world news

Strike affects more than 1,400 public schools in Brazil

SAO PAULO –  The Education Department of Brazil's biggest city says more than 90 percent of the public schools it runs have been affected by a weeklong strike by teachers protesting proposed changes to their pension plans. The department says…

Rights group: Mexican priest gets 63 years for sex abuse

MEXICO CITY –  A Mexican human rights group says a Roman Catholic priest has been sentenced to 63 years in prison for abusing a boy. The Action Group for Human Rights and Social Justice said Tuesdays the conviction and prison…

Romania's president sends integrity law back to Parliament

BUCHAREST, Romania –  Romania's president has sent back to Parliament legislation regulating the integrity of public officials saying it diminishes standards of probity expected of elected officials. President Klaus Iohannis said Wednesday that the measure approved by Parliament in Dec.…

The Latest: German minister backs UK over Russia response

LONDON –  The Latest on the poisoning of a former Russian spy in England (all times local): 4:40 p.m. Germany's new foreign minister says Berlin "can fully and completely understand" why Britain took action over the poisoning of a former…

Facebook removes home page of far-right group Britain First

LONDON –  Facebook has taken down the official home page of the far-right group Britain First along with the pages of its two leaders because they violate the company's standards. The group gained prominence in November when U.S. President Donald…

Libya's top prosecutor says groups smuggling fuel to Europe

BENGHAZI, Libya –  Libya's top prosecutor says criminal groups are smuggling Libyan fuel on board fishing vessels to Europe. Al-Sadiq al-Sour told reporters on Wednesday their investigations revealed that smugglers use sea routes to move subsidized fuel from the western…

Vatican doctors photo of Benedict's praise for Francis

VATICAN CITY –  The Vatican has admitted that it altered a photo sent to the media of a letter from retired Pope Benedict XVI about Pope Francis' theological background. The manipulation changed the meaning of the image. The Vatican's communications…

Israel's 'Hannibal' directive criticized in official report

JERUSALEM –  Israel's government watchdog has taken aim at the military's "Hannibal" directive — a controversial tactic used when soldiers were abducted. The directive, used most recently during a 2014 war in Gaza, authorized the use of heavy fire if…

Slovenia's teachers back on strike in demand of higher wages

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia –  Slovenia's teachers on strike for the second time in a month after failing to reach a deal with the government on higher wages. Many schools and kindergartens remained closed on Wednesday as teachers held street protests in…

Lithuanian lawmaker resigns after surviving impeachment vote

VILNIUS, Lithuania –  A Lithuanian lawmaker resigned Wednesday, a day after surviving an impeachment vote in the Baltic country's parliament for his reported ties to Russia. Mindaugas Bastys, a former Social Democrat-turned-independent, announced his decision hours after Prime Minister Saulius…

UN seeks $540 million for Palestinian aide, mostly for Gaza

BEIT LAHIYA, Gaza Strip –  The United Nations says about $540 million is needed for humanitarian relief in the Palestinian territories in 2018. Jamie McGoldrick, the top U.N. humanitarian coordinator, said Wednesday that 75 percent of that sum is for…

Myanmar says it's ready for UN help with Rohingya return

NAYPYITAW, Myanmar –  Myanmar officials say the time is right to have U.N. agencies become involved in the repatriation of Rohingya refugees who fled to Bangladesh to escape violence against them. Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary Myint Thu said Wednesday that…

Duterte withdraws Philippines from International Criminal Court

Who is Rodrigo Duterte? Fox News takes a look back at some moments in the career of President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines Outspoken Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte made the controversial decision to withdraw his country from the International Criminal…

3 men charged in 1992 killing of top Polish communist

WARSAW, Poland –  Poland's justice minister says three men have been charged with murder in connection with the 1992 deaths of communist-era top official Piotr Jaroszewicz and his wife. The brutal killing of Jaroszewicz, 82, and of Alicja Jaroszewicz, 66,…

EU to limit visas if countries refuse to take back migrants

BRUSSELS –  The European Union moved Wednesday to speed up the return of unauthorized migrants, announcing plans to punish countries that refuse to take back their nationals by restricting visas for their diplomats. While the number of people entering Europe…

The Latest: Syrian patients evacuated from besieged suburb

BEIRUT –  The Latest on the Syria conflict (all times local): 1:15 p.m. Syrian state-run TV is broadcasting footage of patients being evacuated from a besieged region outside the Syrian capital, part of a negotiated deal to allow critical cases…

UN envoys urges Cambodia to heed need for human rights

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia –  The U.N.'s specially appointed researcher on human rights in Cambodia has said it is a mistake for the government of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen to prioritize stability and development over human rights. Professor Rhona Smith,…

Indonesia's Aceh considers beheading as penalty for murder

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia –  The conservative Indonesian province of Aceh known for publicly caning gays, adulterers and gamblers is considering the introduction of beheading as a punishment for murder. The head of Aceh's Shariah Law and Human Rights Office, Syukri…