towns opposite Kherson

Kherson, Ukraine Reuters Ukraine’s military on Thursday said Russia had pulled some troops from towns on the opposite bank of the Dnipro River from Kherson city, the first official Ukrainian report of a Russian withdrawal on what is now the main front line in the south. The statement gave only limited details and made no […]
Biden, Macron vow to hold Russia accountable for “war crimes” in Ukraine

Washington DC, US Reuters US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron renewed their commitment to fighting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Thursday in a White House meeting where the allies also acknowledged tensions over handling the economic stress of the war. Biden is hosting Macron at the first state visit since the US […]
Black newspapers, piles of bouquets as China mourns late leader Jiang Zemin

Beijing, China Reuters Chinese newspapers turned their front pages black on Thursday and flags were put at half mast in mourning for the death of former President Jiang Zemin, while well-wishers laid piles of bouquets outside his childhood home. Jiang died in his home city of Shanghai just after noon on Wednesday of leukaemia and […]
Australia on track for upgraded emission reduction targets, government says

Sydney, Australia Reuters Australia is on track to meet recently beefed up climate action targets once a raft of new measures, including a $A15 billion national reconstruction fund, is implemented, the government said on Thursday. Australia was for years an international laggard on efforts to prevent climate change but the recently elected Labor government has […]
Ukraine security service searches monastery, warns of “subversive activities”

Kyiv, Ukraine Reuters Ukraine’s SBU security service conducted a fresh search of a monastery in the west of the country on Wednesday in what it said was an operation to counter suspected “subversive activities by Russian special services.” The search, in the Mukachevo diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Transcarpathia, was the latest in […]
Know It All: Hawaii’s Mauna Loa

JONATHAN ALLEN, of Reuters, looks at some facts and figures about Hawaii’s Mauna Loa volcano…