News brief: Big stories of the day

News brief: Big stories of the day

Pope Francis

Venezuela military attache to US urges army to back Maduro opponent

Venezuela's military attache to Washington broke ranks with Nicolas Maduro on Saturday, urging his "brothers in the military" to back the head of the National Assembly Juan Guaido as interim president, he told AFP.


On sex abuse scandals, Pope says Catholic Church 'wounded by sin'

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Pope Francis acknowledged Saturday that the Catholic Church was "wounded by sin" in a message addressed to priests and seminarians reeling from sexual abuse scandals and coverups.


Asia Bibi's lawyer returns to Pakistan to 'hopefully assist client for last time'

The Pakistani lawyer of a Christian woman acquitted of blasphemy jetted out of the Netherlands Saturday to "hopefully assist his client for the last time" in a Pakistani court hearing, a Dutch MP said.


PM Narendra Modi to address nation in first 'Mann Ki Baat' of 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to address the nation in the 52nd episode of his “Mann Ki Baat” radio programme on Sunday.

The radio podcast, his first of 2019, will be broadcaston All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan at 11 am.


Banksy artwork stolen from Bataclan music hall in Paris

An artwork by the British artist Banksy has been stolen from the Bataclan music hall in Paris.

The mural — which depicted a young girl with a mournful expression — had been painted onto one of the Bataclan's emergency doors. It was cut out.