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Religion

Religion
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Religion. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Pope Leo waves to faithful from the popemobile after a welcoming event at the Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday. Photo: EPA
European Union

Pope Leo urges end to ‘polarising narratives’ on Spain visit

The pope says he hopes the week-long tour of Spain will set an example to the world about respecting ‘every human being’.

Britain

UK Sikhs defend right to carry sacred dagger after student murder backlash

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Japan

‘Harassment exploded out of nowhere’: Muslims face rising prejudice in Japan

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Crime

Life sentence for UK Sikh man who falsely claimed his dying victim racially abused him

Court sentences Vickrum Digwa to 21-year minimum for the murder of Henry Nowak, whose handcuffing by police sparked a fierce backlash.

Vickrum Digwa, 23, has been jailed for the killing of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak. Photo: Hampshire and Isle of Wight constabulary
Malaysia

Shotgun sacrifice: anger as Malaysian state leader shoots Eid cow

A viral 38-second clip of Perlis chief minister Abu Bakar Hamzah shooting a cow with a shotgun has sparked a police investigation.

Viral stories

Japan Buddhist monk bar has ‘heaven and hell’ drinks, offers beating service

Offbeat drinking venue provides everything from calligraphy to a ‘coffin’ experience in bid to popularise Buddhist culture.

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Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s top monk suspended over alleged child sex abuse

Police arrested the 71-year-old on May 9 over allegations that he had sexually abused an 11-year-old girl in 2022.

Sri Lankans protest outside the Attorney General’s Department in Colombo earlier this month, calling for the acceleration of the investigation into a recent child abuse case in which a Buddhist monk is suspected to be involved. Photo: EPA
Malaysia

Asian Angle | Malaysia’s 3R catch-all risks turning every grievance into a threat

Conflating local governance concerns with racial and religious slights threatens pluralism and stifles legitimate public policy debate.

Malaysia

Beyond bans: why fringe Islamic movements still find followers in Malaysia

Observers say the appeal of alternative religious communities cannot be addressed by bans and rehabilitation classes alone.

India

India orders new deportation centres days after BJP election victory

The Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party has ordered detention centres for undocumented migrants in West Bengal state, sparking fear of arbitrary expulsions.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) congratulates newly elected Chief Minister of Assam state Himanta Biswa Sarma (centre), and elected minister Atul Bora after the oath taking ceremony in Guwahati, India, on May 12. Photo: AP
European Union

Pope calls for ‘disarming’ of AI, technology should be ‘human friendly’

Pope Leo called for the ‘disarming’ of artificial intelligence, and warned of ‘new forms of slavery’ behind its rise.

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Pope Leo XIV attends the presentation of his first Encyclical Letter ‘Magnifica Humanitas’, focused on the rise of artificial intelligence, in The Vatican on Monday. Photo: AFP
Pakistan

UAE deports Pakistani Shiites: jobs lost and savings frozen amid Iran war

Over one hundred deported Pakistanis said they were unable to retrieve their luggage or savings before being placed ‌on deportation flights.

Malaysia

Malaysia’s ruling coalition faces test over Selangor non-Muslim worship rules

The dispute began after an MP flagged state planning guidelines stating that non-Islamic places of worship cannot be in commercial zones.

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Middle East

Muslims begin haj in sweltering heat and shadow of Middle East tensions

Over 1.5 million faithful gather as annual sacred rites in Mecca officially get under way.

Pilgrims pray around the cube-shaped Kaaba in the Grand Mosque. Photo: AP
India

Young Indians protest through parody ‘cockroach’ party

The Cockroach Janta Party echoes a broader trend across South Asia, where youths have played a central role in anti-government movements.

A man visits the web page of the newly formed Cockroach Janta Party in India. Photo: AP
United States

Trump-backed mass prayer rally draws thousands to Washington

Worshippers flock to the National Mall for an America-themed jubilee featuring Trump reading from the Bible in a video.

India

Canada’s spy report hints at India reset despite meddling claims

A Canadian spy report validates New Delhi’s concerns about Sikh extremism, even as it accuses India of foreign interference and espionage.

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Italy

Rubio meets Pope Leo at Vatican to defuse tensions with Trump

The meeting comes amid the US president’s repeated attacks on the pontiff over the Iran war and nuclear weapons.

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Pope Leo (centre) meets US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican on Thursday. Photo: EPA/Vatican Media
Spain

Pope to inaugurate Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia in June trip to Spain

He will also visit a migrant reception centre in the Canary Islands.

Donald Trump

‘He’s endangering a lot of Catholics’: Trump takes another shot at pope

US president’s latest criticism threatens to derail Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s high-stakes mission to Rome.

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My Life

Meet the Reverend Will Newman, chaplain of Hong Kong’s St John’s Cathedral and Stanley Prison

From India to Hong Kong, Reverend Will Newman’s journey from missionary child to prison chaplain is a fascinating tale of faith, family and service.

The Reverend Will Newman, chaplain of Hong Kong’s St John’s Cathedral and priest-in-charge of St Stephen’s Chapel, in Hong Kong's Stanley district. Photo: Alexander Mak
India

India PM Modi’s party takes control of West Bengal in key state election

Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party has never governed the state of West Bengal, an opposition stronghold.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (waving) arrive at the party headquarters to deliver a victory speech, in New Delhi on Monday. Photo: EPA
Italy

Rubio to visit Rome, meet Pope Leo who has clashed with Trump

US secretary of state also seeks a meeting with Italy’s Meloni, whom Trump has also turned against.

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Africa

Vigilantes in Nigeria kill herders amid jihadist tensions, kidnapping gangs

Central and northwestern Nigeria have for years been terrorised by cattle rustling and kidnapping-for-ransom gangs working with local jihadists.

Britain

UK raises terror threat level to ‘severe’ after Jewish-targeted stabbings

UK declares an ‘antisemitism emergency’ and police probe potential Iranian proxy links to Golders Green attack.

CCTV captures the moment a Jewish man is stabbed in Golders Green, London. Photo: Reuters
Trending in China

Video game-loving China monk says hobby and religion have similar life purposes

Buddhist brother says engaging with others in ‘violent’ and ‘bloody’ online game is like playing chess; only worries he may become addicted.

A senior monk in China has attracted attention because of his passion for playing video games. He defends this hobby, claiming it allows him to connect with others. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin
Britain

London stabbing of 2 Jewish men is terrorist incident: police

The victims, aged 34 and 76, were hospitalised with knife wounds. A 45-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

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Japan

Mosque disputes expose tensions over Japan’s growing Muslim communities

Muslim leaders say local opposition has been fuelled by negative overseas coverage of Islam and claims circulating online.

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