International
A Chinese pastor is released after 7 years in prison, only to find himself unable to get an ID
By Huizhong Wu — March 26, 2024
BEIJING (AP) — Cao, who was born and raised in Changsha, had dedicated his life to spreading Christianity in China, where the religion is strictly regulated.
Famine is said to be imminent in northern Gaza as Israel raids the main hospital again
By Wafaa Shurafa, Tia Goldenberg, and Samy Magdy — March 18, 2024
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The ministry said around 30,000 people are sheltering at the hospital, including patients, medical staff and people who have fled their homes seeking safety.
Netanyahu snaps back against growing US criticism after being accused of losing his way on Gaza
By Ravi Nessman and Tia Goldenberg — March 18, 2024
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The U.S., which has provided key military and diplomatic support to Israel, also has expressed concerns about a planned Israeli assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Jurors weigh fate of Afghan refugee charged with murder in a case that shocked Muslim community
By Susan Montoya Bryan — March 18, 2024
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Muhammad Syed is charged with three counts of murder and four charges of tampering with evidence.
The British government wants to define extremism. Critics say it risks creating more division
By Jill Lawless and Sylvia Hui — March 15, 2024
LONDON (AP) — The move is in response to a surge in reports of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate speech and what authorities call an increase in radicalization in Britain since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
Israel’s army exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox are part of a bigger challenge: The Jewish state is divided over the Jewish religion
By Michael Brenner — March 15, 2024
(The Conversation) — The Israel-Hamas war has fueled tensions around military exemptions, but the issue has long roiled Israeli politics.
Yeezy shoe sales lead Adidas to plan to donate $150 million to anti-hate groups
By Associated Press — March 14, 2024
LONDON (AP) — The company has made donations to the Anti-Defamation League and the Philonise & Keeta Floyd Institute for Social Change.
3 Egyptian Coptic church monks are killed in an attack at a monastery in South Africa
By Gerald Imray — March 14, 2024
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — The attacks in Egypt have subsided recently amid tighter security around Christian places of worship in the Muslim-majority country.
Evangelical Christians are fierce Israel supporters. Now they are visiting as war-time volunteers
By Melanie Lidman — March 14, 2024
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel’s Tourism Ministry estimates around one-third to half of the approximately 3,000 daily visitors expected to arrive in March are part of faith-based volunteer trips.
US-mandated religious freedom group ends Saudi trip early after rabbi ordered to remove his kippah
By Jon Gambrell — March 13, 2024
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Displaying any religious symbols other than Islamic ones remains criminalized in Saudi Arabia.
India’s new citizenship law excludes Muslims. Here’s what to know
By Sheikh Saaliq — March 12, 2024
NEW DELHI (AP) — The implementation of the law has been one of the key poll promises of Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the run-up to the general election, which is scheduled to be held by May.
Mexico’s presidential candidates sign commitment for peace with church leaders concerned by violence
By MarÍa Teresa HernÁndez — March 12, 2024
MEXICO CITY (AP) — According to the church leaders, Mexico suffers from a “deep crisis of violence and social decomposition.”
Ramadan kicks off in much of Asia, a day after most of the Middle East
By Niniek Karmini — March 12, 2024
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The government set the start of the holiday for Tuesday after teams from more than 100 regions failed to sight the new moon Sunday.
The anti-Zionist Jews countering mainstream support for Israel
By Yonat Shimron — March 11, 2024
RALEIGH, N.C. (RNS) — Pro-Israel Jews have denounced anti-Zionists as antisemitic and not really Jewish. But the ranks of this group are growing, and their criticism of Israel is catching on among younger U.S. Jews.
What is Ramadan and how do Muslims observe the Islamic holy month?
By Mariam Fam — March 11, 2024
CAIRO (AP) — Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar; the month cycles through the seasons.
