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Religion

Religion
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Religion. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Pope Leo boards a plane at Tenerife Norte-Ciudad de La Laguna Airport, Canary Islands, Spain, on Friday. Photo: Vatican Media via Reuters
Spain

Pope Leo’s plane grounded, so Spain’s king gives him a ride

The pontiff flew back to Rome on the monarch’s private jet after the papal aircraft’s engine failed to start.

Malaysia

‘I regret it’: Malaysian mother begs for no jail time over attempted affair

Hong Kong society

Board backs proposal to give temple, mosque highest level of heritage protection

Spain

Pope Leo blesses new tower at Spain’s Sagrada Familia

Spain’s king, queen and prime minister joined thousands inside the world’s tallest church to celebrate mass with the pontiff.

Fireworks explode during the inauguration of the Tower of Jesus Christ at the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
Spain

Standing ovation: Pope warns Spain’s parliament of world’s ‘profound’ crisis

Weapons can impose a temporary silence but can never build lasting peace, he said, hours after Madrid mass for over one million people.

European Union

Pope Leo urges end to ‘polarising narratives’ on Spain visit

The pope says he hopes the week-long tour of Spain will set an example to the world about respecting ‘every human being’.

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Britain

UK Sikhs defend right to carry sacred dagger after student murder backlash

Critics of the religious practice claim that a ‘two-tier’ policing framework protects British ethnic minorities at the expense of others.

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People hold images of victim Henry Nowak as they take part in a protest in Southampton on Tuesday following the murder of Nowak by Vickrum Digwa. Photo: AFP
Japan

‘Harassment exploded out of nowhere’: Muslims face rising prejudice in Japan

Growing anti-Muslim discrimination fuelled by hate speech worries residents, who fear the hostility may escalate into violence.

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Crime

Life sentence for UK Sikh man who falsely claimed his dying victim racially abused him

Court sentences Vickrum Digwa to 21-year minimum for the murder of Henry Nowak, whose handcuffing by police sparked a fierce backlash.

Malaysia

Shotgun sacrifice: anger as Malaysian state leader shoots Eid cow

A viral 38-second clip of Perlis chief minister Abu Bakar Hamzah shooting a cow with a shotgun has sparked a police investigation.

A still from the 38-second clip showing Perlis chief minister Abu Bakar Hamzah shooting at a cow with a shotgun at an Eid ul-Adha event. Photo: X
Viral stories

Japan Buddhist monk bar has ‘heaven and hell’ drinks, offers beating service

Offbeat drinking venue provides everything from calligraphy to a ‘coffin’ experience in bid to popularise Buddhist culture.

A bar in Japan, run by Buddhist monks, serves drinks inspired by the concepts of heaven and hell. Photo: japaholic
Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s top monk suspended over alleged child sex abuse

Police arrested the 71-year-old on May 9 over allegations that he had sexually abused an 11-year-old girl in 2022.

Malaysia

Asian Angle | Malaysia’s 3R catch-all risks turning every grievance into a threat

Conflating local governance concerns with racial and religious slights threatens pluralism and stifles legitimate public policy debate.

Malaysia

Beyond bans: why fringe Islamic movements still find followers in Malaysia

Observers say the appeal of alternative religious communities cannot be addressed by bans and rehabilitation classes alone.

Groups of Muslims recite the Quran on the first evening of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Putra Mosque in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on February 18. Photo: Reuters
India

India orders new deportation centres days after BJP election victory

The Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party has ordered detention centres for undocumented migrants in West Bengal state, sparking fear of arbitrary expulsions.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) congratulates newly elected Chief Minister of Assam state Himanta Biswa Sarma (centre), and elected minister Atul Bora after the oath taking ceremony in Guwahati, India, on May 12. Photo: AP
European Union

Pope calls for ‘disarming’ of AI, technology should be ‘human friendly’

Pope Leo called for the ‘disarming’ of artificial intelligence, and warned of ‘new forms of slavery’ behind its rise.

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Pakistan

UAE deports Pakistani Shiites: jobs lost and savings frozen amid Iran war

Over one hundred deported Pakistanis said they were unable to retrieve their luggage or savings before being placed ‌on deportation flights.

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Malaysia

Malaysia’s ruling coalition faces test over Selangor non-Muslim worship rules

The dispute began after an MP flagged state planning guidelines stating that non-Islamic places of worship cannot be in commercial zones.

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A Taoist temple in Klang, Selangor. Photo: Shutterstock
Middle East

Muslims begin haj in sweltering heat and shadow of Middle East tensions

Over 1.5 million faithful gather as annual sacred rites in Mecca officially get under way.

India

Young Indians protest through parody ‘cockroach’ party

The Cockroach Janta Party echoes a broader trend across South Asia, where youths have played a central role in anti-government movements.

United States

Trump-backed mass prayer rally draws thousands to Washington

Worshippers flock to the National Mall for an America-themed jubilee featuring Trump reading from the Bible in a video.

People watch a recorded video message from President Donald Trump. Photo: AP
India

Canada’s spy report hints at India reset despite meddling claims

A Canadian spy report validates New Delhi’s concerns about Sikh extremism, even as it accuses India of foreign interference and espionage.

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India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney speak before a meeting at last year’s G7 Summit in Alberta. Photo: The Canadian Press/AP
Italy

Rubio meets Pope Leo at Vatican to defuse tensions with Trump

The meeting comes amid the US president’s repeated attacks on the pontiff over the Iran war and nuclear weapons.

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Spain

Pope to inaugurate Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia in June trip to Spain

He will also visit a migrant reception centre in the Canary Islands.

Donald Trump

‘He’s endangering a lot of Catholics’: Trump takes another shot at pope

US president’s latest criticism threatens to derail Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s high-stakes mission to Rome.

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Pope Leo speaking to journalists on Tuesday. Photo: AP
My Life

Meet the Reverend Will Newman, chaplain of Hong Kong’s St John’s Cathedral and Stanley Prison

From India to Hong Kong, Reverend Will Newman’s journey from missionary child to prison chaplain is a fascinating tale of faith, family and service.

The Reverend Will Newman, chaplain of Hong Kong’s St John’s Cathedral and priest-in-charge of St Stephen’s Chapel, in Hong Kong's Stanley district. Photo: Alexander Mak
India

India PM Modi’s party takes control of West Bengal in key state election

Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party has never governed the state of West Bengal, an opposition stronghold.

Italy

Rubio to visit Rome, meet Pope Leo who has clashed with Trump

US secretary of state also seeks a meeting with Italy’s Meloni, whom Trump has also turned against.

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