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Putin attends Christmas Eve service with veterans of Ukraine war

Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated Christmas Eve at an Orthodox service in the Moscow region on Tuesday evening. He was joined by veterans of Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and their families.

Africanews

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Ethiopia's Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas Eve in Addis Ababa

Thousands of Orthodox Christians in white traditional attire celebrated Christmas Eve with a Mass, prayers and hymns during a candlelight ceremony in Ethiopia’s capital.

Africanews

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Epiphany: tradition, religious festivals and secular rites

On January 6, the visit of the Magi to Jesus is celebrated by millions around the world. It's a story that's been handed down through generations but actually barely mentioned in a Gospel. However, it's a deep-rooted secular tradition in...

Euronews

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Egypt declares paid public holiday for Christmas on January 7

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly issues an official decree declaring Wednesday, January 7, 2026, a paid public holiday in observance of Christmas.

Africanews

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Final pilgrims cross Holy Door as Vatican claims Jubilee success

Pope Leo XIV closed the final "Holy Door" in St Peter's Basilica in Rome on January 6, the day of Epiphany, signalling the end of the 2025 Jubilee year that drew millions of pilgrims to the city. This jubilee was also unique: the last ti...

France 24

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Pope Leo XIV closes the Holy Door at St Peter's to end Jubilee year

Pope Leo XIV closed the 2025 Holy Year by denouncing consumerism and anti-foreigner sentiment, after 33 million Catholic pilgrims visited Rome. He urged Christians to welcome strangers and pursue peace.

Euronews

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Pope voices concern over U.S. raid in Venezuela, calls for peace

Pope Leo has expressed deep concern over the recent U.S. raid in Venezuela, urging that the well-being of the Venezuelan people must take precedence over all other considerations.

Africanews

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Cuban Santería priests warn of conflicts and violence in 2026

Santería followers gathered in Havana on Friday to discover the Letter of the Year, the predictions of the priests for the New Year.

Africanews

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Major fire breaks out in historic church in Amsterdam

In Amsterdam, during New Years celebrations a large fire broke out in a historic church. Much like the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, the Dutch church had a wooden structure, making fighting the fire that much more difficult.

France 24

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Pope Leo asks Rome to be welcoming to foreigners as year ends

The Vatican this week released statistics showing 3.2 million people had participated in Vatican liturgies, audiences, Angelus prayers and Jubilee audiences this year. Pope Leo XIV asked that Rome be welcoming to foreigners as 2025 draws...

Euronews

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Syria's leaders take controversial steps to win Alawite loyalty

Syria’s rulers are trying to mend hostilities after a bloody insurrection and reprisals between Assad loyalists and security forces in March with a scheme that offers financial support to members of the Alawite community.

Reuters

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Syrian Alawites protest after deadly mosque bombing

Members of Syria's Alawite minority protested in the thousands on December 28, days after an attack on an Alawite mosque killed eight people. Clashes between demonstrators and security forces broke out at some of the protests, with at le...

France 24

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Iranian women unveiled: A shift in hijab enforcement?

Across Tehran, women of all ages openly defy Iran's compulsory hijab rules. Many see this as a sign that the Islamic Republic was weakened by the 12-day war with Israel. In an exclusive interview from inside Iran, DW spoke with two young...

DW News

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Palestinians return to prayer in mosques damaged by Israeli bombs

Palestinians in Gaza have begun returning to Friday prayers in mosques damaged or destroyed by Israeli strikes.

Al Jazeera

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Gazans return to Friday prayers in damaged mosques

Palestinians in Gaza have begun returning to Friday prayers in mosques damaged or destroyed by Israeli strikes.

Al Jazeera

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Keeping Christmas faith all year

Pastor Jesse Bradley and Father Patrick Flanagan join to discuss how to keep the spiritual meaning of Christmas with us all year long.

Newsmax

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Curiosity appears to be driving Gen Z toward religion

A recent Angus Reid survey found Canadians between 18 and 24 were the most likely to be religiously committed, a trend that several faith leaders attribute to a curiosity about faith as well as a search for a sense of purpose.

CBC News

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U.S. strikes ISIS targets in Nigeria on Christmas Day

President Donald Trump said Thursday the U.S. launched strikes against Islamic State forces in Nigeria. The president said the goal was to stop the "targeting and viciously killing" primarily of innocent Christians.

CBS News

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Ukrainians mark fourth Christmas under fire

As the Kremlin presses on with attacks over Christmas, Zelenskyy hails "new ideas" after fresh US peace talks. Ukraine has shifted its main Christmas celebration to December 25, breaking with Russian traditions.

DW News

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Pope Leo calls for peace in countries torn by wars on Christmas Day

Pope Leo XIV during his first Christmas Day message on Thursday called for “peace and consolation” for victims of “injustice, political stability, religious persecution and terrorism”, citing Sudan, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso and Congo

Africanews

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Five killed in suspected suicide bombing at mosque in Nigeria's Borno

At least 5 people were killed and 35 others injured when a suspected suicide bomber detonated an explosive inside a mosque in Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria's Borno state.

Africanews

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Syrians celebrate Christmas amid uncertainty after renewed fighting

Christians in Aleppo celebrate Christmas cautiously following a deadly church attack in Damascus and renewed fighting in the city.

Al Jazeera

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Christmas in Ukraine: 'Despite war, our children want to feel happy'

Ukraine’s Zelensky says he's hoping for an answer from Moscow on Wednesday to the draft peace plan hashed out between Washington and Kyiv. Meanwhile, the president's compatriots are preparing to celebrate yet another Christmas under Russ...

France 24

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Pope Leo reminds believers to help the poor in first Christmas mass

Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first Christmas Mass Wednesday evening where he described the celebration as a feast of "faith, charity and hope". He reminded the faithful that refusing to help the poor and vulnerable is comparable to reject...

France 24

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Christmas in Kenya: Families spend on average one month's salary

In Kenya, Christmas is primarily a religious celebration that brings families together. As summer approaches and temperatures rise, Santa Claus and Christmas trees are relatively rare. But that does not mean people don’t celebrate — the ...

France 24

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Father Gerald Murray on Finnerty

Father Gerald Murray on the war on Christmas as Germany adds barricades to Christmas markets after terrorist threat.

Newsmax

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Palestinian Christians celebrate Christmas amid Israeli occupation

Christmas celebrations but in the shadow of Israeli illegal settlements forcing Palestinian Christians off their land in occupied West Bank.

Al Jazeera

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Two men found guilty of UK plot to kill Jews as IS fears grow

Two men have been found guilty of plotting to kill hundreds in an Islamic State-inspired gun rampage against the Jewish community in England, a planned attack investigators say demonstrates the resurgent risk posed by the militant group.

Reuters

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Bethlehem prepares for Christmas after years of canceled celebrations

Christmas celebrations are back in Bethlehem after two years.

France 24

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A New Mexico monastery where the silence calls

The Monastery of Christ in the Desert, in Northern New Mexico, is home to 15 Benedictine monks, some livestock, and a guesthouse for people looking for a little quiet in this turbulent world.

CBS News