Chinese Catholics sneak a peek at pope in Mongolia

 A few Chinese Catholics came to sneak a peek at Pope Francis during an official welcome ceremony in the main square of Mongolia’s capital Ulaanbaatar on Saturday, enthusiastically waving their country’s flag. The Vatican does not have diplomatic relations with China, instead recognising Chinese-claimed Taiwan, while China’s Catholics have long been split between a state-backed…

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After the moon, India launches rocket to study the sun

Following the success of India’s moon landing, the country’s space agency launched a rocket on Saturday to study the sun in its first solar mission. The rocket left a trail of smoke and fire as scientists clapped, a live broadcast on the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) website showed. The broadcast was watched by nearly…

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Explained: What are Israel’s controversial judicial overhaul plans?

Israel’s government plans to pass a “reasonability clause” that would remove power of the Supreme Court to overrule government decisions deemed unreasonable. Israel’s hard-right government was planning Monday to push through parliament a key element of its controversial judicial revamp. The “reasonability clause” would remove the power of the Supreme Court to overrule government decisions…

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UK Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary charged with 3 terrorist offences

Anjem Choudary: Once Britain’s most high profile Islamist preacher, Anjem Choudary was imprisoned in Britain in 2016. British radical Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary has been charged with three terrorism offences after being arrested in London last week, police said on Monday. Choudary, 56, has been charged with membership of a proscribed organisation, directing a terrorist…

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