Pope Leo leads mass for 150,000 worshippers in Beirut.
Pontiff calls on Levantine Christians to be ‘courageous’ and ‘artisans of peace’ Pope Leo XIV urged Lebanon’s diverse communities to come together to address the country’s many challenges, speaking at a mass attended by tens of thousands of people in Beirut. The Catholic leader appealed to the Lebanese people to set aside political and sectarian... Read More
Trump envoy to meet with Putin as US pushes to end war in Ukraine.
Putin war talks: US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow today. The Kremlin said Moscow is open to peace talks, but its war goals must be achieved, raising doubts about Russia’s readiness to end the conflict.
FBI Director Kash Patel’s travel to watch his girlfriend sing at a Pennsylvania sporting event is now being investigated by the top Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee.
Citing a series of recent media reports, the committee Democrats allege Patel has used the FBI’s GulfstreamCiting a series of recent media reports, the committee Democrats allege Patel has used the FBI’s Gulfstream passenger jet for a series of recent flights for a “date night” in Tennessee and an outing with friends in Texas. The... Read More
Jockey Kitts given nine-year ban in corruption case – Jockey Dylan Kitts has been given a nine-year ban in a racing corruption case.
The rider and associate John Higgins conspired together to commit a corrupt practice by agreeing to stop a horse achieving its best possible position, it was found. This occurred during the Wacky Weekender Festival Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle on July 5, 2023 in Worcester, where Kitts finished third. It was found by the BHA that... Read More
Willie Mullins happy with pipe-openers for Anzadam and Ballyburn
Ballyburn is now favourite with most bookmakers for the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, while Mullins was also pleased with how Mystical Power was running in the same race before he was badly hampered and unseated Mark Walsh after the last hurdle. He added: “I was very happy with how the two... Read More
A tanker carrying Russian oil products suffered four external explosions off the coast of Senegal-
Bloomberg reported Monday, citing the vessel’s manager Besiktas Shipping. The incident near the Senegalese capital Dakar marks the third case in recent days involving tankers that transport Russian fuel in defiance of Western sanctions. Besiktas Shipping said water started flooding the engine room of the Mersin after the blasts, which took place at 23:45 UTC on Nov. 27. The ship... Read More
An Italian mayor has apologised to the family of opera star Luciano Pavarotti after the town of Pesaro encased a statue honouring the late singer within a Christmas ice rink.
The singer’s widow, Nicoletta Mantovani, told local media that she was “angry and upset” at what she called the decision to “ridicule” her late husband. The temporary ice rink was constructed in the centre of the town’s piazza, leaving Pavrotti’s statue knee-deep in ice and surrounded by perspex walls. In response, Biancini said that he... Read More
Options narrow for Maduro as Trump rejected most of his requests during call, sources say” Venezuela’s
President Nicolas Maduro is running out of options to step down and leave his country under US-guaranteed safe passage, following a short call with US President Donald Trump last month where Trump refused a series of requests from the Venezuelan leader, according to four sources briefed on the call. Maduro and his government have always... Read More
Honduras election: presidential candidates locked in ‘technical tie’, official says”
The two leading candidates to be president of Honduras were locked in a “technical tie” on Monday, with a razor-thin margin separating them. As of Monday afternoon, there were just 515 votes separating right-wing candidate Nasry Asfura from his nearest challenger, Salvador Nasralla, a former TV host standing for the country’s centrist party. The head... Read More
Residents of a Hong Kong apartment complex that suffered a deadly blaze last week say authorities didn’t address their concerns about the use of flammable materials in renovation work.
The fire swept through seven high-rise buildings in the complex, killing at least 151 people. More than 30 others are still unaccounted for. The complex had been undergoing renovation work since last year. Authorities said the fire appears to have started in protective netting covering the scaffolding erected around the buildings. They said flammable foam... Read More