Essay: The Catholic Church needs married priests now
US Catholic commentator THOMAS REESE, in an article first published on Religion News Service, says that at the Last Supper, Jesus said, ‘”Do this in memory of me”. He did not say, “Be celibate”…
Postcards: Visually impaired faithful explore Easter statues by fingertip in Ronda
JON NAZCA, of Reuters, reports from Ronda in Spain…
Sweden clears final hurdle to join NATO as Hungary approves accession
Budapest, Hungary/Stockholm, Sweden Reuters Hungary’s parliament approved Sweden’s NATO accession on Monday, clearing the last hurdle before the historic step by the Nordic country whose neutrality lasted through two world wars and the simmering conflict of the Cold War. Hungary’s vote ended months of delays to complete Sweden’s security policy shift and followed a visit […]
Overworked and unheard, South Korean doctors on mass walkout say
Seoul, South Korea Reuters Ryu Ok Hada always wanted to help people, but now the South Korean trainee doctor has walked off the job and stands outside the hospital where he worked, holding his medical gown in his hand. Park Dan, who recently realised his childhood dream of being an emergency physician, is also one […]
Pope Francis recovering after mild flu, cardinal says
Vatican City Reuters Pope Francis cancelled his appointments on Monday for the second time in three days because he has mild flu, but a top cardinal said the 87-year-old pontiff was already making a full recovery. Francis was forced to skip meetings on Saturday, and although he appeared in public on Sunday to deliver his […]
UN chief deplores “paralysis and deadlock” at global disarmament body
Geneva, Switzerland Reuters UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told the world’s top disarmament negotiating body on Monday it needed to make urgent reforms, accusing it of “paralysis” and failing to compel countries to cut weapons stockpiles. Addressing the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Guterres said its failure to fulfil its mandate had created an atmosphere […]
Navalny was close to being freed in a prisoner swap, says ally
Moscow, Russia Reuters Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny was “killed” because he was close to being freed in a prisoner swap and President Vladimir Putin could not tolerate the thought of him being released, a close ally alleged on Monday. Navalny, 47, died at an Arctic penal colony on 16th February. The Kremlin, which casts […]
Palestinian PM resigns as pressure grows over post-war Gaza plans
Ramallah, West Bank Reuters Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh announced his resignation on Monday, as the Palestinian Authority looks to build support for an expanded role following Israel’s war against the Islamist group Hamas in Gaza. The move comes amid growing US pressure on President Mahmoud Abbas to shake up the authority as international efforts […]