RELIGION March 16, 2017 Evangelical Rio mayor skips Carnival, drawing ire and praise Rio de Janeiro Mayor Marcelo Crivella did the unthinkable over the last week: He snubbed the city's legendary Carnival.
Europe March 16, 2017 Pope marks Ash Wednesday with prayer and solemn procession Pope Francis is marking Ash Wednesday with prayer and a solemn procession between two churches on one of ancient' Rome's seven hills.
Europe March 16, 2017 Jehovah's Witnesses ask Kremlin for relief from pressure The leader of the Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia is calling on the head of the Kremlin's human rights council to prevent what the denomination fears is an imminent total ban on the religion.
Europe March 16, 2017 German high school bans prayer rugs as "provocative" A high school in western Germany has banned the use of prayer rugs and other traditional Muslim rituals saying it is "provocative" to other students, sparking a debate about freedom of religion.
Europe March 16, 2017 Ex-CIA agent freed in Portugal after Italy drops extradition An American ex-CIA agent walked free from a Portuguese prison Wednesday, a day after Italy dropped its extradition request for the woman who was convicted of taking part in the U.S. kidnapping of a Muslim cleric in Milan 14 years ago.
Europe March 16, 2017 Abuse survivor quits pope's panel over Vatican stonewall An Irish woman who was sexually abused by clergy has quit in frustration her post on a Vatican commission advising Pope Francis about how to fight the abuse of minors.
Europe March 16, 2017 Ex-CIA agent freed in Portugal, avoids extradition to Italy An American ex-CIA agent has won a last-minute reprieve and will no longer be extradited from Portugal to Italy, where a court convicted her of taking part in the kidnapping of a Muslim cleric.
Europe March 16, 2017 Ethiopian schools linked to Turkish cleric are sold A network of schools in Ethiopia linked to Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused by Turkey of masterminding a failed coup attempt last year, is changing ownership.
RELIGION March 16, 2017 Amnesty says Egypt has failed to protect Christians Amnesty International says the Egyptian government has failed to protect hundreds of Coptic Christians who fled their homes in northern Sinai after a series of attacks by Islamic State militants.
RELIGION March 16, 2017 Crowds greet Saudi king on rare visit to Indonesia The first Saudi monarch to visit Indonesia in nearly half a century has arrived to an elaborate official welcome and crowds of thousands.