Reuters
French police hunt Strasbourg Christmas market attacker
France raised its security threat to the highest alert level, strengthened border controls and asked people around Strasbourg to stay put as police searched for the suspect.
'They were all praying': 5 dead in Brazil cathedral shooting
Police identified the shooter as Euler Fernando Gandolfo, 49, a systems analyst with no criminal record.
De-miners sound all-clear at marooned Jordan River baptism shrines
Israeli and foreign engineers sounded the all-clear on Sunday around three churches on the western bank of the Jordan River after mines that had marooned the shrines for decades were cleared.
'Time has come': Chinese police detain prominent house church leaders
Police have detained dozens of churchgoers and leaders of one of China's most prominent Protestant house churches.
Campaign for new Brexit referendum gathers pace
After losing the most contentious referendum in British history, James McGrory went for a drink in The Hope pub near London's medieval meat market. Amid butchers in bloodied coats, his dream of reversing Brexit seemed hopeless.
Brazil's President-elect names evangelical pastor to head new ministry of Women, Family and Human Rights
Damares Alves, a lawyer, preacher and congressional aide, is a staunch opponent of legalizing abortion, which is allowed only in cases of rape, anencephaly or when the mother's life is in danger.
Ukraine council to meet on December 15 to form independent church: president
A Ukrainian church council will meet on December 15 in order to create an independent Orthodox church and elect its leader, President Petro Poroshenko said on Wednesday.
Pakistan's expulsion of 18 international aid agencies will hurt 11 million people, diplomats warn
Pakistan's expulsion of 18 international aid agencies will hurt 11 million aid recipients in a South Asian nation grappling with perilously low standards of education and healthcare, two Western diplomats said on Tuesday.
Pope: Gay priests should be celibate or leave
Men with deep-rooted homosexual tendencies should not be admitted to the Catholic clergy, and it would be better for priests who are actively gay to leave rather than lead a double life, Pope Francis says in a new book.
Hardline groups that agitated to remove Christian governor hold major rally in Jakarta
Tens of thousands of Indonesian Muslims held a rally in Jakarta on Sunday led by hardline groups who had agitated to remove the city's Christian governor, underscoring the growing influence of Islamist groups ahead of elections in 2019.
Terrorism charges for leaders of hardline Islamist group persecuting Asia Bibi
Pakistan's government on Saturday announced it will press terrorism and sedition charges against leaders of a hardline Islamist group that staged recent protests across the country against the acquittal of Asia Bibi.
Group close to pope urges California's Governor Jerry Brown to commute all death sentences
Brown, who once trained to be a priest of the Jesuit order, will leave office after completing his current two terms on January 7, when Governor-elect Gavin Newsom is sworn in.
Ukraine president welcomes moves to Church independence
President Petro Poroshenko said on Thursday Ukraine was on the cusp of securing its own independent church, snapping centuries-old ties to a Russian clergy that Kiev accuses of meddling in its affairs.
Conservative, Catholic Chile approves landmark transgender law
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Wednesday signed into law a bill allowing people over the age of 14 to change their name and gender in official records.
Israeli artist beats Gaza rockets into Hanukkah lamps
The clang of hammer on metal and the roar of a blowtorch can be heard long before you walk into Israeli metal sculptor Yaron Bob's workshop.
Ukraine introduces martial law citing threat of Russian invasion
Poroshenko said martial law was necessary to bolster Ukraine's defences after Russia seized three Ukrainian naval ships and took their crew prisoner at the weekend.