World

With help from Lutherans, Syrian refugees start arriving in South Carolina despite governor's opposition
Even without an official welcome mat, the first batch of Syrian refugees has arrived in South Carolina as part of President Barack Obama's plan to resettle 10,000 Muslim migrants to the United States this year.

Finally, President Obama turns his thoughts to Christendom, prays for 'God's protection for persecuted Christians'
After a long long while, U.S. President Barack Obama finally found the perfect occasionâChristmasâto turn his thoughts to the Christian world and the persecution of Christians in particular.

Christmas celebrations banned in Brunei
Christmas celebrations have been banned by the local government of Brunei, who sees the holiday as a threat to Muslim beliefs and practices. Offenders will serve jail time of up to five years.

Somali Islamists publicly execute two officials
Islamist militant group al Shabaab publicly executed a Somali military officer and the leader of a small town in the southern Somali region of Lower Shabelle.

Hit by airstrikes, ISIS retaliates by firing mortar shells at school, killing 9 young girls and wounding 20 others
At least nine school girls were killed and 20 others wounded when mortar shells hit the Harabesh primary school for girls in the northeastern city of Deir el-Zour, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH) reported.

John Piper rebukes Liberty University's Jerry Falwell over call for students to carry guns
Jerry Falwell, president of Liberty University, urged students to carry concealed weapons on campus after the San Bernadino shootings.

Outrage as British Muslim family banned from entering US
A British father, his brother and their nine children have been banned from flying to the United States for Christmas to visit Disneyland and family in California.

Hijab-wearing Wheaton professor could lose her job as talks break down
Hawkins was suspended as a teacher at Wheaton after saying on social media that Muslims and Christians worship the same God.

Imprisoned Iranian pastor Farshid Fathi freed after five years
Farshid Fathi was arrested on Boxing Day, 2010 during raids targeting Christian churches.

U.S. evangelical couple linked to child abuse ask God to 'strike our enemies dead'
A Christian evangelical couple who advocates child discipline that centers around "breaking a child's will'' has asked God to strike their critics dead.

U.S. accused of bowing to Iran as it seeks to ease visa restrictions while ignoring Tehran nuke violations
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is accused of bolstering Iranian propaganda when he said that the Obama government could and would help the Islamic Republic bypass current visa restrictions passed by Congress.

Poll: Most US Republican voters back action on climate change
The desire for action is notable for an issue that has barely made a ripple on the campaign trail.

China: One man pulled alive from Shenzhen landslide, 70 still missing
The rescue came 60 hours after a waste heap collapsed and buried dozens of buildings in mud and debris.

Iraqi troops storm into centre of Islamic State-held Ramadi
The operation to recapture Ramadi, some 100 km (60 miles) west of Baghdad, began in early November.

Slovenians vote massively against same-sex marriage, child adoption by gay couples
Although considered among the most liberal ex-communist nations, Slovenia on Sunday rejected the union of same sex couples by a large margin in a referendum, according to preliminary results released by authorities.

In Florida, generosity overcomes division between Church and state
In a small city in Florida, residents are proving that the Church and the state government can cooperate to promote the value of generosity.