Updated: Haiti telecoms back after disruption amid violence, inmates on the run
Updated: 8am, 4th March, 2024 Port-au-Prince, Haiti Reuters International connectivity to Haiti was temporarily disrupted on Sunday following violent clashes in the capital that have damaged communications and led to a prison break at the main penitentiary as a major gang leader seeks to oust Prime Minister Ariel Henry. The chairman of Digicel, one of […]
In a letter, anonymous prelates criticise Pope Francis as “autocratic, vindictive”
Vatican City RNS A letter criticising Pope Francis for promoting “ambiguities in matters of faith” and at the same time ruling the Catholic Church with an iron fist, is circulating in the Vatican after being published anonymously on Thursday. The document appeared in The Daily Compass, a conservative Catholic outlet in Italy, and was translated […]
New species of Amazon anaconda, world’s largest snake, discovered
Reuters Researchers in the Amazon have discovered the world’s largest snake species – an enormous green anaconda – in Ecuador’s rainforest that split off from its closest relatives 10 million years ago though they still nearly look identical to this day. A video shared online shows the scale of these 6.1-metre-long reptiles as one of […]
Pope Francis asks aide to read ceremonial speech due to bronchitis
Vatican City Reuters Pope Francis, who has been suffering from influenza, said he delegated the reading of a speech at a ceremony on Saturday to an aide because he was unable to read it due to bronchitis. “I have prepared a speech but as you can see I am unable to read it because of […]
‘How Great Thou Art’: A new ending for a Christian classic on 75th anniversary of famed English translation
“When we approached all the people to be part of it, we had a lot of green lights very quickly,” singer Matt Redman said of participating recording artists. ADELLE M BANKS, of Religion News Service, reports…
Biden administration finalises rule on religious liberty protections
United States RNS Nine agencies of the Biden administration have finalised a new rule that officials say will improve religious freedom by protecting the rights of beneficiaries of social services funded by the government. In particular, the rule will affect those receiving help from the many social service providers that are faith-based and will ensure […]
Iran vote turnout hits historic low amid discontent
Reuters Turnout for Iran’s parliamentary election, seen as a test of the clerical establishment’s legitimacy, appears to have hit an historic low of around 41 per cent, according to unofficial reports quoted by state media on Saturday. The election followed anti-government protests in 2022-23 that spiralled into some of Iran’s worst political turmoil since the […]
Ship sunk by Houthis threatens Red Sea environment, Yemeni Government says
Aden, Yemen Reuters The UK-owned Rubymar, attacked by Houthi militants last month, has sunk in the Red Sea, Yemen’s internationally recognised government said on Saturday, warning of an “environmental catastrophe” from the ship’s cargo of fertiliser. If confirmed, it would be the first vessel lost since the Houthis began targeting commercial shipping in November, forcing […]
Seven killed in Russian drone attack on Odesa, Ukraine says
Odesa, Ukraine Reuters A Russian drone attack that killed seven people including an infant and a two-year-old on Saturday could have been avoided if Ukraine was not facing delays to weapons supplies, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said. The drone hit an apartment block in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa. A general view shows an […]
Israeli military promises thorough investigation into aid convoy deaths
Jerusalem Reuters The Israeli military on Saturday promised an exhaustive and truthful investigation into the deaths of Palestinians queuing for aid in Gaza this week, an incident that has drawn condemnations and calls for an international inquiry. Gaza Health authorities said 118 people were killed in Thursday’s incident, attributing the deaths to Israeli fire and […]