ISTANBUL — Turks took a step closer to Europe by voting for constitutional changes aimed at bringing the country into line with European standards of democracy. Yet it was also a massive show of confidence in an Islamic-rooted government whose closer ties with Iran and hostility toward Israel have caused dismay in the West.

Catholic Church says it helped son of Cuban revolutionary hero win permission to travel to US

Church helps son of ex-Cuban leader leave for US

Mexican Catholics, gay rights activists face off for second day over same-sex marriage debate

Mexican Catholics, gay rights protesters face off

Mother of dead Cuban hunger striker holds march without incident after weeks of confrontations

Mom of dead Cuban hunger striker allowed to march

Cuba Church says it was right to broker prisoner release, in answer to dissidents’ complaints

Cuba Church defends brokering prisoner release

Mormon church reaffirms opposition to gay marriage as Argentina weighs legalization

Mormon church restates opposition to gay marriage

Catholic Church says Cuba agrees to free 52 political prisoners, nearly a third of all held

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Malaysia appoints 1st female Islamic court judges to curb discrimination against women

Malaysia appoints 1st female Islamic court judges

Catholic Church says Cuba offers to free 52 political prisoners, let them leave country

Church: Cuba offers to free 52 political prisoners

FM: Spain ’satisfied’ with Catholic Church’s work on human rights in Cuba, but wants more

FM: Spain wants more progress on Cuba human rights

Vatican foreign minister visits Cuba as opposition hopes for more prisoner releases, transfers

Vatican foreign minister in Cuba amid high hopes

Automatic weapons fire breaks out in Nigerian town wracked by Christian-Muslim violence

Gunshots heard in violence-wracked Nigerian town

Dutch begin voting in local elections, anti-immigration parties set to gain ground

Dutch anti-immigrants set to make gains in vote

Sundance documentary examines Mormon church’s role in political fight over gay marriage

Film focuses on Mormon role in gay marriage ban

Former Iraqi PM says effort to bar some parties from March election amounts to intimidation

Former Iraqi PM warns of intimidation before vote

Uganda’s president urges lawmakers to remove death penalty provision from anti-gay bill

Ugandan president urges softening of anti-gay bill

Aides: Iraq’s prime minister gets strong boost from Shiite cleric

Bahrain widens crackdown on Shiites by revoking citizenship of powerful cleric

Turks step closer to EU with referendum vote, but membership is still a glimmer

Iraqi prime minister says his country is independent, sovereign as US ends combat operations