Religion News

A fashion designer, Italian singer and Icelandic illustrator team up on Vatican exhibition

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican's Apostolic Library tapped Dior's creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri , Italian singer Jovanotti and Icelandic illustrator Kristjana S Williams for an exhibition exploring world tours of the late 19th Century.

Jan 31, 2025 12:15 PM Read more >

Middle East latest: Israeli hostages' families welcome news that 3 more men will be released

The Israeli organization representing families of hostages held in the Gaza Strip celebrated the news Friday that three high-profile male hostages would be released by Hamas the following day.

Jan 31, 2025 12:09 PM Read more >

Expected release of high-profile male hostages sparks excitement and anxiety in Israel

JERUSALEM (AP) — News that three high-profile hostages are expected to be released Saturday, including the father of the youngest captives held in Gaza , brought excitement and trepidation to Israel on Friday.

Jan 31, 2025 7:38 AM Read more >

Expected release of high-profile male hostages sparks excitement and anxiety in Israel

JERUSALEM (AP) — News that three high-profile hostages are expected to be released Saturday, including the father of the youngest captives held in Gaza , brought excitement and trepidation to Israel on Friday.

Jan 31, 2025 6:54 AM Read more >

A New Zealand mountain is granted personhood, recognizing it as sacred for Māori

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A mountain in New Zealand considered an ancestor by Indigenous people was recognized as a legal person on Thursday after a new law granted it all the rights and responsibilities of a human being.

Jan 31, 2025 4:46 AM Read more >

Tens of thousands of Muslims attend annual Biswa Ijtema event in Bangladesh

TONGI, Bangladesh (AP) — Tens of thousands of people gathered on a riverbank near Bangladesh’s capital on Friday to listen to sermons by Islamic scholars at the Biswa Ijtema, or global congregation of Muslim devotees.

Jan 31, 2025 4:41 AM Read more >

Tens of thousands of Muslims attend annual Biswa Ijtema event in Bangladesh

TONGI, Bangladesh (AP) — Tens of thousands of people gathered on a riverbank near Bangladesh’s capital on Friday to listen to sermons by Islamic scholars at the Biswa Ijtema, or global congregation of Muslim devotees.

Jan 31, 2025 3:29 AM Read more >

After the initial ecstasy of freedom, released hostages face a long road to recovery

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — When Ilana Gritzewsky returned to Israel after being held captive in Gaza for 55 days in November 2023, she had so much adrenaline coursing through her body she couldn’t sleep for two days.

Jan 31, 2025 12:41 AM Read more >

Sacred strokes of color on foreheads are a major display of Hinduism at India’s Maha Kumbh festival

PRAYAGRAJ, India (AP) — The pilgrims come and go as strangers. They march like a sea of people, walking toward the spot where they take holy baths, drawn by the hope that the bathing would bring them salvation.

Jan 31, 2025 12:26 AM Read more >

After the initial ecstasy of freedom, released Israeli hostages face a long road to recovery

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — When Ilana Gritzewsky returned to Israel after being held captive in Gaza for 55 days in November 2023, she had so much adrenaline coursing through her body she couldn’t sleep for two days.

Jan 30, 2025 10:14 PM Read more >