World Briefs

Russian Orthodox Church rallies faithful
MOSCOW – Thousands of people took part in a day of prayer called by Russian Orthodox leaders in Moscow yesterday to defend the Church against what it says is an attack by anti-Russian forces trying to erode its authority.

Russians turn out on Sunday.Large crowds gathered at Moscow’s main cathedral, Christ the Saviour, in solidarity with the Church after a surge in criticism of its close relationship with the state since a women’s punk rock band sang a protest song in the cathedral.The arrest of three members of the Pussy Riot group ignited debate on the church’s role in politics and opened Orthodox Patriarch Kirill to criticism over a lifestyle which critics say is ostentatious and unbecoming of the Church’s leader.Jordan needs help for with Syrian refugeesAMMAN – The UN refugee agency UNHCR said yesterday cash-strapped Jordan needs help to cope with hosting tens of thousands of Syrians who have fled the unrest in their country to the neighbouring kingdom.’Jordan has always been generous to refugees. Neighbouring and other friendly countries should help the kingdom cope with the Syrian refugees,’ UNHCR representative in Jordan, Andrew Harper, told Prime Minister Awan Khasawneh at a meeting.The UN agency said on Thursday the number of registered Syrians in Jordan reached around 12 500 this month, adding that they are expected to rise.Dutch train crash injures 125AMSTERDAM – Almost 125 people were injured, many seriously, when two Dutch commuter trains crashed head-on in Amsterdam on Saturday, police said.There were no immediate reports of fatalities, but of those injured, 13 suffered major injuries while 43 or 44 were badly injured, a spokesperson said. About 70 suffered minor injuries.A trauma helicopter was used to bring the injured to hospital, a spokesperson for railways group NS said.

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