World

At Mexico-US border, Pope condemns suffering of migrants
Pope Francis on Wednesday railed against immigration policies that force many underground and into the hands of drug gangs and human smugglers, praying at Mexico's border with the United States.

Fewer Americans think U.S. is still world's superpower, Gallup survey shows
Less than half of the American populace believe that the United States is still the number one military power in the world, according to the results of a Gallup survey released this month.

Iran dismisses Saudi plan to send troops to Syria to fight ISIS, calling it 'political bluff'
The Islamic Republic has played down plans of the Saudi government to send Special Forces soldiers to take part in ground operations in Syria as part of the U.S-led coalition, saying it is "a bluff and a psychological war."

Young Nigerian suicide bomber gets cold feet, tears off vest to avoid killing people
A young Nigerian girl, packed with explosives around her body and sent on a mission to bomb a refugee camp, tore off her vest and ran away from her handlers to avoid taking part in the attacks, Nigerian officials said.

Georgia drops 'blasphemy bill' which sought to ban religious insults
Georgia has dropped a proposed anti-blasphemy bill, despite having been conditionally approved by the parliament's human rights committee, due to political strife, according to EurasiaNet.

Priests in El Salvador banned from secular study to avoid 'worldly temptations'
Priests in El Salvador have been prohibited from studying at secular universities, in order to avoid the temptation of worldly desires, according to NDTV.

Palestinian Muslims and Christians unite to restore Bethlehem church
Palestinian Muslims and Christians have united to renovate the Church in Bethlehem where it is believed Mary gave birth to Jesus, according to Associated Press.

Pope to pray for migrants at Mexico-US border
The Pope will be driven to the fence that separates Mexico from the United States, and will celebrate Mass just 80 yards (73 meters) from the crossing.

Italy postpones vote on gay civil unions
Italy on Wednesday postponed voting on legislation that offers homosexual couples legal recognition as some allies of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi pushed for the removal of a provision that allows limited adoption rights.

Uganda's martyr: Why we should remember Janani Luwum
Archbishop Janani Luwum was the head of the Anglican Church in Uganda under the gangster rule of Idi Amin.

Evangelical church in Chiapas suffers arson attack on eve of Pope's arrival
An evangelical church in Chiapas, Mexico was attacked and burned just a day before Pope Francis visited the region.

9 Christian leaders arrested in Australia after protesting deportation of asylum seekers
Australian Christian leaders have been arrested after holding a prayer vigil at the office of the Minister for Justice.

Pope to Mexican youths: Jesus doesn't want you to be hitmen
Pope Francis begged young people to shun the lure of easy money and big cars offered by drug traffickers in Mexico's gang-infested heartland on Tuesday

Pope Francis loses his cool with 'selfish' well-wisher
Pope Francis yesterday rebuked well-wishers in Mexico for being selfish after they caused him to fall onto a child in a wheelchair.

Australian abuse victims crowdfund trip to Rome for Vatican treasurer testimony
Catholic Cardinal George Pell had been scheduled to testify at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in the Australian city of Ballarat.

Russia plans to upgrade its nuclear-tipped ICBMs to protect Earth from approaching asteroids and meteorites
To be able to counter the perceived threat of these approaching space objects, Moscow is planning to convert its intecontinental ballistic missiles used in warfare into weapons for astrological defense.