Religion News

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 >

Middle East latest: Families welcome news of 3 more male hostages to be released

The organization representing families of hostages held in the Gaza strip was celebrating the news that three male hostages would be released Saturday as part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Jan 31, 2025 4:42 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 >

Karla Sofía Gascón apologizes for old tweets, says she is 'deeply sorry to those I have caused pain'

NEW YORK (AP) — Karla Sofía Gascón , the Oscar-nominated trans actor and star of the movie “Emilia Pérez,” is apologizing for her old posts on social media that denigrated Islam and that called George Floyd “a drug addict and a hustler.

Jan 31, 2025 4:23 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 >

Middle East latest: Eight hostages are released from Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners

Hamas released eight hostages on Thursday — five Thai farm workers and three dual German-Israeli nationals — in exchange for 110 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Jan 30, 2025 9:34 PM Read more >

Who are the Palestinian prisoners released in exchange for Israeli hostages?

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Israel released 110 Palestinian prisoners on Thursday in exchange for three Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Five Thai workers held captive in the enclave were also freed in a separate deal with Thailand.

Jan 30, 2025 8:37 PM Read more >