Pope Francis again cuts perks for cardinals, Vatican managers
Vatican City Reuters Pope Francis has moved to eliminate free rent for cardinals and subsidized rents for other senior Vatican officials, saying they too have to contribute to cost savings. The new rules were summarised in a note written by Maximino Caballero Ledo, a Spanish layman who heads the Vatican’s finance ministry. They stemmed from […]
Lifestory: Loyola’s Sister Jean captured hearts during March Madness. Now she’s written a book.
At 103, Chicago’s beloved Catholic sister, best known simply as ‘Sister Jean,’ has added publishing a memoir to her list of achievements. She speaks with EMILY MCFARLAN MILLER, of Religion News Service…
Stun grenades, arrests on ‘day of disruption’ protest over Israel’s judicial overhaul
Tel Aviv, Israel Reuters Israeli police fired stun grenades and scuffles broke out in Tel Aviv on Wednesday during a nationwide “day of disruption,” raising the intensity of protests against a government plan to overhaul the judiciary. In images not seen in Tel Aviv for years, police on horseback confronted demonstrators breaching barricades as traffic […]
Memphis teen one of two charged in US church leader’s 2022 killing
Memphis, Tennessee, US AP A 15-year-old boy and a 21-year-old man have been indicted in the carjacking and fatal shooting of a prominent United Methodist Church leader in Memphis, Tennessee, prosecutors said this week. Miguel Andrade, 15, and Eduard Rodriguez-Tabora, 21, were each indicted on charges of first-degree murder and especially aggravated robbery in the 18th […]
WHO chief “heartbroken” by visit to quake-hit Syria, says more funds needed
Bab al-Hawa, Syria Reuters Available funding and new border crossings were still not enough to help quake-hit citizens in Syria’s battered north-west, the head of the WHO said on Wednesday, adding he was “disturbed and heartbroken” by a visit to the rebel-held region. World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was speaking to reporters after […]
Russia tries to close ring on Bakhmut as Ukrainians mount ‘furious resistance’
Near Chasiv Yar, Ukraine Reuters Russian forces carried out relentless attacks on Bakhmut on Wednesday, trying to encircle and storm the small eastern Ukrainian city and claim their first major prize for more than half a year after some of the bloodiest fighting of the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Moscow of throwing waves […]
Nigeria’s Tinubu defends win in disputed presidential poll
Abuja, Nigeria, Reuters Nigeria’s new President-elect, Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday defended the integrity of the national election that he won, and called on citizens to unite around him after a bitter dispute over results opposition parties have said are flawed. The Independent National Electoral Commission said Tinubu garnered 8.79 million votes in the weekend election, […]
Britain’s coronation throne gets revamp ahead of King Charles III’s crowning
London, UK Reuters The historic Coronation Chair on which Henry VIII and other monarchs of England and later Britain have been crowned for some 700 years is getting a makeover ahead of this year’s ceremony for King Charles III, London’s Westminster Abbey said. Charles and his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, will be formally crowned on […]
India leads world in cutting internet access for fifth year in a row – watchdog
Reuters India imposed by far the highest number of internet shutdowns in the world in 2022, internet advocacy watchdog Access Now said on Tuesday, as the country topped the list for the fifth successive year. Out of 187 internet shutdowns globally recorded by Access Now, 84 took place in India, including 49 in Indian-administered Kashmir, […]
StrangeSights: Musicians play Bolivian garbage dump; Turkish soccer fans throw toys for quake survivors; and, Ukraine’s Banksy gets stamp of approval
DAVID ADAMS provides a round-up of some stories on the odder side of life…