Senhor, tem piedade de nos

"Let us pray for the Church and for the world."
--Prayers of the People, Form IV (BCP)

Swaziland
Bishop of Swaziland speaks truth to power
Bishop Meshack Mabuza, of the Diocese of Swaziland, has come out strongly in opposition to the new government in his country. Mabuza is critical in particular of the new constitution put in place by King Mswati III, the last absolute ruler in Africa. The Diocese of Swaziland is part of the Anglican Province of South Africa.

According to an article in Religious Intelligence by Canon George Conger:

"On Feb 6, 2006 a new constitution went into effect granting parliamentary government. However, it forbad candidates from forming political parties, effectively giving the King the sole authority to appointment ministers and squelching organized dissent.
The new constitution was being used by royalists as a ‘fig-leaf to cover the international shame of 33 years of rule by decree’ by the King, Bishop Mabuza charged. It was a ‘piece of paper that is not being promoted or even defended by the government,’ he said, and its guarantees of the rule of law had been ignored.

The Episcopal Church
House of Bishops spring meeting begins
The House of Bishops begins its spring meeting today with a number of items on the agenda. A primary focus of the meeting will be faith-based reconciliation training as part of the preparations for this summer's Lambeth Conference. The reconciliation workshops will be led by Canon Brian Cox, a nationally known figure in reconciliation work, and one of the two priests appointed as interim pastoral presence in the Diocese San Joaquin.

Employment in the United States (noted by an unemployed blogger)
Employers Slash Jobs by Most in 5 Years
Forbes - 55 minutes ago
By JEANNINE AVERSA 03.07.08, 1:03 PM ET Employers slashed 63000 jobs in February, the most in five years and the starkest sign yet that the country is heading dangerously toward recession or is in one already.

Israel - Hamas
Analysis: seminary attack highlights Jerusalem's vulnerability
Times Online - 1 hour ago
After weeks of empty rhetoric and very little active diplomacy, America’s peace efforts in the Middle East have now come to a crossroads.
Hamas Claims Responsibility for Jerusalem Shooting Voice of America
Gunman in Jerusalem Attack Identified New York Times

Latin America
Uribe Tears Into Correa at Summit With FARC Charges (Update1)
Bloomberg - 59 minutes ago
By Joshua Goodman March 7 (Bloomberg) -- Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe tore into his Ecuadorean counterpart Rafael Correa during a regional summit, accusing the socialist leader of receiving campaign money from Colombian guerrillas.
Ecuador, Colombia fight for border crisis support Reuters UK
Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela leaders face off AFP

"Iván Rios" - FARC guerrilla leader

Muere 'Iván Ríos', uno de los jefes de la cúpula de las FARC
Terra España - hace 1 hora
José Juvenal Velandia, alias 'Iván Ríos', uno de los jefes de la cúpula de la guerrilla de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), murió en un enfrentamiento con el Ejército. 'Iván Ríos' falleció en una operación del Ejército contra las ...

Spain
Eta blamed for murder of Socialist Party councillor Isaías Carrasco
Times Online - 1 hour ago
Spain's election campaign was thrown into disarray today by an apparent act of terrorism, when a politician was gunned down in front of wife and daughter just two days before the vote.
Killing in Spain Curtails Campaign New York Times
Killing halts Spanish poll rallies Aljazeera.net

Thailand - Global Arms Trade
Thai Inquiry Set in Arms Sales Case
New York Times - 3 hours ago
By SETH MYDANS and DAVID JOHNSTON BANGKOK - The Thai police said Friday that a Russian businessman regarded as one of the world’s most notorious arms dealers would be held here for investigation even as the United States seeks his extradition.
'Merchant of Death' arrested in Thailand Christian Science Monitor
Int'l weapon trafficker to face trial in Thailand before extradition Xinhua

Japan - High Seas - Activists
Activists, Whalers Clash in Antarctic
The Associated Press - 2 hours ago
TOKYO (AP) - The Japanese coast guard said Friday that anti-whaling activists threw rotten butter and other objects at a Japanese whale-processing ship, the latest high seas clash over the country's annual hunt.
Anti-whaling activist says whaler shot him United Press International
Anti-whalers claim Japan opened fire on them Telegraph.co.uk

Palestine - Israel
Gaza talks make no progress
BBC News - 4 hours ago
A Hamas delegation has returned to Gaza after talks with Egyptian mediators about a possible truce with Israel. A Hamas official, Ahmed Youssef, said on Thursday his group could not consider a ceasefire while Palestinians were being attacked on a daily ...
ANALYSIS: Jerusalem attack deals another blow to peace process Monsters and Critics.com
Diplomacy: War and piecemeal Jerusalem Post

United States - Mexico
Border Patrol expands zero tolerance zones in Texas, New Mexico
Houston Chronicle - 3 hours ago
By ALICIA A. CALDWELL AP EL PASO - A US Border Patrol effort aimed at prosecuting more illegal immigrants is being expanded to include parts of far West Texas and southern New Mexico. Mosier said illegal immigrants caught in the zone will either face ...


Iraq
Iraq: Shiite Stronghold Is Not Safe
The Associated Press - 41 minutes ago
The death toll from twin bombings Thursday night rose to 68 killed, 120 wounded on Friday and showed just how tough it will be to rejuvenate Iraq's capital when bombers still hit one of its safer and more vibrant neighborhoods regularly.
Bombs Reported to Kill 4 in Mosul The Associated Press
Iraq attacks kill dozens, funerals begin Wollondilly Advertiser

Repeated Iraq deployments raise mental health risks for soldiers
Los Angeles Times - 11 hours ago
The findings of a new Army report on the behavioral health of soldiers in Iraq are the first to quantify the stress of repeated deployments on combat soldiers.
WHY IRAQ WAR VETERANS HAVE NOT HAD MUCH IMPACT ON THE DEBATE OVER THE WAR. Slate

Iraq - Turkey
Le président irakien en visite en Turquie
La Tribune.fr - Il y a 21 minutes
Le président irakien Jalal Talabani est arrivé vendredi à Ankara à la tête d'une délégation de haut niveau, une semaine après la fin de l'incursion de l'armée turque contre les rebelles kurdes dans le nord de l'Irak. La visite de M. Talabani, un Kurde, ...

Chad
Tchad : la grâce pour Zoé effective d’ici un mois
France Info - Il y a 6 heures
Idriss Déby l’a assuré hier soir, la procédure suit son cours. Reste tout de même à régler l’indemnisation des familles. Qui va payer les quelque 6 millions d’euros, se demande à voix haute le président tchadien ? Plutôt bien disposé, Idriss Déby. ...


Kenya
Odinga sees speedy Kenya progress
BBC News - 15 hours ago - Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga has said he expects a new government to be formed in two to three weeks. Mr ...

God, whose Holy name defies our definition, but whose will is known in freeing the oppressed, make us to be one with all who cry for justice; that we who speak your praise may struggle for your truth, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
--Janet Morley


You sharp-eyed readers will note that I am using Google News from more than the U.S. site, checking headlines from the U.K., France, Spain, Mexico, Russia (to a lesser extent, just learning that language), Switzerland, Germany, etc. I think it is important to look at the world through more than American eyes and this allows me to pick up tidbits that I otherwise would not see. I am assuming that if I add a link in French, German, or Spanish, there is a fair chance that some of you can read it and might pursue it.

--the BB