Latest Religion and politics News
Government restrictions on religion increasing worldwide
NEW YORK (AP) — Government restrictions on religion have increased markedly in many places around the world, not only in authoritarian countries, but also in many of Europe's democracies, according to a report surveying 198 countries that was released Monday. The report released by the Pew Research Center,...
Some Iranian women take off hijabs as hard-liners push back
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The simple act of walking has become a display of defiance for a young Iranian woman who often moves in Tehran's streets without a compulsory headscarf, or hijab. With every step, she risks harassment or even arrest by Iran's morality police whose job is to enforce the strict dress code...
Israeli minister's remarks on gays widely condemned
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's new education minister's remarks in favor of "conversion therapy," a controversial technique that seeks to turn gays into heterosexuals, came under widespread criticism and led hundreds to protest Sunday. Rafi Peretz, who leads a small religious nationalist party, said in a...
Court order blocking contraception exemptions upheld
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A federal appeals court upheld a lower court order that blocked the Trump administration from enforcing rules that allow more employers to deny insurance coverage for contraceptives to women. The three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia said Friday that...
Indonesia leader meets defeated rival after divisive poll
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia's president and his defeated election rival met Saturday for the first time since the divisive April poll and rode together on a recently opened subway in the capital, signaling a calming of political tensions in the world's third-largest democracy. In a choreographed...
Kuwait arrests Muslim Brotherhood members wanted in Egypt
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Kuwait's Interior Ministry says it has detained members of Egypt's outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group convicted of terrorism crimes. The statement published Friday on the state-run KUNA news agency did not say how many individuals were detained or if Kuwait planned on...
One boy's tale of family separation heads to court
BUDA, Texas (AP) — There were water balloons at Byron Xol's birthday party — bunches of them, filled a dozen at a time. He squeezed them with both hands, until the water burst on his face and chest. "Super good!" the 9-year-old yelled, again and again. It's a new catchphrase — but then, Byron...
Court: Baltimore can't stop settlement winners from speaking
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — It is unconstitutional for the city of Baltimore to reduce financial settlements to alleged victims of police misconduct when they speak out about their experience, a federal appeals court has ruled, likening the practice to "hush money." The 2-1 ruling Thursday from the 4th U.S....
Egypt arrests Mubarak supporter who criticized government
CAIRO (AP) — Egyptian prosecutors Thursday charged the administrator of a Facebook page that supports former autocratic president Hosni Mubarak with spreading false news and undermining national interests after a post implied Mubarak did more to help Egypt's poor than the current government of President...
Ex-UN chief concerned over monsoon floods in Rohingya camps
KUTUPALONG, Bangladesh (AP) — Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed concern that monsoon floods could threaten the lives of Rohingya refugees in sprawling camps in Bangladesh. Ban, who was visiting in his role as head of The Hague-based Global Commission on Adaptation to climate change,...
LOADING MORE STORIES
