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Europe July 22, 2016

As nuns' numbers fall, pope says OK to use social media

A Vatican official says the number of nuns who dedicate their lives to prayer and contemplating God is dwindling, even as Pope Francis has written a new document praising their relevance in the world.

Christianity July 22, 2016

Possible photo, video of priest abducted in Yemen raises hopes, questions

A new video surfaced of the Catholic priest widely reported to have been crucified on Good Friday by Islamist terrorists in Yemen, leaving remaining questions about his fate.

Europe July 22, 2016

Nice city hall puts up names of 84 truck attack victims

Nice has put up the names of all 84 people killed in last week's truck attack on the front of city hall.

RELIGION July 22, 2016

China's Panchen Lama presides over key Buddhist ritual

China's hand-picked Panchen Lama is presiding over a key Buddhist ritual being held in Tibet for only the first time in 50 years, in a move criticized by overseas Tibetan groups.

RELIGION July 22, 2016

Chinese officials begin to dismantle Tibetan study site

Tibetan groups say Chinese officials have begun dismantling buildings at Larung Gar, one of the world's largest centers of Tibetan Buddhist learning.

RELIGION July 21, 2016

Census shows proportion of Myanmar Muslims unchanged

The proportion of Muslims in overwhelmingly Buddhist Myanmar has not increased in three decades, contrary to the fears of strident Buddhist nationalists.

Europe July 21, 2016

Turkish jets strike rebels in Iraq following failed coup

Days after a failed coup attempt in Turkey, the country's jets carried out cross-border strikes against Kurdish rebel targets in northern Iraq, killing some 20 alleged militants, state media reported Wednesday.

RELIGION July 20, 2016

Genocide in homeland exposes rift in Iraqi-American Christian community

The persecution of Christians in Iraq and Syria has exposed a rift among the half-million Chaldeans in the U.S., igniting furious debate as to whether the religious minority – subjects of ongoing genocide at the hands of ISIS - should remain in their ancestral home or seek asylum abroad.

US July 20, 2016

Venezuela presents details in weapons case against Utah man

Venezuelan authorities are presenting what they say are new details in the case against a 24-year-old American being held on weapons charges.

RELIGION July 20, 2016

Argentine church investigates role of nuns in money scandal

Argentina's Catholic Church is launching an investigation into whether a group of nuns helped a former government official who allegedly tried to hide $9 million in cash at their convent.