Religion News

Middle East latest: Israel prepares to move deeper into Gaza and orders Rafah evacuated

The Israeli military indicated on Monday it could soon launch another major offensive in Rafah and ordered most of the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip evacuated.

Mar 31, 2025 2:17 PM Read more >

Israeli military orders the evacuation of Gaza's southern city of Rafah

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel's military on Monday issued sweeping evacuation orders covering Rafah and nearby areas, indicating it could soon launch another major ground operation in the Gaza Strip's southernmost city.

Mar 31, 2025 1:53 PM Read more >

Supreme Court seems likely to side with Catholic Charities in religious-rights case

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court appeared Monday to be leaning toward a Catholic charitable organization pushing back against the state of Wisconsin in the latest religious rights case to come before the court.

Mar 31, 2025 10:59 AM Read more >

Earthquake compounds Myanmar's humanitarian crisis as the death toll passes 2,000

BANGKOK (AP) — The death toll in last week's massive earthquake in Myanmar has passed 2,000, state media said Monday, as accounts of some people's last moments emerged: Two hundred Buddhist monks crushed by a collapsing monastery.

Mar 31, 2025 9:40 AM Read more >

UAE court sentences 3 people to death in killing of Israeli-Moldovan rabbi Zvi Kogan

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A court in the United Arab Emirates has sentenced three people to death for the killing of Israeli-Moldovan Zvi Kogan , state media reported Monday.

Mar 31, 2025 8:50 AM Read more >

Declining Eid travel and spending in Indonesia and discrimination in India dampen holiday spirit

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The usual festive mood of Eid al-Fitr holiday to mark the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan has been subdued in Indonesia this year as people grapple with soaring prices for food, clothing and essential goods.

Mar 31, 2025 12:18 AM Read more >

Gaza's bakeries could shut down within a week under Israel's blockade of all food and supplies

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza’s bakeries will run out of flour for bread within a week, the U.N. says. Agencies have cut food distributions to families in half. Markets are empty of most vegetables.

Mar 30, 2025 5:40 PM Read more >

The Taliban leader says there is no need for Western laws in Afghanistan

The Taliban leader said Sunday there was no need for Western laws in Afghanistan and that democracy was dead as long as sharia laws are in effect.

Mar 30, 2025 5:33 PM Read more >

'Eid of sadness': Palestinians in Gaza mark Muslim holiday with dwindling food and no end to war

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinians in Gaza marked the normally festive Eid al-Fitr on Sunday with rapidly dwindling food supplies and mourning for several children killed in Israel's latest airstrikes.

Mar 30, 2025 2:10 PM Read more >

Pope's willingness to show his frailty provides an example to young and old alike in aging world

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis’ frailty was on full view as he left Rome’s Gemelli hospital last Sunday after five weeks battling pneumonia that nearly killed him. He could barely lift his arms to bless the crowd. His eyes were sunken, face bloated.

Mar 30, 2025 3:52 AM Read more >