Gaza’s small Christian community is mourning the death of Pope Francis, who had maintained close and consistent video contact with the Palestinian devotees throughout the war that continues to devastate the enclave. Since the outbreak of fighting between Israel and Hamas in October 2023, Francis had regularly called Gaza’s Christians, often several times a week, offering prayers, encouragement and solidarity. “I always waited to hear the words of...

Populist New Zealand First party says bill will ensure country moves away from ‘woke ideology’ harming women. A minor party in New Zealand’s coalition government has announced proposals to legally define women by biological sex, casting the move as a return to common sense and a rejection of “woke ideology”. The bill announced by the populist New Zealand First (NZF) party on Tuesday would define a woman and...