World News

As Italy votes, Europe fears populist, euroskeptic gains

Polling station workers prepare ballots in Rozzano, near Milan, Italy, on Saturday.  (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Italians were voting Sunday in one of the most uncertain elections in years and one that could determine if Italy succumbs to the populist, euroskeptic…

Poland building collapse leaves 4 dead, 24 injured

WARSAW, Poland –  Officials in Poland say four people have died and 24 have been injured in the collapse of an apartment block in the western city of Poznan.  A spokesman for the local firefighters, Slawomir Brandt, said 24 teams…

Pope declares new feast day devoted to the Virgin Mary

VATICAN CITY –  Pope Francis has made the devotion to the Virgin Mary a new fixed celebration in the Roman Catholic calendar. The Vatican published a decree Saturday in which Francis declared that the Mary "Mother of the Church" feast…

Teen gets prison for terror plots, including Bieber concert

LONDON –  A 17-year-old Welsh teen has been sentenced to at least 11 years in prison after being convicted of plotting an Islamic State-inspired attack on various targets including a Justin Bieber concert. Judge Mark Wall on Friday sentenced Lloyd…

MH370, 4 years on: Malaysia says search to end in June

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia –  A Malaysian official said Saturday that the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 by a U.S. company will likely end in June, as families of passengers marked the fourth anniversary of the plane's disappearance with renewed…

The Latest: Slovak minister refuses to resign, tensions rise

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia –  The Latest on the Slovak investigative reporter Jan Kuciak and his girlfriend Martina Kusnirova, who were found shot in the head on Feb. 25 (all times local): 4:05 p.m. The tensions in Slovakia's coalition government are increasing…

Bahrain conducts large-scale roundup of Shiite 'militants'

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates –  Bahrain says it has arrested 116 people in a sweep targeting alleged Shiite militants in the Sunni-ruled kingdom. The arrests announced Saturday come amid a yearslong crackdown on all dissent on the island off the…

The Latest: Turkey tightens grip on Syrian Kurdish enclave

BEIRUT –  The Latest on the conflict in Syria (all times local): 4:20 p.m. Turkey's prime minister says Turkish troops have captured a strategic village in the Kurdish-held enclave in northwestern Syria, tightening the grip on the area in the…

Slovakian PM disputes apology request from media watchdog

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia –  Slovakia's prime minister has denied being asked by the head of Reporters Without Borders to apologize for his insults of journalists. Prime Minister Robert Fico is known for numerous attacks on the media. Reporters Without Borders chief…

Snow, ice warnings remain for travelers in Britain

LONDON –  Snow and ice warnings for travelers are still in place even as temperatures crept higher in Britain after days of cold. Authorities warned rail travelers and drivers to expect ongoing disruptions Saturday even as temperatures rose above freezing…

Iran says will negotiate if West dismantles nuclear arsenal

TEHRAN, Iran –  Iran's state-run IRNA news agency is reporting that a top military commander says Iran will negotiate over its missile program if the U.S. and Europe dismantle their nuclear programs. The Saturday report quotes armed forces spokesman Gen.Masoud…

AP PHOTOS: French wrestlers perform _ to benefit unemployed

IVRY-SUR-SEINE, France –  With revolutionary slogans and a message of support for the unemployed, this was no ordinary wrestling event. Muscles bulging, hair flying, the wrestlers put on quite a show — with losers tossed out of the ring in…

Syrian activists say 6 killed during Russian-ordered pause

BEIRUT –  Syrian activists and rescuers say at least six civilians have been killed in the ongoing bombing of eastern Ghouta near the capital Damascus, despite a Russia-ordered brief daily humanitarian pause. Syrian State TV meanwhile said Saturday that two…

Campaign rally for Putin's re-election fills Moscow stadium

MOSCOW –  Tens of thousands of Russian President Vladimir Putin's supporters have gathered for a campaign rally at Moscow's sprawling main sports complex. The crowd at the rally held two weeks before Russia's presidential election filled the Luzhniki stadium, which…

Germany: Merkel's fate hangs on outcome of membership vote

BERLIN –  German Chancellor Angela Merkel is awaiting results from a vote by grassroots members of a potential coalition partner to learn if she will be able to form a new government. Germany's center-left Social Democratic Party prepared Saturday to…

Searchers find black box from Iranian plane that crashed

TEHRAN, Iran –  Iran's semi-official ISNA news agency is reporting that research teams have found the black box belonging to the airplane that crashed in southern Iran in February, killing 65 people. The Saturday report quotes Deputy Provincial Gov. Aziz…

2 migrants die trying to reach Spanish enclave in N. Africa

BARCELONA, Spain –  Spanish authorities say two migrants have died while trying to swim to the shore of Ceuta, a small Spanish enclave in North Africa. The spokesman for the Spanish government's representative in Ceuta tells The Associated Press that…