Latest Religion and politics News

Israel's West Bank settlers hope Trump's return will pave the way for major settlement expansion

Nov. 13, 2024 21:06 PM EST

BEIT EL, West Bank (AP) — As Donald Trump’s victory became apparent in last week's U.S. elections, Jewish West Bank settlement advocates popped bottles of champagne and danced to the Bee Gees at a winery in the heart of the occupied territory, according to a post on Instagram. The winery said...

AP VoteCast shows Trump boosted his level of support among Catholic voters

Nov. 13, 2024 14:04 PM EST

Among several blocs of religious voters, including his loyal evangelical base, Donald Trump fared roughly as well in his victory over Kamala Harris as he did in his loss to Joe Biden four years ago. One notable difference: He did better this year among Catholic voters, according to AP VoteCast, a...

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he'll ask for a vote of confidence in December

Nov. 13, 2024 09:07 AM EST

BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Wednesday that he will ask for a vote of confidence on Dec. 16, paving the way for early parliamentary elections in February. He declared his plans during a speech in parliament, a week after his three-party coalition government collapsed. ...

White evangelical voters show steadfast support for Donald Trump's presidency

Nov. 07, 2024 15:56 PM EST

After former President Donald Trump gave his victory speech early Wednesday, at the Palm Beach Convention Center, dozens of his supporters gathered in a lobby to sing “How Great Thou Art,” reciting from memory the words and harmonies of a classic hymn, popular among evangelical Christians. ...

Germany's coalition collapses dramatically. Scholz plans to lead with a minority government

Nov. 07, 2024 13:09 PM EST

BERLIN (AP) — After Germany’s government coalition collapsed in a dramatic fashion when Chancellor Olaf Scholz fired Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the pro-business Free Democrats, Scholz said he would lead the country with a minority government, despite calls from opposition leaders on...

Trump's second term could realign US diplomacy toward authoritarian leaders

Nov. 07, 2024 00:22 AM EST

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary's fiery, right-wing leader says Donald Trump’s victory will help his own battle against immigration and multiculturalism and restore traditional family values. In Argentina, a president who once bear-hugged Trump at a political conference in...

Kashmir legislature passes resolution asking India to restore its partial autonomy

Nov. 06, 2024 06:21 AM EST

SRINAGAR, India (AP) — Indian-controlled Kashmir ’s regional legislature passed a resolution on Wednesday demanding the federal government restore the disputed region’s semi-autonomy that was scrapped by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration in 2019. The assembly...

US gives Israel a 'fail' grade on improving aid to Gaza so far

Nov. 04, 2024 19:27 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is stepping up criticism of Israel for not doing enough to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza as a 30-day deadline looms for Israeli officials to meet certain requirements or risk potential restrictions on military assistance. State...

Some US Muslims struggle to find a candidate they can tolerate supporting for president

Oct. 31, 2024 08:07 AM EDT

ATLANTA (AP) — With the death and destruction in Gaza on her mind, Soraya Burhani agonized over how to cast her vote for president. “For us, Muslims, I see that there’s no good choice,” she said. With the U.S. handling of the Israel-Hamas war and conflict in...

Latino evangelical voters torn between their faith and harsh rhetoric around immigration

Oct. 30, 2024 08:05 AM EDT

The Rev. Arturo Laguna leads a largely immigrant church of about 100 followers in Phoenix. His job as a pastor, he says, gets complicated come election season. Laguna's church, Casa de Adoracion, is in Arizona — one of seven closely-watched swing states that could possibly decide...