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India on Tuesday ratified two key global agreements on eradicating child slavery, committing the country to adopting international labour standards on the employment of minors and allowing it to be subjected to scrutiny by other nations. India's census found there were more than four million labourers aged between five and 14 in 2011 out of 168 million globally, but activists say millions more are at risk due to poverty.Indian Minister of Labour Bandaru Dattatreya said in statement the ratification reaffirmed the country's "commitment to a child labour free society." The International Labour Organization's Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour and the Minimum Age Convention form the bedrock of global guidelines for countries to legislate nationally. Ratifying the conventions - which specify a minimum age of work and prohibit using minors in areas like armed conflict, prostitution or drug trafficking - means nations must adopt t...
Catholic leaders from across Myanmar recently came together to discuss plans and strategies in rebuilding the nation laid waste by nearly 50 years of brutal military rule. Seventy-two bishops, priests, nuns and laypeople attended the "Mission planning for nation building" workshop held at the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Myanmar (CBCM) office in Yangon June 8-10. "We come together as one mind, one heart to find a common platform so as to effectively contribute to the building of the nation," said Bishop Raymond Sumlut Gam of Banmaw who is based in conflict-torn Kachin State. Bishop Gam, who is also chairman of Karuna (Caritas) Myanmar, said the Catholic Church should play a greater role in nation building especially in through education and healthcare. 5-YEAR ROAD MAPThe three-day workshop focused on finalizing the church's vision, mission and objectives for a five-year plan 2018-2022. During the workshop, participant...
Heavy rains have triggered a series of landslides and floods in Bangladesh and neighbouring northeast India, killing at least 156 people over two days, and officials warned on Wednesday the toll could rise. The latest casualties come almost a fortnight after Cyclone Mora killed at least seven people and damaged tens of thousands of homes. BANGLADESHLandslides hit three hilly districts in Bangladesh's southeast early on Tuesday, killing 100 people in Rangamati, 36 in Chittagong and six in Bandarban, said Reaz Ahmed, head of the department of disaster management. Fresh landslides on Wednesday killed one person in the district of Khagrachari and two in the coastal town of Cox's Bazar, he added. The town bordering Myanmar is home to thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees and was just beginning to recover from Cyclone Mora. The death toll could rise as rescuers search for bodies. Shah Kamal, the secretary of Bangladesh's disaster ministry, said t...
The World Bank on Tuesday approved a grant of more than $550 million to help finance a series of projects to improve the economy and help five cities cater to Afghan refugees returning from Pakistan. The six grants, including donor money, worth some $520 million would help the Afghan government "at a time of uncertainty when risks to the economy are significant." The international troop withdrawal, which began in 2011, and political uncertainties have impacted Afghanistan's economy, while a worsening security situation has added to budget pressures, the World Bank said. "The package will help Afghanistan with refugees, expand private-sector opportunities for the poor, boost the development of five cities, expand electrification, improve food security and build rural roads," the World Bank said in a statement. In May, a World Bank report said economic growth in the country was likely to pick up this year but not enough to provide jobs needed...
The Bishop Emeritus of Torit in South Sudan, Paride Taban Kenyi, 81 has been honoured by the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby with the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation. South Sudan’s Catholic Radio Network (CRN) reports that Bishop Paride recently wrote to thank Archbishop Welby for the honour. The award was given to Bishop Paride at a Lambeth Palace ceremony recently. In his letter, Bishop Paride expressed appreciation to Archbishop Welby for the award. The Catholic prelate described the award as a credit to activities of the Holy Trinity Kuron Peace Village and all people of South Sudan. He asked Archbishop Welby to continue praying for South Sudan’s peace.Bishop Paride is also winner of the 2013 United Nations’ Sergio Vieira de Mello Prize in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in South Sudan. It all started in 1999 when Bishop Paride established the Holy Trinity Kuron Peace Village in South S...
(Vatican Radio) The Holy See and the State of Israel has released a joint communique, detailing the progress made by the Bilateral Permanent Working Commission on Tuesday.The Commission met on 13 June in a Plenary Session "to continue negotiations pursuant to the Fundamental Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Israel of 1993, Art. 10 paragraph 2."The communique says participants were "pleased with the progress accomplished at the working level regarding the negotiations, and the cordial atmosphere in which the meetings took place."It also expresses the Plenary's hopes "for a rapid conclusion of ongoing negotiations and the signing of the document."The official English-language translation of the joint communique is below:The Bilateral Permanent Working Commission between the Holy See and the State of Israel met today, 13th June 2017, in Vatican City, at the Plenary level, to continue negotiations pursuant to the Fundame...
(Vatican Radio) The 20th meeting of the Council of Cardinals concluded on Wednesday in the Vatican.A briefing by Greg Burke, Director of the Holy See Press Office, said the so-called C9 members met with the Pope for three days. The next such meeting is scheduled to take place in September.The Council is studying the plans for reforming the Apostolic Constitution “Pastor Bonus” on the Roman Curia. Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni: According to Burke amongst the topics under discussion were new ways in which the Roman Curia can better serve the local Churches, further decentralization of Roman Dicasteries, the status of unmarried and widowed deacons and internal issues regarding various Dicasteries of the Curia.Cardinal George Pell reportedly provided an update on the work of the Secretariat for the Economy, of which he is the President, while the prefect of the Secretariat for Communications, Monsignor Dario Edoardo Viganò presented a report on th...
Vatican City, Jun 14, 2017 / 03:47 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Wednesday, Pope Francis said that God’s love isn’t something we earn or deserve by our good works, but that it is free and unconditional – no matter what.“God's first step towards us is that of an anticipated and unconditional love. God loves first,” Pope Francis said June 14.“God does not love us because there is some reason that causes love. God loves us because He Himself is love, and love tends to spread and give by its nature. God does not even tie his benevolence to our conversion: if anything this is a consequence of God's love.”“Saint Paul says it perfectly,” he continued: “‘God demonstrates his love for us in the fact that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us’ (Rm 5:8).”“None of us can live without love,” the Pope said, but to believe that love is earned is to fall into a type of slavery. “Perhaps much of...
Vatican City, Jun 14, 2017 / 06:31 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis and the Council of Cardinals held their 20th round of meetings in Rome this week, continuing their work on reform of the Roman Curia, including their discussion of ways the Curia can better serve local churches.According to a June 14 communique, the meetings largely continued the work of previous gatherings, including progress on the possibility of transferring some faculties from Vatican dicasteries to local bishops or episcopal conferences “in a spirit of healthy decentralization.”Proposals also considered ways in which the Curia could deepen service to the local churches, as well as widen the scope of those consulted in the proposal of candidates for bishop appointments to include more lay people and members of consecrated life.Taking place at the Vatican June 12-14, all nine members were present for the five sessions of meetings, with the exception of Cardinal Sean O’Malley. Pope Francis was p...
Washington D.C., Jun 14, 2017 / 08:44 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Republican House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, 51, was among multiple persons shot in an incident at a Congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia, Wednesday morning.Scalise, a Catholic, was shot at the hip and was transported to surgery. He is reportedly in stable condition.“Prior to entering surgery, the Whip was in good spirits and spoke to his wife by phone,” Scalise’s office said in a statement. “He is grateful for the brave actions of U.S. Capitol Police, first responders, and colleagues.”After hearing about the shooting, House Democrats at a separate baseball practice started a spontaneous prayer for the victims..@HouseDemocrats praying for our @HouseGOP @SenateGOP baseball colleagues after hearing about the horrific shooting. https://t.co/y2HEUaSuzd pic.twitter.com/6HBrlnxtey— Rep. Ruben J. Kihuen (@RepKihuen) June 14, 2017A total of five people were “medically tra...
