Moscow, Russian Federation - Since late February more than 50 Jehovah's Witnesses have been arrested and detained. They were publicly protesting in a nation-wide leaflet distribution aimed at informing Russian citizens as to how their religious freedoms are being curtailed.

Rome, Italy - Renowned Italian priest and exorcist, Father Gabriele Amorth has released a new book claiming that satanic sects have infiltrated the Vatican and their influence reaches even the College of Cardinals.

San Antonio, United States - An atheist student group at the University of Texas in San Antonio held its annual "Smut for Smut" event this month. The group encourages people to trade in their religious texts for pornography.

Kentville, Canada - Diarrhea is not something that most of us enjoy talking about. A Nova Scotia, Canada woman speaks candidly about her ordeal with the problem and how it took years to get a diagnosis to help her debilitating condition.

Kentville, Canada - A Nova Scotia couple appeared in court Wednesday to get a first look at the culprits accused of burning a cross and uttering racial slurs on the interracial couple's front yard Sunday morning.

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - The SV Concordia, a Canadian based tall ship, has sunk off the coast of Brazil after a battle with very strong winds. All 64 passengers were rescued from life rafts Friday.

Halifax, Canada - Nova Scotians currently being paid minimum wage will get a raise on April 1. The move is in line with Nova Scotia's ongoing Poverty Reduction Strategy that was put in place in 2009. Nova Scotia is an eastern province in Canada.

Port-au-prince, Haiti - One month after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, which killed approximately 230,000 people, the nation is holding a national day of mourning. The January 12 quake also left 300,000 people injured and about one million homeless.

Russian Muslim leaders are calling on believers to boycott Valentine's Day saying it goes against the basic beliefs of Islam. They are also calling for a complete ban of the holiday in the country.

Richibucto, Canada - A Canadian woman escaped with her life Wednesday when she fought off a coyote attack in her back yard. She was treated for minor injuries.

Washington, United States - The Obama administration has proposed the formation of a new federal agency that will study and report to the goverment on the changing climate.

Englewood, United States - Rep. Steve Rothman and Englewood Hospital and Medical Center officials in New Jersey recently announced $4.7 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Defense to train military medical professionals in bloodless medicine.

The Russian Orthodox Church will help in the preparation of the U.S. Department of State's annual report on freedom of religion across the world. Rights groups warn the church seeks to boost its dominance and threaten those very freedoms.

The Nova Scotia government has approved changes to pharmacy regulations that will broaden prescription services allowing druggists more powers in order to better serve residents of the province.

Bonanza's last surviving cast member, Pernell Roberts, has lost his battle with pancreatic cancer and has died. He was 81 years old.

Sable Island, situated about 180 km off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, may soon become a national park or a national wildlife preserve, it was announced today.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a friend-of-the-court brief recently, stating that laws in Puerto Rico banning Jehovah's Witnesses from expressing their faith on the streets in the American territory are unconstitutional.

During President Barrack Obama's first overseas visit in Turkey he said the U.S. "is not and will never be at war with Islam." But American gunsights are inscribed with biblical references that could mean to some that Americans are using "Jesus rifles".

When Haiti's main prison was destroyed by Tuesday's earthquake almost all of its 4,000 prisoners escaped. They took with them guns from guards they overwhelmed and have now taken over Haiti's largest slum, Cité Soleil.

The Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF), based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia has cancelled the region's athletic games in Tehran due to Iran's use of the words "Persian Gulf" on the winner's medals.