Pope Leo Heads to Africa on Ambitious Tour to Urge Help for Continent

VATICAN CITY, April 9 (Reuters) – Pope Leo leaves on Monday for a visit to four ⁠countries ⁠in Africa, in an ambitious tour to urge global ⁠leaders to address the needs of the continent where more than a fifth of the world’s Catholics live on his first ​major overseas trip of 2026. Over 10 days …

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Past Papal Visits to Africa

VATICAN CITY, April 9 (Reuters) – Pope Leo leaves on ⁠Monday ⁠for a visit to four countries ⁠in Africa, in an ambitious tour to urge world leaders to address the needs ​of the continent. Here is a history of papal visits to Africa, where more than 20% of the world’s Catholics ‌live. POPE PAUL VI …

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Italy Says EU Should Consider Pausing Budget Rules if Iran Crisis Persists

ROME, April 9 (Reuters) – European Union authorities should ⁠consider ⁠a temporary suspension of budget ⁠deficit rules if the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran flares up ​again, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told parliament on Thursday. Meloni also said her government was ‌ready to take every possible ‌measure to prevent potential speculative behaviour on energy prices, including …

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Medicaid work rules will stress states’ staffing capacity

Katie Crouch says calling her state’s Medicaid agency to get information about her benefits can feel like a series of dead ends. “The first time, it’ll ring interminably. Next time, it’ll go to a voice mail that just hangs up on you,” said the 48-year-old, who lives in Delaware. “Sometimes you’ll get a person who …

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Fighting Between Sahel-Based Jihadist Rivals Spills Into Niger

DAKAR, April 9 (Reuters) – The West African affiliates ⁠of ⁠al Qaeda and Islamic State ⁠have clashed in Niger for the first time, according to a ​statement from one of the groups, a development that analysts said signals an intensification of their years-long ‌rivalry. Al Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al‑Islam wal‑Muslimin (JNIM) ‌and Islamic State in …

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Four Dead as Migrant Dinghy Sinks off French Coast, Say Local Authorities

PARIS, April 9 (Reuters) – ⁠Four ⁠people died after ⁠a small boat carrying migrants ​seeking to reach Britain sank in ‌the Channel and ‌a search and rescue ⁠operation ⁠was underway, French local authorities said on ​Thursday. “A taxi-boat sinking occurred today. The situation is still being assessed ​and remains subject to change,” local French ⁠authorities …

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Scientists Say the World’s Oldest Octopus Fossil Isn’t an Octopus After All

LONDON (AP) — A 300-million-year-old tentacled sea creature has lost its crown as the world’s oldest octopus, after scientists found evidence that it’s not an octopus at all. Newly published research concludes that fossilized remains listed by Guinness World Records as the earliest known octopus belong instead to a relative of a nautilus, a cephalopod …

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