Latest Religion and politics News

Algeria's government pushes staples to subsidized markets to stave off Ramadan shortages

Mar. 28, 2024 10:53 AM EDT

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Algeria's government has flooded newly opened markets selling subsidized goods with pantry staples to stave off shortages during Islam's holy month of Ramadan, when demand typically increases in Muslim-majority countries and prices tend to rise. Authorities...

Feds say California's facial hair ban for prison guards amounts to religious discrimination

Mar. 26, 2024 19:58 PM EDT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The federal government is asking a court to halt California's enforcement of a rule requiring prison guards to be clean-shaven, saying it amounts to religious discrimination for Sikhs, Muslims and others who wear beards as an expression of their faith. ...

As India's election nears, some Bollywood films promote Modi politics by embracing Hindu nationalism

Mar. 22, 2024 01:05 AM EDT

NEW DELHI (AP) — The movie trailer begins with an outline of the iconic glasses worn by Mohandas Gandhi, the leader who helped India win independence from the British colonialists in 1947. In the backdrop of a devotional song that Gandhi loved, the outline slowly morphs into what appears like his...

India’s main opposition party accuses the government of freezing its bank accounts ahead of election

Mar. 21, 2024 06:55 AM EDT

NEW DELHI (AP) — The Congress party, India’s main opposition political group, accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government on Thursday of stifling democracy and crippling the party by freezing its bank accounts in a tax dispute ahead of national elections. India has...

India's multi-phase election will stretch over 44 days. Here's why it takes so long

Mar. 18, 2024 07:55 AM EDT

NEW DELHI (AP) — From April 19 to June 1, nearly 970 million Indians — or over 10% of the global population — are eligible to vote in general elections. The mammoth exercise is the biggest anywhere in the world and will take 44 days before results are announced on June 4. ...

India announces 6-week general elections starting April 19 with Modi's BJP topping surveys

Mar. 16, 2024 07:23 AM EDT

NEW DELHI (AP) — India on Saturday announced its 6-week-long general elections will start on April 19, with most surveys predicting a victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. Voting in the world's largest democracy will stretch...

From 4-leaf clovers to some unexpected history, all you need to know about St. Patrick's Day

Mar. 16, 2024 00:11 AM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — If it's March, and it's green, it must be St. Patrick's Day. The day honoring the patron saint of Ireland is a global celebration of Irish heritage. And nowhere is that more so than in the United States, where parades take place in cities around the country and all...

India's new citizenship law excludes Muslims. Here's what to know

Mar. 15, 2024 09:27 AM EDT

NEW DELHI (AP) — India has implemented a citizenship law that excludes migrants who are Muslims, a minority community whose concerns have heightened under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government. The rules for the law were announced Monday. It establishes a...

A Wisconsin ruling on Catholic Charities raises the bar for religious tax exemptions

Mar. 14, 2024 14:44 PM EDT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Exemptions that allow religious organizations to avoid paying Wisconsin's unemployment tax don't apply to a Catholic charitable organization because its on-the-ground operations aren't primarily religious, a divided state Supreme Court ruled Thursday. The...

Geert Wilders says it is 'constitutionally wrong' that he had to sacrifice his leadership ambitions

Mar. 14, 2024 12:09 PM EDT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders said Thursday it is unfair and “constitutionally wrong” that he had to sacrifice his leadership aspirations in order to pave the way for a right-wing ruling coalition in the Netherlands after his party won the most seats in a...