US cartoonist distances herself from Prophet cartoon row

WASHINGTON - Seattle-based cartoonist Molly Norris has distanced herself from the raging row over “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day!”, saying: “I never created a facebook page for EDMD. A stranger to me did so.”

Cuban Roman Catholic cardinal calls for freedom for political prisoners

Cuban cardinal wants political prisoners freed

Raul Castro sits down with Cuban Roman Catholic cardinal in rare meeting

Cuban president meets with church leader

HAVANA — President Raul Castro has held a rare sit-down with Cuba’s Roman Catholic cardinal and another top cleric, discussing many issues including a recent crackdown against dissidents that ended only after the mediation of the church.

Clarification: Church Abuse-Arizona story

Clarification: Church Abuse-Arizona story

In a story April 2, The Associated Press reported that a Catholic Church tribunal examined allegations that the Rev. Michael Teta, an Arizona priest, abused boys in a confessional.

Israeli archaeologists say pagan altar found at disputed building site shows graves not Jewish

Pagan altar unearthed at building site in Israel

UAE’s first woman ambassador to Vatican

VATICAN CITY - A mother of six who has been appointed as the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) first ambassador to the Vatican Thursday presented her credentials to Pope Benedict XVI.

Pakistan blocks YouTube over Prophet cartoon row

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has blocked the video-sharing website YouTube because of its “growing sacrilegious contents”, officials said Thursday.

‘Kamat using government machinery to promote superstitions’

PANAJI - Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat’s much publicised visit to see a ‘miraculously’ discovered antique Ganesh idol has invited the ire of a leading anti-superstition group in the state.

Pakistan blocks access to YouTube in growing Internet crackdown over ’sacrilegious’ content

Pakistan blocks YouTube over unIslamic content

Muslims shouldn’t feel hurt by burqa ban: Sarkozy

LONDON - Muslims should not feel “hurt or stigmatised” by the planned ban on burqas, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said as the French cabinet approved a draft law to bar the full-face veil from public areas.