Author Archives: OP King

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGESImage captionCardinal Sean O’Malley was re-appointed to lead the child protection panel Pope Francis has announced the renewal of the Church’s panel tasked with combating sexual abuse of children, in the wake of a fresh controversy. The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors is made up of eight men and eight womenContinue reading “Pope renews Vatican’s anti-sexual abuse panel”

Image copyrightART GALLERY OF ONTARIO (AGO)Image captionThe new x-ray fluorescence instrument could lead to a big increase in the number of paintings investigated Researchers in the US have used a new scanning technique to discover a painting underneath one of Pablo Picasso’s great works of art, the Crouching Woman (La Misereuse Accroupie). Underneath the oilContinue reading “New scanning technique reveals secrets behind great paintings”

Media captionThe helicopter landed on its side crushing several vans A helicopter carrying senior officials has crashed while they assessed damage from Friday’s earthquake in Mexico, killing at least 14 including a baby. Mexico’s interior minister and the governor of the south-west Oaxaca state were on board, but neither was hurt. The aircraft’s pilot lostContinue reading “Mexico earthquake: Helicopter crashes in emergency killing 14”

Image copyrightAFP/GETTYImage captionOphélie Gaillard, who is an award-winning cellist, had the valuable instrument on loan An 18th-Century cello has been returned to a French musician after an appeal following her knifepoint robbery. Ophélie Gaillard was robbed of the instrument and her mobile phone outside her home in Paris on Thursday. After putting an appeal onContinue reading “Rare cello returned after knifepoint theft in Paris”

Image copyrightREUTERSImage captionThe blast occurred near a security fence in the southern Gaza Strip Four Israeli soldiers have been hurt, two of them seriously, in an explosion near the Israeli-Gaza border. The army said a Palestinian flag was flying in the area, and when the troops approached they were hit by the blast. In response,Continue reading “Israel Gaza: Four Israeli soldiers injured in border blast”

Media captionStudent Emma Gonzalez to lawmakers: “Shame on you!” Young survivors of Wednesday’s school shooting in Florida have taken part in an emotionally charged rally demanding tighter gun controls. Protesters in Fort Lauderdale chanted “shame on you”, referring to US lawmakers and President Donald Trump. He said last year he would “never” infringe on theContinue reading “Florida school shooting: Students demand tighter gun controls”

Image copyrightALVARO ANDRES PINZONImage captionBen Coombs drove across three continents to complete the challenge A man has driven a sports car across 21 countries, starting at the most northerly pub in the world and finishing at the most southerly. Ben Coombs, 38, from Plymouth in Devon, drove 20,000 miles across three continents from the ArcticContinue reading “Plymouth man completes 20,000-mile pub adventure”

Image copyrightAFPImage captionThe continuing attacks are being blamed on Boko Haram – casting doubt on official claims the group has been defeated Three suicide bombers have hit the town of Konduga in north-east Nigeria, killing at least 18 people. Two attacked a fish market and a third struck nearby, security sources said. Boko Haram jihadistsContinue reading “Nigeria bomb blasts cause deaths at fish market”

Media captionFlorida survivors on gun laws: ‘Something has to change’ Pressure is mounting on the FBI over the agency’s failure to act on a tip that Florida school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz might carry out an attack. Florida Governor Rick Scott said the agency’s director must resign, while Attorney General Jeff Sessions ordered a review,Continue reading “Florida school shooting: FBI under pressure over failure to act”

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGESImage captionThe pangolin is being smuggled via ivory trade routes Animal traffickers are taking advantage of remote ivory trade routes to smuggle one of the world’s most endangered animals out of Central Africa, new research has found. Pangolins are scaly, ant-eating mammals. Their meat is considered a delicacy and their scales are deemedContinue reading “Scots study uncovers trafficking routes for pangolin”