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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 8 November 2022
In India, river erosion engulfs villages

By ANUPAM NATH Associ- tion to climate change
ated Press by the non-governmental
GAUHATI, India (AP) — In group Germanwatch,
the 12 years that he has Mandal and other residents
been the priest of a small of Murkata are on the front
temple by the mighty Brah- lines of the crisis.
maputra, Ranajit Man- The Brahmaputra has al-
dal had never witnessed ways changed course and
the river's fury like this. Not reclaimed farmland and
only the temple, but the 50 villages, but the frequency
homes in his native Murkata and severity of the river's
village were washed away destruction has increased
in a matter of days. in recent years.
"I feel like the earth has giv- A 2020 study by New York-
en way under my feet now. based Earth Institute, Co-
I have been the temple's lumbia University, found
priest ever since it was built, that the river's potential
I feel really lost now," Man- for catastrophic flooding
dal said. as temperatures rise was
Mandal, who is also a being underestimated by
farmer and father of two, nearly 40%.
says the erosion of the river "The river has washed
means his family has been Ranajit Mandal, 35, the priest of a temple of Hindu goddess Durga stands with his son watching away everything, and
deprived of income, relying the temple being washed away by the river Brahmaputra at Murkata village, northeastern Assam we have no place to go
instead on government as- state, India, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022. "The river has washed away everything, and we have no back to now," Mandal
sistance. "Each family was place to go back to now," he said. "Even though we are staying nearby now, if this continues, we'll said. "Even though we are
given 5,000 rupees ($60) have no choice but to move away from here, away from the river." Associated Press staying nearby now, if this
but that is hardly anything continues, we'll have no
compared to what we Assam is in one of the most report by the Council on climate think tank. choice but to move away
have lost." Murkata village climate-vulnerable regions Energy, Environment and With India ranked the sev- from here, away from the
in the northeastern state of of India, according to a Water, a New Delhi-based enth most vulnerable na- river."q

French cardinal says he abused 14-year-

old girl 35 years ago

son," he said. Ricard, 78,
used to be the archbishop
of Bordeaux, in southwest-
ern France, until he retired
from that position in 2019 to
serve in his home diocese
of Dignes-les-Bains, in the Migrants hold banners asking for help, from a deck of the
south of the country. Norway-flagged Geo Barents ship operated by Doctors Without
In the 1980s, he was a priest Borders, in Catania's port, Sicily, southern Italy, Monday, Oct. 7,
2022. The Geo Barents has been allowed Sunday to disembark
in the archdiocese of Mar- 357 migrant that Italian authorities defined as "vulnerable
seille. The announcement people" and minors, while leaving another 215 people that were
was made Monday at a declared non-vulnerable blocked on board.
news conference by the Associated Press
president of the French
bishops' conference, Arch- Italy directs NGO rescue
Archbishop of Bordeaux, France, Cardinal Jean-Pierre Bernard
Beaufort. Moulins-Beaufort ship with 89 migrants to port
Ricard blesses his titular church - Sant' Agostino - during a bishop Éric de Moulins-
ceremony to officially take possession of his church, in Rome,
Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006. Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard said on said a total of 11 bishops
Monday Nov.7, 2022 that he had abused a 14-year-old girl and former bishops, includ- MILAN (AP) — After waiting at sea for days, the German
thirty-five years ago and is withdrawing from his functions. The ing Ricard, have been tar- humanitarian group Mission Lifeline said Monday that Ita-
move comes after a report issued last year revealed a large geted by accusations in ly has directed its migrant rescue ship with 89 people on
number of child sex abuse cases within the country's Catholic board to proceed to the port of Reggio Calabria.
Church. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, relation with sex abuse in
diverse cases investigated The 25-meter (80-foot) ship Rise Above entered Italian
PARIS (AP) — Cardinal large number of child sex by French justice or church waters over the weekend without consent because of
Jean-Pierre Ricard, one of abuse cases within the authorities. storm-swollen seas, after rescuing 95 people in the cen-
France's highest-ranking French Catholic Church. Ricard said he had talked tral Mediterranean. Six were evacuated at sea due to
prelates of the Catholic "Thirty-five years ago, when to the victim and asked medical emergencies. "We are relieved that waiting on
Church, said Monday that I was a priest, I behaved in her for forgiveness, with- the high seas is over. The situation on board has become
he had abused a 14-year- a reprehensible way with a out specifying when. He more and more critical in the past few days and hours,"
old girl 35 years ago and young girl aged 14," Ricard said he was also asking for Mission Lifeline spokeswoman Hermine Poschmann said.
is withdrawing from his re- said in a written statement. forgiveness "to all those I "We expect that the Italian authorities give everyone ac-
ligious duties. The move "My behavior has inevitably hurt" through his statement. cess to a legally compliant asylum procedure and that
comes after a report is- caused serious and lasting He did not elaborate on people do not have to stay on our ship any longer than
sued last year revealed a consequences for this per- that.q necessary."q