World

Georgia\'s new \'blasphemy law\' seeks to ban religious insults
Georgia's new 'blasphemy law' seeks to ban religious insults

The bill has been approved at the committee stage and will be debated on the floor of the parliament.

Payday time for loan companies as Archbishop\'s credit task group chalks up success
Payday time for loan companies as Archbishop's credit task group chalks up success

Archbishop Justin Welby's task group on responsible credit and savings publishes final report, giving evidence of a "sea change" in public and political thought on the issue.

Pope could visit Scotland to sign interfaith charter on \'shared humanity\'
Pope could visit Scotland to sign interfaith charter on 'shared humanity'

Pope Francis is intended to come to Scotland in September to sign a ten-point declaration on the "shared humanity" of people of all faiths and none.

Japan \'ghost\' stories: Horrified drivers recall taking passengers who vanish after asking to be taken \'home\' to quake site
Japan 'ghost' stories: Horrified drivers recall taking passengers who vanish after asking to be taken 'home' to quake site

The victims of the devastating tsunami and earthquake that struck Japan in March 2011 are back—in ghostly form—haunting Japanese cab drivers in the area, according to The Asahi Shimbun newspaper, as reported by the Mirror.

Mexico: Expelled Christians allowed to return home with full religious rights
Mexico: Expelled Christians allowed to return home with full religious rights

Two Mexican Protestants who were imprisoned and then expelled from their community for refusing to renounce their faith have been allowed to return to their homes with a guarantee of full religious freedom.

Burkina Faso: Al Qaeda frees kidnapped missionary Jocelyn Elliott, but husband Ken still held
Burkina Faso: Al Qaeda frees kidnapped missionary Jocelyn Elliott, but husband Ken still held

Jocelyn Elliot was released after Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) announced in a video message it would free her.

Chilean campaigner alleges sex abuse cover-up, asks Pope to sack bishop
Chilean campaigner alleges sex abuse cover-up, asks Pope to sack bishop

Juan Carlos Cruz delivered the letters with Peter Saunders, a prominent and outspoken British member of a papal advisory commission on sexual abuse by the clergy.

Legalised euthanasia: Christian doctors in Canada want \'conscience rights\' protected
Legalised euthanasia: Christian doctors in Canada want 'conscience rights' protected

A Christian physician organisation, which represents several thousand Christian physicians in Canada, is sounding an alarm about the implications of a new law that when passed, will forced them to perform legalised euthanasia, which could violate their conscience rights.

ISIS publicly beheads boy for missing Friday prayers, parents forced to watch
ISIS publicly beheads boy for missing Friday prayers, parents forced to watch

For missing Friday prayers at central mosque, a 14-year old boy was beheaded by sick members of the Islamic State (ISIS) before a large crowd that includes his parents in Jarbulus, northern Syria last Saturday, according to reports.

Tallest cross in Western Hemisphere and second largest in world rising in Texas
Tallest cross in Western Hemisphere and second largest in world rising in Texas

The tallest cross in the Western Hemisphere will soon rise in Corpus Christi, translated to "Body of Christ," in Texas.

Loud Muslim calls to prayer irk residents of \'Muslimville, U.S.A.\'; one complainant threatened with defamation suit
Loud Muslim calls to prayer irk residents of 'Muslimville, U.S.A.'; one complainant threatened with defamation suit

Residents of a city in Michigan are complaining about the loud Muslim call to prayer coming from a mosque every morning.

81 Muslim-Americans involved in violent extremist plots in 2015, highest since 9/11
81 Muslim-Americans involved in violent extremist plots in 2015, highest since 9/11

The number of Muslim-Americans involved in violent extremist plots totalled 81 last year, the highest since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, according to a new report.

Most Republican voters want next U.S. president to be openly critical of Islam, Pew survey shows
Most Republican voters want next U.S. president to be openly critical of Islam, Pew survey shows

A recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center showed that 70 percent of Americans who identify themselves as conservative Republicans would like to see the next United States president "speak bluntly even if critical of Islam as a whole."

Therapy to convert gays to heterosexuals gaining acceptance, popularity in Israel
Therapy to convert gays to heterosexuals gaining acceptance, popularity in Israel

Gays who want to become heterosexuals again, even those from the United States, are going to Israel, where a group of therapists are gaining acceptance and popularity for their work.

Donald Trump softens stand on gay rights: \'We\'re going to bring people together\'
Donald Trump softens stand on gay rights: 'We're going to bring people together'

Ahead of the crucial New Hampshire primary, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump indicated that his stand on the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgenders (LGBTs) continue to soften.

Russia accuses Turkey of plotting to invade Syria, but Turkish president says claim is 'laughable'

In a statement released last Thursday, the Russian defense ministry accused Turkey of plotting to invade Syria.