World
More than 17,000 killed in Syria's brutal prisons since 2011
Almost 18,000 people have died in Syria's state prisons since the outbreak of civil war in 2011, Amnesty International said today, in a damning report that warned torture is a "routine occurrence" in government detention facilities.
Kazakhstan: Elderly Christians faced with fines, church raids and property confiscations
Seven members of a Baptist congregation in East Kazakhstan Region face being fined later this month for meeting to worship without state permission, Forum 18 reported.
Synagogue discovered from Jesus' time confirms accuracy of New Testament, says archaeologist
The ruins of an Israeli synagogue allegedly confirms New Testament portrayals of Jesus' life as accurate.
Clinton accused of favouring 'extremist' policies that would 'punish' Catholics
An article by Hillary Clinton in a local Utah newspaper in which she promotes herself as a defender of religious freedom has provoked criticism from Catholics and senior academics in the US.
Evangelicals and Catholics oppose Franklin Graham's upcoming appearance in Vancouver
Evangelical and Catholic leaders in Metro Vancouver, Canada, have come together to oppose an upcoming visit by the televangelist Franklin Graham, calling him "incendiary and intolerant" as well as "ungracious and bigoted".
Nigeria: Fulani herdsmen kill 10 in Christian-majority area
The latest in a strong of attacks by Fulani herdsmen took place early in the morning of August 16.
Pope's meeting with French President restores 'deep' relations between Paris and Vatican
The meeting yesterday between Pope Francis and French President Francois Hollande in the wake of Fr Jacques Hamel's murder last month marked a rapprochement between the Vatican and Paris after apparently strained diplomatic relations in recent years.
Huge increase in Islamophobic tweets in July
Terror attacks carried out by Islamists likely contributed to a huge spike in 'Islamophobic' tweets in July, according to the BBC.
French Prime Minister shows support for ban on so-called 'burkinis'
The French Prime Minister appears to have thrown his weight behind the ban on so called 'burkinis' on the beach at Cannes. The exclusive resort on the French Riviera took the step of banning the full body swim suits.
Australian state leader offers to house stranded asylum seekers
The premier of Western Australia state, a member of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's Liberal Party, has offered to accept refugees from Australian-funded detention centres amid growing concern about conditions for the 1,350 people held in the camps.
France targets foreign funds for mosques to stop radicalism
The French government is planning to ban foreign funds from being funneled to mosques as the country reels from three major terrorist attacks in the last year and a half.
Americans prefer to talk about politics than religion, survey shows
Americans share politics more than their religion when talking to their friends, a new survey showed.
U.S. lawmaker says sign from God led her to run for Congress
Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx from North Carolina said that she "had a very unusual route in getting to Congress."
Public schools in Alabama urged to resist demands to remove God from programmes
A pro-U.S. Constitution group has urged public schools in Alabama to fight any demand to remove the mention of God in programmes and events.
ISIS recruits found to have poor grasp of Islamic faith
Leaked ISIS employment forms have confirmed that many recruits of the extremist group have very little knowledge of Islam upon entering the organisation.
U.S. urged to take more actions to ensure religious freedom worldwide
The United States is often viewed across the globe as an example of a nation that safeguards religious freedom. Nonetheless, a federal government commission has urged American leaders to step up their efforts to ensure that residents in other countries around the world will get to experience the same freedom to practice their faith.