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Religion
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Hundreds of Muslim residents in Japan gather for a Friday service at the Tokyo Camii mosque in Tokyo in 2015. Photo: AFP
Japan

Disputes over mosques expose tensions over Japan’s growing Muslim communities

Muslim leaders say local opposition has been fuelled by negative overseas coverage of Islam and claims circulating online.

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Catholic Church

Pope meets first female Archbishop of Canterbury in symbolic Vatican encounter

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Pope Leo XIV

‘Right to life’: Pope Leo urges worldwide abolition of death penalty

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Indonesia

Is Indonesia’s blasphemy law for religious protection or political purpose?

The law has come under the spotlight after complaints filed against a former vice-president over his comments on sectarian violence.

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A crowd watched a burning shopping centre in Ambon in 1999 amid clashes between Christians and Muslims that had killed hundreds in the Indonesian city that year. Photo: Reuters
China’s Communist Party

China must ‘strengthen education’ of Tibetan Buddhists, Beijing official says

On inspection tour, Li Ganjie urges local authorities to promote new ‘unity’ law to ethnic minority groups.

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Donald Trump

Video | Trump reads Bible days after Jesus image controversy

The US president has faced rare criticism from his evangelical supporters for sharing a meme in which he appears as a Jesus-like healer.

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Africa

Pope Leo denounces ‘colonisation’ of minerals on final leg of Africa tour

The pontiff warns that a global lust for profit ‘kills’ as he meets with a government accused of widespread corruption and authoritarianism.

Pope Leo attends a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters
Donald Trump

Trump reads from Bible after high-profile clash with pope

The US president has faced rare criticism from his evangelical supporters for sharing a meme in which he appears as a Jesus-like healer.

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Israel

Israel jails soldiers for vandalising Jesus statue in Lebanon

Both the soldier who smashed the sculpture with a sledgehammer and the one who photographed the act will receive military detention.

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Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo criticises exploitation by world’s ‘authoritarians’ during Angola trip

The US pope, who has drawn the ire of President Donald Trump, has repeatedly criticised world leaders, without naming individuals.

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Pope Leo XIV arrives to lead Holy Mass at the Saurimo esplanade in Angola on Monday. Photo: EPA
Africa

In Angola, Pope Leo prays at shrine that was once a hub for slavery

First American pontiff recalls centuries of ‘suffering’ at site originally built by Portuguese colonisers.

Pope Leo amid faithful in Muxima, Angola on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
Donald Trump

Pope Leo seeks to defuse tensions with Trump, says not trying to debate him

The pontiff clarified that his Cameroon comments weren’t aimed at Trump amid media misinterpretations.

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Africa

Pope urges Cameroon to reject violence at mass that draws 120,000 people

Believers slept overnight on mats to hear the address from the pontiff, who has drawn Trump’s ire with his anti-war comments.

Malaysia

Malaysia’s Anwar chats with US Muslim streamer – is it a populist move?

Anwar spoke with Sneako about issues ranging from Malaysia’s multi-religious society and Israel to the ‘very condescending’ American mindset.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks with American streamer Sneako on a wide range of issues in Putrajaya on Friday. Photo: Kick/Sneako
US, Israel war on Iran

Trump posts image of Jesus hugging him amid escalating feud with pope

US president doubles down on religious imagery as his administration clashes with Pope Leo over the Iran war.

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US President Donald Trump has feuded with Pope Leo over the Iran war. Photo: Reuters
Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo stresses message of peace and unity despite another Trump attack

US-born pontiff urges respect for all people, says his travels have shown importance of pursuing dialogue between different communities.

Fashion

Designer Filippo Sorcinelli on dressing the last three popes – interview

Also a perfumer and organist, Sorcinelli says his work for Popes Benedict, Francis and now Leo is ultimately inspired by his Catholic faith.

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Donald Trump

Trump claims Jesus-like meme that caused outcry was him as a doctor

US president deletes AI image of himself as a Jesus-like figure amid a deepening feud with Pope Leo.

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US President Donald Trump has deleted a social media post that seemingly depicted him as a Jesus Christ-like figure. Photo illustration: AFP
Donald Trump

‘Someone must stand for a better way’: Pope speaks out after Trump’s attack

After the US president shatters norms with a direct hit on the pontiff, Leo says he will continue to speak out ‘loudly’ and promote peace.

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Africa

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

Nigerian Air Force launches investigation into civilian casualties at Jilli Market as it targeted jihadists.

United States

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

The first American pope’s criticism of US actions in conflict creates a rare public fracture between Washington and the Holy See.

Pope Leo. Photo: Reuters
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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A Dalit woman sits with a child in Humla district, in Nepal’s remote northwest. Photo: AFP
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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