Thailand has been urged to allow cross-border humanitarian aid to be delivered to Myanmar and protect refugees fleeing the ongoing fighting, according to a new report. The Southeast Asian nation is grappling with political, economic and humanitarian crises following the 1 February 2021 military coup which toppled the elected civilian government, triggering nationwide protests and Read more
News Shorts
New Zealand pledges $12.6 million for gender equality in Fiji
Monday, July 18th, 2022Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today pledged $12.6 million to support Fiji’s Gender Action Programme which will also help the South Pacific nation to address broader issues such as child poverty alleviation and other initiatives. Speaking at a breakfast programme organised by the Fijian government at the Museum in Suva this morning, Ms Ardern said that Read more
WHO calls on countries to bring back mask rules as Covid ‘runs free’
Monday, July 18th, 2022Fresh surges of Covid infections show the pandemic is nowhere near over, the World Health Organisation’s chief has said, warning the virus is running free. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was worried case numbers were shooting up, putting more strain on health systems and workers. The number of Covid cases reported to the WHO increased Read more
Missionary priest’s hunger strike protests Hong Kong activists’ detention
Monday, July 18th, 2022An elderly Catholic missionary in Hong Kong has launched a three-day hunger strike outside a high-security prison. He demands the release of politicians and activists incarcerated under the city’s Beijing-imposed controversial national security law. Father Franco Mella, 74, a member of the Milan-based Pontifical Institute of Foreign Missions, has vowed to abstain from food as Read more
Quebec judge rejects $28-million class-action settlement in Catholic church sex-abuse case
Saturday, July 16th, 2022A Quebec Superior Court judge has rejected a $28-million settlement in a sex-abuse lawsuit against a Catholic religious order because of the high legal fees associated with the agreement. The agreement would have awarded the Montreal law firm Arsenault, Dufresne and Wee, representing the plaintiffs, more than $8 million in fees. Justice Thomas M Davis Read more
Francis names three women to bishop selecting committee
Thursday, July 14th, 2022
The Holy See Press Office on July 13 announced that Pope Francis has appointed three women to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops. The role of the dicastery is to help the pope in the appointment of Catholic bishops for Latin-rite dioceses outside what the Vatican considers the mission territories, for example, Australia. Bishop appointments to Read more
Coal surpasses iron ore as Australian company’s biggest export
Thursday, July 14th, 2022Australia’s largest coal miner, Glencore, says trade figures showing the fossil fuel eclipsed iron ore in May as the nation’s most valuable export underline its continuing importance in energy security, industry and the broader global economy. In a sign of coal’s enduring near-term demand despite accelerating global action on emissions, data from the Australian Bureau Read more
Russian Kiwis who oppose Ukraine war targeted by death threats and hate speech
Thursday, July 14th, 2022Bitter divisions in New Zealand’s Russian community have led to hate speech and death threats, with many now afraid to speak out against Putin even though they don’t support the Russian president’s invasion of Ukraine. The animosity has deepened to the point where police and the Race Relations Commissioner have become involved. Commissioner Meng Foon Read more