World

Online petition urges US Congress to pass constitutional amendment on marriage
Online petition urges US Congress to pass constitutional amendment on marriage

Following the US Supreme Court's decision legalizing same-sex marriage in the US, an online petition has been launched to urge Congress to declare that marriage as only between a man and a woman.

India: Pastor and church members beaten after 50 Hindu nationalists storm prayer meeting
India: Pastor and church members beaten after 50 Hindu nationalists storm prayer meeting

A pastor and several church members were injured in an attack on a Christian prayer meeting in Kerala, southwest India by suspected Hindu nationalists earlier this month.

Chibok schoolgirls brainwashed to \'cut the throats of Christians\'
Chibok schoolgirls brainwashed to 'cut the throats of Christians'

The Chibok schoolgirls taken by Boko Haram last year have been "brainwashed" and are carrying out orders to kill on behalf of their captors, witnesses have claimed.

US Supreme Court upholds lethal injection drug, says pain inherent in any execution
US Supreme Court upholds lethal injection drug, says pain inherent in any execution

The US Supreme Court has upheld Oklahoma's use of a drug in its lethal injection to execute death-row inmates.

Cuba: Arrests, fines and travel bans... \'Troubling\' rise in targeting Christians
Cuba: Arrests, fines and travel bans... 'Troubling' rise in targeting Christians

Churches in Cuba are increasingly being targeted by the government and forced to pay huge sums of money, Christian Solidarity Worldwide has warned.

Tunisia sees losses of $515 million for tourism this year after attack
Tunisia sees losses of $515 million for tourism this year after attack

Tunisia expects to lose at least $515 million this year following last Friday's attack on a beach hotel that killed 39 people, mostly British holidaymakers.

French beheading suspect denies jihad motivation
French beheading suspect denies jihad motivation

The man being held in France under suspicion of beheading his boss and trying to blow up a chemicals plant has told investigators there was no religious motivation behind the attack.

Islamic State one year on: A \'potent\' force, says Pentagon
Islamic State one year on: A 'potent' force, says Pentagon

A year after Islamic State declared a caliphate on territory seized in Iraq and Syria, the al Qaeda splinter group faces military pressure from a US-led coalition but remains a potent force holding key cities.

Parents of St. Therese of Lisieux set to be declared as first couple saints
Parents of St. Therese of Lisieux set to be declared as first couple saints

Blessed Louis Martin and his spouse, Blessed Zelie, are set to become saints coinciding with the upcoming Synod of the Family, after Pope Francis gave his thumbs-up for their canonization.

Iran still undecided on uranium plan ahead of June 30 nuke deal deadline
Iran still undecided on uranium plan ahead of June 30 nuke deal deadline

Iran's negotiators who are duty-bound to dispose the country's stockpile of enriched uranium are focusing on a US-supported plan to have the material exported for sale by another country.

Christians in Mideast undergoing systematic persecution, says author
Christians in Mideast undergoing systematic persecution, says author

Christians have been suffering "systemic persecution" even before the Islamic State made their entrance, said an author of a book on Christian persecutions in the Middle East.

Gay conversion therapy by Jewish group a fraud, New Jersey jury rules
Gay conversion therapy by Jewish group a fraud, New Jersey jury rules

A state jury in New Jersey ruled that a conversion therapy offered by a Jewish organization claiming to change clients from gay to straight was fraudulent.

US Senator Ted Cruz supports freeze  on same-sex marriage licenses
US Senator Ted Cruz supports freeze on same-sex marriage licenses

Saying that Christians should not be forced to violate their faith, Republican presidential aspirant Ted Cruz has expressed support for the decision of some counties in Texas to withhold marriage licenses for same-sex couples.

Historic meeting of pope and Russian Orthodox head \'getting closer\'
Historic meeting of pope and Russian Orthodox head 'getting closer'

An historic meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church is "getting closer every day,"

Fears of crackdown against Bible Society in Malaysia
Fears of crackdown against Bible Society in Malaysia

As religious tensions increase across the country, the Bible Society of Malaysia could be facing government intervention after receiving notice that it will be investigated by officials tomorrow.

Islamic extremists threaten to \'slaughter\' Christians in Jerusalem unless they leave by end of Ramadan
Islamic extremists threaten to 'slaughter' Christians in Jerusalem unless they leave by end of Ramadan

Islamic extremists have reportedly threatened to kill Christians in Jerusalem unless they leave the city by the end of Ramadan.