RELIGION

The 2013 Carnival of Venice hosts the Beautiful Mask competition on Saturday, as well as the Festa delle Marie

Elderly minister attacked by another care home resident over Perth parking space finds part of his ear on ground after scuffle.

India's Maha Kumbh Mela is the world's biggest religious festival - this year 100 million Hindus are expected to gather by the Ganges, where they will find Harvard academics waiting.

Hindu holy celebration in Allahabad for 2013 is world’s largest religious gathering.

Maha Kumbh Mela is one of the Hindu faith's largest and most deeply spiritual events

Orthodox Jewish communities reeling from sex scandals exposing close-knit world that tries to silence victims.

Populations exploding, health, corruption, religion and war are all in The State of the World Atlas by Dan Smith, which throws up some surprising and often worrying statistics.

Repeal of ban announced in Church Times - but many Anglican hard-liners say they plan to appeal.

Satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo to issue Mohammed comic book.

Pope Benedict XVI calls for ending bloodshed in Syria.

Top Roman Catholic cleric in Palestine, Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal, says occasion marks both birth of Jesus and Palestinian State.

If deported to home country Pakistan, Firasat could face death penalty.

Members of cult Christian group Almighty God among those arrested for fear-mongering over 21 December.

Unmarried girl gets a £114 fine while married women attracts a £23 fine if found using mobile phone outside their houses.

Fewer Britons people believe in God than they do in life after death, with three quarters saying they never or rarely attend religious services.

Shi'a Muslims gather at the Imam Abbas shrine in Karbala, Iraq, to mark Ashura.

Tourists around the world came to witness the annual camel and livestock fair held in the town of Pushkar in the state of Rajasthan, which is one of the world's largest camel fairs.

Gay founder Mohammed Ludovic Lütfi Zahed hopes to perform same-sex marriages at venue.

Hundreds of thousands of devotees thronged to rivers and sea in India to celebrate the Chhat Puja festival

Unnamed 50-year old marries student, teacher, supervisor and principal.

The decision not to allow women to be ordained as bishops has rocked the Church of England. Its leaders have reconvened at the General Synod for talks this morning after last night's damning vote where the two-thirds majority needed to make it happen

Headless mummified body eventually found in dustbin.

The Church of England governing body The Synod is debating ahead of a vote today on whether to allow the ordination of women bishops, the culmination of more than 10 years of debate on one of the most divisive issues within the Anglican community.

Barber says his religion prohibits him from touching women other than his family members.

Catch a glimpse of Diwali 2012 celebrations around the world in pictures. Here’s wishing everyone a Happy Diwali!

Lamaa’s mother is calling for the execution of TV personality Faihan al Gameri for the murder of their daughter.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced a Royal Commission who will probe allegations of child abuse within the country's religious and state-run institutions.

A Bolivian cult which keeps the skulls of close relatives at home has held its annual festival - the Day of the Skulls

Ruling Muslim Brotherhood backs move while liberals criticise it.