Pope urged to counter resistance to tackling abuse on eve of Irish visit
Pope Francis faced calls on the eve of a highly-charged visit to Ireland to counter resistance within the Catholic Church against tackling clerical sex abuse, including from a member of a group advising him on the crisis.
Italy PM slams EU’s ‘hypocrisy’ on migrant ship, threatens action
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Friday accused Italy’s European Union partners of “hypocrisy” after they failed to offer a solution to a migrant stand-off in Sicily, and said it would have repercussions for Italy’s stance on other issues.
Italy clashes with EU over migrants stranded on rescue boat
Italy’s populist government said on Friday it would cut funds for the European Union unless other states take in boat migrants stranded in an Italian port, earning a rebuke from Brussels for making unacceptable “threats”.
‘Critical worsening’ of conditions for migrants detained in Libya: UNHCR
The U.N. refugee agency said on Friday it was gravely concerned about a deterioration in conditions for migrants held in Libyan detention centers that had led to riots and hunger strikes.
Nike stores in South Africa reopen following backlash over racist video
Nike stores in South Africa were all open on Friday, the company said, after some were closed following a backlash over racist comments by a man said to have links to the U.S. sportswear company.
Germany’s Merkel: Atrocities against Armenians must not be forgotten
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday addressed the massacre of as many as 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 after meeting with the country’s prime minister, saying the atrocities committed against Armenians should not and would not be forgotten.
Rights of detained Ugandan lawmaker ‘blatantly violated’ says report
A popular Ugandan musician-turned-legislator arraigned on treason charges had breathing problems and was left partially paralyzed after beatings in detention, lawmakers who visited him said on Friday.
Spain moves closer to exhuming dictator Franco’s remains
Spain’s government took a step closer on Friday to removing the remains of dictator Francisco Franco from a grand mausoleum that it intends to turn into a memorial to victims of the country’s brutal civil war.
Four killed and 20 hurt as bus plunges off bridge in Finland
Four people were killed and 20 others injured when a bus collided with five cars and plunged off a bridge onto railway tracks on Friday, Finnish emergency services said.
Top Zimbabwe court confirms Mnangagwa’s presidential election victory
Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court confirmed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s disputed July 30 election victory on Friday, dismissing an opposition challenge that had held up his inauguration, which will now be held on Sunday.
