Dagestani Jews look to rebuild after extremist attacks in the restive region of southern Russia

Jews in the predominantly Muslim region of Dagestan in southern Russia say they are determined to regroup and rebuild following a deadly attack by Islamic militants on Christian and Jewish houses of worship in two cities last weekend. The attacks in the regional capital of...

What to know about Oklahoma's top education official ordering Bible instruction in schools

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma's top education official outraged civil rights groups and others when he ordered public schools to immediately begin incorporating the Bible into lesson plans for students in grades 5 through 12. Republican State Superintendent Ryan Walters said in a...

Pope's top adviser, women who say they were abused by ex-Jesuit artist ask for mosaics to be removed

ROME (AP) — The scandal over a famous ex-Jesuit artist who is accused of psychologically, spiritually and sexually abusing adult women came to a head Friday after some of his alleged victims and the pope’s own anti-abuse adviser asked for his artworks not to be promoted or displayed. ...

A decade after the Islamic State group declared a caliphate, it's defeated but remains lethal

BAGHDAD (AP) — A decade after the Islamic State militant group declared its caliphate in large parts of Iraq and Syria, the extremists no longer control any land, have lost many prominent leaders and are mostly out of the world news headlines. Still, the group continues to recruit...

Ultra-Orthodox Jews block highway to protest Israel's new mandatory military service ruling

BNEI BRAK, Israel (AP) — Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men blocked a major highway in central Israel for two hours on Thursday to protest a recent Supreme Court decision ordering young religious men to enlist for military service. Military service is compulsory for most Jewish...

Funeral for monk shot by soldiers highlights Myanmar army's delicate relationship to Buddhist clergy

BANGKOK (AP) — Hundreds of people attended the funeral on Thursday of a senior monk who was fatally shot by soldiers in an incident that could undermine the cozy relationship that Myanmar’s military government has tried to maintain with the country’s Buddhist clergy. The body...

Oklahoma state superintendent orders schools to teach the Bible in grades 5 through 12

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma’s top education official ordered public schools Thursday to incorporate the Bible into lessons for grades 5 through 12, the latest effort by conservatives to incorporate religion into classrooms. The directive drew immediate condemnation from civil...

Harvard looks to combat antisemitism, anti-Muslim bias after protests over war in Gaza

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Two task forces charged with proposing ways to combat anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, and anti-Palestinian bias and antisemitism at Harvard University have delivered preliminary recommendations to the school's interim president Alan Garber. The recommendations...

Oklahoma's top educator orders public schools to teach from the Bible. Critics say it's an unconstitutional overreach

In France's high-stakes legislative election, a Jewish candidate faces and fights hate and division

IVRY-SUR-SEINE, France (AP) — Amid market stalls heaped with fresh foods, the shopper walked past the young candidate campaigning for votes in France's high-stakes and torrid legislative election but then paused and doubled back to give Shannon Seban a piece of her mind. What...