VATICAN CITY, Holy See - Pope Francis on Sunday deplored the death of two women in a Catholic parish in Gaza, where he said "defenceless civilians" were targeted by shootings and bombings. "I continue to receive very serious and painful news from Gaza," he said at the end of the Angelus prayer. "A...
MOSCOW, Russia - Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of "problems" with neighbouring Finland after it joined NATO earlier this year, saying Moscow will create a new military district in north-west Russia in response, in an interview published Sunday. Finland, which shares a 1,340 kilometre...
GENEVA, Switzerland - The emergency department at the Al-Shifa hospital in northern Gaza, devastated by Israeli bombardments, is "a blood bath" and is "in need of resuscitation", the WHO said Sunday. Palestinians transport bodies of victims following Israeli bombardment, on a donkey-drawn cart to...
KYIV, Ukraine - Ukraine said Sunday that it had repelled two Russian missile and 20 drone attacks overnight, as Moscow reported downing 33 drones fired from Ukraine. "The Russian occupying forces attacked with the Iskander-K cruise missile, the Kh-59 guided air missile..., as well as 20 Shahed-type...
LONGYEARBYEN, Norway - Glaciologist Andrew Hodson used to collaborate with his Russian colleagues in the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic, but snowmobile excursions to see them have come to a halt since the war in Ukraine. Scientist Andrew Hodson is captured during an interview with AFP in his...
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - A powerful storm led to the deaths of at least 13 people Saturday in the Argentina port city of Bahia Blanca when the roof of a sports club collapsed, authorities said. The heavy rains and wind that pummelled Bahia Blanca caused the roof to give way at a facility where a...
LONDON, United Kingdom - Alex Batty, a British teen who went missing six years ago and was found this week in southwest France, has arrived back in the UK, police said Saturday. Public prosecutor Antoine Leroy (C) holds a press conference about missing British teen Alex Batty, at the Palais de...
WASHINGTON, United States - An American destroyer on Saturday shot down more than a dozen drones in the Red Sea launched from Huthi-controlled areas of Yemen, the US military said, as the impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict spreads to global shipping lanes. "The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile...
QUITO, Ecuador - Britain's honorary consul in the Ecuadoran port city of Guayaquil has been kidnapped, police said Saturday. This undated and unlocated handout photo obtained on December 16, 2023, from the Agripac Facebook page shows Colin Armstrong, the UK's honorary consul to Guayaquil, Ecuador....
LONDON, United Kingdom - UK foreign minister David Cameron and German counterpart Annalena Baerbock on Saturday said the "need is urgent" for a "sustainable ceasefire" in Gaza. Demonstrators protest in support of Palestinians during a "Shut Down for Palestine" rally in New York on December 16,...
OTTAWA, Canada - Canadian federal police on Saturday charged an Ottawa youth with directing terrorist activities against Jewish people, and giving instructions on explosives. The accused, because of their young age, cannot be identified under Canadian law. No details were released. In a statement,...
VATICAN CITY, Holy See - A Vatican court on Saturday sentenced a once powerful Italian cardinal to five years and six months in jail for financial crimes at the end of a historic trial. This photo taken and handout on December 16, 2023 by The Vatican Media shows President Giuseppe Pignatone (C),...
