Dmitry Yazov, a former Soviet defense minister who took part in an unsuccessful coup against leader Mikhail Gorbachev, died on Tuesday at the age of 95, the Russian Defence Ministry said. Yazov was the last Marshal of the Soviet Union and one of eight senior officials who tried and failed to remove Gorbachev from power… Read More Former Soviet defense minister Dmitry Yazov dies at 95
Pope Francis on Wednesday dismissed a proposal to allow some married men to be ordained in remote areas, reaffirming the Roman Catholic Church’s centuries-old commitment to celibacy among priests. The decision, one of the most significant of his papacy, appeared a victory for conservative senior clergy, who had feared a slippery slope towards a married… Read More Pope Francis dismisses proposal to ordain married men
Pope Francis on Wednesday named the first woman to hold a high-ranking post in the Secretariat of State, the male-dominated Vatican’s diplomatic and administrative nerve center. Italian lay woman Francesca Di Giovanni, 66, will assume a newly-created post in a division known as the Section for Relations with States where she takes the rank of… Read More Pope Francis names first woman to senior Vatican diplomatic post
Gunmen killed nine women and children in the bloodiest attack on Americans in Mexico for years, prompting U.S. President Donald Trump to offer to help the neighboring country wipe out drug cartels believed to be behind the ambush. All nine people, Mexican-Americans killed in Monday’s daytime attack at the border of Chihuahua and Sonora, belonged… Read More Gunmen kill nine members of U.S. Mormon family in Mexico
Pope Francis on Sunday declared five people saints, including Cardinal John Henry Newman, a leading 19th century Anglican who converted to Catholicism and became one of the most influential Christian figures of modern times. Underscoring Newman’s luminary status in Christianity today, Prince Charles, who will become head of the Church of England when he becomes… Read More Pope Francis canonizes British cardinal John Henry Newman, four others
Israeli police fired sound grenades to disperse Palestinians during confrontations on Sunday outside Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque where tens of thousands of Muslim worshippers gathered for the Eid al-Adha holiday, witnesses said. A Palestinian ambulance service said that at least 14 Palestinians were taken to hospitals for treatment. Israel’s Kan public radio said four police officers… Read More At least eighteen injured as Israeli police, Palestinians clash at holy site in Jerusalem
Nigeria’s government has banned a Shi’ite Muslim group whose followers have been holding protests to demand the release of their detained leader, accusing the group of inciting violence. At least 20 members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria have been killed over the past week during a series of protests that have shown little sign… Read More Nigeria bans local Shi’ite group following violent protests
At least 11 pilgrims including seven children were killed and on Monday when their vehicle set off a landmine in southern Afghanistan, local government and health officials said. The blast happened in the Khakrez district of Kandahar province at around midday, said Hayatullah Hayat, a spokesman for Kandahar’s governor. A senior health official said 22… Read More Eleven dead, dozens injured as bus conveying pilgrims sets off landmine in southern Afghanistan
