Pope lifts 'pontifical secret' for sex abuse cases

14 Sept 01:58 Key points summarised by AI

Pope Francis has abolished the 'pontifical secret' for sexual abuse cases, preventing priests from citing confidentiality to avoid reporting or discussing allegations.
This landmark decision aims to increase transparency and combat the culture of silence and cover-ups surrounding paedophilia within the Roman Catholic Church.
The Vatican also raised the age at which sexual images are deemed child pornography from 14 to 18 and previously mandated reporting abuse to superiors, reinforcing the Church's commitment to tackling the issue.
The move is widely welcomed by Vatican investigators and child sexual abuse survivors as a crucial step towards accountability, though discretion is still advised to protect privacy without obstructing justice.

Flooding persists in Bangkok and 22 provinces

Today 16:00 Key points summarised by AI

Persistent flooding continues across Bangkok and 22 Thai provinces, though water levels are gradually receding in many affected areas.
Over 604,000 families, impacting approximately 1.83 million people, are still grappling with the widespread flood conditions.
The national flood death toll has reached 80 since mid-September, with fatalities reported across various provinces.
Major regions like Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, and Bangkok report significant numbers of affected households, with hundreds of thousands still in trouble.