Ukrainian Orthodox Church gains independence from Moscow

['We have been waiting for this']( Jan. 10, 2019 St. John the Theologian Cathedral in Kharkiv is one of the only churches in Ukraine’s second-largest city where churchgoers can hear hymns sung in the Ukrainian language. And for people at this church, Orthodox Christmas services have been especially meaningful this year. For centuries, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has been subordinate to Russia’s. But on this year’s Orthodox Christmas Eve, which fell on Jan. 6, the spiritual head of Orthodox Christianity in Istanbul [granted official recognition to an independent Ukrainian branch of the church,]( with a patriarch in Kiev rather than in the Russian capital. Also, former Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano started her career in law enforcement and sent human traffickers and cross-border drug smugglers to jail. Although she's in favor of adding a few new barriers in strategic locations on the US-Mexico border, Napolitano says [building a wall from "sea to shining sea" would be wasteful and ineffective.]( And the tendency to overwork is such a problem in Japan that the Japanese even have a word for it: [karōshi, which means “death from overwork.”]( — Anna Pratt, The Scan editor [No Images? Click here.]( [Ukrainian Orthodox Church gains independence from Moscow: ‘We have been waiting for this’]( [Ukrainian Orthodox Church gains independence from Moscow: ‘We have been waiting for this’]( Ukrainians celebrate church independence, but the blessing from Istanbul deepens the tension and conflict with Russia. [Ukrainian Orthodox Church gains independence from Moscow: ‘We have been waiting for this’]( [Ukrainian Orthodox Church gains independence from Moscow: ‘We have been waiting for this’]( Ukrainians celebrate church independence, but the blessing from Istanbul deepens the tension and conflict with Russia. [Wall would be 'wasteful and ineffective,' says former Homeland Security chief Napolitano]( [Wall would be 'wasteful and ineffective,' says former Homeland Security chief Napolitano]( Although in favor of adding a few new barriers in strategic locations on the US-Mexico border, Napolitano says building a wall from "sea to shining sea" would be wasteful. The border is "not in a crisis situation," she says. [Wall would be 'wasteful and ineffective,' says former Homeland Security chief Napolitano]( [Wall would be 'wasteful and ineffective,' says former Homeland Security chief Napolitano]( Although in favor of adding a few new barriers in strategic locations on the US-Mexico border, Napolitano says building a wall from "sea to shining sea" would be wasteful. The border is "not in a crisis situation," she says. [Japan’s shrinking labor force is finding new ways to fight karōshi — ‘death by overwork’]( [Japan’s shrinking labor force is finding new ways to fight karōshi — ‘death by overwork’]( One Toyko company has started playing "Eye of the Tiger" at quitting time and last year, the government placed a cap on overtime hours, but workers suffer from a labor shortage that causes too much work for each worker. [Japan’s shrinking labor force is finding new ways to fight karōshi — ‘death by overwork’]( [Japan’s shrinking labor force is finding new ways to fight karōshi — ‘death by overwork’]( One Toyko company has started playing "Eye of the Tiger" at quitting time and last year, the government placed a cap on overtime hours, but workers suffer from a labor shortage that causes too much work for each worker. [Congo presidential loser's supporters cry foul after surprise result]( [Congo presidential loser's supporters cry foul after surprise result]( Furious supporters of the runner-up in Democratic Republic of Congo's presidential election are denouncing Thursday's results as a fix, despite what officials [In Texas border town, skepticism ahead of Trump visit to push wall]( [In Texas border town, skepticism ahead of Trump visit to push wall]( US President Donald Trump on Thursday is headed to McAllen, Texas, on the Mexican border in an attempt to win support for his wall a day after another acrimonious meeting with Democrats on funding for the barrier. But residents along the border have expressed skepticism over Trump's claim that a wall is needed. Hey, Scan reader… PRI takes a global approach to the news of the day. We help you understand how what happens around the world matters in Washington and in your neighborhood. Today more than ever, we need conversations, perspectives and diverse voices. [Donate Today >]( Enjoying The Scan? Forward it to a friend! And if you’re not getting it daily, it’s easy to subscribe. [Sign up here](. We also love feedback, so please [tell us how we’re doing](. Today’s newsletter was written by Anna Pratt. Find her on Twitter: [@annapratt](. [Press release]( [PRI Facebook]( [PRI Twitter]( [Edit your subscription]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [View in your browser]( The Scan is brought to you by [GlobalPost]( and [PRI - Public Radio International](.