The Latest: France's Macron warns against rising tensions

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The Latest on tensions between the U.S. and Iran and in the Persian Gulf (all times local): 9:55 p.m. France's President Emmanuel Macron has spoken by phone with his Iranian counterpart in what his office says is an effort to avoid a "dangerous escalation" of tensions in...

Iran says 'idiotic' new US sanctions shut doors of diplomacy

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran warned Tuesday that new U.S. sanctions targeting its supreme leader and other top officials meant "closing the doors of diplomacy" between Tehran and Washington amid heightened tensions, even as President Hassan Rouhani derided the White House as being "afflicted by mental...

Saudi coalition says head of Yemen's Islamic State captured

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia's special forces captured the leader of the Islamic State group's branch in Yemen during a raid on a house that was under surveillance, a Saudi military statement said Tuesday, dealing a blow to the extremist group which has taken advantage of the country's...

Turkish court frees US Consulate worker from house arrest

ISTANBUL (AP) — A court in Istanbul has released an employee of the U.S. Consulate from house arrest for health reasons. The court on Tuesday ruled, however, that Nazmi Mete Canturk should continue to be barred from leaving the country pending the outcome of his trial. Canturk — along with his wife...

Iran's president says new US sanctions targeting Islamic Republic's supreme leader, others are 'outrageous and idiotic'

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's president says new US sanctions targeting Islamic Republic's supreme leader, others are 'outrageous and idiotic'

Minnesota official urged to resign for anti-gay posts

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Some Minnesota's Democrats are calling for a St. Paul City Council member to resign over anti-gay posts he made on Facebook in the past. The LGBTQ and youth caucuses of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party plan to present a resolution at the party's convention Sunday in St....

Pope seeks more freedom in theology, dialogue with Islam

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis called Friday for a reform of the way theology is taught in Catholic schools, saying students must learn about dialogue with Judaism and Islam, and that overall there must be greater freedom in theological research and academic pursuits. The Jesuit pope made the call during...

Islamic society seeks to buy former church for mosque

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — The Islamic Society of Vermont is fundraising to buy a church building for a new mosque in South Burlington. The Burlington Free Press reports that according to the online fundraiser, the society wants to meet the demands for a growing Muslim population in the state. The GoFundMe.com...

Egypt: UN office tries to politicize Morsi's courtroom death

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt said Wednesday that the U.N. human rights office was trying to politicize the death of former Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi, who collapsed inside a Cairo courtroom during his trial this week. Morsi, Egypt's first democratically elected president who hailed from the now outlawed...

The Latest: Turkey president says Morsi didn't die naturally

CAIRO (AP) — The Latest on developments in Egypt after former President Mohammed Morsi's dramatic collapse and death inside a Cairo courtroom (all times local): 5:50 p.m. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he doesn't believe that Egypt's former president Mohammed Morsi died of natural causes....