Death toll from Pakistan blast rises to 59 as minister blames India
Quetta, PakistanReuters The death toll from a large blast at a mosque in Pakistan rose to 59 on Saturday as the government vowed to find the perpetrators and accused India’s intelligence agency of being involved. Friday’s blast tore through a mosque in Mastung in the southern province of Balochistan after a bomber detonated his explosives […]
Pope Francis cements legacy, stamps Catholic Church future with new cardinals
Vatican CityReuters Pope Francis on Saturday further cemented his legacy, elevating 21 prelates to the high rank of cardinal and significantly raising the percentage of electors chosen by him who will have the right to vote for his successor. At a ceremony in St Peter’s Square known as a consistory, Francis “created” 21 new cardinals, […]
More than 100,000 refugees arrive in Armenia as exodus swells
Geneva, SwitzerlandReuters More than 100,000 refugees have arrived in Armenia since Azerbaijan’s military operation to retake control of Nagorno-Karabakh, the United nations said, while thousands more endured long hours of delay in a huge traffic jam at the border. “Many are hungry, exhausted and need immediate assistance,” Filippo Grandi, head of the UN refugee agency […]
Mexico sees migrant “crisis” at US-Mexico border as numbers spike
Mexico City, MexicoReuters There has been a “crisis” at the US-Mexico border, Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena told reporters on Friday in Washington, speaking alongside senior officials from both countries. Many more migrants have reached the border in recent weeks, prompting alarm from some US leaders and leading to increased security checks at the frontier […]
In the US, Baltimore Catholic Archdiocese files for bankruptcy before new law on abuse lawsuits takes effect
Baltimore, USAP The Archdiocese of Baltimore on Friday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganisation days before a new state law goes into effect removing the statute of limitations on child sex abuse claims and allowing victims to sue their abusers decades after the fact. The step will allow the oldest diocese in the United States […]
Critics of Pope Francis won’t rain on synod’s parade, says papal envoy to US
Vatican CityRNS In the weeks leading up to the long-awaited Vatican Synod on Synodality from 4th to 29th October, perhaps no local church has been more polarized or vocally critical of the event than the conservative community in the US. But according to the Vatican representative to the US, Catholics shouldn’t be too concerned with […]
Iran protesters mark anniversary of bloody crackdown in south-east
Dubai, United Arab EmiratesReuters Protesters faced off with security forces in Iran’s restive south-east on Friday to mark the anniversary of a 30th September, 2022, crackdown by security forces known as “Bloody Friday”, according to rights groups and social media videos. Videos posted on the X platform by the Iran Human Rights group showed marchers […]
Faith in gaming: In ‘Starfield’, players choose their own adventure – and religion
In a major new video game, players can search for enlightenment while exploring the stars. BOB SMIETANA, of Religion News Service, reports…
Vatican, other faith leaders join in push for end of death penalty in US state of Louisiana
United StatesRNS The Vatican has joined US faith leaders and anti-death penalty activists in supporting the Louisiana Governor’s desire to clear the death row cells in his state. Governor John Bel Edwards, a Catholic Democrat, called in August for the Louisiana Board of Pardons to reconsider applications for clemency of 56 prisoners on the state’s […]
Suicide bomber kills at least seven in Somali tea shop; al-Shabaab claims responsibility
Mogadishu, SomaliaReuters A suicide bomber set off an explosion at a shop selling tea in Somalia’s capital on Friday, killing at least seven people, a witness and medical personnel. Police put the number of dead at five. Al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on its Arabic media unit Shahada News […]