Pope marks papal anniversary with cake in hospital
The upbeat health news continues for Pope Francis as he reaches another milestone as pontiff while recovering in hospital from double pneumonia.
religion and belief
PM accused of leaving Jews guessing on bomb terror hoax
The prime minister and opposition leader have traded barbs over when they knew an explosives-laden caravan was a hoax and not an anti-Semitic terror plot.
Pope remains stable, chest scan confirms improvements
Chest scans have confirmed Pope Francis remains stable and his condition is improving, the Vatican says.
Scapegoating Muslims fuels spike in attacks on women
Women are copping the brunt of a spike in attacks and abuse against Muslims as the Israel-Hamas conflict and other incidents raise local community tensions.
Pope follows Vatican’s spiritual retreat from afar
Pope Francis has had another quiet night in hospital, where he's remotely observing a spiritual retreat as he recovers from double pneumonia.
Canberra clash after caravan revealed as terror con job
The opposition leader denies Labor claims of dodging police briefings on a caravan loaded with explosives, saying the minister is just trying to look tough.
Pope Francis rests as Holy Year goes on without him
A Holy Year mass for volunteers will go ahead without Pope Francis as he continues to recover in hospital from double pneumonia.
Pope Francis sends first audio message from hospital
Pope Francis has recorded a laboured audio message to thank people for their prayers for his recovery since he was hospitalised with double pneumonia.
Pope Francis rested well overnight in hospital: Vatican
Pope Francis slept through the night as he continues to recover from double pneumonia, the Vatican says, as it prepares to celebrate Lent without the pontiff.
Pope rests on peaceful night of third week in hospital
The Vatican says Pope Francis is resting on Thursday after a peaceful night during his third week of hospital treatment for double pneumonia.
‘Cult’ members jailed for gambling with child’s life
The parents of an eight year old girl have been jailed over the child's "painful" death after a church group gambled with her life and withheld her insulin.
Pope resting after quiet night in hospital: Vatican
Pope Francis has had a quiet night in hospital and is resting, the Vatican says, as the pontiff remains in a critical condition battling double pneumonia.
Pope reaches two-week mark at hospital with pneumonia
A guarded sense of optimism surrounds Pope Francis and his recovery from pneumonia as he reaches the two-week mark in hospital.
Prayers as Vatican says Pope passes ‘tranquil’ night
The Pope is resting in hospital after a "tranquil" night, the Vatican says, as he thanks doctors and supporters in a written message.
Pope Francis remains in critical condition
The Pope's supporters have been told to make their prayers for him "stronger and more intense" as he remains in a critical condition.
Pope’s health ‘slightly improving’, Vatican says
The Pope's health is improving and he is alert, able to move around and even doing some work, the Vatican says.
Pope ‘rested well’ but won’t lead Sunday prayers
The Pope "rested well" overnight, the Vatican says, but will not lead Sunday prayers for a second consecutive week as he's treated for double pneumonia.
Duo tied to more attacks amid ‘festering’ anti-Semitism
A man accused of targeting a synagogue has also been charged over a graffiti and arson attack at the former home of a Jewish community leader.
Pope had ‘peaceful’ night despite pneumonia diagnosis
The Vatican says Pope Francis has developed bilateral pneumonia, after new tests showed a further complication in the condition of the 88-year-old pope.
Islamophobia accused sobs in court, victim traumatised
A woman charged with attacking two Muslim women in separate assaults at a suburban shopping centre has appeared in court sobbing as she was remanded in custody.
Pope Francis alert and eating, Vatican says in update
Pope Francis has spent a sixth night in hospital without any further complications, the Vatican says.
Ita Buttrose tried to expedite ABC host’s dismissal
Ita Buttrose asked if a casual ABC radio host who shared a post on the Israel-Gaza war could be kicked off air despite a decision to keep her for all shifts.
Church members who killed girl ‘wanted to play God’
As they await their sentences for killing a girl, members of a church group have been told by her sister that God would eventually judge them for taking a life.
Pope Francis spends third ‘peaceful’ night in hospital
Pope Francis remains in a Rome hospital receiving treatment for a respiratory tract infection.
Pope’s engagements cancelled amid ‘complex’ infection
Pope Francis' respiratory tract infection is presenting a "complex clinical picture", the Vatican says, and will require further time in hospital.
Grillings end in salvo by ABC host fired over Gaza post
The ABC has been put under the spotlight with various bosses grilled over why a fill-in radio host was dismissed after sharing a post on the Israel-Gaza war.
‘Fantasy’: Ita Buttrose denies pushing host’s sacking
The ABC's former chair has said a radio host fired for sharing a post on the Gaza conflict was an '"activist" who should not have been hired in the first place.
Curbing ‘intolerance crisis’ could hit protest, speech
Stronger penalties and boosted police powers to ensure people can practice their beliefs in safety could lead to over-policing of protests, faith leaders warn.
Church group who killed girl asked to meet psychiatrist
The wait for a 14-strong religious group to be sentenced for killing an eight-year-old girl after withholding her medication continues after a court review.
Egypt calls Arab summit over Trump’s Gaza plan
Egypt will host an emergency Arab summit on February 27 to discuss President Donald Trump's "dangerous" idea to resettle Palestinians from Gaza.
ABC’s integrity on the line in Gaza advocate case: boss
The ABC's integrity will be affected by the outcome of a lawsuit by a radio host dismissed over a post on the Gaza conflict, the broadcaster's boss has said.