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Bishops urge Tennessee to commute death sentence after botched execution

Bishops urge Tennessee to commute death sentence after botched execution

01:38
‘I think Pope Leo truly cares about young Catholics’

‘I think Pope Leo truly cares about young Catholics’

23:38
Higher-level ceasefire talks with Russia premature, Rubio says, as US reviews Moscow's stance Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on March 27 that it was premature to expect higher-level talks with Russia as the U.S. reviews Moscow's response to efforts to end the war in Ukraine, AFP reported. Asked if the time was right after U.S. negotiations with Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia, Rubio said: "I think you have to make more progress on a technical level." The U.S., Russia, and Ukraine agreed to "eliminate the use of force" and prevent commercial vessels from being used for military purposes in the Black Sea following two-day talks in Saudi Arabia. "There's a lot of work to be done with both sides, particularly with the Russian side, which we haven't talked to for years," Rubio said, adding the White House would hold consultations on the outcome of the meetings. U.S. President Donald Trump  has repeatedly expressed his intention to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin since taking office. On March 18, the two leaders held a 1.5-hour phone call. Rubio's comments follow Trump's March 25 statement that Russia may be "dragging their feet" on ending its war against Ukraine. Trump has reversed Washington's stance toward Moscow by engaging in talks with Russian officials, a move the Biden administration has avoided since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. has been mediating negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to end the war. Ukraine has already agreed to a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire, announcing on March 11 that it is ready to implement the measure if Russia reciprocates. Moscow has so far refused. As Ukraine’s fate hangs in the balance, ‘Soviet’ command culture damages war effort Last February, a Ukrainian company commander going by his callsign Veter was ordered to send his people to reinforce another unit’s position over the next few hours. He was told that four National Guardsmen were holding the position on the other side of the village they were defending in The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak

Higher-level ceasefire talks with Russia premature, Rubio says, as US reviews Moscow's stance Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on March 27 that it was premature to expect higher-level talks with Russia as the U.S. reviews Moscow's response to efforts to end the war in Ukraine, AFP reported. Asked if the time was right after U.S. negotiations with Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia, Rubio said: "I think you have to make more progress on a technical level." The U.S., Russia, and Ukraine agreed to "eliminate the use of force" and prevent commercial vessels from being used for military purposes in the Black Sea following two-day talks in Saudi Arabia. "There's a lot of work to be done with both sides, particularly with the Russian side, which we haven't talked to for years," Rubio said, adding the White House would hold consultations on the outcome of the meetings. U.S. President Donald Trump  has repeatedly expressed his intention to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin since taking office. On March 18, the two leaders held a 1.5-hour phone call. Rubio's comments follow Trump's March 25 statement that Russia may be "dragging their feet" on ending its war against Ukraine. Trump has reversed Washington's stance toward Moscow by engaging in talks with Russian officials, a move the Biden administration has avoided since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. has been mediating negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to end the war. Ukraine has already agreed to a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire, announcing on March 11 that it is ready to implement the measure if Russia reciprocates. Moscow has so far refused. As Ukraine’s fate hangs in the balance, ‘Soviet’ command culture damages war effort Last February, a Ukrainian company commander going by his callsign Veter was ordered to send his people to reinforce another unit’s position over the next few hours. He was told that four National Guardsmen were holding the position on the other side of the village they were defending in The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak

03:34
Kenya: Church urges protection for refugee and migrant minors

Kenya: Church urges protection for refugee and migrant minors

00:38
New “Donum Missionis” Foundation to oversee Dicastery for Evangelization Colleges

New “Donum Missionis” Foundation to oversee Dicastery for Evangelization Colleges

04:38
4 killed, 88 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day Russian attacks across Ukrainian regions killed at least four civilians and injured at least 88, including children, over the past day, regional authorities reported on April 23. Russia has intensified its attacks against Ukrainian cities and towns even as Kyiv proposed a 30-day truce on strikes against civilian infrastructure. A Russian air strike against the city of Zaporizhzhia on April 22 killed a 69-year-old woman and injured at least 40 people, including children, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported. Multiple residential buildings and an educational facility were damaged. Russian attacks against Dnipropetrovsk Oblast over the past day injured four men, aged 40, 48, 65, and 85, Governor Serhii Lysak said. In Donetsk Oblast, three people were killed and seven injured in Russian attacks, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported. This included three people killed and four injured in an attack on Myrnohrad. Russian forces launched at least 13 drones against the city of Kharkiv on April 22, injuring 10 people, Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported. Elsewhere in Kharkiv Oblast, in the town of Kupiansk, seven people were injured in a Russian air strike, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov. Twelve people, including a child, were injured in Russian strikes in Kherson Oblast, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Two high-rise buildings, 12 houses, an ambulance, and cars were damaged. Russian forces also destroyed an energy facility in the region, Prokudin said, warning about possible emergency shutdowns. A drone attack against Odesa's suburb started multiple fires and injured two people, according to Governor Oleh Kiper. Russian forces launched 13 drones against the city of Poltava, injuring six people, three of whom have been hospitalized. Governor Volodymyr Kohut said that houses, multi-story buildings, warehouses, office buildings, and cars were damaged. Zelensky rules out recognizing Crimea as Russian, warns against playing into Putin’s ‘game’ “There is nothing to talk about. This violates our Constitution. This is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said. The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

4 killed, 88 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day Russian attacks across Ukrainian regions killed at least four civilians and injured at least 88, including children, over the past day, regional authorities reported on April 23. Russia has intensified its attacks against Ukrainian cities and towns even as Kyiv proposed a 30-day truce on strikes against civilian infrastructure. A Russian air strike against the city of Zaporizhzhia on April 22 killed a 69-year-old woman and injured at least 40 people, including children, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported. Multiple residential buildings and an educational facility were damaged. Russian attacks against Dnipropetrovsk Oblast over the past day injured four men, aged 40, 48, 65, and 85, Governor Serhii Lysak said. In Donetsk Oblast, three people were killed and seven injured in Russian attacks, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported. This included three people killed and four injured in an attack on Myrnohrad. Russian forces launched at least 13 drones against the city of Kharkiv on April 22, injuring 10 people, Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported. Elsewhere in Kharkiv Oblast, in the town of Kupiansk, seven people were injured in a Russian air strike, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov. Twelve people, including a child, were injured in Russian strikes in Kherson Oblast, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Two high-rise buildings, 12 houses, an ambulance, and cars were damaged. Russian forces also destroyed an energy facility in the region, Prokudin said, warning about possible emergency shutdowns. A drone attack against Odesa's suburb started multiple fires and injured two people, according to Governor Oleh Kiper. Russian forces launched 13 drones against the city of Poltava, injuring six people, three of whom have been hospitalized. Governor Volodymyr Kohut said that houses, multi-story buildings, warehouses, office buildings, and cars were damaged. Zelensky rules out recognizing Crimea as Russian, warns against playing into Putin’s ‘game’ “There is nothing to talk about. This violates our Constitution. This is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said. The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

00:34
US funding for abducted Ukrainian children program restored temporarily, White House still terminating initiative The U.S. State Department announced on March 27 that it would provide short-term funding to an initiative documenting Ukrainian children abducted by Russia after White House terminated the program, Reuters reported. The program, run by Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab under the State Department's Conflict Observatory, used biometric data and satellite imagery to track Russia's abduction of Ukrainian children. At least 19,500 Ukrainian children have been confirmed as abducted by Russia since the start of its full-scale invasion, with only about 1,200 returned, according to Ukraine's Children of War database. Yale's research — funded by the U.S. government — has helped track thousands of these cases. Researchers reportedly lost access to the database last month after officials terminated the contract, cutting off critical evidence for war crimes investigations. A State Department spokesperson said the short-term funding would allow program implementers to ensure that essential data on abducted children is properly transferred to the relevant authorities. "It is part of the standard close-out procedures for terminated programs," the spokesperson said. The comments come amid U.S. President Donald Trump administration's efforts to cut various agencies and initiatives, including foreign aid, calling it "waste, fraud, and abuse." The multiple cuts to foreign funding have begun to affect international efforts to hold Russia accountable, including for war crimes committed in Ukraine. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova and Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 17, 2023, for the deportation of Ukrainian children. As part of ongoing U.S.-Russia negotiations, U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Walz said that returning kidnapped Ukrainian children is among several "confidence-building measures" being discussed. Ukrainian officials have named their return as a key condition for any future peace agreement with Russia.

US funding for abducted Ukrainian children program restored temporarily, White House still terminating initiative The U.S. State Department announced on March 27 that it would provide short-term funding to an initiative documenting Ukrainian children abducted by Russia after White House terminated the program, Reuters reported. The program, run by Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab under the State Department's Conflict Observatory, used biometric data and satellite imagery to track Russia's abduction of Ukrainian children. At least 19,500 Ukrainian children have been confirmed as abducted by Russia since the start of its full-scale invasion, with only about 1,200 returned, according to Ukraine's Children of War database. Yale's research — funded by the U.S. government — has helped track thousands of these cases. Researchers reportedly lost access to the database last month after officials terminated the contract, cutting off critical evidence for war crimes investigations. A State Department spokesperson said the short-term funding would allow program implementers to ensure that essential data on abducted children is properly transferred to the relevant authorities. "It is part of the standard close-out procedures for terminated programs," the spokesperson said. The comments come amid U.S. President Donald Trump administration's efforts to cut various agencies and initiatives, including foreign aid, calling it "waste, fraud, and abuse." The multiple cuts to foreign funding have begun to affect international efforts to hold Russia accountable, including for war crimes committed in Ukraine. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova and Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 17, 2023, for the deportation of Ukrainian children. As part of ongoing U.S.-Russia negotiations, U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Walz said that returning kidnapped Ukrainian children is among several "confidence-building measures" being discussed. Ukrainian officials have named their return as a key condition for any future peace agreement with Russia.

00:34
US to know whether Russia 'serious about peace' with Ukraine in coming weeks, Rubio says The U.S. will know within weeks whether Russia is serious about a peace deal with Ukraine, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on April 4, Reuters reported. "We will know soon enough, in a matter of weeks, not months, whether Russia is serious about peace or not. I hope they are," Rubio said. He added that if the process drags on unnecessarily, U.S. President Donald Trump would not engage in "endless negotiations about negotiations." His remarks follow reports that Trump is increasingly frustrated by continued aerial strikes from both Russia and Ukraine despite his mediation efforts. The Telegraph reported on March 23 that Trump is growing angry over the ongoing attacks, while NBC News said on March 30 that he is "pissed off" at Russian President Vladimir Putin's fixation on President Volodymyr Zelensky. "We're testing to see if the Russians are interested in peace. Their actions — not their words, their actions — will determine whether they're serious or not, and we intend to find that out sooner rather than later," Rubio said. Kyiv had agreed to a full 30-day ceasefire in U.S.-mediated talks in Jeddah on March 11, but Russia rejected it unless it included conditions limiting Ukraine's military capabilities, such as ending foreign military aid. Instead, Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. reached a partial ceasefire covering energy infrastructure and the Black Sea. Two days later, Zelensky accused Russia of striking Kherson's energy facilities, calling for a response from Washington. Moscow denied the attack, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claiming Russia had adhered to the agreement but "reserves the right" to abandon it if Ukraine violates the terms. The Russian side accused Ukraine of striking the Sudzha gas metering station in Kursk Oblast, a claim Kyiv dismissed as an attempt to justify further attacks. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on April 1 that Moscow had sent a list of alleged Ukrainian ceasefire violations to the U.S., the U.N., and OSCE. Zelensky ordered Defense Minister Rustem Umerov on March 28 to provide Washington with proof of Russian ceasefire violations. The U.S. has not yet responded to either side's claims. While Trump has occasionally floated measures such as extra sanctions and tariffs on Russia, he has yet to take concrete steps to pressure Moscow, which continues its offensive operations. Kremlin denies Putin, Trump to have phone call in coming days “No, there are no plans for the next few days yet. There’s nothing on the schedule yet,” Dmitriy Peskov said. The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova

US to know whether Russia 'serious about peace' with Ukraine in coming weeks, Rubio says The U.S. will know within weeks whether Russia is serious about a peace deal with Ukraine, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on April 4, Reuters reported. "We will know soon enough, in a matter of weeks, not months, whether Russia is serious about peace or not. I hope they are," Rubio said. He added that if the process drags on unnecessarily, U.S. President Donald Trump would not engage in "endless negotiations about negotiations." His remarks follow reports that Trump is increasingly frustrated by continued aerial strikes from both Russia and Ukraine despite his mediation efforts. The Telegraph reported on March 23 that Trump is growing angry over the ongoing attacks, while NBC News said on March 30 that he is "pissed off" at Russian President Vladimir Putin's fixation on President Volodymyr Zelensky. "We're testing to see if the Russians are interested in peace. Their actions — not their words, their actions — will determine whether they're serious or not, and we intend to find that out sooner rather than later," Rubio said. Kyiv had agreed to a full 30-day ceasefire in U.S.-mediated talks in Jeddah on March 11, but Russia rejected it unless it included conditions limiting Ukraine's military capabilities, such as ending foreign military aid. Instead, Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. reached a partial ceasefire covering energy infrastructure and the Black Sea. Two days later, Zelensky accused Russia of striking Kherson's energy facilities, calling for a response from Washington. Moscow denied the attack, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claiming Russia had adhered to the agreement but "reserves the right" to abandon it if Ukraine violates the terms. The Russian side accused Ukraine of striking the Sudzha gas metering station in Kursk Oblast, a claim Kyiv dismissed as an attempt to justify further attacks. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on April 1 that Moscow had sent a list of alleged Ukrainian ceasefire violations to the U.S., the U.N., and OSCE. Zelensky ordered Defense Minister Rustem Umerov on March 28 to provide Washington with proof of Russian ceasefire violations. The U.S. has not yet responded to either side's claims. While Trump has occasionally floated measures such as extra sanctions and tariffs on Russia, he has yet to take concrete steps to pressure Moscow, which continues its offensive operations. Kremlin denies Putin, Trump to have phone call in coming days “No, there are no plans for the next few days yet. There’s nothing on the schedule yet,” Dmitriy Peskov said. The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova

07:34
Ukraine could launch war crime probe against Kim Jong Un over backing Russia, former ICC chief says North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un could be investigated by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for supporting Russia's war against Ukraine, Song Sang-hyun, former president of the ICC, said on May 19, Yonhap reported. "There is an opportunity for Ukrainian authorities, as the victim, to file a complaint against North Korea with the ICC," Song said. "While a complaint filed by Ukraine would be ideal, the ICC also has the authority to initiate an independent investigation." Song's statement comes as North Korea confirmed in late April for the first time that it had sent troops to fight against Ukraine alongside Russian forces in Kursk Oblast. Despite numerous human rights violations in North Korea, the ICC has not indicted Kim. However, as of now, there are sufficient legal grounds for Ukraine to initiate a case against him for assisting Russia in waging the war, according to the former ICC chief. "The time is right to bring Kim Jong Un before the ICC," Song said at an international conference in Seoul, adding that North Korean military assistance to Russia is grounds for filing a complaint against Pyongyang. Song also urged the ICC to respond more actively to war crimes committed by the North Korean leadership and their allies. North Korea first dispatched around 11,000 troops to aid Russia in the fall of 2024. An additional 3,000 troops were reportedly sent earlier this year after Kyiv reported that more than a third of North Korean soldiers have been killed or injured in combat. Kim has been one of the key allies of Russia during its full-scale war against Ukraine, providing not only soldiers but also artillery shells, ballistic missiles, and other supplies. What’s next for North Korean troops fighting for Russia? A possible Ukraine deployment, experts, officials say North Korean troops fighting for Russia in Kursk Oblast could be redeployed to fight in Ukraine itself, experts and Ukrainian officials have told the Kyiv Independent, though there is still much uncertainty about the next steps Pyongyang’s soldiers could take. Such a move would have huge ramifications for Russia’s full-scale The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

Ukraine could launch war crime probe against Kim Jong Un over backing Russia, former ICC chief says North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un could be investigated by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for supporting Russia's war against Ukraine, Song Sang-hyun, former president of the ICC, said on May 19, Yonhap reported. "There is an opportunity for Ukrainian authorities, as the victim, to file a complaint against North Korea with the ICC," Song said. "While a complaint filed by Ukraine would be ideal, the ICC also has the authority to initiate an independent investigation." Song's statement comes as North Korea confirmed in late April for the first time that it had sent troops to fight against Ukraine alongside Russian forces in Kursk Oblast. Despite numerous human rights violations in North Korea, the ICC has not indicted Kim. However, as of now, there are sufficient legal grounds for Ukraine to initiate a case against him for assisting Russia in waging the war, according to the former ICC chief. "The time is right to bring Kim Jong Un before the ICC," Song said at an international conference in Seoul, adding that North Korean military assistance to Russia is grounds for filing a complaint against Pyongyang. Song also urged the ICC to respond more actively to war crimes committed by the North Korean leadership and their allies. North Korea first dispatched around 11,000 troops to aid Russia in the fall of 2024. An additional 3,000 troops were reportedly sent earlier this year after Kyiv reported that more than a third of North Korean soldiers have been killed or injured in combat. Kim has been one of the key allies of Russia during its full-scale war against Ukraine, providing not only soldiers but also artillery shells, ballistic missiles, and other supplies. What’s next for North Korean troops fighting for Russia? A possible Ukraine deployment, experts, officials say North Korean troops fighting for Russia in Kursk Oblast could be redeployed to fight in Ukraine itself, experts and Ukrainian officials have told the Kyiv Independent, though there is still much uncertainty about the next steps Pyongyang’s soldiers could take. Such a move would have huge ramifications for Russia’s full-scale The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

00:34
Cardinal Ravasi joins jury for 2027 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity

Cardinal Ravasi joins jury for 2027 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity

01:38

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