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…
BERLIN – German police have asked the public in an unusual move to help find a young man who was allegedly involved in the gang rape of at least two female high school students in the western town of Essen.…
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…
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…
LA PAZ, Bolivia – Bolivia's defense minister says an explosive was used in a blast that has killed at least four people during Carnival celebrations — the second deadly explosion to hit the city of Oruro during the celebrations. Javier…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq – Now that Iraq has claimed victory over the Islamic State group after a bloody 3 1/2-year war, the U.S.-led coalition is decreasing air support in the country — the latest indication of the coalition's shrinking…
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…
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…
PARIS – A French court is expected to hand down a verdict for a man accused of harboring killers who carried out the 2015 Paris attacks, in the first trial related to the country's deadliest extremist violence since World War…
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…
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…
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 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…
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)…
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…
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…
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…