U.S. House to vote on North Korea sanctions bill
The House of Representatives could vote in the coming days on legislation backed by Republican and Democratic lawmakers to broaden U.S. sanctions on North Korea.
China says couples will not need approval to have two children
China will not require prospective parents to obtain approval to have two children under the new "two-child policy", in what appears to be a further relaxation of reproductive controls in the world's most populous country.
France prepares tribute to Charlie Hebdo, Jewish shop victims
France this week commemorates the victims of last year's Islamist militant attacks on satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish supermarket with eulogies, memorial plaques and another cartoon lampooning religion.
Clinton: Islamic State persecution of Christians, Yazidis, a genocide
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Tuesday said that Islamic State violence against Christians, Iraqi Yazidis and other religious minorities in the Middle East was genocide.
U.S.-led air strikes kill IS leaders linked to Paris attacks
A U.S.-led coalition has killed 10 Islamic State leaders in the past month with targeted air strikes, including individuals linked to last month's attacks in Paris, a spokesman for the coalition said on Tuesday.
Iraqi army declares first major victory over Islamic State in Ramadi
Iraq's army declared victory over Islamic State fighters in a provincial capital west of Baghdad on Sunday, the first major triumph for the U.S.-trained force since it collapsed in the face of an assault by the militants 18 months ago.
India lowers crime trial age to 16 after Delhi gang rape furor
India passed legislation lowering the age at which someone can be tried for rape and other crimes to 16, spurred into action by an uproar over the release of a minor convicted in a 2012 fatal gang rape of a 23-year-old woman on a Delhi bus.
Clinton announces plan to battle Alzheimer's
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Tuesday announced a slate of proposals to battle Alzheimer's disease and seek a cure by 2025, including an increase in funding for research on the disease and related disorders
Indonesian police foil string of 'jihad' attacks
Indonesian counter-terrorism police said they arrested suspected Islamist militants in locations across the island of Java, foiling separate plots to bomb minority Shia communities and target Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Passenger says Muslims protect Christians in Islamist attack on Kenyan bus
Somali Islamist militants sprayed a Kenyan bus with bullets on Monday, killing two people, but a passenger said he and fellow Muslims defied demands from the attackers to help identify Christians traveling with them.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta to be made saint
Mother Teresa of Calcutta, the Nobel laureate known for dedicating her life to helping the poorest of the poor, will be made a saint of the Roman Catholic Church.
Latest News
54% of Protestant Pastors Say Economic Conditions Are Hurting Their Churches
More than half of Protestant pastors in the United States say economic conditions are negatively affecting their congregations, as church donations continue to lag behind inflation, according to a new Lifeway Research survey. The annual study found that 54% of pastors believe the economy is hurting their churches, compared with 36% who reported no impact and 8% who described its effects as positive.
Christian Education Network Launched to Expand School Choice Scholarships Nationwide
A new federal school choice initiative is being hailed as the “greatest evangelism opportunity since the Billy Graham crusades,” with supporters expecting it to expand access to Christian education for millions of American children beginning in 2027. The Ohio-based Center for Christian Virtue has established the Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization to provide financial assistance to families seeking Christian schooling.
United Methodist Church Selects US, Zimbabwe for Historic 2028 General Conference
The United Methodist Church (UMC) will convene its 2028 General Conference at two locations simultaneously for the first time in the denomination’s history, bringing together delegates in the United States and Africa for its highest legislative assembly. The UMC Commission on the General Conference announced Tuesday that Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Harare, Zimbabwe, will jointly host the gathering.
Middle East Christians Face Uncertain Future as Global Persecution Threatens Over 400 Million
Christian persecution has worsened in more than half of 18 countries surveyed by a Catholic watchdog, raising concerns about the future of Christian communities in the Middle East. The Middle East has emerged as an area of particular concern, where prolonged instability threatens Christianity’s presence in its historic birthplace.
Multisite Churches Expanding Rapidly Across US, Attracting Nearly 10% of Protestant Churchgoers
Multisite churches are expanding rapidly across the United States, attracting nearly one in 10 Protestant churchgoers, but their growth is increasingly outpacing the development of qualified leaders, according to a new national study. The report identified more than 1,800 multisite churches operating over 6,000 campuses nationwide, highlighting the growing influence of congregations that maintain multiple worship locations under a unified organizational structure.