Pope Francis rested during a peaceful night following respiratory crisis and blood transfusion

Anita Rose, a 57-year-old dog walker from Brantham, Suffolk, was brutally beaten to death by 56-year-old fugitive Roy Barclay while walking her dog on July 24 last year. The court heard that Rose suffered multiple kicks and blows, and her body was discovered with her dog’s lead wrapped around her leg; she died four days later. Evidence linking Barclay to the crime includes Rose's pink jacket found at his campsite, along with items like her...

Cabinet minister Chris Bishop expressed regret for his remarks during the Aotearoa Music Awards in Auckland, where he said “what a load of crap” in response to a performance by pop singer Stan Walker. Video footage captured him seated with a drink while attendees nearby danced and waved tino rangatiratanga flags, symbolizing self-determination. In a statement, Bishop clarified that his comment about “performative acclaim” referred to what he perceived as overtly political branding at the...

A selection of the week's best photos from across the African continent and beyond:This week's photo highlights include men playing soccer on a beach in Dakar, Egypt's apricot harvest, and nightlife in Abuja. Other noteworthy images feature a Ghanaian spelling bee contestant, dancers in Johannesburg, and wildlife conservation efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The collection captures the vibrant culture, events, and daily life across Africa, showcasing both natural beauty and human interactions. Full...

In the San Francisco Bay area, six gray whales have died in the past week, raising the total to 15 stranded whales this year, including 14 gray whales and one minke whale. Authorities from the California Academy of Sciences and the Marine Mammal Center are struggling to determine the causes of these deaths due to challenging necropsy conditions, with some cases suspected to be caused by vessel strikes. With a notable increase in gray whale...

The aid distribution process in Gaza, backed by the Israeli-American initiative, has devolved into "complete chaos," according to UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. She criticized the new distribution plan, which forces civilians to travel long distances for aid, as contradictory to humanitarian principles and potentially dangerous due to military presence. With only 10% of needed aid reaching the 2.1 million residents, including over a million children, Russell highlighted the severe consequences of the ongoing conflict,...

The Slovak leader has repeatedly accused judges and prosecutors who probe his allies of political bias.Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico criticized judge Milan Cisarik after the conviction of his former finance minister, Petr Kazimir, for corruption, suggesting the verdict was politically motivated. Since returning to power in 2023, Fico has dismantled anti-corruption units established during his previous term and amended laws to reduce penalties for corruption, leading to accusations of revenge against those investigating him....