Pope acknowledges resistance to same-sex blessings but doubles down: ‘The Lord blesses everyone’

Pope Francis has defended to let priests bless same-sex couples but admitted that “solitude is a price you have to pay” when you make difficult decisions.

Francis doubled down and insisted that the “Lord blesses everyone,” during a Sunday interview with an Italian talk show. But he acknowledged the his decision has sparked — Africa’s bishops have united in a continent-wide refusal to implement the Vatican declaration and individual bishops in Eastern Europe, Latin America and elsewhere have also voiced opposition.

Vatican’s Dec


Election results tell you who won and lost. AP VoteCast tells you why

WASHINGTON (AP) — When the dust settles from Monday’s , the returns will reveal who had Republican caucusgoers’ vote, but they won’t shed much light on the types of people who voted or what was on their minds as they cast their ballots. That’s where comes in.

Launched in 2018, AP VoteCast is a comprehensive survey of both voters and nonvoters that aims to tell the story behind the election results. Conducted for The Associated Press and Fox News by the , it


A Cambodian court convicts activists for teaching about class differences, suspends their jail terms

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A court in Cambodia on Monday convicted four land rights activists of plotting to provoke a peasant revolution by teaching farmers about class divisions and gave them five-year suspended prison terms.

The four — Theng Savoeun, president of the Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community, and his colleagues Nhel Pheap, Than Hach and Chan Vibol — in May last year by the Ratanakiri provincial court in northeastern Cambodia.

They were charged with plotting against the state and incitement to commit a felony for allegedly teaching about


Kosovo remembers 45 people killed in 1999 and denounces Serbia for not apologizing

RECAK, Kosovo (AP) — Hundreds of Kosovars gathered in a southern village on Monday to commemorate the 25th of a mass killing of 45 ethnic Albanians by Serb forces, an event that helped spark international intervention to end a in Kosovo.

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Parliament Speaker Glauk Konjufca joined citizens at a cemetery in Recak, 32 kilometers (20 miles) south of the capital, Pristina, for the commemoration ceremony.

Former U.S. diplomat William Walker,


Men who say they were abused by a Japanese boy band producer criticize the company’s response

TOKYO (AP) — Members of a group of men who say they were sexually abused as boys by a Japanese entertainment mogul are accusing the company behind the scandal, previously known as Johnny’s, of not being sincere in dealing with the victims.

Shimon Ishimaru, who represents the victims’ group, said many have not yet received compensation. The group has asked to meet with company officials, but that has not happened, he said at a news conference with three other men who said they were victims.

Ishimaru


Biden and the Democrats raise $97 million to close out 2023 after a December fundraising blitz

WASHINGTON (AP) — President and the said they raised more than $97 million in the final three months of last year, boosted by a star-studded December fundraising blitz that came even as the political world’s attention shifted to the start of the .

The Biden campaign said Monday that it took in $235 million from last April until the end of 2023 and finished the year with $117 million in cash on hand — which it said was the highest total amassed


Civilian staff for Canadian military bases in Ontario and Quebec on strike over wages

OTTAWA — Nearly 500 civilian workers on Canadian military bases in Ontario and Quebec began a strike today over wages and job security.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Union of National Defence Employees say members hit the picket lines as of 6:30 a.m. Eastern time this morning.

The strike will affect Canadian Forces bases in Kingston, Ont., Montreal, Ottawa, and other cities.

PSAC national president Chris Aylward says members are taking job action to get the collective agreement that they deserve


Downtown Toronto stabbing leaves man with life-threatening injuries

A man is fighting for his life in hospital after he was stabbed in downtown Toronto on Sunday night.

Emergency crews were called to the area of Dundas and Sherbourne streets around 11:30 p.m. for reports of a stabbing.

Police say two people got into a fight when one person stabbed the other.

Officers found a man with critical injuries. Paramedics say the victim was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries.


Iran sentences imprisoned Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi to an additional prison term

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A court in Iran has slapped imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate with an additional sentence of 15 months for allegedly spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic, her family said Monday.

According to a post on Instagram by Mohammadi ‘s family, the new sentence was handed down on Dec. 19. It said Mohammadi had refused to attend the court sessions.

The verdict also said that after serving her time, Mohammadi would be banned from traveling abroad for two years and would be


Europe’s biggest economy shrank last year as Germany struggles with multiple crises

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Germany’s economy shrank 0.3% last year as Europe’s former powerhouse struggled with more expensive energy, higher interest rates, lack of skilled labor and a .

Europe’s largest economy has been mired in stagnation since the last months of 2022 amid those multiple challenges. The International Monetary Fund expected Germany to be the last year, a major turnaround from its place as a model for how to expand when other nations were struggling.

German’s economy