World

Put down those phones for Christmas, says Archbishop of York

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has called for a Christmas mobile phone and tablet switch-off as a new survey showed a quarter of the UK admitted to checking emails on Christmas Day.

Helping 'wuff' sleepers in the heart of London

A day centre for homeless dogs opens, believed to be the first in London.

Most countries fail to respect rights of atheists - report

The barbarity of Islamic State and the murders of humanist bloggers in Bangladesh are among the persecution meted out to atheists and agnostics this year.

Pakistan: Thousands of Christians could be homeless as slums targeted for destruction

The Pakistani government is cracking down on slums in Islamabad over fears that the Christian population could overtake the Muslim-majority.

Stained-glass ceiling is real, no increase in women leaders in over a decade - Duke University

The number of women in church leadership roles in America has barely grown since 1998, according a study by Duke University.

#MyTreedom: Facebook campaign uses Christmas trees to highlight global persecution

As Christian persecution in the middle east grows, foreign affairs journalist Lisa Daftari has launched a facebook campaign seeking to both raise awareness and reduce fear through solidarity.

Child sex abuse allegations against dead priest 'credible'

More than ten years after a popular American Roman Catholic priest's death, an allegation of sexual abuse on a minor against him has been found to be credible.

Catholic churches in Chennai cancel Christmas to serve flood victims

Catholic churches in Southern India have cancelled Christmas in order to serve victims of the worst flooding in Chennai for over a century.

Arab-looking U.S. doctor wearing Muslim garb detained at Houston airport, a victim of racial profiling

A Muslim-American doctor, who heads an anti-Muslim radicalization organization in the U.S., was detained at a Houston airport after he arrived from Newark.

U.S. House passes bill to tighten visa waiver programme affecting U.S. travel of citizens from 38 countries

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that would tighten restrictions on travel to the United States by citizens from 38 countries under the Visa Waiver Program.

Syrian refugees arrive to start new life in U.S., with help from groups that defied governors' actions

Syrian families have finally arrived in Texas and Indiana through the help of groups that defied governors' actions to block them from resettling in the U.S.

California terror couple prepared selves for attack a year ago, honing shooting skills and leaving money for 'grandma and baby'

The Muslim husband-and-wife shooters in the San Bernardino, California massacre had been preparing for their terrorist attack at least a year ago and had discussed about it as far as three years ago, law enforcement sources revealed.

Syrian rebels evacuate Homs in victory for Assad