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World News

French mosques open doors to public to promote unity and solidarity

Hundreds of mosques across France have opened their doors to the general public in an effort to demonstrate solidarity with the victims of recent

09/01/2016

Russia

Orthodox Christians begin Christmas celebrations

An estimated 350,000 Orthodox Christians have celebrated Christmas Eve in Moscow, with Patriarch Kirill overseeing the main event in the Russian

06/01/2016

Vatican

Pope Francis holds Epiphany mass, Eastern Christians prepare for Christmas

The Vatican has held the annual Epiphany mass, marking the official end of the Christmas season. Pope Francis spoke in his homily of restless hearts

06/01/2016

Cyprus

Cyprus: Famagusta hosts first Epiphany for 42 years

06/01/2016

Saudi Arabia

Saudi-Iran row deepens as calls for restraint grow

The rift between Saudi Arabia and Iran over the Sunni kingdom’s execution of a Shia cleric widened as Riyadh halted trade and travel ties on top of

05/01/2016

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia breaks off diplomatic ties with Iran

Saudi Arabia has cut off diplomatic ties with Iran following the storming of its embassy in Tehran. Iran’s envoy has been given 48 hours to quit the

04/01/2016

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Urbi et Orbi

Pope Francis marks Christmas Day with the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) message from the central balcony of St. Peter’s

26/12/2015

United Kingdom

Britain's Royal Family attends traditional Sandringham church service

Britain’s Royal Family has attended the annual Christmas church service in the Norfolk village of Sandringham. Nearly a thousand well-wishers waited

25/12/2015

World News

Pope Francis blessing in Rome invokes Christmas to dispel anxiety

In St Peter’s Square in Rome, in the presence of some 10,000 faithful gathered before the Basilica, Pope Francis has delivered his traditional

25/12/2015

Vatican

Pope urges return to simplicity at Christmas Eve mass

Pope Francis celebrated Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in front of a congregation of 10,000 people. He used the opportunity to remind

25/12/2015

World News

Bethlehem: Christmas in the birthplace of Christianity

Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christianity, prepares to celebrate Christmas, despite the recent wave of deadly violence in the region.

24/12/2015

World News

#MyTreedom: Christmas banned in Brunei

Committed Christmassers launch #hashtag campaign

23/12/2015

Malaysia

Malaysia's first Islamic airline takes to the skies

Malaysia’s first Islamic airline has taken to the skies, offering a service that adheres to strict religious rules. Rayani Air offers onboard

23/12/2015

Germany

Celebrating Star Wars in a galaxy not so far away

21/12/2015

Vatican

Pope Francis pledges to cleanse spiritual 'diseases' during Curia speech

Pope Francis is vowing to push ahead with moves to cleanse Church bureaucracy, amid scandals and charges of greed and corruption. It came during

21/12/2015

World News

Sainthood for Mother Teresa confirmed after Vatican recognises second miracle

Mother Teresa was beatified in 2003 after the recognition of her first miracle, but two are needed for sainthood

18/12/2015

World News

60-year-old pastor gets hard labour for life in North Korea

North Korea’s highest court has sentenced a South Korea-born Canadian pastor to hard labour for life for subversion, China’s official news agency

16/12/2015

Explore

Uzbekistan life: The Buddhist legacy of Termez

At the southern-most tip of Uzbekistan, Termez has a long and rich history. It was once at the heart of Buddhism in Central Asia and also one of the

14/12/2015

Explore

Traveller's diary: Termez

14/12/2015

Germany

German police arrest 5 people in exorcism death probe

German police have arrested five people suspected of beating a 41-year-old woman to death as part of an exorcist ritual. They are accused of

10/12/2015