Hong Kong Bishop hopes for closer ties with Beijing diocese
Beijing, China AP Hong Kong’s Roman Catholic bishop said in a historic trip to Beijing that he hopes the dioceses of the two cities will have more exchanges and cooperation, local media reported Thursday amid signs of Sino-Vatican strains. Bishop Stephen Chow made the remarks during a Mass that was also attended by his counterpart in Beijing, […]
Ukraine’s rightful place is in NATO, alliance chief says in rare visit to Kyiv
Kyiv, Ukraine Reuters Ukraine’s future lies in NATO, the Western military alliance’s chief Jens Stoltenberg underscored on Thursday during his first visit to the country since Russia’s invasion 14 months ago. “Let me be clear: Ukraine’s rightful place is in the euro-Atlantic family. Ukraine’s rightful place is in NATO. And over time, our support will […]
UN chief calls for three-day ceasefire in Sudan as thousands flee
Khartoum, Sudan Reuters UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to Sudan’s warring factions to observe a ceasefire over the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday to allow civilians to reach safe areas as rival forces battled for a sixth day on Thursday. Thousands of civilians streamed out of the capital Khartoum as gunfire and explosions sounded. Large numbers […]
Yemen stampede: At least 78 killed in surge for Ramadan donations
Sana’a, Yemen Reuters At least 78 people were killed in a stampede in the Yemeni capital Sana’a as residents gathered at a school to receive cash donations distributed by merchants during Ramadan, witnesses and the Houthi administration said on Thursday. Hundreds of people crowded to receive the alms, which amounted to 5,000 Yemeni riyals, or […]
On the Screen: ‘Jesus Revolution’ explores a revival which impacted a generation
DAVID ADAMS watches ‘Jesus Revolution’…
Searching for the disappeared must be priority at Colombia peace talks -official
Bogota, Colombia Reuters The search for tens of thousands of people who were disappeared during Colombia’s six-decade conflict must be a priority at peace and surrender talks with rebel groups and crime gangs, the top official tasked with finding them said on Wednesday. At least 104,600 people have been forcibly disappeared in connection with Colombia’s […]
Russia increases shelling, air strikes in Bakhmut – Ukrainian general
Kyiv, Ukraine Reuters Russian forces are stepping up their use of heavy artillery and air strikes in the devastated eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, the commander of Ukraine’s ground forces said on Tuesday. Fighting in and around Bakhmut has for months been the epicentre of the war in Ukraine. A Ukrainian serviceman of the 24th […]
British, Irish PMs open to Good Friday Agreement reforms when time right
Belfast, Northern Ireland Reuters The Irish and British Prime Ministers said on Wednesday that they were open to considering reforming Northern Ireland’s Good Friday peace accord, but that any debate could only happen when the powersharing government underpinning it was restored. Irish nationalists and pro-British unionist politicians are obliged to share power under the deal, […]
Mental health: How the teen crisis is turning some youth pastors into first responders
Young people, youth pastors in the US say, are pushing the church to be more willing to talk about mental health. ELIZABETH E EVANS, of Religion News Service, reports…
India to have 2.9 million more people than China by mid-2023, UN estimates
New Delhi, India Reuters India is on its way to becoming the world’s most populous nation, overtaking China with almost three million more people in the middle of this year, data released on Wednesday by the United Nations showed. India’s population is estimated at 1,428.6 million, or 1.4286 billion, against 1.4257 billion for China in […]