13 h. ago Cardinal reads homily on Pope Francis’s behalf at Rome Ash Wednesday mass

Pontiff, 88, remains stable and received communion in hospital as Catholics marked beginning of LentPope Francis remained in a stable condition on his 20th day in hospital with pneumonia, sitting in an armchair to do some work and receiving communion and an Ash Wednesday cross on his forehead as Catholics around the world marked the beginning of Lent.In its latest update, the Vatican said the 88-year-old pontiff had not suffered any new respiratory crises and had been given oxygen through a nasal tube. It said that after the Ash Wednesday rites, Francis had set to work and made his usual call to the parish priest of Gaza. Continue reading...

Politics

13 h. ago Cardinal reads pope’s Ash Wednesday homily meditating on ‘tragedy of death’

Pontiff, 88, remains stable and received communion in hospital as Catholics marked beginning of LentPope Francis remained in a stable condition on his 20th day in hospital with pneumonia, sitting in an armchair to do some work and receiving communion and an Ash Wednesday cross on his forehead as Catholics around the world marked the beginning of Lent.In its latest update, the Vatican said the 88-year-old pontiff had not suffered any new respiratory crises and had been given oxygen through a nasal tube. It said that after the Ash Wednesday rites, Francis had set to work and made his usual call to the parish priest of Gaza. Continue reading...

Events

15 h. ago What is Ash Wednesday? Pope Francis skips this year’s services as he remains in hospital

Pope Francis is unable to take part in Ash Wednesday celebrations this year

Politics

1 week ago Trump says he ‘had very good talks with Putin’ and again criticizes Ukraine – live

US president also accuses Kyiv of talking ‘tough’ but having few bargaining chips in latest remarks in feud with Ukrainian president ZelenskyyNational security adviser Mike Waltz told a crowd of Donald Trump loyalists that he believes the president will receive the Nobel peace prize.“This is the presidency of peace. He’s going to end the war in Europe. He is going to end the wars in the Middle East. He is going to reinvest the United States and our leadership in our own hemisphere, from the Arctic to the border to Panama all the way down to our good friends in Argentina,” Waltz told the Conservative Political Action Conference.The pause comes after CNN reported on Wednesday that the mass terminations, which could affect over 50,000 civilian employees across the Pentagon, could run afoul of Title 10 section 129a of the US code. Following that report, Pentagon lawyers began reviewing the legality of the planned terminations more closely, the officials said.That law says that the secre...

Politics

1 week ago Senate passes budget funding Trump’s mass deportations; Pentagon reportedly delays firing civilians – US politics live

Republicans approve spending plan that will pay for hardline immigration policies; sackings on hold amid concerns they could hit military readinessMass firings could cause ‘monumental’ bill, say expertsNational security adviser Mike Waltz told a crowd of Donald Trump loyalists that he believes the president will receive the Nobel peace prize.“This is the presidency of peace. He’s going to end the war in Europe. He is going to end the wars in the Middle East. He is going to reinvest the United States and our leadership in our own hemisphere, from the Arctic to the border to Panama all the way down to our good friends in Argentina,” Waltz told the Conservative Political Action Conference.The pause comes after CNN reported on Wednesday that the mass terminations, which could affect over 50,000 civilian employees across the Pentagon, could run afoul of Title 10 section 129a of the US code. Following that report, Pentagon lawyers began reviewing the legality of the planned terminations m...

Politics

1 week ago Senate passes budget funding Trump’s mass deportations; federal workers brace for more firings – US politics live

Senate Republicans approve spending plan that will pay for hardline immigration policies; mass layoffs get all-clear after judge lifts blockMass firings could cause ‘monumental’ bill, say expertsThe defense department will delay a plan to fire civilian employees on probation as it assess whether the move complies with the law and if it affects military readiness, CNN reports.The cuts were to be made as part of Donald Trump’s effort to dramatically downsize the federal government, which is being led by Elon Musk’s “department of government efficiency”. Here’s more, from CNN:The pause comes after CNN reported on Wednesday that the mass terminations, which could affect over 50,000 civilian employees across the Pentagon, could run afoul of Title 10 section 129a of the US code. Following that report, Pentagon lawyers began reviewing the legality of the planned terminations more closely, the officials said.That law says that the secretary of defense “may not reduce the civilian workforce ...

Politics

2 w. ago Video: Mass stranding sees more than 150 false killer whales wash up on Australian beach

More than 150 false killer whales — a species of dolphin — lay on a remote beach in Australia's island state of Tasmania in a mass stranding event on Wednesday, 19 February.

Events