US

• Christian Bale thanks Satan for his Golden Globes win

  Evidently spoofing actors who thank God for their wins, Bale said: 'Thank you to Satan for giving me inspiration on how to play this role.'

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  Trump's transgender military ban finds support in federal appeals court

  A federal appeals court has ruled that the Trump administration's restrictions on transgender people serving in the military can stand for now.

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  Five children killed in horrific church van crash on way to Disney World

  Five children were among the seven victims of a horrific crash involving their church van as they were making their way to Disney World in Orlando, Florida on Thursday.

• Pope tells US bishops to rethink their approach to sex abuse scandal

  The bishops are meeting for a spiritual retreat directed by the Preacher to the Papal Household, Fr Raniero Cantalamessa.

• The US churches sheltering migrants from deportation

  'Under Donald Trump's administration, I received an ankle bracelet ... It hurts my soul because I'm not a criminal.'

• Samaritan's Purse to open Ebola treatment centre in DRC

  Now in its seventh month, the outbreak has been described as the second worst ever.

• Blame game: Democrats, Trump in shutdown standoff

  Passage of the bill by the new Democratic majority was expected to occur shortly after Nancy Pelosi is elected speaker of the House.

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  New York's third gender birth certificates come into effect

  New York City residents who do not identify as male or female can now opt for a third gender on their birth certificates.

• Romney blasts Trump in stinging editorial: President has 'not risen to the mantle of his office'

  Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential candidate, has launched an excoriating attack on President Donald Trump in an opinion piece for the Washington Post.

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  Kids in YouTube video told abortion is God's plan and no different from a 'crappy dentist appointment'

  'It was like a crappy dentist appointment or something. It was just like, blah — a body thing that was kind of uncomfortable but then it was over and I felt really just grateful that I wasn't pregnant anymore,' Amelia Bonow told the kids in a YouTube video

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  Francis Chan shares his tip for a better prayer life

  The popular preacher was asked: 'What's one practical thing I could do to improve my prayer life?'

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  Facebook apologises to Franklin Graham after banning him for 24 hours over transgender bathroom post

  Franklin Graham has accused Facebook of 'censoring free speech' after he was banned over a 2016 post criticising transgender access to the bathrooms of their choice

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  Women's college changes policy to accept men who identify as female

  Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, said it had 'expanded its definition of womanhood'.

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  For many migrants heading for the US, faith is their compass

  Since setting out from Honduras in the hope of reaching the United States, Nicolas Alonso Sanchez has worn a simple wooden cross around his neck – a quiet reminder of the Roman Catholic faith that propels him forward.

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  Franklin Graham shares the one Christmas tradition from his childhood that he didn't keep

  Franklin Graham says his mother, Ruth Graham, made Christmas a fun time in their home, but there's one tradition he hasn't continued.