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By Joshua McElwee for Reuters The pontiff has expressed doubt that either Israel or Hamas are seeking to end the conflict. Photo: AFP/Tiziana Fabi Pope Francis has decried the deaths of Palestinian children in Israeli military strikes in Gaza, calling bombings of schools, on the "presumption" of striking Hamas militants, "ugly". On the flight back to Rome from Singapore on Friday, the pontiff expressed doubt that either Israel or Hamas, now at war for 11 months, were seeking to end the conflict. "I am sorry to have to say this," the pope said. "But I do not think that they are taking steps to make peace." Francis was speaking in a press conference with journalists after a demanding 12-day tour across South-east Asia and Oceania. He said he speaks on the phone with members of a Cathol...

Justin Timberlake was arrested in June when police spotted him failing to obey a stop sign and veering off lane. Photo: Sag Harbor Police Department Pop star Justin Timberlake has pleaded guilty in a New York State court to a lesser traffic charge than drunk driving after he was arrested over the summer when police spotted him failing to obey a stop sign and veering off lane. Timberlake, 43, agreed to plead guilty to driving while ability impaired, a lesser traffic violation than driving while impaired, multiple media reports say. He was fined $500 and ordered to perform community service, Variety reported. Timberlake's attorney Edward Burke said he was pleased with the reduced charge, and disputed any reports that Timberlake was drunk when he was arrested, CBS News reported. Timberlake...

Pope Francis wears a flower garland as he arrives for an interreligious meeting with young people at the Catholic Junior College in Singapore on 13 September 2024. Singapore is the last stop on the pope's 12-day, four-nation Asia-Pacific trip. Photo: TIZIANA FABI / AFP By Joshua McElwee, Reuters Pope Francis left Singapore for Rome on Friday, after a demanding trip across Southeast Asia and Oceania in which he urged action on climate change, pressed for interfaith dialogue, and reinforced the Catholic Church's presence in a region where it is a small minority. The Singapore Airlines flight carrying the Catholic pontiff and his entourage took off around 12.25pm local time in Singapore and is due to arrive in Rome on Friday evening, after a 12-hour flight through six time zones. Francis v...

By Kanishka Singh and Gabriella Borter, Reuters Far-right activist Laura Loomer speaks to the media prior to the beginning of former President Donald Trump's Trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on 15 April 2024 in New York City. Photo: DAVID DEE DELGADO / AFP The White House rebuked former President Donald Trump for his association with far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, who has been travelling this week with the Republican presidential candidate. Loomer says she does not work for Trump. However, she has mentioned speaking to him about political matters and frequents his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida. Her incendiary posts on X, where she has 1.2 million followers, at times seem to provide grist for Trump's next lines of attack. Ahead of Trump's debate with Democratic Vice Preside...