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Pope Francis has responded to criticism regarding his approval of priests blessing same-sex couples, acknowledging that the resistance from African bishops is a unique case rooted in cultural differences. The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), an association of Catholic bishops on the continent, expressed their opposition to the Pope's decision, deeming such blessings inappropriate. However, Pope Francis, in an interview with Italian newspaper La Stampa, published on Monday, dismissed critics of his declaration as "belonging to small ideological groups," except for Africans whom he described as a "separate case." He explained that, for them, homosexuality is viewed negatively from a cultural standpoint, and they do not tolerate it. Last month, Pope Francis endorsed a significant shift in the church's stance on same-sex unions by permitting blessings for gay couples. However, the Vatican's doctrinal office emphasized that

In a harrowing turn of events, nine Pakistani workers fell victim to unidentified gunmen in the restive southeastern border region of Iran. This tragic incident unfolded just over a week after both nations engaged in military strikes on each other's territories. The city of Saravan became the unfortunate backdrop for the attack, leaving a wave of uncertainty as no group or individuals have claimed responsibility, as reported by Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency. Muhammad Mudassir Tipi, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran, took to social media to express his shock, stating, “Deeply shocked by the horrifying killing of 9 Pakistanis in Saravan. The Embassy will extend full support to bereaved families.” He called upon Iran to cooperate fully in the investigation. The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the incident, labeling it a "horrifying and despicable crime." Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch emphasized the need for an immediate invest

In a significant development, Russia and Ukraine engaged in a historic prisoner exchange, marking the first such swap since the controversial crash of a Russian military plane. The incident, which occurred near Ukraine's eastern border, stirred tensions as both nations provided conflicting narratives regarding the tragic event. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the return of 207 Ukrainian service members on Wednesday. Among them, nearly half were identified as the "defenders of Mariupol," a southern Ukrainian city that faced a brutal siege in the early stages of the war. Simultaneously, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that 195 Russian military personnel had been received on their end. Zelensky expressed determination, revealing that this exchange marked the 50th such event since Russia initiated its full-scale invasion nearly two years ago. In total, Ukraine had successfully brought 3,035 soldiers back home. "We will do everything to return each

In a dramatic turn of events, a United States Air Force F-16 fighter jet plunged into the waters off the coast of South Korea during a routine training mission, adding another layer of intrigue to the series of crashes involving US military aircraft stationed in Korea. The incident unfolded on a Wednesday morning around 8:41 a.m. local time, as the F-16 from the 8th Fighter Wing encountered an in-flight emergency over the waters west of the Korean Peninsula. Kunsan Air Base, situated approximately 110 miles (180 kilometers) south of Seoul, promptly issued a statement confirming the crash. Thankfully, the pilot, belonging to the 8th Fighter Wing, executed a successful ejection and was recovered approximately 50 minutes after the aircraft went down. The Air Force reported that the pilot was conscious and underwent a thorough assessment at a medical facility. Expressing gratitude, Colonel Matthew Gaetke, the commander of the 8th Fighter Wing, acknowledged the rapid response of the Republi

 Sky Sports were left red-faced after an on-screen graphic mistakenly introduced Chelsea defender Axel Disasi as Noni Madueke on Tuesday night. The pair were both the scoresheet as the Blues thrashed Middlesbrough 6-1 at Stamford Bridge in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final to boo their place at Wembley. But when Disasi spoke to Sky Sports after the game, an on-screen graphic introduced him as Madueke instead. Madueke is four years younger than his Chelsea teammate, plays in a different role and is English, while Disasi is French. Viewers immediately spotted the mistake and took to social media to flag up the glaring error.  Sky Sports with a huge mistake as that is Axel Disasi, not Noni Madueke,' another added, while a third described the gaffe as a 'howler'. A fourth commented: 'Sky sports calling Disasi Madueke. They’ve done it again.' Disasi scored Chelsea's third goal in the 6-1 rout, converting Raheem Sterling's cross at the far post after th

 Former world boxing champion Amir Khan has unveiled a new luxury wedding venue next to a car wash and fly-tipping spot in Bolton. The lavish complex - named 'The Balmayna' - has eye-catching features with glass walls, a waterfall and palm trees inside - along with greenery and a floral design. But the venue, set to open just weeks away in March, is still surrounded by a building site and sandwiched between two car washes - despite its website promising a 'royalty experience' and 'a touch of magnificence and excellence in every celebration'. Those who live in the area are far from happy with the design, with one person writing on Instagram: 'It's an absolute eyesore!!!! A blot on the landscape!!! It's a huge lack of class! It also doesn't look anything at all like the image portrayed.' Khan, now 37, has been planning 'The Balmayna' - which translates to 'enamelled' in Arabic - since 2013, with the complex already taking bookin

Manchester United face a late transfer scramble after Anthony Martial was ruled out of action for 10 weeks after undergoing surgery on a groin injury - meaning that he could have played his last game for the club. Mail Sport revealed last week that the Frenchman had been told to train on his own to improve his fitness before he would be selected by manager Erik ten Hag. Martial though has been complaining about a groin issue, which United have confirmed that he has had surgery on in a bid to resolve the issue. The Red Devils in a statement confirmed he will miss 10 weeks - which means he might not be available until the start of April. However, with his contract expiring at the end of the season, and the Frenchman already falling out-of-favour at Old Trafford, there's a strong possibility that he has played his final game for the Red Devils. The video shows a number of people storming into a building, which is claimed to be Chinese fans going into Al-Nassr's hotel to 'expre

 A Dragons' Den entrepreneur who has been accused of selling snake oil on the BBC show has revealed she was recruited by it's producers to take part. Giselle Boxer, 31, from Sheffield, appeared on the BBC show last week and asked for £50,000 for a 10 per cent stake in her business selling ear seeds, which she claimed  helped 'cure herself from ME'. After the show was aired, various doctors and myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) sufferers hit out at the BBC and the business, Acu Seeds, for promoting an alternative medicine with no scientific evidence it can help ME or fatigue. ME sufferers have also taken to social media to complain about the product and accused Giselle of selling 'snake oil'. But Giselle has now responded to the criticism, saying she was recruited by a researcher to appear on the show and went through various stages of due diligence looking into her business before she went on. It comes as it appears Acu Seeds has changed its name to East Healing Lt

  Former President Donald Trump won the Republican primary in New Hampshire Tuesday, the Associated Press projected, marking a major setback for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's campaign in what was widely viewed as a make-or-break moment for her candidacy after Trump's decisive victory in Iowa last week. .The race was called for Trump around 8 p.m., with the former president leading Haley 54% to 45% with around 18% of votes counted after polls began closing at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Trump’s win in New Hampshire comes after he won the Iowa caucuses with a historic 51% of votes last week, prompting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to drop out of the race and endorse Trump. Haley remains Trump’s sole competitor and has expressed plans to stay in the contest at least until the primary in her home state of South Carolina. Trump predicted a “big loss” for Haley on Tuesday and said he doesn’t care if she stays in the race past the New Hampshire prim

  In 2020, while he was at Lille, Victor Osimhen won the Prix  Marc Vivien Foé  for being the best African footballer in France. But because of the Covid-19 and then various other things, the Nigerian was never formally awarded the accolade which is organised by  RFI and France 24  in memory of Foé who died from a heart attack while playing for Cameroon against Colombia at the Confederations Cup in 2003. Osimhen was finally handed his award in Abidjan by RFI's sports editor Christophe Jousset. "A lot of people were writing me off never to achieve something greater like the African footballer of the year," said Osimhen. "But for me, it's all hard work and consistency because I really give my everything - my sweat, blood and tears to make sure I achieve my dreams. And then to be able to come out on top is a huge one for me." There's fire in that there belly During the delayed award ceremony, Osimhen, whose 26 goals helped to fire  Napoli to the 2023 Serie

  But try telling that to the presidential candidates who have seen their ambitions dashed over the decades by a demanding electorate that isn't quite like the rest of the country -- and punishes politicians who don't take notice. Just ask Joe Biden, whose White House dreams were almost finished off by a fifth-place finish in the 2020 New Hampshire primary after he ran a standoffish campaign that irked a state that puts a premium on the personal touch. A fresh round of presidential candidates vying for the nomination on Tuesday will encounter an electorate seeded with the fierce independent spirit that gave birth to the state's motto and rallying cry, "Live Free or Die." Old, white and wary of big government, the overwhelmingly rural state of just 1.4 million residents -- where sales tax is as anathema as urban sprawl -- can resemble conservative Ohio or Iowa from a certain angle. But the highly educated and church-averse electorate has as much in common with libe

  Houthi followers lift rifles and shout slogans against the U.S.-U.K. during a tribal gathering on January 14, 2024 on the outskirts of Sana’a, Yemen. Mohammed Hamoud | Getty Images DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Yemen’s Houthi rebels are enthusiastically “confronting America directly,” the organization’s leader said in a televised speech, vowing to continue the group’s campaign of attacks on ships in the Red Sea until Israel’s blockade of Gaza is lifted. The remarks came as the U.S. steps up its strikes on Houthi targets and ahead of President  Joe Biden ’s admission to reporters that so far, his administration’s military action was not having its intended effect. “When you say working, are they stopping the Houthis?” Biden said in an exchange with reporters in Washington, D.C. “No. Are they going to continue? Yes.”  The White House redesignated  the Houthis as a terrorist organization on Wednesday, after delisting the group in 2021. The U.S. carried out its fifth airstrike against Ho

  A civil defence team carries out search and rescue operations in a damaged building following a missile strike launched by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the Kurdistan region’s capital of Arbil, on January 17, 2024.  Safin Hamid | AFP | Getty Images DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Within 24 hours, Iran launched missile and drone strikes on targets in three countries — Iraq, Syria and Pakistan — and took the extraordinary step of announcing its responsibility for the attacks, triggering anger from its neighbors. The developments have heightened concerns over the possibility of a wider Middle East conflict, as the Israel-Hamas war and daily Israeli bombardment of the Gaza enclave passes the 100-day mark. Baghdad recalled its ambassador to Iran after the Monday night attack on its northern semi-autonomous Kurdistan region killed four civilians and injured at least six. Tehran said the strike targeted an Israeli spy hub near the U.S. consulate in Erbil, the Kurdistan regional c

  Tuesday's strike on  Pakistan's  restive southwestern Baluchistan province imperilled diplomatic relations between the two neighbours, but both sides appeared wary of provoking the other.  Iran  and nuclear-armed Pakistan have long regarded each other with suspicion over militant attacks.  The attack also threatened to further ignite violence in a  Middle East  unsettled by Israel's ongoing war on Hamas in the  Gaza Strip . Iran launched strikes late Monday in  Iraq  and  Syria  over an I slamic State group -claimed suicide bombing that killed over 90 people earlier this month.  Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, announced that Islamabad is recalling the country’s ambassador to Iran over the strikes. “Last night’s unprovoked and blatant breach of Pakistan’s sovereignty by Iran is a violation of international law and the purposes and principles of the charter of the United Nations,” she said in a televised address Baloch added that Pakis