RELIGION

Gunmen have killed a soldier guarding a church in northeastern Nigeria, the army said on Monday, the latest in a string of attacks in a region with a history of religious violence.

An audio message released by Osama bin Laden on Friday warned that French hostages held by Islamic militants will be killed if President Nicolas Sarkozy does not withdraw French forces from Afghanistan.

Many (perhaps most) Westerners simply make no distinction between Muslim, Hindu or Sikh; or even much of a distinction between Indians, Pakistanis, Arabs or Iranians.

Another Vatican letter instructing non-cooperation with civil authorities has come to light, this one from 1984 and addressed to the Bishop of Tucson, Arizona.

The leadership of the Roman Catholic Church is embroiled, once again, in a sexual abuse scandal or, more properly speaking, another aspect of the same sexual abuse scandal that has haunted the Church for over 20 years.

President Barack Obama urged Chinese President Hu Jintao to let the value of China's yuan currency rise and delivered a strong message on U.S. concerns over Beijing's human rights record at a summit on Wednesday.

President Barack Obama urged Chinese President Hu Jintao to let the value of China's yuan currency rise and delivered a strong message on U.S. concerns over Beijing's human rights record at a summit on Wednesday.

President Barack Obama pressed Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday to let the value of China's currency rise and delivered a stern message on U.S. concerns over Beijing's human rights record.

A Labour Party MP is seeking to amend the laws of royal succession to the British throne to remove the supremacy of male heirs over females, ahead of the scheduled April wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Three people were killed in central Nigeria on Monday when soldiers opened fire to quell a fight between Christian and Muslim youths over voter registration for April elections, police and witnesses said.

The late Pope John Paul II moved a big step closer to Roman Catholic sainthood on Friday when his successor approved a decree attributing a miracle to him and announced that he will be beatified on May 1.

The late Pope John Paul II moved a big step closer to Roman Catholic sainthood Friday when his successor approved a decree attributing a miracle to him and announced that he will be beatified on May 1.

The late Pope John Paul II will be beatified this May, a key step on the path to sainthood, the Vatican announced on Friday.

Internet search giant Google Inc. has joined India's celebration of Pongal or Makar Sankranti festival with new Doodle, which has painted kites and flying balloons on its homepage. Makar Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India.

To give thanks to a powerful god for blessing him with a longed-for daughter, Sharma Muthu will skewer his tongue with a spear for Malaysia's largest Hindu festival.

The New York imam whose proposed Muslim cultural center and mosque near Ground Zero has stirred opposition is embarking on a U.S. speaking tour where he intends to correct misperceptions about his aims.

A company suing Cisco systems for patent infringement got a new trial because Cisco's attorney made remarks about a plaintiff's religion, drawing attention to the fact that he is Jewish.

When a quest for spirituality or devotion is merged with a sense of luxury, pilgrimage is given a whole new dimension. Luxury has imparted a new concept to a holy journey and this trend is fast catching up across the globe.

Hermes (HRMS.PA) has defended itself against any possible take-over by rival LVMH by pooling in their shares in a single holding company, France's stock market regulator (AMF) reported on Friday.

He is impressed with her star power and wants CAA to represent her

Egyptian police have detained at least 17 people suspected of their involvement in church attacks that killed 21 people on New Year's Eve. No extremists outfit has so far claimed responsibility for the blasts. Two explosions targeting more than 1000 worshipers who gathered to mark the New Year in the Sidi Bechr district, rocked the northern port city of Alexandria on Friday.