World
Blame game: Democrats, Trump in shutdown standoff
Passage of the bill by the new Democratic majority was expected to occur shortly after Nancy Pelosi is elected speaker of the House.
Israeli police remove settlers from illegal West Bank outpost
Settlers had set up two caravans at the Amona outpost last month, in what they described as a protest against a recent surge in Palestinian attacks in the West Bank.
New York's third gender birth certificates come into effect
New York City residents who do not identify as male or female can now opt for a third gender on their birth certificates.
Catholic Church in NSW loses 'Ellis defence' against child abuse claims
Victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by Catholic clergy in New South Wales are now able to sue the Church after the abolition of the state's notorious 'Ellis defence'.
Persecution of Christians is 'set to rise' in 2019
Release said its partners support the view that persecution is rising and have warned the trend will continue into 2019.
Romney blasts Trump in stinging editorial: President has 'not risen to the mantle of his office'
Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential candidate, has launched an excoriating attack on President Donald Trump in an opinion piece for the Washington Post.
Evangelical-backed Brazilian president takes aim at political correctness, gun control, environment
'This is the beginning of Brazil's liberation from socialism, political correctness and a bloated state.'
Two women defy centuries-old ban by entering Indian temple
The women, reported by Reuters partner ANI to be in their 40s, entered the premises of the Sabarimala hill temple.
Why Ebola is proving hard to beat in the DRC
The answer lies partly with the inherently deadly properties of the Ebola virus; the DRC's instability is another element of the problem.
Making New Year's resolutions personal could actually make them stick
Inertia is a form of resistance where we can't motivate ourselves to perform a behaviour. We know what we need to do, the intention is there, we just don't do it.
Egypt's new agency to fight sectarian violence welcomed by Church leader
The agency was formed by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi following repeated attacks by Islamist extremists on the country's churches and minority Christian community.
Francis Chan shares his tip for a better prayer life
The popular preacher was asked: 'What's one practical thing I could do to improve my prayer life?'
Facebook apologises to Franklin Graham after banning him for 24 hours over transgender bathroom post
Franklin Graham has accused Facebook of 'censoring free speech' after he was banned over a 2016 post criticising transgender access to the bathrooms of their choice
Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte fires more shots at Catholic Church
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte continued his feud with the Catholic Church with fresh insults just days after wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.
Syria's Christians are begging Trump not to withdraw US troops
Trump has been told his withdrawal of troops from Syria will put Christians at risk of an ISIS resurgence
Oscar Pistorius running Bible study group in prison, says father
Oscar Pistorius is holding weekly Bible studies with 'hardcore' inmates in prison, his father has said.