The Vatican’s charity office invited around 2,000 poor and marginalized people to a circus performance in Rome on Saturday. “Making it possible to participate in this performance is a way to give a few hours of contentment to those who are confronted with a hard life and need help to nurture hope,” Pope Francis’ almoner, Read more
A bipartisan congressional commission chaired by Rep Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, announced Thursday the nomination of six Hong Kongers, including Cardinal Joseph Zen and jailed Catholic media mogul Jimmy Lai, for the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts in the cause of human rights. “Jimmy Lai, Cardinal Joseph Zen, Tonyee Chow Hang-tung, Gwyneth Ho, Lee Read more
School principals across the country are having to get creative to make sure kids are in class as back-to-school costs hit families. As prices rise on the supermarket shelves and at the petrol pump, the costs of sending tamariki to school has taken a toll on many families. In Rotorua, Western Heights Primary School principal Read more
Pope Francis says he is deeply saddened to learn of the huge loss of life caused by a powerful earthquake that has struck south-eastern Turkey and north-western Syria. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked wide swaths of the neighbouring countries early Monday morning, toppling hundreds of buildings and killing thousands of people. Hundreds are still believed Read more
The head of the Pharmacy Guild says community pharmacies are shutting down thanks to the influx of Australian-owned discount chains. Chief executive Andrew Gaudin warns in the long-term, this will reduce access to essential healthcare services – particularly for people outside the main centres. Discount pharmacies like the Chemist Warehouse and Countdown supermarket stores do Read more
Inflation in Laos hit 40.3% in January, according to the country’s National Statistics Bureau, and even normally well-off state employees are feeling the squeeze. “We’re seeing a lot of hardship,” said a public sector worker in Phongsaly province, along northern Laos’ border with China. “Most state employees have to bring their lunch to the office Read more
The people of Congo are more precious than any of the gems or minerals found in the earth beneath their feet, yet they have been slaughtered by warmongers and exploited by prospectors, Pope Francis said. “This country, so immense and full of life, this diaphragm of Africa, struck by violence like a blow to the Read more
Terrified residents expressed grave shock as North Korean authorities publicly executed three teenagers by firing squad including two who allegedly watched and distributed South Korean movies, says a report. A third teenager was accused of murdering his stepmother, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported on Dec 2 quoting witnesses. The officials in the ultra-communist pariah state Read more
The New Zealand Catholic Education Office continues to be approached by schools and proprietors of schools who have been negatively impacted by the implementation of the New Zealand Equity Index (EQI). What seems apparent is that a number of schools in more impoverished and disadvantaged urban areas have lost significant funds from their operational grants, Read more
Pope Francis has tightened control and oversight over Vatican-based foundations and associations in his latest effort to impose international standards of accounting and governance on Vatican offices and affiliated entities. A new law aims to bring the Holy See into further compliance with recommendations from the Council of Europe’s Moneyval committee, which in April 2021 Read more