Reuters

Afghan Taliban seize northern city in blow to government

The insurgents raised their banner over the square and freed hundreds of fellow militants from jail.
Pope Francis wades into US gay marriage debate after historic visit

Francis said government officials should be able to refrain from actions that violate their beliefs.
$Cameron says Syria\'s Assad could stay as leader in short term - Sky$
Cameron says Syria's Assad could stay as leader in short term - Sky

Prime Minister David Cameron was quoted by Sky News as saying on Sunday Syrian President Bashar al-Assad could stay on as part of a transitional government but should not be part of Syria's future in the long run.
Iran denounces Saudi Arabia over hajj and demands apology

Iran demanded an apology from Saudi Arabia on Sunday over the deaths of 769 people at the haj pilgrimage and accused it of trying to evade blame, while Riyadh in turn accused Tehran of playing politics with the disaster.
$Pope tells prisoners \'all of us need to be cleansed\'$
Pope tells prisoners 'all of us need to be cleansed'

Pope Francis took time out from the crowds in Philadelphia on Sunday to visit a prison, telling inmates that all people need to be "cleansed" and they should not view their confinement as exclusion from society.
Violence in Jerusalem: Police and Palestinians clash at al-Aqsa mosque

Israeli police and Palestinians clashed on Sunday at Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque compound, where violence in recent weeks has raised international concern.
Iranian President calls for investigation into haj crush in UN Speech

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani used a major United Nations speech on Saturday to demand an investigation into a crush that killed more than 700 people at the annual haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
The world waited far too long to help refugees, according to the UN

The United Nations high commissioner for refugees said on Saturday the world waited far too long to respond to the refugee crisis sparked by the wars in Syria and elsewhere, though rich countries now appear to understand the scale of the problem.
BREAKING: France launches airstrikes on ISIS in Syria

France has announced that it launched air strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria in an effort to stem its growing presence there.
Pope moved by impromptu flight over Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island

Pope Francis flew over New York's Statue of Liberty and the former immigration station of Ellis Island aboard a helicopter on Saturday, in an unscheduled detour that gave him nostalgia for his home town Buenos Aires.
Saudi Arabia blames pilgrims for hajj deaths, angering Iran

Saudi Arabia on Friday suggested pilgrims ignoring crowd control rules bore some blame for a crush that killed over 700 people at the haj pilgrimage in the annual event's worst disaster for 25 years.
$Pope at UN: Pontiff condemns \'boundless thirst\' for wealth and power$
Pope at UN: Pontiff condemns 'boundless thirst' for wealth and power

Pope Francis on Friday condemned the craving for material gains and power, warning an annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations that greed is destroying the Earth's resources and aggravating poverty.