2 mins read

Wagging tails fill a Philippine church where priests bless pets for St. Francis feast

MANILA, Philippines | It’s a day for wagging tails, happy faces and a special annual blessing at a church in the Philippine capital. Every Oct. 4, Catholics mark the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology, remembered for his humility, compassion and deep love for all living things. […]

16 mins read

Days disrupted: Across the world, the Iran war is reshaping everyday life

HANOI, Vietnam | Across seven countries, seven people woke up to days that no longer looked the way they once did. The war in Iran began months ago and thousands of miles away. But its effects quickly ricocheted across the world — oil markets first, sending fuel prices higher. Then the shock moved outward — […]

7 mins read

Iran’s demands over the Strait of Hormuz would set a dangerous precedent, Rubio warns Asian leaders

MANILA, Philippines | U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Asian leaders Wednesday that Iran’s demand to control and collect tolls in the Strait of Hormuz would threaten the world’s economy and set a precedent that could be repeated elsewhere in the world. Rubio spoke at the start of an annual meeting in the Philippine […]