After her water broke early, doctors told Fatima Goines to prepare for her newborn’s death. Goines was 22 weeks into her pregnancy, just past the halfway mark. Doctors at Methodist Hospital in suburban Minneapolis said they couldn’t save such a premature baby and that no hospital could. They told her that once the baby girl Read more
In a crackdown, Rwanda has shut down more than 5,600 places of worship over failure to meet the conditions required for operation. Churches, mosques, caves and tents affected by the shutdown were found to have fallen short of the standard requirements set by 2018 laws, according to officials conducting the two-week process that started July Read more
The Wellington City Council says it went above and beyond to consult with Fire and Emergency before a crew, on the way to a fire, were blocked by a surprise cycleway planter box. That and a catalogue of other Fire and Emergency (Fenz) safety problems with the council’s cycleway programme have been detailed in an Read more
Mary Potter Hospice has won a supreme community award for its work. Every year since 2004, Wellington Airport and the five local Councils come together for the awards to recognise outstanding mahi and celebrate hundreds of volunteers for their valuable contribution to the community. This year’s five categories covered contributions to Arts and Culture, Education Read more
Singapore hanged a 59-year-old man for drug trafficking, authorities said, the second execution in the city-state in less than a week. The United Nations and rights groups say capital punishment has no proven deterrent effect and have called for it to be discontinued. Singaporean officials, however, insist it has helped make the country one of Read more
Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Cardinal Seán O’Malley as archbishop of Boston on Monday. He named the bishop of Providence, Rhode Island, Richard Henning, to replace him as leader of one of the most important Catholic archdioceses in the United States. The Vatican announcement didn’t mention O’Malley’s other main role as the pope’s main Read more
Dozens of technologists and Catholics gathered at Microsoft in Redmond for a conversation about ethics in artificial intelligence between an “unlikely pair,” as they were introduced: a papal adviser and the head of Microsoft. Father Paolo Benanti, a member of the United Nations’ advisory body on AI and adviser to Pope Francis on ethics and Read more
A significant Oamaru landmark with a rich architectural pedigree is undergoing a $1.4 million refit. The interior of St Patrick’s Basilica is being renovated over the next few months. The staged work will further bring it up to modern standards. At the same time, liturgical aspects of the internal layout are being restored in line Read more
At least 11 churchmen have been detained by police and paramilitaries over a weeklong assault in northern Nicaragua, depleting the already demoralised Diocese of Matagalpa — whose leader, Bishop Rolando Álvarez, lives in exile. Nine priests and a deacon were detained on Aug 1 and 2 — with some taken from parishes and parish residences Read more
The KidsCan waitlist is at record levels with 10,000 children, in 260 schools and early childhood centres, needing help. The charity, which provides food and clothing to schools and early childhood centres, said the list was the longest it had ever been in its 19 year history Chief executive Julie Chapman said the repercussions were Read more