Large numbers of Muslims converge once a year in Saudi Arabia to unite in a series of religious rituals and acts of worship as they perform the Hajj, the pilgrimage that is one of the pillars of Islam. As they fulfill a religious obligation, they immerse themselves in what can be a profound spiritual experience of a lifetime and a chance to seek God’s forgiveness and the erasure of past sins. For the pilgrims, the Hajj is also seen as an opportunity to grow closer to God and to walk in the footsteps of prophets. The Hajj unites Muslims of diverse races, ethnicities, languages and economic classes in performing rituals together. This year, Hajj will officially start on Monday.
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An attack at a California Islamic center is the latest violence where the perpetrators said they were inspired by past atrocities, such as the 2019 massacre in Christchurch, New Zealand. The teens attacked the Islamic Center of San Diego this week and killed three men and themselves. Researchers who study extremism have long noted the resonance of the Christchurch attack among far-right assailants. They attribute it to the extent of the violence, the document the killer posted about his actions, and his decision to livestream the massacre.
A calendar featuring close-ups of young, handsome priests has been a popular Rome souvenir for two decades. However, many of those photographed aren't actually priests. A now 39-year-old flight attendant has been the cover model for most of the last 23 editions. He was just 17 when he posed for the photo. The photographer says at least one-third of the 2027 calendar's subjects are real priests. A recent story in the Rome daily La Repubblica called it a “fake priest calendar,” drawing nationwide attention. The Vatican, which has no involvement with the calendar, has declined to comment.
Stephen Colbert's run on “The Late Show” ends Thursday, marking the conclusion of his on-air feud with President Donald Trump. Colbert began hosting in 2015 and often criticized Trump and his policies. CBS announced last summer that the show would end in May, citing economic reasons. However, Colbert and others suspect political pressure played a role. The decision follows Paramount's settlement of Trump's lawsuit and its pending sale to Skydance Media. Colbert's departure leaves a void in late-night TV, with fans missing his unique perspective and humor. Other hosts like Jimmy Kimmel have shown support.
The body overseeing the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza plans to ask the United Nations Security Council to press Hamas to disarm. The Associated Press saw the Board of Peace report before its release. The report is expected to be discussed Thursday. It states that Hamas' refusal to disarm is a major obstacle to the ceasefire's full implementation. Hamas has rejected the report, calling it fallacious. The ceasefire began in October but has stalled due to the deadlock over disarming Hamas. The report highlights ongoing ceasefire violations and emphasizes that disarmament is crucial for reconstruction and progress toward Palestinian self-determination.
AP Wire
Authorities say the two teenagers who shot and killed three people in an attack on a California mosque had been radicalized online where they first met. Investigators said Tuesday that the pair shared white supremacist views and left behind writings showing their hatred toward various races and religions. Authorities also found at least 30 guns, ammunition and a crossbow at two residences after Monday’s attack. Authorities praised the security guard at the Islamic Center of San Diego and two other men who were killed for slowing the attackers. They say the victims helped stop the attackers from reaching schoolchildren just steps away. Police have said the shooters killed themselves.
San Diego mosque shooters met online and left writings expressing hate toward different religions and races, FBI says.
AP Wire
Millions of Palestinians are marking the 78th anniversary of the Nakba. That's Arabic for “catastrophe,” referring to the mass expulsion and flight of some 750,000 Palestinians from what is now Israel during the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s creation. Friday's anniversary is the third commemoration of the Nakba since the war in Gaza began. More than six months after an October ceasefire, Gaza’s more than 2 million people are now crammed into less than half of the 25-mile-long strip along the Mediterranean coast. They are surrounded by an Israeli-controlled zone. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country's military now controls 60% of the Gaza strip.
Loud and expressive mourners are common at funerals around the world — but in parts of Kenya, some of them may be paid workers. Professional mourners in western Kenya play an important and common role in funerals, adding a level of intensity to collective grief in support of traditional local beliefs. The role is an unlikely but relatively well-paid job in one of the country’s poorer regions. The increasing trend of paid mourners, which experts say is a function of urbanization, is also a unique example of how Christianity is blended with traditional rites in the region.
Police say a shooting at a San Diego mosque has killed three men and left both shooters dead of apparent self-inflicted wounds. The police chief says authorities are investigating the attack as a hate crime. The shooting erupted Monday at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Police say they were already looking for one of the teenagers since his mother called in concerned that her son was suicidal and had run away with weapons. One of the victims was a mosque security guard who police said “played a pivotal role” in preventing the attack from being more deadly.