IS loses all territory but its shadowy leader still at large

BEIRUT (AP) — The Islamic State group has lost all the territory it once controlled in Iraq and Syria, but its shadowy leader and self-proclaimed "caliph" is still at large. With a $25 million U.S. bounty on his head, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is the world's most wanted man, responsible for steering his...

UN chief visits mosque, stresses sanctity of religious sites

NEW YORK (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres went to the first mosque built in New York City on Friday to show solidarity with the Muslim community, urging people everywhere "to reaffirm the sanctity of all places of worship and the safety of all worshippers." Speaking a week after the terrorist...

Protesters block Iraq president's pathway over ferry sinking

MOSUL, Iraq (AP) — Iraqi residents of the northern city of Mosul, angry over the sinking of a ferry in the Tigris River that killed 95 people, blocked a road where Iraq's presidential convoy was passing on Friday, chanting "no to corruption" and pelting the provincial governor's car with stones in protest....

Broken-hearted but not broken: New Zealand prays together

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealanders observed the Muslim call to prayer Friday in reflecting on the moment one week ago when 50 worshippers at two Christchurch mosques were slain — an act that an imam told the crowd of thousands had left the country broken-hearted but not broken. In a day...

Palestinian-born Berliner leads efforts to rebuild synagogue

BERLIN (AP) — Raed Saleh was 5 years old when his family left their Palestinian village in the West Bank for a better life in Germany. Now 41, the Muslim has become one of Berlin's top politicians and is spearheading efforts to rebuild a synagogue in the German capital that was destroyed by the Nazis 80...

US abruptly endorses Israel's Golan sovereignty in big shift

JERUSALEM (AP) — President Donald Trump abruptly declared Thursday the U.S. will recognize Israel's sovereignty over the disputed Golan Heights, a major shift in American policy that gives Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a political boost a month before what is expected to be a close election....

People across New Zealand are observing the Muslim call to prayer a week after 50 people were slaughtered at two mosques

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — People across New Zealand are observing the Muslim call to prayer a week after 50 people were slaughtered at two mosques.

Austrian court rejects complaint by expelled Turkish imams

BERLIN (AP) — Austria's Constitutional Court has thrown out a complaint by two Turkish imams expelled under a 2015 law that prevents religious communities from getting funding from foreign nations. The court said Thursday the so-called "Islam Law" didn't constitute a disproportionate restriction of...

Jordanian king vows to protect Jerusalem holy sites

ZARQA, Jordan (AP) — Jordan's King Abdullah II is vowing to keep protecting Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, calling it a "red line" for his country. Abdullah said Wednesday, during a visit to the Zarqa governorate outside Amman, that he's under pressure to alter his country's historic role...

Australia says tensions with Turkey ease after WWI remarks

SYDNEY (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday tensions between his country and Turkey had eased after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office said comments by the Turkish leader that sparked the row had been taken out of context. A diplomatic dispute flared over Erdogan's comments...