Police arrested 129 Muslims after a mob angered by an alleged Quran desecration attacked a dozen churches and nearly two dozen homes of minority Christians, officials said Thursday. Police also arrested two Christian men accused of defacing Islam’s holy book. (Chaudhry & Ahmed, Associated Press)
Read MoreDealing with the climate crisis will require developing renewable forms of energy such as solar and wind power, decreasing greenhouse gases and creating more sustainable lifestyles. It also requires a change of heart, says Swami Rameshwarananda, a Hindu spiritual leader from Spain. (Smietana, Religion News Service)
Read MoreA new study found that nearly 30 percent of people in this age group reported binge drinking in 2022, continuing a consistent upward trend in the behavior. In 2012, 23 percent of such adults reported binge drinking. Use of marijuana in this group also reached historical levels, with 28 percent reporting the behavior, up from 13 percent in 2012. (Richtel, The New York Times)
Read MoreSweden has raised its terrorism threat level to “high” and warned the public to be vigilant amid a violent backlash in parts of the Islamic world against the desecration of the Quran on Swedish soil. (Moody, The Times UK)
Read MoreTarget reported Wednesday that the backlash over its LGBTQ+ merchandise before and during Pride month in June took a bite from its sales. This comes on the heels of Bud Light's parent company also reporting substantial losses in U.S. sales and profits due to similar reaction to a marketing campaign. The moment is leading executives to wonder about the benefits of supporting social causes during a time of such polarization in the country. (Kaye, NPR)
Read MoreA new ‘open’ category to include transgender athletes will be offered for the first time at the Swimming World Cup events in Berlin this October. World Aquatics became one of the first major Olympic governing bodies to effectively ban transgender women from the elite female category last year but, as part of the announcement, promised to stage events in a new open category to ensure opportunities for “swimmers of all sex and gender identities”. (Wilson, The Telegraph)
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