Thailand’s Royal Palace says King Bhumibol, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, has died at age 88. The palace said the king passed away peacefully on Thursday at Bangkok’s Siriraj Hospital. “Even though the board of doctors has closely monitored and treated him to the best of its abilities, the king’s condition… Read More

A 22-year-old Syrian man arrested in Germany for a suspected Islamic extremist bomb plot killed himself Wednesday in a prison cell in Leipzig, Saxony’s state Justice Ministry said late Wednesday. Justice Ministry spokesman Joerg Herold told The Associated Press that Jaber Albakr killed himself sometime in the evening, but that… Read More

Pope Francis this weekend will canonize Argentina’s “gaucho priest,” the poncho-wearing, mate-sipping pastor who rode his mule Malacara to the far-flung peripheries of Argentina to minister to the poor. In many ways, Francis will be honoring a 19th-century version of himself. Born in 1849 in the province of Cordoba, Jose… Read More

Germany’s interior minister says the Syrian man arrested for a suspected Islamic extremist bomb plot underwent a security check last year, but it turned up nothing suspicious. Jaber Albakr, a 22-year-old who had been granted asylum, was arrested Monday in Leipzig after three fellow Syrians tied him up and alerted… Read More

A Syrian man who was granted asylum in Germany and is suspected of preparing a bomb attack there was arrested early Monday following a nearly two-day manhunt, police said. Jaber Albakr, 22, was arrested in the eastern city of Leipzig, police in Saxony state said. Police were informed that fellow… Read More

Pope Francis looked to the American Midwest when picking his first U.S. cardinals. The Vatican announced Sunday that Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich and Archbishop Joseph Tobin of Indianapolis, Indiana, will become cardinals in a Rome ceremony Nov. 19. Francis also picked Bishop Kevin Farrell for the honor. Farrell has led… Read More