World

Afghanistan under new Taliban pressure as northern district falls
Afghanistan under new Taliban pressure as northern district falls

Afghan security forces are struggling to cope with worsening militant violence.

Louisiana governor draws IBM\'s ire for issuing religious freedom order
Louisiana governor draws IBM's ire for issuing religious freedom order

Tech giant IBM has cancelled a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new National Service Center in Baton Rouge as a sign of protest against Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's religious freedom executive order issued last month.

Use of Bible in public schools gains support among lawmakers in Idaho
Use of Bible in public schools gains support among lawmakers in Idaho

The Republican Party State Central Committee in Idaho has passed a resolution supporting the use of the Bible in public schools.

Residents in Indiana can now own  sawed-off shotguns starting July 1
Residents in Indiana can now own sawed-off shotguns starting July 1

Residents in Indiana can own manufactured sawed-off shotguns starting July 1 under a new law that was passed earlier this year.

Symbol of civil war or racist hatred? Confederate flag sparks US debate after Charleston church killings
Symbol of civil war or racist hatred? Confederate flag sparks US debate after Charleston church killings

The killing of nine persons in a church in Charleston, South Carolina last week has revived the issue of whether the Confederate flag should be removed from the State House grounds.

Nun sexually assaulted at missionary medical clinic in central India
Nun sexually assaulted at missionary medical clinic in central India

A nun was sexually assaulted at the missionary-run medical centre where she worked in central India, police reported on Sunday.

Jerusalem Bishop: \'There is a real escalation in anti-Christian violence\'
Jerusalem Bishop: 'There is a real escalation in anti-Christian violence'

A Catholic bishop in Jerusalem has said the arson attack on an historic church near the Sea of Galilee last week is a sign of the growing threat of anti-Christian violence from extremist Jews.

Christian arms manufacturers are hypocrites, says Pope Francis
Christian arms manufacturers are hypocrites, says Pope Francis

The Pope's comments in Turin reflect his long-standing hostility to the trade.

Taliban launch suicide bomb attack on Afghan parliament
Taliban launch suicide bomb attack on Afghan parliament

A Taliban suicide bomber and six gunmen launched an attack on the Afghan parliament in Kabul this morning, wounding at least 19 people.

Greece offers last-minute concessions, EU welcomes \'forceps delivery\'
Greece offers last-minute concessions, EU welcomes 'forceps delivery'

The European Union says new proposals are a "good basis for progress".

Charleston\'s \'Mother Emanuel\' mourns its dead in packed Sunday service
Charleston's 'Mother Emanuel' mourns its dead in packed Sunday service

Hundreds of people packed the church for an emotional memorial service.

Boko Haram Islamist group spreads terror to Niger, killing at least 40
Boko Haram Islamist group spreads terror to Niger, killing at least 40

Islamist militant group Boko Haram has gone out of Nigeria to spread terror in neighbouring Niger for the second time on Friday, killing at least 40 people in two towns.

Burning of biblical church in Israel an \'attack on us all\'—Israeli PM
Burning of biblical church in Israel an 'attack on us all'—Israeli PM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the arson attack on a church at the Sea of Galilee as "an attack on us all," after the incident injured two persons and left a sizeable damage at the place of worship.

Woman sees no future in \'changing\' UK, joins ISIS with sisters and kids
Woman sees no future in 'changing' UK, joins ISIS with sisters and kids

One of the three British sisters who reportedly took their children along with them to Syria to join the Islamic State believed there was no future for her daughters anymore in "changing" UK.

Slaughter in South Sudan: Girls raped, boys castrated, newborns killed in civil war, UNICEF says
Slaughter in South Sudan: Girls raped, boys castrated, newborns killed in civil war, UNICEF says

Government troops and their allies allegedly murdered 129 children in South Sudan's Unity State, including girls who were raped before being killed and boys who were castrated and bled to death, in order to keep their generation from exacting revenge.

New church in Muslim-ruled UAE overflows with Christian believers
New church in Muslim-ruled UAE overflows with Christian believers

A new church for the thousands of migrant Catholics and local Arabs in Muslim-dominated United Arab Emirates has been inaugurated last week, highlighting the country's religious tolerance.