Pope calls for compassionate Church open to ‘imperfect’ Catholics
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis on Friday called for a Church that was less strict and more compassionate towards “imperfect” Catholics, such as those who divorced and remarried, saying “no one can be condemned forever”.
India in talks to buy U.S. Predator drones, has eye on China, Pakistan
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India is in talks with the United States to purchase 40 Predator surveillance drones, officials said, a possible first step towards acquiring the armed version of the aircraft and a development likely to annoy Pakistan.
Civil unrest, El Nino hit Burundians hard, thousands in need of aid: Red Cross
LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Tens of thousands of Burundians are in need of humanitarian aid to help them cope with the consequences of civil unrest, flooding brought on by El Nino and a collapsing economy, an international aid agency said on …
Lebanese expats fearful as Gulf expels dozens accused of Hezbollah links
DUBAI (Reuters) – Ahmed, a Lebanese worker living in the United Arab Emirates, closed down his Facebook page and started to shun some of his compatriots.
Al Qaeda-linked group claims Bangladesh killing: SITE
DUBAI (Reuters) – A group affiliated with al Qaeda has claimed responsibility for the killing of a liberal Bangladeshi blogger this week, the SITE monitoring service said on Friday, citing a statement posted by the group online.
Thailand bans old edition of Marie Claire for insulting monarchy
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand banned imports and sales of a six-month-old edition of women’s magazine Marie Claire on Friday over an article it said carried content insulting to its royal family and offensive to its people.
Djibouti’s Guelleh seeks fourth term, opposition candidates doubt integrity of vote
DJIBOUTI (Reuters) – Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh, in power since 1999, was expected to win a fourth term in office in an election that began on Friday, although some opposition candidates openly doubted the integrity of the vote.
U.N. envoy tells EU to step up pressure on Israel over West Bank demolitions
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union must raise political pressure on Israel over accelerating West Bank demolitions that run against international law and increasingly affect aid projects sponsored by the bloc, a U.N. envoy for Palestinian territor…
Italian man kidnapped last year in Philippines has been freed: ministry
ROME (Reuters) – An Italian man who was kidnapped last year in the Philippines has been freed, Italy’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday, and the former missionary’s family had been notified.
Tighter global nuclear security rules to take effect in May
VIENNA (Reuters) – More than 100 countries will have to meet higher standards on the protection of nuclear facilities and materials from next month, the U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Friday.
