Hamas issues ceasefire proposal detailing exchange of hostages, prisoners
Dubai, United Arab Emirates Reuters Hamas has presented a Gaza ceasefire proposal to mediators and the US which includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for freedom for Palestinian prisoners, 100 of whom are serving life sentences, according to a proposal seen by Reuters. Hamas said the initial release of Israelis would include women, […]
Antarctic scientists warn of bird flu spread as penguin cases confirmed
Santiago, Chile Reuters Scientists in Antarctica are warning of the spread of deadly H5N1 avian flu virus after the disease was first confirmed on the frozen continent’s mainland last month and has since been detected in local penguin and cormorant populations. The spread of the virus, which has decimated bird populations worldwide and hit South […]
Snapshot: Kotor, Montenegro
See OLGA BRAJNOVIC’s image…
Nearly 500 victims of church sex abuse in France have received financial compensation
Nice, France AP Hundreds of victims of child sexual abuse by priests or church representatives have received financial compensation so far from France’s Catholic Church under a sweeping reparations program, an independent body in charge of the process said Thursday. An annual report by the Independent National Authority for Recognition and Reparation said 1,351 victims came […]
Vatican puts the brakes on Synod on Synodality, pushes ‘controversial’ topics to 2025
Vatican City RNS A three-year process aimed at putting the most pressing concerns of lay Catholics front and centre in the church was reshuffled on Thursday, as the Vatican announced that it plans to push discussion of “doctrinal, ethical and pastoral issues that are controversial” to June, 2025. The controversial issues include allowing women to […]
SpaceX Starship disintegrates after completing most of third test flight
Boca Chica, Texas Reuters SpaceX’s Starship rocket, designed to eventually send astronauts to the moon and beyond, completed nearly an entire test flight through space on its third try on Thursday, getting farther than ever before, but disintegrated on its return to Earth. During a webcast of the flight, SpaceX commentators said mission control lost […]
Zimbabwe sect leader held after 251 children rescued from farm labour
Harare, Zimbabwe Reuters A Zimbabwean sect leader and “self-styled prophet” appeared in court on Thursday charged with child abuse after police raided his farm and rescued more than 200 children doing physical labour, police said. The children “were subjected to abuse as cheap labour, doing manual work in the name of being taught life skills”, […]
Thousands of farmers rally in New Delhi to demand higher crop prices
New Delhi, India Reuters Thousands of farmers rode buses and trains from across India to gather on Thursday at a rally in the capital, New Delhi, pressing a demand for higher guaranteed prices for their crops, as they faced down police barricades and tough security. The rally, days before general elections are expected to be […]
Polish Catholics get a new leader as the church struggles to reckon with sexual abuse
Warsaw, Poland AP The leaders of Poland’s influential Catholic Church on Thursday chose moderate Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda to be their new principal, at a time when the church is still struggling to reckon with the abuse of minors by some Polish clergy, while the number of Poles going to church has fallen sharply. At a two-day […]
Nigeria: Kidnaps break up families, keep children out of school
GARBA MOHAMMAD, ABRAHAM ACHIRGA and GIULIA PARAVICINI, of Reuters, report…