Today's religion and world affairs news from the United States and around the globe: Burma's Rohingya minority could face genocide, Boko Haram continues its hold on Nigeria despite setbacks, and Pope Francis brings forward policies for his Year of Mercy.
AROUND THE WORLD
U.S. Holocaust Museum Says This Muslim Minority Could Face Genocide
by Ishaan Tharoor
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/05/07/u-s-holocaust-museum-says-this-muslim-minority-could-face-genocide/
The official American institution memorializing the Holocaust sounded the alarm this week on the threat of a genocide facing the beleaguered Rohingya of Burma, one of the world's most neglected communities.
Boko Haram Losing Battles, Not the War
by Nancy A. Youssef
Daily Beast
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/05/07/boko-haram-losing-battles-not-the-war.html
The emergence of roughly 1,000 women and girls who have escaped the clutches of the Nigerian extremist group Boko Haram as government forces put pressure on areas it once controlled does not mean the terror group has become debilitated, U.S. intelligence officials and experts told The Daily Beast.
Saudis Propose Truce for an Aid Effort in Yemen
by Ben Hubbard and Kareem Fahim
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/08/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-proposes-cease-fire-in-yemen.html?ref=todayspaper
Saudi Arabia has proposed a five-day halt to hostilities in Yemen to allow aid agencies to reach civilians suffering because of the country’s war, the Saudi foreign minister said on Thursday.
'Haqqathon' Takes Anti-ISIS Fight to Cyberspace
by Dina Temple-Raston
NPR
http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2015/05/07/404944343/haqqathon-takes-anti-isis-fight-to-cyberspace
In Arabic, haqq is the word for truth. Muslim software designers gathered recently for a "haqqathon" to develop social media products that can compete with violent extremists online.
The New Face of Israel’s Hard Right
by Siobhan O’Grady
Foreign Policy
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/05/07/the-new-face-of-israel-hard-right-netanyahu-ayelet-shaked/
Right-wing lawmaker Ayelet Shaked, who gained notoriety for endorsing an anti-Palestinian blog post, is now Israel’s new justice minister.
Will Israel Miss Its Moment?
by Fareed Zakaria
Washington Post op-ed
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/will-israel-miss-its-moment/2015/05/07/624a582e-f4f1-11e4-bcc4-e8141e5eb0c9_story.html
Israel’s new coalition government, formed with the slimmest possible majority in its parliament, likely means that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will act even more cautiously than he has in the past. This is a tragedy, because Israel faces an extraordinary strategic opportunity.
Rebuilding Nepal, from the Government Up
by Nancy Lindborg
Foreign Policy
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/05/07/rebuilding-nepal-from-the-government-up-earthquake/
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that wreaked havoc in Kathmandu has opened up an opportunity for the reform the country so desperately needs.
Pope Francis Will Send ‘Missionaries of Mercy’ to Absolve Women of Abortion ‘Sin’
by Michael E. Miller
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/05/07/pope-francis-will-send-missionaries-of-mercy-to-absolve-women-of-abortion-sin/
During a news conference at the Vatican, Fisichella announced that Pope Francis would be empowering his priests to pardon women for having abortions. Moreover, the Vatican would be sending these “missionaries of mercy” all across the world as part of the Pope’s Jubilee, or Holy Year, of Mercy, which begins in December. Francis has spoken sharply about abortion, calling it “a sin against God.” But his year of mercy is aimed at bringing back estranged Catholics by emphasizing outreach, even for those who have committed grave sins in the eyes of the church.
Pope Francis Meets With Female Head of Church of Sweden, Archbishop Antje Jackelén
by Antonia Blumberg
Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/07/pope-francis-antje-jackelen_n_7234098.html
The Vatican made history Monday when Pope Francis welcomed a woman archbishop to an official audience at the Apostolic Palace for the first time, according to Vatican Radio. The topic on Monday's agenda was not, however, women's role in the church, but rather the need for Christian unity across denominations and for better care for the poor.
U.S. Holocaust Museum Says This Muslim Minority Could Face Genocide
by Ishaan Tharoor
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/05/07/u-s-holocaust-museum-says-this-muslim-minority-could-face-genocide/
The official American institution memorializing the Holocaust sounded the alarm this week on the threat of a genocide facing the beleaguered Rohingya of Burma, one of the world's most neglected communities.
Boko Haram Losing Battles, Not the War
by Nancy A. Youssef
Daily Beast
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/05/07/boko-haram-losing-battles-not-the-war.html
The emergence of roughly 1,000 women and girls who have escaped the clutches of the Nigerian extremist group Boko Haram as government forces put pressure on areas it once controlled does not mean the terror group has become debilitated, U.S. intelligence officials and experts told The Daily Beast.
Saudis Propose Truce for an Aid Effort in Yemen
by Ben Hubbard and Kareem Fahim
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/08/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-proposes-cease-fire-in-yemen.html?ref=todayspaper
Saudi Arabia has proposed a five-day halt to hostilities in Yemen to allow aid agencies to reach civilians suffering because of the country’s war, the Saudi foreign minister said on Thursday.
'Haqqathon' Takes Anti-ISIS Fight to Cyberspace
by Dina Temple-Raston
NPR
http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2015/05/07/404944343/haqqathon-takes-anti-isis-fight-to-cyberspace
In Arabic, haqq is the word for truth. Muslim software designers gathered recently for a "haqqathon" to develop social media products that can compete with violent extremists online.
The New Face of Israel’s Hard Right
by Siobhan O’Grady
Foreign Policy
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/05/07/the-new-face-of-israel-hard-right-netanyahu-ayelet-shaked/
Right-wing lawmaker Ayelet Shaked, who gained notoriety for endorsing an anti-Palestinian blog post, is now Israel’s new justice minister.
Will Israel Miss Its Moment?
by Fareed Zakaria
Washington Post op-ed
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/will-israel-miss-its-moment/2015/05/07/624a582e-f4f1-11e4-bcc4-e8141e5eb0c9_story.html
Israel’s new coalition government, formed with the slimmest possible majority in its parliament, likely means that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will act even more cautiously than he has in the past. This is a tragedy, because Israel faces an extraordinary strategic opportunity.
Rebuilding Nepal, from the Government Up
by Nancy Lindborg
Foreign Policy
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/05/07/rebuilding-nepal-from-the-government-up-earthquake/
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that wreaked havoc in Kathmandu has opened up an opportunity for the reform the country so desperately needs.
Pope Francis Will Send ‘Missionaries of Mercy’ to Absolve Women of Abortion ‘Sin’
by Michael E. Miller
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/05/07/pope-francis-will-send-missionaries-of-mercy-to-absolve-women-of-abortion-sin/
During a news conference at the Vatican, Fisichella announced that Pope Francis would be empowering his priests to pardon women for having abortions. Moreover, the Vatican would be sending these “missionaries of mercy” all across the world as part of the Pope’s Jubilee, or Holy Year, of Mercy, which begins in December. Francis has spoken sharply about abortion, calling it “a sin against God.” But his year of mercy is aimed at bringing back estranged Catholics by emphasizing outreach, even for those who have committed grave sins in the eyes of the church.
Pope Francis Meets With Female Head of Church of Sweden, Archbishop Antje Jackelén
by Antonia Blumberg
Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/07/pope-francis-antje-jackelen_n_7234098.html
The Vatican made history Monday when Pope Francis welcomed a woman archbishop to an official audience at the Apostolic Palace for the first time, according to Vatican Radio. The topic on Monday's agenda was not, however, women's role in the church, but rather the need for Christian unity across denominations and for better care for the poor.
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