World
Overwhelming 'yes' vote likely in Ireland gay marriage referendum
Polls indicate a two to one majority in favour.
Syrian monk and church volunteer kidnapped from monastery
A Syriac Catholic monk and a church volunteer were abducted by masked militants from a monastery in Homs province yesterday, a human rights monitor reports.
Analysis: How Islamic State became a 'state'
Almost a year after Islamic State's shock capture of Mosul, the militants' black flags have been raised over Ramadi and Islamic State has the foundations of a state.
Assyrian villages taken by Islamic State have been liberated
The Assyrian Christian villages raided and inhabited by Islamic State militants in February have now been retaken by Kurdish forces, local clergy have confirmed.
Pakistan charges 106 over deaths of Christian couple burnt in brick kiln
Pakistan has charged 106 people with murder over the death of a Christian couple who were beaten and burned to death in November last year after being accused of blasphemy.
Ireland gay marriage referendum: Polls open in historic vote
Ireland votes on Friday on whether to allow gay marriage in a referendum that could make the once deeply Catholic country the first in the world to adopt the policy by popular vote.
North Korea: Why the number of defectors has halved since 2011
It's much more dangerous, and twice as expensive, to defect from North Korea since Kim Jong Un took power in Pyongyang three and a half years ago, refugees and experts say
Syria: Islamic State claims full control of Palmyra
Islamic State fighters tightened their grip on the historic Syrian city of Palmyra on Thursday and overran Iraqi government defenses east of Ramadi, the provincial capital that they seized five days earlier.
American Christians beings bullied into silence - Franklin Graham
American Christians beings bullied into silence -- Franklin Graham
Al Shabaab attacks village in Kenya's Garissa
Al Shabaab militants attacked a village in the northeastern Kenyan county of Garissa, the ministry of interior said on Friday.
Sole cartoonist who survived Charlie Hebdo attack leaves publication, says it's 'torture' because the others are gone
Renald Luzier, the sole surviving cartoonist of the French publication Charlie Hebdo has decided to leave the newspaper, saying it is "torture" being the only cartoonist left and that he needs time to "rebuild himself."
Cardinal Pell: I did not try to bribe abuse victim to buy their silence
Australia's Cardinal George Pell has denied accusations made to a Royal Commission.
Chinese President warns religious groups against foreign influence
Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday warned against foreign influence on religious groups in China because they must pledge allegiance to the state.
Bin Laden was reading about Church of England bishops
Among the documents found at the compound where Osama bin Laden was killed in 2011, was a list of profiles of Church of England bishops.
New Osama bin Laden documents show fixation with attacking America
Newly released documents include a job application for jihadis.
Loss of Palmyra is 'the fall of a civilisation': 'Human, civilized society has lost the battle against barbarism'
The ancient city of Palmyra has fallen to the militants.