Curfew in Sri Lanka resorts as religious riots spread
Sri Lanka's police extended a curfew across two popular coastal resorts Sunday to contain religious riots that left at least 41 people wounded and heightened tensions between Muslims and Buddhists.
US condemns Sudan over Christian woman's death penalty
US Secretary of State John Kerry criticized Sudan on Thursday for sentencing a Christian woman to hang for apostasy, urging Khartoum to repeal its laws banning Muslims from converting.
Irish examining possibility of other mass baby graves
Irish officials will investigate if the mass grave for almost 800 babies discovered near a home for unmarried mothers run by nuns is an isolated case, Prime Minister Enda Kenny said Thursday.
Six 'cult' members held over China McDonald's death
Chinese police have detained six people for beating to death a woman at a McDonald's restaurant who refused to disclose her phone number, accusing them of being members of a religious cult, state media said.
Pope begins Middle East 'pilgrimage' in Jordan
Pope Francis arrives in Jordan Saturday at the start of a Middle East tour aiming to boost ties with Muslims and Jews as well as easing an age-old rift within Christianity itself.
South Korean cardinal in first visit to North
A South Korean cardinal visited the North on Wednesday in the first trip of its kind, an official said, ahead of a visit by Pope Francis to Seoul that Catholic authorities hope will promote peace between the neighbours.
Pope attends 300,000-strong rally for Catholic schools
Pope Francis on Saturday attended a giant rally for children and teachers from Italy's Catholic schools, with the Vatican saying that 300,000 people turned out for the event in and around St Peter's Square.
Pope Francis declares John Paul II, John XXIII saints
Pope Francis on Sunday proclaimed John Paul II and John XXIII the Catholic Church's newest saints at a festive ceremony joined by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims for two pontiffs who helped shape 20th-century history.
Kazakhstan and Morocco discuss cooperation
Senate Speaker Kassym-Jomart Tokayev meet Morocco delagation to discuss prospects of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Morocco.
John Paul II sainthood a delicate issue for Mexicans
Many Mexicans have mixed emotions about seeing the late pope John Paul II become a saint: they loved the man but feel he covered up sexual abuses by priests.
Sri Lanka detains British tourist over Buddha tattoo
Sri Lanka has detained a female British tourist for having a Buddha tattoo on her right arm and ordered her deportation, police said.
Brunei delays introduction of tough Islamic law
Brunei has postponed its implementation of tough Islamic criminal punishments that were due to begin Tuesday and have drawn condemnation from the UN's human rights office and rare criticism at home.
UN evacuates 100 Muslims from C. Africa capital
The United Nations has evacuated almost 100 Muslims from the capital of the crisis-torn Central African Republic to "save their lives", according to officials.
Philippines' Easter crucifixons draw huge crowds
Thousands of people flocked to rural fields in the Philippines on Friday to witness the gruesome spectacle of men being crucified in their annual Easter re-enactment of the death of Jesus Christ.
Pope asks forgiveness for child sex abuses
Pope Francis on Friday personally asked forgiveness for thousands of child sex abuses carried out by priests and promised more action following accusations of cover-ups and excessive leniency by the Vatican.
Malaysia bans Noah film as 'un-Islamic'
Malaysia has joined other Islamic countries in banning the Hollywood biblical epic "Noah" starring Russell Crowe, decrying it as irreligious and saying it violates Islamic law against depicting prophets.
Pakistan couple gets death over 'blasphemous' text message
A court in eastern Pakistan has sentenced a Christian couple to death for sending a blasphemous text message insulting to the Prophet Mohammed, their lawyer said Saturday.
First gay marriages take place in England and Wales
Gay couples across England and Wales said "I do" on Friday night as a law authorising same-sex marriage came into effect at midnight, the final stage in a long fight for equality.
What is behind anti-vaccination movements in Kazakhstan?
Every day there are more and more parents refusing to get their children vaccinated for religious reasons.
Chechen president dedicates Israel's biggest mosque
The head of the Russian republic of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, inaugurated Sunday Israel's largest mosque, in a village near Jerusalem whose inhabitants claim descent from Muslim migrants from the Caucasus.