Churches, temples and monasteries regularly hit by airstrikes in Myanmar, activists say
A study issued Tuesday by researchers collecting evidence of war crimes in Myanmar supported reports that air strikes by the military government damaged churches in the Buddhist-dominated countryโs sole Christian-majority state.
Texasโ debate over school chaplains escalates school board culture wars
A new law lets schools use safety funds to pay for unlicensed chaplains working in mental health roles. Supporters say it helps address student mental health while critics blast it as a Christian nationalist attempt to convert children to a specific form of faith.
Robinson, Pepi, US flip WCup qualifier, beat Honduras 4-1
Antonee Robinson and Ricardo Pepi scored their first international goals after a halftime change in formation, Brenden Aaronson and Sebastian Lletget added late goals and the United States revived its World Cup qualifying campaign with a 4-1 win over Honduras.
Infant son of Browns WR Ryan Switzer back in hospital
FILE - In this Aug. 19, 2020, file photo, then Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ryan Switzer attends practice at NFL football training camp in Pittsburgh. Cleveland Browns wide receiver Switzer said his 9-month-old son is stable after undergoing surgery to stop bleeding. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)CLEVELAND โ Cleveland Browns wide receiver Ryan Switzer said his infant son has been hospitalized again and is undergoing a blood transfusion. Switzer wrote Saturday night that Christian had more โsignificant bleedingโ and was back in the hospital. AdโWeโre frustrated but more so just exhausted seeing our son suffer,โ Switzer wrote.
UK regulator: People should keep getting AstraZeneca shots
A woman at the Wheatfield surgery is given a 1st shot of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine by Dr Christian Owusu-Yianoma in Luton, England, Thursday, March 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)LONDON โ British regulators said Thursday that people should keep getting AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine following its review of data on patients who suffered from blood clots after getting the shot. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency said there's no evidence that the vaccine causes blood clots in veins. A further review of five reports in the U.K. of a rare type of clot in the brain is continuing, but the condition, which can occur naturally, has been reported in less than 1 in a million people vaccinated so far and no causal link has been established, the agency said. โThe MHRAโs advice remains that the benefits of the vaccines against COVID-19 continue to outweigh any risks and that the public should continue to get their vaccine when invited to do so,'' the agency said.
Reynolds, Odunze receive US call-ups but not Hoppe
(Laurence Griffiths/Pool via AP)CHICAGO โ Defender Bryan Reynolds received his first call-up to the U.S. national team after the 19-year-old made his debut for Roma last weekend. Chituru Odunze, an 18-year-old goalkeeper with Leicester, also could debut in exhibitions against Jamaica on March 25 at Wiener Neustadt, Austria, or three days later at Northern Ireland. Forward Matthew Hoppe, who has scored five goals for Schalke this season, was not called in for a possible debut. Germany), Luca de la Torre (Heracles, Netherlands), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Yunus Musah (Valencia, Spain), Owen Otasowie (Wolverhampton, England). Forwards: Daryl Dike (Barnsley, England), Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen, France), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea, England), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen, Germany), Tim Weah (Lille, France).
Tuchel says Pulisic 'in my plans' despite limited minutes
Chelsea's Christian Pulisic, right, is challenged by Everton's Allan during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Everton at the Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Monday, March 8, 2021. Yes, so this is my job, and his job is to be ready โ to be ready like everybody else. Pulisicโs lone Premier League goal this season came on Dec. 5 against Leeds in a 3-1 victory. Pulisic has missed one game to injury and another for family reasons under Tuchel and his only recent start came on Feb. 11 in an FA Cup match against Barnsley. โWhen you sign and play for Chelsea, it is part of the job description as a player to be impatient and patient at the same time,โ Tuchel said.
Pope Francis to visit Hungary in September, cardinal says
(AP Photo/Yara Nardi, pool)BUDAPEST โ Pope Francis will travel to Hungary's capital in September where he will participate in the closing Mass of a multiday, international Catholic gathering, according to the cardinal of Hungary's Roman Catholic Church. Francis will instead visit on the final day of the eight-day 52nd Congress in Budapest on Sept. 12, he said. AdโToday we can perhaps learn the most from Pope Francis, and not only about faith and humanity. Traveling back to the Vatican from a trip to Iraq on Monday, the pope told Italian media that following his visit to Budapest he may visit Bratislava, the capital of neighboring Slovakia. While that visit isn't confirmed, Slovakia's president, Zuzana Caputova, said she had invited the pontiff to visit during a meeting in the Vatican in December.
High court revives ex-student's suit against Georgia college
WASHINGTON โ The Supreme Court is reviving a lawsuit brought by a Georgia college student who sued school officials after being prevented from distributing Christian literature on campus. The high court sided 8-1 with the student, Chike Uzuegbunam, and against Georgia Gwinnett College. Lower courts said the case was moot, but the Supreme Court disagreed. At issue was whether Uzuegbunamโs case could continue because he was only seeking so-called nominal damages of $1. โWe are pleased that the Supreme Court weighed in on the side of justice for those victims,โ she said in a statement.
Pope weighed Iraq virus risk but believes God will protect
Francis said the idea of a trip โcooks over time in my conscience,โ and that the pandemic was the issue that weighed most heavily on him. Francis, the Vatican delegation and traveling media were vaccinated against COVID-19, while most Iraqis haven't been. Francis said he wasnโt sure if he would have to slow down his usual whirlwind pace on future trips. Otherwise, the only other trip Francis has promised to make is to Lebanon, though he offered no time frame. He said the country's patriarch had asked him to add a Beirut leg onto his Iraq trip but that he had declined, thinking it would be like tossing the country โcrumbs," given all Lebanonโs current problems.
Where IS ruled, pope calls on Christians to forgive, rebuild
Pope Francis celebrates mass at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Irbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Sunday, March 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)IRBIL โ Pope Francis urged Iraqโs Christians on Sunday to forgive the injustices against them by Muslim extremists and to rebuild as he visited the wrecked shells of churches and met ecstatic crowds in the communityโs historic heartland, which was nearly erased by the Islamic State groupโs horrific reign. Mosul, Iraqโs second largest city, was at the heart of the IS so-called โcaliphateโ and witnessed the worst of the groupโs rule inflicted on Muslims, Christians and others, including beheadings and mass killings. Mosul, Iraqโs second largest city, became ISโs bureaucratic and financial backbone. Things are difficult for those living here.โAt Qaraqosh, Francis urged its residents to continue to dream, and forgive.
Pope, top Iraq Shiite cleric deliver message of coexistence
Women wait outside the Chaldean Cathedral of Saint Joseph, in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, March 6, 2021, where Pope Francis, depicted on a giant poster at their back, is concelebrating a mass. AdTogether, the dayโs events gave symbolic and practical punch to the central message of Francisโ visit, calling for Iraq to embrace its diversity. Al-Sistani is one of the most senior clerics in Shiite Islam, deeply revered among Shiites in Iraq and worldwide. Later, Pope Francis evoked the common reverence for Abraham to speak against religious violence at the inter-faith gathering at the Plains of Ur, near the southern city of Nasiriyah. Associated Press journalists Anmar Khalil in Najaf, Iraq, and Samya Kullab in Baghdad contributed.
Tuchel urges Pulisic to 'stay positive' amid limited minutes
(Tim Keeton/Pool via AP)LONDON โ Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has urged winger Christian Pulisic to โstay positiveโ amid limited playing time and now a tight calf that leaves the oft-injured American questionable for Saturdayโs visit to Southampton. Tuchel on Friday sought to quell speculation about Pulisic's long-term future at Stamford Bridge. Pulisic's only start since Tuchel took over late last month was in an FA Cup match last week. The German manager said it's a "clear yesโ when asked if he wants the 22-year-old Pulisic to stay at Chelsea. He was withdrawn from training Thursday with calf tightness and is โa big question markโ for the Southampton match, Tuchel said.
Inauguration week prayer event aims to show Christian unity
Michael Curry, left, the presiding bishop of the U.S. Episcopal Church and others take part in a candlelight vigil outside the White House in Washington. The name of the gathering โ held virtually due to the pandemic โ is in part a nod to the Rev. โPrayer is action, in my view,โ Wallis said. After Monday's federal holiday, the event continues Tuesday with a multidenominational Zoom prayer service. Williams-Skinner said she hopes it will become a model for further collaboration by people of faith across denominational boundaries.
VIRUS TODAY: Global death toll for COVID-19 surpasses 2M
(AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)Hereโs whatโs happening Friday with the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S.:THREE THINGS TO KNOW TODAYโ The global death toll from COVID-19 has topped 2 million. In wealthy countries including the United States, Britain, Israel, Canada and Germany, tens of millions of citizens have already received shots. โ As states across the U.S. roll out the COVID-19 vaccine to people 65 and older, senior citizens are scrambling to figure out how to sign up to get their shots. The nationโs death toll since the start of the pandemic now stands at more than 388,000. ___Find APโs full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
A pandemic Christmas: Services move online, people stay home
โIt doesnโt feel like Christmas anyway, thereโs no carols being played on the streets,โ she said. "Itโs Christmask,โ the Daily Nation newspaper declared in Kenya, where a surge in cases led to doctors ending a brief strike Christmas Eve. Sypniewski, 58, bought her daughter pajamas, compared to a diamond bracelet last Christmas. Meanwhile, church services shifted online. A Christmas Eve pageant that is normally performed in person was recorded and shown online.
Rights groups condemn Hungarian ban on same-sex adoptions
Human rights and LGBT groups have condemned an amendment to Hungarys constitution approved on Tuesday that effectively bans adoption for same-sex couples and enshrines a strict Christian conservative ideology into the legal conception of the family. (AP Photo/MTI, Imre Foldi, file)BUDAPEST โ Human rights groups on Wednesday condemned a new Hungarian law that effectively bans adoption for same-sex couples and applies a strict Christian conservative viewpoint to the legal definition of a family. Same-sex marriage was constitutionally banned in Hungary in 2012, but civil partnerships are recognized. However, the new amendment declares that only married couples may adopt children, effectively barring same-sex couples or single individuals from doing so. Luca Dudits, a spokesperson for LGBT rights group Hatter Society, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the new amendment violates international human rights norms.
The Latest: Hong Kong re-imposes restaurant dining bans
Hong Kong on Wednesday reported an additional 100 cases, bringing its two-week total to 1,274. Hong Kong has reported a total of 7,075 confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic, with 112 deaths. The Texas Department of State Health Services also said 9,028 people were hospitalized across the state. Since late November, the new daily cases have soared past 10,000 on several days, with 15,103 new cases reported Tuesday, according to state health officials. ___BOISE, Idaho โ Idaho public health officials abruptly ended a meeting Tuesday evening after the Boise mayor and chief of police said intense anti-mask protests outside the health department building โ as well as outside some health officialsโ homes โ were threatening public safety.
Rhule: McCaffrey's injury not expected to be season ending
Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (22) runs against Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Bashaud Breeland (21) during the second half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020. Rhule said McCaffrey has a separation of the AC joint, which is located at the tip of the shoulder where the shoulder blade and collarbone meet. โI'm anticipating from I know being much more day to day and week to week than that. McCaffrey injured the shoulder in the fourth quarter of Carolina's 33-31 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. McCaffrey has six touchdowns in the three games he's played this season, including two in a 31-17 loss to Tampa Bay in Week 2.
Kansas City man sentenced in death of missionary from China
KANSAS CITY, Mo. โ A Kansas City man has been sentenced to 26 years in prison for killing a Christian missionary from China and wounding two others while high on PCP. Curtrail Hudson, 20, was sentenced Thursday in Jackson County Circuit Court, the Kansas City Star reported. A jury found Hudson guilty in February of second-degree murder and five other charges in the April 2018 shooting that killed 38-year-old Xindong Hao. Hudson told police he believed Hao was an accomplice of another man heโd been arguing with moments before.
Hunger organization pushes out Yoho after Capitol incident
FILE - In this March 28, 2017, file photo, Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., leaves a closed-door strategy session at the Capitol in Washington. A nonpartisan Christian organization that seeks to end hunger said Saturday, July 25, 2020, it asked for and received the resignation of Yoho from its board of directors following what it called his verbal attack on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Pistons blow out Spurs, 132-98
DETROIT (AP) โ Pistons coach Dwane Casey has believed since training camp that he was the right person to unlock Christian Woodโs potential. Wood came off the bench to score a career-high 28 points in 22 minutes as Detroit routed the San Antonio Spurs 132-98. Drummond played 26 minutes and Blake Griffin played just 22 as the Pistons got 75 bench points on 67% shooting. โBut I think they did everything better than we did tonight.โThe Pistons led 59-51 at the half, outshooting the Spurs 51% to 41%. Wood quickly added another nine points and two rebounds, helping the Pistons expand the margin to 96-71 at quarterโs end.
Man who left San Antonio State Hospital found
SAN ANTONIO โ Updated at 3:24 p.m.:Christian Olivo-Faberlle was located Monday around 2 p.m. in the 2900 block of Roosevelt Avenue, San Antonio police said. Previously:San Antonio police are asking for the publicโs help in locating a 29-year-old missing man. Christian Olivo-Faberlle was last seen Wednesday, when he left the San Antonio State Hospital without authorization. Man arrested on suspicion of DWI after crashing car in Taco Cabana parking lot, police sayPolice said Faberlle has a diagnosed medical condition that requires a doctors care. If you have seen or may know the whereabouts of Faberlle, please call the San Antonio Police Department Missing Persons Unit at 210-207-7660.