Cardinal George Pell’s funeral sees mourners and protesters clash

Published

2 months ago

2023/02/2

Priyan

Protesters and mourners clash outside George Pell’s funeral in Sydney (picture BBC)

BBC reported that mourners and protesters have gathered – and clashed – at the funeral for Cardinal George Pell in his Australian homeland.

The Catholic Cardinal died in Rome last month, aged 81, after complications from hip surgery.

Formerly one of the Pope’s top aides, Cardinal Pell was Australia’s highest-ranking Catholic.

But his public image was tainted by unproven allegations he concealed and committed child sexual abuse.

Inside St Mary’s Cathedral, where Cardinal Pell served as Archbishop of Sydney for over a decade, dignitaries including former Prime Ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott filled pews.

Noticeably absent were Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet – himself a devout Catholic. Both sent delegates.

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Ukraine to clinch first IMF loan to nation at war

Published

7 hours ago

2023/03/22

Priyan

(picture BBC)

BBC reported that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it has reached an agreement with Ukraine on funding worth $15.6bn (£12.8bn).

The organisation’s first loan to a country at war is expected to be approved in the coming weeks. It would also be one of the largest financing packages Ukraine has received since Russia’s invasion. The IMF recently changed a rule to allow loans to countries facing “exceptionally high uncertainty”.

“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to have a devastating impact on the economy: activity contracted by 30 percent in 2022, a large share of the capital stock has been destroyed, and poverty levels have climbed,” IMF official Gavin Gray said in a statement.

“The programme has been designed in line with the new fund’s policy on lending under exceptionally high uncertainty, and strong financing assurances are expected from donors, including the G7 and EU.” Gray also said the agreement would “mobilise large-scale concessional financing” for Ukraine from international donors and partners, without giving further details. The funding still needs to be approved by the IMF’s executive board.

The IMF expects Ukraine’s economy to record a slight contraction or growth this year.

Foreign News

Journalist opens USB letter bomb in newsroom

Published

19 hours ago

2023/03/22

Priyan

BBC reported that Journalists across Ecuador have been targeted by explosive devices sent through the post.

One presenter, Lenin Artieda, was injured when he opened the envelope in the middle of the newsroom. He said the explosive device looked like a USB drive. He plugged it into his computer and it detonated.

The Ecuadorean attorney-general’s department confirmed it had opened a terrorism investigation into the letters on Monday. It did not name the specific news outlets targeted. However, at least five different organisations across Ecuador were sent the letters.

The government has condemned the attacks, describing freedom of expression as “a right that must be respected. .Any attempt to intimidate journalism and freedom of expression is a loathsome action that should be punished with all the rigour of justice,” it said in a statement.

Foreign News

Ramadan to begin on Thursday in Saudi Arabia, Qatar

Published

19 hours ago

2023/03/22

Priyan

A woman checks a telescope before looking for the moon to mark the start of Islam's holy month of Ramadan near the Dome of the Rock shrine at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the old city of Jerusalem (pic Aljazeera)

Aljazeera reported that based on the expected sighting of the crescent moon, authorities in Qatar and Saudi Arabia have announced, that the holy month of Ramadan will start on Thursday,

Saudi Arabia’s supreme court declared on Tuesday evening that Wednesday would be the last day of the Islamic calendar month of Shaban, which precedes Ramadan, meaning the Muslim holy month will begin the following day, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.

Ramadan is determined by the Islamic lunar calendar, which begins at the first sight of the moon.

Officials in the Palestinian territories and in Egypt also announced that Ramadan would begin on Thursday.

Meanwhile, authorities in Jordan, Algeria and Morocco said they will wait until Wednesday to decide whether Ramadan would start on Thursday or Friday.

Muslims believe that Ramadan is the month in which the first verses of the Holy Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad more than 1,400 years ago.