BEIRUT: Green transportation may seem like a dream in Lebanon, where cars clog the road and the thick layer of smog hanging …

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi criticized on Sunday the political authorities in Lebanon for “neglecting their duties” and their attempts to create political …

(Catholic Online) - Crowned Miss World 2013 at the Miss World Pageant in Bali, Indonesia, Young told interviewers that the way to avoid unwanted sex is to "just say no." In an interview on the Filipino news show, ANC Headstart, host Karen Davila asked Young last week about a controversial reproductive health law currently in limbo in the courts in the Philippines and related topics. "When it comes to the RH law, are you pro- or anti-RH?" Davila asked.

"Well, I'm pro-life and if it means killing someone that's already there, then I'm against that, of course. I'm against abortion," Young said. As to contraception, Young said, "I don't engage in stuff like that as of now. I think that's - uh, sex is for marriage. That's my belief. So, when it comes to the RH bill, as long as my beliefs are no abortion; it should be with your partner for life. Then that's my stand."

Queried about divorce, young said "Divorce. I'm actually against divorce, because I've seen, of course, that in my family. So I think that if you marry someone, that should be the person you should be with forever, through sickness and health, through good and bad, you should be with that person."

In a change of pace, Davila asked, "Now, a woman as gorgeous as yourself, how do you say no to sex?" "You just say no," Young replied. "If they try to push you, then you step away because you know that that person doesn't value you, doesn't value the relationship as much - and if the guy is willing, you know, to sacrifice that, then that means a lot."

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The four men in question were arrested last December while they celebrated at a house church. Converting from Islam to Christianity in Iran can be punishable by death.

According to a new U.N. report by Ahmed Shaheed, U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, such persecution is common in spite of the new Iranian President Hasan Rouhani's pledge for moderation.

"At least 20 Christians were in custody in July 2013," Shaheed wrote. "In addition, violations of the rights of Christians, particularly those belonging to evangelical Protestant groups, many of whom are converts, who proselytize to and serve Iranian Christians of Muslim background, continue to be reported." Halting the spread of Christianity is a cornerstone of Iran's crackdown on religious freedom. There are estimated to be 370,000 Christians in Iran. According to the most recent U.S. State Department report, the clerical rulers see Christianity as a threat to Iran's majority ultra-orthodox Shiite Islamic religion.

"Despite the recent Iranian charm offensive, Dr. Shaheed's report reminds us of the true nature of the Iranian regime where the abuse of human rights continue," Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), chairman and founder of the Iran Dissident Awareness Program, says."Political prisoners like blogger Mohammad Reza Pourshajari are being denied adequate medical care,journalists and their families continue to be targets of the regime, Pastor Saeed Abedini and Amir Hekmati are still languishing in prison and the Baha'i community faces increasing persecution. This is the true nature of the regime we're dealing with during negotiations in Geneva."