RNS Morning Report - Watchdogs say Russian church helped recruit young Kenyans who have fought in Ukraine

Top Stories Watchdogs say Russian church helped recruit young Kenyans who have fought in Ukraine (RNS) — The alleged pipeline is a sign that the Russian state is leveraging its national church’s expansion into Africa. For its 400th anniversary, St. Peter’s Basilica embraces AI and structural surveillance VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Four centuries after its consecration, St. Peter’s Basilica is turning to artificial intelligence and advanced monitoring technology to safeguard its future. A look at Ramadan and how Muslims observe the holy month CAIRO (AP) — For Muslims, it’s a time for increased worship, religious reflection and charity. Socially, it often brings families and friends together in festive gatherings around meals to break their fast. Republicans, Southerners, Trump backers mostly likely to support Christian nationalist ideas (RNS) — A new report from the Public Religion Research Institute shows deep divides over the place of Christianity in the U.S. ‘I am somebody!’: Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader who ran for presidency, dies at 84 (RNS) — ‘I don’t think Jesse Jackson saw his political life as something different from his call from God as a preacher,’ said the Rev. Valerie Bridgeman. Opinion Money Conversations with Kids A practical conversation about raising financially confident and spiritually anchored kids in a complicated world. Why ashes? The gift of finding our finitude in a digital world (RNS) — Against a backdrop of infinite possibilities and imagined cyber-immortality, the church dares to say something unfashionable: “You are dust.” ICYMI ‘We’re praying with our feet’: a year of pro-democracy prayer vigils in New York NEW YORK (RNS) — As New York braces for a large-scale deployment of ICE agents, the vigils imposed themselves as a hub for the city’s religious left and became an incubator for other mobilizations. ‘The divine will come’: On Lord Shiva’s night, Hindus channel deity’s energy at the heart of creation (RNS) — Mahashivratri, which means “the Great Night of Shiva” in Sanskrit, takes place as Lord Shiva's cosmic energies are said to be at their highest. Support Our Work As a nonprofit newsroom that covers all faiths, RNS sits uniquely at the intersection of freedom of the press and freedom of religion. News tips or feedback? Email comments@religionnews.com. Like the Morning Report? Share it with a friend. Forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here. We rely on reader donations to power our reporting. Donate here. Or send a check to: Religion News Foundation PO Box 1808 Columbia, MO 65205

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