Author: _wxxv

Macron's office closes press room, moves reporters off-site

PARIS –  French President Emmanuel Macron's office is closing the press room inside the presidential palace amid broader efforts by the French leader to control his public image. Advisers for Macron announced Wednesday that journalists will be moved to a…

Warzone burn pits found by court to cause lung disease

A Judge under the U.S. Department of Labor ruled last month that open-air burn pits -- in which thousands of chemicals were released into the air after trash and other waste were incinerated at American military bases in Iraq and…

German govt urges UK PM May to present concrete Brexit plans

BERLIN –  The German government has called on British Prime Minister Theresa May to present her government's plans about the future relationship between Britain and the European Union after it leaves the bloc. A spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel…

Mexico admits government spies tail candidates

MEXICO CITY –  Mexico's Interior Department says the federal intelligence agency sent a plainclothes agent to tail an opposition presidential candidate, even though the candidate never asked for and apparently did not want a tail. There have long been fears…

The Latest: Syria says it has no chemical weapons

BEIRUT –  The Latest on Syria related developments (all times local): 4:25 p.m. Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister says allegations that Syria is using chemical weapons are an attempt to "justify hostile acts." Faisal Mekdad denied Wednesday in comments published on…

EU top official: Good chance for closer views with Poland

WARSAW, Poland –  Top European Union official says there's a "good chance" for a better understanding with Poland, some of whose policies have led to an unprecedented dispute with EU leaders. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker was upbeat Wednesday about…

Amnesty slams new anti-migration bill in Hungary

BRUSSELS –  Human rights group Amnesty International has slammed Hungary's new anti-migration bill, saying it would allow the government to target any non-governmental organization working with migrants if it becomes law. Amnesty said Wednesday that the bill could suspend, disband…

NATO chief urges defense budget hike amid command expansion

BRUSSELS –  NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is urging European allies and Canada to keep ramping up defense spending, as the alliance expands its command headquarters in response to a more assertive Russia. Stoltenberg said Wednesday that "to keep our…

Iranians celebrate Valentine's Day, despite its being banned

TEHRAN, Iran –  Some Iranian youth are celebrating Valentine's Day even though authorities have banned the celebrations as part of "decadent Western culture." Coffee shops and restaurants are crowded with boys and girls celebrating with their loved ones and exchanging…

Ukrainian opposition leader Saakashvili flies to Netherlands

THE HAGUE, Netherlands –  Ukrainian opposition leader Mikheil Saakashvili has flown to the Netherlands, his wife's home country, after being ejected from Ukraine into neighboring Poland. It was not immediately clear how long he will stay and what he will…

Kosovo president slams international war crimes court

PRISTINA, Kosovo –  Kosovo's president has called an international war crimes court with jurisdiction over potential Kosovar suspects a "historical injustice," adding his government only reluctantly accepted it as the "price for its liberty." In an interview with The Associated…

Chile sex abuse victim's credibility praised, challenged

VATICAN CITY –  When a Vatican court convicted a Chilean predator priest of sex crimes, it went out of its way to affirm the credibility of his victims. Their testimony had been consistent and corroborated, while their motives in coming…

French customs agents find stash of weapons in sports shop

PARIS –  French customs authorities say they have seized a giant stash of weapons found hidden in a sports store in the northern French region of Picardy. In a Wednesday statement, the French custom office said that its officers seized…

Media watchdog: Bahraini journalists targeted in crackdown

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates –  An international media watchdog group says the Arab Gulf state of Bahrain has revoked the citizenship of seven journalists and social media activists since a wave of anti-government protests broke out seven years ago. Reporters…

Pakistani students rally against Valentine's Day

LAHORE, Pakistan –  Hundreds of pro-Islamist university students have rallied in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore to show their opposition to Valentine's Day. Wednesday's rally came days after Pakistan's media regulatory authority, based on a court order, instructed all news…

Police say 7 dead in Sri Lankan building collapse

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka –  Sri Lankan police say at least seven people have died in a building collapse in a busy area of the capital. Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara says firefighters and police are searching for people who may be…

Israel orders psychiatric evaluation for detained Australian

JERUSALEM –  An Israeli court has ordered that an Australian woman accused of sex crimes be placed under psychiatric evaluation until further notice. The Jerusalem District Court ruled on Wednesday that the woman remain in custody while the district psychiatrist…

Pakistan starts seizing charities linked to US-wanted cleric

ISLAMABAD –  Pakistan has started seizing assets and funds belonging to Islamic charities linked to a radical cleric wanted by Washington who was released from detention late last year. It's the first step against Hafiz Saeed since he was freed…

Prince Henrik, husband of Danish monarch, dead at 83

Prince Henrik died late Tuesday at the age 83.  (AP) Prince Henrik, the French-born husband of Danish monarch Queen Margrethe who publicly vented his frustration at not being the social equal of his wife or their son in line to…

4 fetuses found in trash at Thai resort town

BANGKOK –  Police in Thailand say garbage collectors have found four fetuses in the trash at a popular resort town. Police Lt. Sommit Petchpradab said the fetuses were discovered Tuesday by garbage collectors in Hua Hin, 145 kilometers (90 miles)…

France will strike Syria if use of chemical weapons proven

PARIS –  French President Emmanuel Macron has said that he will order strikes in Syria if there is "proven evidence" that President Bashar Assad's government used chemical weapons against civilians. Macron told reporters on Tuesday evening France "will strike the…

Slovenia teachers rally, schools close as part of strike

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia –  Blowing whistles and horns, thousands of Slovenian teachers are rallying for higher wages in the latest in a string of strikes and protests by public sector workers in the small European Union country. Most schools in Slovenia…

Polish opposition activist Frasyniuk detained and charged

WARSAW, Poland –  A Polish opposition activist and Solidarity-era hero has been briefly detained, handcuffed and charged with his role in obstructing a pro-government demonstration last year. Police detained Wladyslaw Frasyniuk early Wednesday at his home in Wroclaw, in the…

Awrad-winning Myanmar reporters appear in court

BANGKOK –  Two Myanmar journalists facing up to 14 years in prison if convicted of receiving government secrets have appeared for the latest hearing in Yangon, one day after it was announced that they had won a major press freedom…

Germany pushes for release of journalist in Turkish prison

BERLIN –  German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has called for the release of a German-Turkish journalist who marks one year in a Turkish prison Wednesday. Deniz Yucel, a correspondent for the daily Die Welt, still has not been formally charged…

Australian cardinal blames inquiry for sex allegations

MELBOURNE, Australia –  Lawyers for the most senior Catholic cleric to face sex charges have told an Australian court that the allegations stemmed from publicity surrounding a national inquiry into child abuse three years ago. Cardinal George Pell was charged…

Cambodian lawmakers approve lese majeste law

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia –  Cambodian lawmakers have unanimously approved changes to the criminal code and the constitution that can further limit free speech and political activities, already under stress from the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen. All 123 members…

The Latest: Israel opposition calls on Netanyahu to resign

JERUSALEM –  The Latest in Israel after police recommended corruption charges against embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (all times local): 9:55 a.m. Israeli opposition politicians are calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign following police recommendations that he be…

Turkey, Greece to use dialogue to calm Aegean tensions

ANKARA, Turkey –  Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim says Turkey and Greece have agreed to settle tensions through dialogue, a day after a Greek coast guard vessel was damaged in a collision with a Turkish patrol boat in the Aegean…

Millions in China journey home for Lunar New Year

BEIJING –  Millions in China are boarding trains, planes and automobiles in the travel rush ahead of Friday's Lunar New Year. The world's largest seasonal human migration actually begins a few weeks before China's most important traditional festival, as people…

Israel police recommend corruption charges against Netanyahu

JERUSALEM –  Israeli police have recommended that Benjamin Netanyahu be indicted on bribery and breach of trust charges in two corruption cases, a development that deals an embarrassing blow to the embattled prime minister and is likely to fuel calls…

Tongans face long wait for services to return after cyclone

WELLINGTON, New Zealand –  Thousands of Tonga residents face a long wait for power and other services to be restored after a cyclone tore through the Pacific nation this week. More details emerged Wednesday about the damage caused by Cyclone…

Philippines objects to China's naming of undersea features

MANILA, Philippines –  The Philippine president's spokesman says his government rejects and does not recognize Chinese names given to undersea features in a vast offshore region where the Philippines has undisputed sovereign rights. Spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said Wednesday that…

Gunmen kill 4 paramilitary soldiers in southwest Pakistan

QUETTA, Pakistan –  Pakistani police say gunmen riding on motorcycles have opened fire on a vehicle carrying paramilitary soldiers in the country's southwest, killing four troops before fleeing. Abdur Razzaq Cheema, the police chief in Quetta, said Wednesday's attack took…

Dozens of dolphins stranded in Mexico's Baja California Sur

MEXICO CITY –  Mexican authorities say dozens of dolphins have been found stranded on a rocky beach along the coast of Baja California Sur state. The federal environmental protection agency says 54 of the marine mammals came onshore in the…

Venezuela and Libya lose UN vote for 3rd time in 3 years

UNITED NATIONS –  Venezuela and Libya have been suspended from voting in the U.N. General Assembly for the third time in three years because of millions of dollars in unpaid dues to the world body. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres informed the…

Summit host yanks Venezuela's invitation over early election

LIMA, Peru –  The host nation for a summit of Western Hemisphere leaders has withdrawn its invitation to Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro over his country's plan to hold an early presidential election. Peruvian Foreign Minister Cayetana Aljovin said Tuesday that…

Australian deputy prime minister under pressure to resign

CANBERRA, Australia –  Australia's deputy prime minister was under mounting pressure Wednesday to resign as his party's leader over revelations of a relationship with a former staffer. Newspapers revealed last week that Barnaby Joyce and his former media adviser are…