Ethiopia declares six-month state of emergency in Amhara after clashes
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Reuters Ethiopia’s government declared a six-month state of emergency on Friday in the country’s second-largest region, Amhara, following days of clashes between the military and local Fano militiamen, giving it powers to impose curfews, restrict movement and ban gatherings. The fighting that broke out earlier this week has quickly become Ethiopia’s most […]
In Portugal, thousands reflect with Pope on modern worries, endangered planet
Lisbon, Portugal Reuters Hundreds of thousands of young people reflected on their anxieties, enslavement to the “tyranny” of social media and yearning to save the planet at a huge outdoor rally with Pope Francis on Friday. It took nearly an hour for the open vehicle carrying the 86-year-old Pope to drive slowly through the crowd at Lisbon’s […]
South Africa’s recognition of sign language signals new hope for the deaf
Johannesburg, South Africa Reuters Bongumusa Manana, a 19-year-old deaf student who studies in a township in Johannesburg, sees South Africa’s move to recognise sign as an official language as a huge breakthrough that will help him to get to university and make his “dreams come true”. President Cyril Ramaphosa signed legislation into law last month […]
Ukraine’s Zelenskiy decries “revolting” practices at recruitment centres
Reuters President Volodymyr Zelenskiy this week decried “revolting” practices exposed during an audit of Ukraine’s military recruitment centres and pledged to fix the system by placing in charge people who understood the meaning of war. Zelenskiy has expressed indignation at corruption uncovered during the audit last month after a high-profile incident of wrongdoing came to […]
Snapshot: Cane Garden Bay, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
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Explainer – Ukraine: When do attacks on civilian installations amount to war crimes?
The Hague, The Netherlands Reuters Russian air strikes this week hit silos and shipping terminals for Ukrainian grain, potentially violating international law, which forbids attacks on resources essential to the civilian population. Drone attacks wrecked buildings in the port of Izmail and prevented ships on the Danube River from loading grain for export. Around 100,000 […]
Putin foe Navalny expects to be jailed for many more years
Moscow, Russia Reuters Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny expects a court to extend his prison sentence by nearly two decades on Friday, in a criminal case which he and his supporters say was trumped up to keep him behind bars and out of politics for even longer. Navalny, 47, President Vladimir Putin’s fiercest domestic critic, […]
Clashes displace 20,000 in Palestinian camp in south Lebanon – Save the Children
Beirut, LebanonReuters Clashes between rival factions in the Palestinian camp of Ain el-Hilweh in southern Lebanon have displaced 20,000 residents, including about 12,000 children, Save the Children said on Thursday. At least 13 people – most of them militants – have been killed in the camp since fighting broke out on Saturday between mainstream faction […]
Canadian wildfire emissions double previous record as flames rage on
Ottawa, Canada Reuters Forest fires in Canada this year have released 290 million tonnes of carbon, doubling a previous annual record, and emissions are set to rise as hundreds of flames remain active across the country, according to the EU’s Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service. The estimated Canadian fires emissions account for over 25 per cent […]
Portuguese town to restore clergy sex abuse billboard after outcry
Lisbon, Portugal Reuters A Portuguese town said on Thursday it would reinstall a billboard highlighting sexual abuse by clergy after facing heavy criticism for removing it on the day Pope Francis arrived in the country to attend a massive youth event. Francis landed in Lisbon on Wednesday for the week-long World Youth Day, an event […]