World

Pope Francis, facing sexual abuse crises in several countries, wrote an unprecedented letter to all Catholics last week asking each one of them to help root out "this culture of death" and vowing there would be no more cover ups.

Tired men, women and children, many lugging their belongings in suitcases, lined up at the Peru-Ecuador border to pass through migration authorities before Saturday, when Venezuelans will be required to present a passport to enter Peru.

The detail came as several media outlets in the US reported that federal prosecutors had granted immunity to National Enquirer chief David Pecker, potentially laying bare his efforts to protect his longtime friend Donald Trump.

Trump's comments came on the heels of Tuesday's conviction of former campaign chief Paul Manafort and a guilty plea by his former attorney Michael Cohen.

Trump's mere mention of impeachment, however, shows how deep his political troubles have become, with this week's events putting his presidency's future in serious doubt.

It was not clear when the message was recorded, but Baghdadi appeared to criticise a $100-million pledge by Saudi Arabia last week to help rebuild Syria's northeast.

For Russia's elite, such steps could close off an important avenue for finance as well as a safe haven for billions of roubles of their wealth.

Putin said he hoped Washington would eventually realise "this policy has no future".

Aurea Vazquez Rijos stands accused of hiring hitman Alex Pabon Colon to kill Adam Anhang Uster in September 2005, according to the indictment from the prosecutor's office which dates back to 2008.

After police identified the victim as Cassandra Cline of Hilton Head Island, the alligator believed to be responsible for the attacking the woman at a lagoon on Hilton Head Island, was captured and killed .

China has previously used its tourism clout as a diplomatic tool, last year halting tours to South Korea after Seoul installed a controversial U.S. missile defence system.

The Hajj translation bureau provides 24/7 interpretation services in English, French, Farsi, Malay, Hausa, Turkish, Chinese and Urdu — the most widely spoken language among hajj pilgrims.

Two people were killed and five others - including the gunman - were wounded in the incident.

The youth also wrote that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was his 'real father', police said in a statement, adding that what he wrote was against the law and 'profaned the people's feelings'.

The body of a woman, believed to be the spouse of Christopher Watts, 33, of Frederick, Colorado, was discovered on a property owned by Anadarko Petroleum Corp, police said.

More than 100 tons of dead sea creatures have been shoveled up from smelly, deserted beaches in tourist areas along Florida's southwest coast as a result of the harmful algal bloom this month alone.