World News

Tunisian legislator rips Israeli flag to protest formal ties

TUNIS, Tunisia –  A Tunisian legislator has ripped up an Israeli flag during a parliament session to push his demands for a law criminalizing relations with Israel. A left-wing opposition coalition proposed a bill making it a crime to "normalize"…

The Latest: Judge upholds UK arrest warrant for Assange

LONDON –  The Latest on the British arrest warrant for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (all times local): 2:40 p.m. A British judge has upheld an arrest warrant for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has spent more than five years evading…

AP Explains: South Africa's leader is told to go. What now?

JOHANNESBURG –  The leadership of South Africa's ruling party says it wants President Jacob Zuma to resign promptly and bring an end to political uncertainty and months of anger over multiple scandals. The African National Congress expects Zuma to respond…

Ukraine opposition leader vows to rally people from abroad

WARSAW, Poland –  Ukrainian opposition leader Mikheil Saakashvili says he will continue to rally people against the nation's authorities from abroad, following his deportation from the country. Saakashvili was deported from Ukraine to Poland on Monday after being detained by…

Suspicious package being checked at Britain's parliament

LONDON –  The House of Commons says police are currently investigating an incident at Britain's parliament in London. Authorities referred all questions Tuesday to the Metropolitan Police, who did not have any immediate comment. Britain's Press Association quoted an unnamed…

Army veteran thwarts armed Batman robber in casino

An Army veteran is speaking out for the first time about his dramatic actions to thwart an armed robbery at a small German casino where he worked. Elliot Montalvan, 35, said he thought someone was pranking him when a man…

Ally or rival? Macron to visit Trump on US visit late April

PARIS –  President Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron will get another chance to test their tough handshakes and argue over climate change when the French president visits Washington in April. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Wednesday on BFM…

DNA suggests 10,000-year-old Brit had dark skin, blue eyes

LONDON –  Researchers say DNA from a 10,000-year-old skeleton found in an English cave suggests he had dark skin and blue eyes. Scientists from Britain's Natural History Museum and University College London have analyzed the genome of "Cheddar Man," who…

The Latest: South Africa deputy expects 'speedy resolution'

JOHANNESBURG –  The Latest on South Africa's political turmoil (all times local): 2:40 p.m. The deputy of South African President Jacob Zuma says he anticipates a "speedy resolution" to his talks with the president about a power transition. Deputy President…

The Latest: Chemical weapon watchdog probing Syria attacks

BEIRUT –  The Latest on the situation in Syria (all times local): 2:35 p.m. The global chemical weapons watchdog says it is investigating recent allegations of chemical weapons use in Syria. In a statement on Wednesday, the Organization for the…

Kosovo says EU's new strategy not clear on its integration

PRISTINA, Kosovo –  Kosovo leaders say the new European Union strategy on the Western Balkans discriminates against their country and does not take into consideration its successes. The European Union on Tuesday urged Balkan countries to resolve their disputes before…

Finnish police: Knife attacker identified with IS

HELSINKI –  Finnish police say the Moroccan asylum-seeker who killed two people and injured eight others in last year's stabbing attack in southwestern Finland identified strongly with the Islamic State group and was motivated largely by hatred after heavy bombardments…

Thousands of African migrants protest Israeli deportations

HERZLIYA, Israel –  Thousands of African asylum seekers are protesting an Israeli plan to deport them. Israel says thousands of migrants have 60 days to accept an offer to leave the country for an unnamed African destination — known to…

European Parliament dismisses its Polish vice president

BRUSSELS –  The European Parliament has voted to dismiss one of its vice presidents, Ryszard Czarnecki of Poland, after he compared a rival Polish parliament member to a Nazi collaborator. Last month Czarnecki called Roza Thun, a European Parliament lawmaker…

Orangutan shot with air gun 130 times in 2nd Borneo killing

JAKARTA, Indonesia –  A male orangutan on the Indonesian part of Borneo died after being shot at least 130 times with an air gun, the second known killing of a critically endangered orangutan this year. Villagers spotted the wounded orangutan…

The Latest: EU to meet Turkey March 26 to discuss relations

ANKARA, Turkey –  The Latest on relations between Turkey and the European Union (all times local): 2:45 p.m. The European Commission says top EU officials will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on March 26 to discuss their ties,…

Turkey says it has met criteria for visa free travel to EU

ANKARA, Turkey –  A senior official in Turkey says the country has fulfilled all 72 requirements set by the European Union to secure visa-free travel for Turkish citizens to the bloc. Ibrahim Kalin, spokesman for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said…

Romania: AIDS movie that drew protests to be rescreened

BUCHAREST, Romania –  The Romanian distributors of a French movie about AIDS say it will be shown again after a screening was disrupted by religious protesters. Filmmaker Cristian Mungiu said Wednesday "120 Beats Per Minute" would be shown on Feb.…

French jihadis held in Syria and Iraq to be tried there

PARIS –  French foreign minister Jean-Yves le Drian says the French citizens who fought with the Islamic State group before being arrested in Syria or Iraq will be judged by local authorities. Speaking to BFM TV channel, Le Drian said…

Fire breaks out in hotel in downtown Berlin

BERLIN –  German officials say a hotel in Berlin's central Potsdamer Platz has been evacuated after a fire broke out on an upper floor of the 11-story building. Fire department spokesman Andreas Ohlwein told The Associated Press Wednesday the fire…