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Religion
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Religion. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Pope Leo presiding over a prayer service in St Peter’s Basilica on Saturday. Photo: Vatican Media via EPA
Donald Trump

Trump attacks pope, calling him ‘weak’ on crime and ‘terrible’

US president shatters diplomatic norms with a direct attack on the first American pontiff for his anti-war messages.

Africa

At least 200 feared dead after Nigerian air strike hits busy village market

United States

Pentagon plays down rift with Vatican despite Pope Leo’s criticism

Easter

Pope Leo calls for peace, dialogue amid Ukraine, Iran wars in Easter mass

Leo addressed some 50,000 in St. Peter’s Square and quoted his predecessor, who reminded the faithful of the ‘great thirst for death, for killing, we witness each day’.

Pope Leo XIV gestures from the main balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica after delivering his ‘Urbi et Orbi’ (To the city and the world) message, on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
Italy

Pope Leo carries cross for full Good Friday procession

‘I carry all of this suffering in my prayer,’ the pontiff said before he set out for the 14 stations of the Way of the Cross.

Italy

Italy arrests German-Indian ‘guru’ on child abuse allegations

The two children did not attend school and had to stand guard around the house where they lived at night.

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Hong Kong society

Leader of Hong Kong’s Catholics calls for giving young offenders ‘second chance’

In his Easter message, Cardinal Stephen Chow says prolonged investigations can cause mental stress, without directly referring to 2019 protests.

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Security chief Chris Tang has repeatedly stated there is no time limit for charging the roughly 7,000 protesters arrested during the 2019 social unrest. Photo: Robert Ng
Nepal

Untouchable no more: Nepal to apologise to Dalits for first time

Nepal has banned caste discrimination, yet many Dalits still live in poverty. Can a formal state apology inspire change?

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Africa

Mob retaliates after gunmen kill 12 in Nigeria bar

27 people in total were killed between the shooting and the retaliatory violence.

Israel-Gaza war

Jerusalem police stop Catholic leaders from celebrating Palm Sunday mass

Police said the Church of the Holy Sepulchre had been notified that no mass could take place on Palm Sunday because of safety considerations.

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Issa Kassissieh, a Palestinian Christian, holds a cross and a palm frond while standing at the doors of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem after finding them locked on Palm Sunday. Photo: Reuters
Pope Leo XIV

Pope slams widening ‘chasms between the poor and the rich’ on Monaco visit

Monaco is one of the few places in Europe where Catholicism remains the state religion.

Pope Leo greets faithful as he leaves at the end of the weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, on Wednesday. Photo: AP
Britain

Nurse to archbishop: Mullally enthroned as first woman to lead Church of England

The new Archbishop of Canterbury begins her ministry with a historic ceremony attended by British royals.

Malaysia

‘I’ve never held my son’: the Rohingya families Malaysia keeps apart

More than 5,000 Rohingya languish in detention in Malaysia, leaving fathers like Farouk to watch their children grow through a screen.

Malaysia

Should wives always obey? Most in Malaysia and Indonesia say yes

A new study also shows 64 per cent of respondents in Singapore agree that efforts to give women equal rights with men ‘have gone far enough’.

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A Malaysian couple hold hands. A new study has found that 60 per cent of respondents from Malaysia agreed with the statement that “a wife should always obey her husband”. Photo: Shutterstock
US, Israel war on Iran

Netanyahu compares Jesus and Genghis Khan in Iran war speech, drawing backlash

Christians, in particular, were angered by the Israeli PM’s remarks, which some say suggest a ‘might is right’ approach.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference in Jerusalem on Thursday. Photo: EPA
Thailand

Video | Thai ‘Death Fest’ offers new look at the end of life

Three-day event brings together exhibits, discussions and workshops to encourage visitors to talk about the inevitable.

Indonesia

Half of Indonesia is travelling for Eid as US$100 oil threatens state finances

A US$100 oil shock is ballooning fuel subsidies towards a deficit cap breach.

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Africa

Suicide attacks in Nigeria kill 23, wound more than 100

Attacks in Maiduguri are among the deadliest in the conflict-battered city in recent history.

An injured man looks out of an ambulance at a hospital in Maiduguri. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

Malaysia charges 2 men and seeks extradition over religious posts

Two men have been hauled up in court and a third is being tracked amid a crackdown on inflammatory social media posts.

Gun violence in the US

Brother of Michigan synagogue attacker was Hezbollah commander: Israeli military

Ibrahim Ghazali was killed in Lebanon on March 5 along with 3 other relatives of Detroit attacker Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, the IDF said.

US, Israel war on Iran

‘Cease fire’! Pope Leo escalates call for Middle East war to end

The pope did not cite the US or Israel by name but did mention the strike on a school in Iran that killed over 165 people.

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Pope Leo leads prayers from a window at the Vatican on Sunday. Photo: Handout via Reuters
Crime in Hong Kong

2 monks brawl during temple ceremony in Hong Kong, leaving 1 injured

Police say one monk has been arrested after fight at repentance service at Chuk Lam Sim Yuen.

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Chuk Lam Sim Yuen in Tsuen Wan. Photo: Google Maps
Asia travel

The quiet Japanese islands where Christians once hid their religion

Those searching for solitude in these tranquil Japanese isles follow in the footsteps of persecuted Christians forced to practise their faith in secret.

Gun violence in the US

Assailant dead after ramming vehicle into Michigan synagogue

Authorities identify the deceased assailant as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali; reports suggest he recently lost family members in Lebanon.

Malaysia

Malaysian man jailed for 10 months, fined US$12,700 over Facebook post insulting Islam

Malaysia has warned that ‘stern action’ will be taken against content that insults, incites hatred or touches on race, religion or royalty.

A Muslim man reads the Quran while waiting to break fast during the holy month of Ramadan in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, on Thursday. Photo: EPA
Malaysia

1 holy month, 1 year’s income: Malaysia’s Ramadan bazaar boom

Rents have doubled, ingredient costs keep climbing, yet for the stallholders at Malaysia’s bazaars, no other month comes close.

Asyraf Ahmad (left) sells drinks at his Ramadan stall after switching his business model from food. Photo: Ushar Daniele
Germany

Berlin jails man for 13 years over stabbing at Holocaust memorial

The man, 20, said he had been motivated by his radicalisation and belief he was acting with a religious mission.

Religion in China

What are Buddhist relics? The bones and teeth with great power for followers

Buddhist relics are seen as living, active sources of blessings imbued with supernatural qualities, but authenticity can be an issue.

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