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Pope Francis ambushed over whether Israel should be recognised as Jewish state
Pope Francis ambushed over whether Israel should be recognised as Jewish state

The head of the delegation of Israeli rabbis present at Pope Francis' visit to Rome's Great Synagogue has revealed he put him on the spot over the Vatican's relationship to Israel.

Jerusalem: 16-year-old held over \'Death to Christians\' graffiti at Benedictine abbey
Jerusalem: 16-year-old held over 'Death to Christians' graffiti at Benedictine abbey

The arrest was made yesterday after a joint operation by Israeli police and the army.

Five planets line up in pre-dawn sky: How to spot spectacular celestial display
Five planets line up in pre-dawn sky: How to spot spectacular celestial display

For people living in the southern hemisphere, all they will need are their naked eyes in the next weeks to view not one, but five planets lined up in the pre-dawn sky.

'When a knight won his spurs': the lost genius of the 1980s school hymn
'When a knight won his spurs': the lost genius of the 1980s school hymn

January blues beginning to get you down? Martin Saunders treats us to a trip down memory lane...

MPs outraged despite assurances that Sunday schools will not face Ofsted inspections
MPs outraged despite assurances that Sunday schools will not face Ofsted inspections

Assurances that Ofsted inspectors would not inspect Sunday schools have failed to satisfy Christian MPs who expressed outrage at the "astonishing" and "worrying" proposals.

\'Apocalyptic Islam\' wants to annihilate Christians, bring about end of the world, best-selling author warns
'Apocalyptic Islam' wants to annihilate Christians, bring about end of the world, best-selling author warns

For best-selling Evangelical Christian author Joel Rosenberg, the Apocalypse will be caused by a particular group of people: the so-called apocalyptic Muslims.

NASA grows zinnia flower in space, plans to propagate more plants for astronauts\' food on long journeys
NASA grows zinnia flower in space, plans to propagate more plants for astronauts' food on long journeys

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) recently successfully grew a zinnia flower in the International Space Station, fuelling hopes that mankind will soon be able to grow more plants in outer space for sustenance.

Stephen Hawking warns: End of the world nearly certain because of man\'s continuing misuse of science and technology
Stephen Hawking warns: End of the world nearly certain because of man's continuing misuse of science and technology

The end of the world is gradually becoming almost sure to happen, according to famous theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, and human beings have no one else to blame for the higher chances of mankind being wiped out primarily due to the way we use science and technology nowadays.

British SAS troops wearing burkas sneak into ISIS heartland, call in U.S. airstrike, killing top jihadist commander
British SAS troops wearing burkas sneak into ISIS heartland, call in U.S. airstrike, killing top jihadist commander

An ISIS commander was taken down by female members of the Special Air Service (SAS) after they posed as wives of Islamic militant leaders and dressed up in burkas--the traditional attire of Muslim women--to carry out a daring attack in Raqqa, the jihadist organisation's de facto capital in Syria.

Marco Rubio defends the right to have, and not to have, a faith
Marco Rubio defends the right to have, and not to have, a faith

Marco Rubio has said that he will fight for an America where no one has to violate their conscience and everyone has a right to believe what they want.

ISIS confirms death of British terrorist \'Jihadi John\'
ISIS confirms death of British terrorist 'Jihadi John'

The death of so-called "Jihadi John" in a drone strike last November has been confirmed by a media outlet associated with Islamic State.

Anti-gay discrimination persists in Vietnam despite lifting of same-sex marriage ban
Anti-gay discrimination persists in Vietnam despite lifting of same-sex marriage ban

Gay people in Vietnam, particularly the youth continue to suffer discrimination and stigma, a year after the lifting of the ban on same-sex marriage, according to reports.

Heroic Muslim teacher who saved Christians in al-Shabaab attack dies of injuries
Heroic Muslim teacher who saved Christians in al-Shabaab attack dies of injuries

A Kenyan teacher who protected Christians from death at the hands of al-Shabaab terrorists in an attack before Christmas has died while undergoing surgery for his injuries.

Islamic State bulldozes oldest monastery in Iraq
Islamic State bulldozes oldest monastery in Iraq

Islamic State has destroyed a monastery in Iraq that was the oldest in the country and one of the oldest in the world.

Eritrea: Calls for Orthodox Patriarch\'s release 10 years after government deposed him
Eritrea: Calls for Orthodox Patriarch's release 10 years after government deposed him

Eritrea is regarded as one of the world's most repressive countries and religion is strictly controlled.

Pope Francis set to become first pontiff to visit the Great Mosque of Rome
Pope Francis set to become first pontiff to visit the Great Mosque of Rome

Pope Francis is set to be the first Pope to enter the Great Mosque of Rome, according to the president of the Union of Italy's Islamic Communities.