Scottish Government look to extend 'abortion at home' beyond pandemic

Restrictions on abortions at home could soon be lifted permanently, with the Scottish Government looking to keep emergency changes made as a result of the coronavirus beyond the pandemic.

The National

Anti-abortion protesters deter women from going into clinics, say providers

Anti-abortion protesters have deterred women seeking abortions from going into clinics as well as entering healthcare services to hunt down staff, frontline service providers warned.

The Independent

John Cleese speaks out about 'disastrous' Scots hate crime bill

Comedian John Cleese has spoken out over a "disastrous" attack on free speech during a debate on Scotland's hate crime bill.

The Herald

Ex-Vatican treasurer Pell heads back to Rome from Australia

Former Vatican treasurer George Pell is traveling to Rome this week for the first time since he was acquitted of child sex abuse charges in Australia, a Catholic church spokeswoman has confirmed.

Reuters

Sri Lanka government decides to ban cattle slaughter

An analyst said the decision was politically motivated to please the Buddhist majority and would harm dairy farmers.

The Independent

Ex-Muslims release “persecution tracker” to catalogue alleged blasphemy cases

Ex-Muslims of North America says it is tracking "accounts of hate and violence motivated by Islamic intolerance."

Patheos (Friendly Atheist)

'Caste in India: What are Dalits and how prevalent is casteism in modern-day society?'

The brutal gang-rape and death of a woman from India's Dalit community, formerly known as the untouchables, has again put a spotlight on the country's rigid system of Hindu hierarchy.

The Independent

Facing IS, last embattled Sikhs, Hindus leave Afghanistan

Afghanistan's dwindling community of Sikhs and Hindus is shrinking to its lowest levels ever.

The Independent

Jihadists attempted terror attacks every fortnight in Europe since ISIS fall, study finds

The Counter Extremism Group catalogued 33 known plots in Europe over 15 months since the Islamic State collapsed.

The Telegraph (£)

'I’m a feminist everywhere except at church'

"I still can't help feeling like less of an important member of the church than the male members because of rules that place them on a blatant pedestal."

Metro

WATCH: NSS CEO Stephen Evans and Free to Disagree

Stephen Evans, CEO of the National Secular Society, and Simon Calvert, Deputy Director of The Christian Institute are interviewed by the Free to Disagree campaign about the Scottish Hate Crime Bill and its threats to free speech.