UNITED KINGDOM

Pontiff nearing three weeks in hospital in Rome after being admitted with respiratory problemsPope Francis has recorded and released an audio message thanking those who have been praying for his recovery, his voice breathless as he nears three weeks in hospital with pneumonia.“I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health from the square, I accompany you from here,” Francis said in a message broadcast in St Peter’s Square. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/06/pope-francis-sounds-breathless-in-new-audio-message-from-hospital Author : Agence France-Presse in Vatican City Publish date : 2025-03-06 21:53:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the

President’s decree claims white South Africans being unjustly discriminated against and orders end to foreign aidThe state department has ordered an immediate pause on most US foreign assistance to South Africa, according to a cable seen by the Guardian, officially implementing a contentious executive order by Donald Trump.The directive, issued on Thursday, implements Executive Order 14204 targeting what the administration called “egregious actions” by South Africa. It orders all state department entities to immediately suspend aid disbursements, with minimal exceptions. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/06/aid-trump-south-africa Author : Joseph Gedeon in Washington Publish date : 2025-03-06 20:33:00 Copyright for syndicated

BoM path track map predicts TC Alfred will cross coast on Saturday near Brisbane, the first storm of its size to do so in decades. Follow the latest updates todayWhy did Tropical Cyclone Alfred slow down on its path towards the east coast?What is melioidosis and why do cases spike after flooding and heavy rainfall?Brisbane flood map: suburbs at risk during Cyclone AlfredAs we’re all now beginning to realise, Alfred is slow moving and not entirely predictable in its movements. The past few hours underline this.At one point in the night – according to the update at 11pm AEST –

Levies on tourists and cruise ships considered by some local authorities in attempt to plug funding gapsCouncil tax costs in Scotland will hit record levels next month after local authorities agreed to raise rates by up to 15%, with some planning new levies on tourists and cruise ships.All of Scotland’s 32 local authorities have announced council tax increases from April of at least 6%, with the majority raising them by about 10%, after years of successive cuts to their grant funding. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/06/council-tax-in-scotland-to-reach-record-high-with-15-rise-in-some-areas Author : Severin Carrell Scotland editor Publish date : 2025-03-06 18:09:00 Copyright for