Around The World [10.04.14]

Middle East and Europe

• Sweden to recognise Palestinian state (BBC)

"Sweden is to "recognise the state of Palestine", Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has said, the first long-term EU member country to do so.

"The conflict between Israel and Palestine can only be solved with a two-state solution," he said during his inaugural address in parliament.

It should be "negotiated in accordance with international law", he said.

Sweden last month voted out the centre-right Alliance coalition of Fredrik Reinfeldt after eight years.

That allowed the Social Democrats led by Mr Lofven to form a government with other parties on the left including the Greens.

"A two-state solution requires mutual recognition and a will to peaceful co-existence. Sweden will therefore recognise the state of Palestine," Mr Lofven said on Friday, without giving a timeline for the recognition.

Sweden will join more than 130 other countries that recognise a Palestinian state."

Central And South America

• Mexico mass grave found near Iguala after protests (BBC)

"A mass grave has been found on the outskirts the Mexican town of Iguala, where 43 students went missing on 26 September, officials say."



Religion and Spirituality

• Catholic synod: Bishops meet to focus on family (BBC)

Roman Catholic Church leaders from around the world begin a two-week brainstorming session this weekend, on how to better present their teachings on marriage, family life, and sexuality to their flock.

In Vatican terminology, the closed-door session is called an "extraordinary synod".

The 263 participants in the Synod of the Family are almost all celibate males, with no first-hand experience of creating their own families, although a dozen hand-picked Roman Catholic married couples will sit in and share their experience with the synod "fathers".

Pope Francis will address the synod when it opens but intends to use the meeting mainly as a listening experience.

He wants the world's bishops to involve themselves freely in the future governance of the Church, rather than being relegated to the sidelines, as at many previous synods, when the agenda was set and proceedings were tightly controlled by the powerful cardinals of the Roman Curia, the central government of the Church, based inside in the Vatican.

Extraordinary synods are rare and called to address urgent challenges faced by the Church. This one will be watched particularly closely, both inside and outside the Church - whose future could depend on what emerges."