world news

Expelled Russian diplomats begin trek back to Moscow

Nearly two dozen Russian diplomats expelled by the British government after a military-grade nerve agent attack on an ex-spy in London left for Moscow on Tuesday. The Russian Foreign Ministry said all 23 diplomats ordered to leave Britain were expected…

Father: Jailed Palestinian teen protester in good spirits

RAMALLAH, West Bank –  The father of Palestinian teenage protest leader Ahed Tamimi says he has visited his daughter and wife in an Israeli prison for the first time since they were both arrested in December. Bassem Tamimi says he…

Greece awaits response on Macedonia name dispute proposals

ATHENS, Greece –  The Greek government says it has sent its proposals for the resolution of its dispute with neighboring Macedonia over the former Yugoslav republic's name, and is awaiting a response. The two countries have been at odds for…

Jailed Catalan separatist ready to drop bid to be new leader

MADRID –  Catalan separatist Jordi Sanchez's lawyers say the jailed activist is ready to give up his seat in Catalonia's parliament, which would effectively end his bid to become the region's next leader. The law firm defending Sanchez said the…

Vatican plants 10 chapels for Venice Architecture Biennale

VATICAN CITY –  The Vatican is planting 10 chapels in the woods of one of Venice's lagoon islands for its first-ever contribution to the Venice Architecture Biennale. Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, the Vatican's culture minister, unveiled plans for "Vatican Chapels" on…

Romanian police order toxicology tests on dead journalist

BUCHAREST, Romania –  Romanian police say a well-known journalist who was found dead in his home near Romania's capital likely died of a heart attack but more tests are needed. Police spokesman Ciprian Romanescu told The Associated Press on Tuesday…

Slovenia govt' formally ends term after leader resigns

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia –  Slovenia's government has formally ended its term after the prime minister unexpectedly resigned last week. Parliament on Tuesday formally acknowledged the resignation of Miro Cerar, marking the end of his government's mandate. The government will remain as…

Slovak president rejects proposal for new government

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia –  Slovakia's president has rejected a proposal for a new government following a crisis triggered by the killing of a journalist and his fiancee. Last week, the three-party coalition of Prime Minister Robert Fico resigned following massive street…

UN calls on Turkey to end state of emergency

ANKARA, Turkey –  The United Nations has called on Turkey to end a state of emergency imposed after a 2016 failed coup attempt, saying it has led to "profound" human rights violations. In a report released Tuesday, the U.N. said…

Austrian faces fine for calling police officers 'smurfs'

BERLIN –  An Austrian man faces a 160-euro ($197) fine for describing police officers as "smurfs" in a warning about speed checks posted on Facebook. The Austria Press Agency reported Tuesday that authorities in Tyrol province imposed the fine on…

Moldova: 2 dead in explosion in Moldovan capital

CHISINAU, Moldova –  Moldovan police say two people have died in an explosion in a shop in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau. Police spokeswoman Oxana Tudorita said the blast occurred Tuesday morning when a grenade detonated in a grocery shop in…

EU asylum applications drop to pre-migrant wave levels

BRUSSELS –  The European Union's statistics agency says the number of people applying for asylum in Europe has dropped to levels similar to those recorded before the wave of migrant arrivals in 2015. Eurostat said Tuesday that almost 650,000 people…

Nigeria failed to act on warnings of mass abduction: Report

LAGOS, Nigeria –  Rights group Amnesty International says Nigeria's security forces failed to respond to warnings that extremists were on their way to a town where 110 schoolgirls were abducted last month. A statement on Tuesday cites "credible sources" saying…

Greece: Turkish national runs across border while drunk

THESSALONIKI, Greece –  Greek authorities say a Turkish national who ran across a Greek-Turkish border crossing overnight while apparently drunk has been detained. Police said Tuesday that the 40-year-old man, who is of Kurdish origin, ran across the Kastanies crossing…

ICC: Philippines withdrawal won't affect preliminary probe

THE HAGUE, Netherlands –  The International Criminal Court says the Philippines decision to leave the organization will have no effect on an on-going preliminary probe into possible crimes committed during Manila's war on drugs. Last month, ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda,…

UK households get some relief as inflation dips

LONDON –  Official figures show that inflation in Britain eased markedly in February, a development that will help ease the pressure on households who have seen price rises outstrip wage increases for months. The Office for National Statistics said Tuesday…

Kremlin shrugs off White House refusal to congratulate Putin

MOSCOW –  The Kremlin spokesman says it's no big deal that U.S. President Donald Trump didn't congratulate Vladimir Putin on his re-election as president. Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Tuesday that he doesn't consider Trump's silence an "unfriendly move."…

Pakistani ex-dictator's party seeks security for his return

ISLAMABAD –  The party of Pakistan's former dictator Pervez Musharraf has asked authorities to provide and guarantee security for him when he returns home to face trial for his alleged role in the killing of former premier Benazir Bhutto. Mohammad…