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  • In Russia, Ukrainian move to ban Moscow-linked church stirs anger

    MOSCOW (Reuters) -Speaking behind the thick white walls of Moscow's ancient Danilov Monastery, Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk is adamant: people must not be forbidden to pray in their chosen branch of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. He speaks calmly but Yakimchuk is one of many Orthodox Christians in Russia who are angry about a law passed by Kyiv in August that targets a Russia-linked Orthodox church that long dominated religious life in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's administration accuses the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) of spreading pro-Russian propaganda in time of war and of housing spies, charges it denies.

  • Pope Francis welcomes Ukraine President Zelenskyy for Vatican audience

    Pope Francis welcomes Ukraine President Zelenskyy for Vatican audience

  • Ukrainian move to ban Moscow-linked church stirs anger

    STORY: At the ancient Danilov Monastery in Moscow, archpriest Igor Yakimchuk is adamant: you can't forbid people from praying in their chosen branch of Eastern Orthodox Christianity.He's angry at a new law passed by Kyiv that targets the Russia-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church , or UOC, which has long dominated religious life in Ukraine."What does it mean to ban a church, which is the largest religious denomination in Ukraine, no matter how much the current Ukrainian authorities would like to downplay its scale? Everyone understands perfectly well that it is impossible to forbid people to pray."Under the law, the Russian Orthodox Church was banned from Ukrainian territory.A government commission was also tasked with compiling a list of "affiliated" organizations.And that is expected to include the UOC.President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's administration accuses the UOC of spreading pro-Russian propaganda.It also claims it is housing spies, charges that the UOC denies.Ukrainian authorities have launched dozens of criminal proceedings, including treason charges, against dozens of its clergy. Whether the UOC retains the following it once did is disputed.A rival branch, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine or OCU, was set up to be fully independent of Moscow after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.Its popularity has grown rapidly since President Vladimir Putin sent his forces into Ukraine in 2022.Meanwhile, opinion polls suggest more than 80% of Ukrainians do not trust the UOC.The Kremlin, however, described Ukraine's new law as 'an open attack on freedom of religion.'In St Petersburg, ordinary Russian churchgoers expressed concern.Leonid Trofimuk, a Russian Orthodox priest branded Ukraine's action as 'Satanism'.He compared it to Soviet-era state repression of religion."The 20th century is behind us, and we saw the persecution of the church at that time, but we didn't think that there would be this kind of persecution that is going on now in Ukraine."The situation is a reflection of how the war in Ukraine had divided hierarchies in the two countries.And that's even though they all adhere to Eastern Orthodox Christianity.The process of shutting down UOC operations in Ukraine - something one Ukrainian lawmaker called "cleansing" - is likely to be lengthy and involve court battles.But the church's days seem numbered.

  • Queen Mary's truly sentimental tribute to son Crown Prince Christian during state visit

    Queen Mary wore a very sentimental necklace as she and King Frederik hosted Iceland's President for a state visit

  • Hindus in Bangladesh celebrate their largest festival under tight security following attacks

    DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Schoolteacher Supriya Sarker is glad to celebrate Bangladesh's largest Hindu festival of Durga Puja but feels the festivities would be more jubilant without the fear and violence that overshadow this year's event.

  • Ukraine's Zelenskyy meets Pope Francis as he continues European tour to push 'victory plan'

    After their private meeting, Francis gave Zelenskyy a bronze plaque with an inscription reading, "Peace is a fragile flower".View on euronews

  • Hurricane Milton disrupts Yom Kippur plans for Jews in Florida

    WINTER PARK, Florida (AP) — Many Jews worldwide will mark Yom Kippur in fasting and prayer at their synagogues this weekend.

  • Wife Whose Husband Drugged Her So Dozens of Men Could Rape Her Storms Out of Courtroom

    Gisèle Pelicot briefly exited the courtroom as one of her alleged abusers testified

  • Prince George Was Born to Be King, but Apparently Has His Heart Set on Another Surprising Career Before That Happens

    “That’s what I want to do when I grow up!” the 11-year-old reportedly said while in Norfolk with mom Kate Middleton

  • 'I Shouldn't Say It': Obama Brings Down The House With 1 Loaded Question About Trump

    The former president joked about his successor as he spoke about the cost of child care.

  • Millions Watch Wealthy Mom Melt Down Riding Out Hurricane

    Millions of people have been watching a mom who defied evacuation orders to show off a “Milton-proof” concrete mansion her husband built to withstand the hurricane.Posting under the name Kricketfelt on TikTok, the Florida mom kept followers updated through the night until her power was knocked out.The mother-of-three hunkered down in Tampa with her husband and their Rottweiler named Zeus and filmed as the hurricane hit.Read more at The Daily Beast.Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandal

  • Donald Trump Makes The Pettiest Jealous Gripe About Barack Obama

    "There's a lot of unfairness in this world," the Republican nominee said of a matter regarding Obama.

  • Man Allegedly Held Wife, 7 Children and Mother-in-Law Captive for 20 Years, Sexually Abusing Several of Them

    One of the suspect's daughters escaped their home and reported him to police, per local authorities

  • Donald Trump Goes to Detroit and Insults the Entire City

    Donald Trump on Thursday addressed business leaders in Detroit, where he insulted their city and big companies.“You want to know the truth?” Trump told members of the Detroit Economic Club as he painted a picture of what his opponent would do to America. “It’ll be like Detroit. Our whole country will end up being like Detroit if she’s your president. You’re going to have a mess on your hands.”Audience members clapped when Trump said he wouldn’t allow Kamala Harris to make the rest of the country

  • You really think Donald Trump was a good president? Look at his record | Opinion

    Many people say that Trump is a horrible person and a serial liar, but that he was a good president. Here are the facts. | Opinion

  • “American Pickers” Star Frank Fritz's Cause of Death Revealed

    The reality star died on Sept. 30 at age 60

  • Chris Christie Unnerved by Donald Trump’s ‘Significant’ Mental Decline

    Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie took shots at fellow Republican Donald Trump for his mental decline, his childlike behavior amid Hurricane Helene and his chances of winning the presidency in November during an interview with New York Times opinion journalist Frank Bruni.Christie—who supported Trump’s last two campaigns before speaking out against him more recently—told Bruni that he has seen declines in the GOP nominee’s mental acuity and speaking ability.“He wasn’t as good in 2020 as

  • 'It Is Bull': Fox News Anchor Calls Out Trump On Live TV Over Hurricane 'Misinformation'

    Neil Cavuto declared that the false FEMA claims pushed by the GOP nominee "cannot be tolerated."

  • Obama sends stark warning message to Democrats

    Former President Obama on Thursday night did what many Democrats had been craving. He said the quiet part out loud. For days, Democrats have been worried about a lack of enthusiasm among segments of their base. So when Obama made an unannounced campaign stop at a field office in Pittsburgh, he used the opportunity — with television…

  • Rita Ora goes braless in a Western-inspired crop top with a twist

    The British singer shared a mirror selfie on Instagram championing two major 2024 trends - see photos