US

Suicide blast in Kabul kill 12, wounds many

A suicide bomber blew himself up outside a voter registration centre in the Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday, killing at least 12 people and wounding dozens as they waited to receive identity cards, officials said.

We didn't assassinate Palestinian in Malaysia, Israel says

Israel's defence minister said on Sunday a Palestinian scientist shot dead in Malaysia was a rocket expert and 'no saint', but dismissed suggestions by Hamas that Israel's Mossad spy agency assassinated him.

Queen Elizabeth celebrates 92nd birthday with star-studded concert

Britain's Queen Elizabeth attended a star-studded special concert on Saturday as the world's oldest and longest-reigning living monarch celebrated her 92nd birthday.

Natalie Portman pulls out of Israel prizegiving due to Netanyahu speech

Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman said she chose not to attend a ceremony in Israel to accept a million-dollar prize because she did not want to be seen as supporting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was scheduled to speak at the event.

Syrian state TV claims rebels are set to quit enclave near Damascus

Syrian state TV said on Saturday that rebels had agreed to surrender an enclave northeast of Damascus and go to opposition areas at the border with Turkey, a withdrawal that would clinch another victory for President Bashar al-Assad.

No more nuclear tests, says North Korea in 'sensational' announcement ahead of talks

North Korea will immediately suspend nuclear and missile tests and scrap its nuclear test site and instead pursue economic growth and peace, the North's state media said on Saturday.

'Self-care': Demonic indulgence or a godly discipline?

A study recently shared by Barna reveals the 'self-care' habits of Americans who consider themselves Christian or simply 'spiritual'. What should one make of its findings, and is 'self-care' a dangerous enterprise of self-indulgence, or a vital discipline for a healthy church?

Four Christians charged in Sudan amidst state-church conflict

New criminal charges have been brought against four members of one of Sudan's largest Protestant denominations, while 36 other Christians will appear next week on unspecified charges.

Syrian priest who ministers in ravaged Aleppo: 'It's God mercy that I stayed'

A priest in Aleppo has told of how he has chosen to stay in the Syria city that suffered massive destruction in the country's civil war in order to minister to the people there.

Philippines bishops slam 'unspeakable violence' of 'despotic' state after nun's arrest

Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has revealed he ordered an investigation into an Australian nun for 'disorderly conduct', in a move against what he called 'undesirable' foreigners. The country's bishops have in turn hit out at Duterte's 'despotic government' and condemned 'unspeakable violence' being committed against religious institutions.

Chilean cardinal calls for Bishop Barros to resign over sex abuse crisis

The head of the Chilean Catholic Church said on Thursday that Juan Barros, the bishop accused of covering up clerical sex abuse, should resign. It comes just over a week after Pope Francis, who had previously defended Barros, admitted 'grave mistakes' in his handling of Chile's abuse crisis.

The 'greatest miracle': Israel at 70

To me the resurrection of the State of Israel in 1948, 2,000 years after her forced demise at the hands of the Romans and subsequent occupations by Christians and Muslims (culminating in the British occupation from 1922-47) is the greatest miracle the world has known.