world news

France: Le Pen set to field new name for far-right party

PARIS –  French far-right leader Marine Le Pen is set to propose a name change for the National Front, part of a makeover designed to make the anti-immigration party relevant again after she was defeated by Emmanuel Macron in the…

Romania's embattled Social Democrats hold congress

BUCHAREST, Romania –  Romania's ruling Social Democracy party has begun a congress amid criticism of the government and the party chairman's leadership. Some 4,000 party members will elect 16 deputy presidents and a deputy leader at Saturday's meeting. Chairman Liviu…

US, EU, Japan trade chiefs to meet over steel tariffs

BRUSSELS –  The trade chiefs of the European Union and Japan are holding talks about U.S. President Donald Trump's plans to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum amid fears they could trigger a broader trade war. EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia…

As economic problems pile up, Iran cautiously weighs changes

TEHRAN, Iran –  Iran in recent months has been beset by economic problems despite the promises surrounding the 2015 nuclear deal it struck with world powers. Its clerically overseen government is starting to take notice. Politicians now offer the idea…

Tillerson cancels day's events in Africa due to illness

NAIROBI, Kenya –  U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has canceled a day of events in Kenya due to illness. Undersecretary of State Steve Goldstein says Tillerson "is not feeling well after a long couple days working on major issues…

At the border's cloudy edge, Rohingya insist they will stay

ALONG THE BANGLADESH-MYANMAR BORDER –  From their home, a tent hastily erected in a grassy field, the young Muslim Rohingya couple can see the village they left behind last year, fleeing attacks by Buddhist mobs and Myanmar security forces. They…

Timeline of Xi Jinping's rise as China's leader-for-life

BEIJING –  Below are major events in President Xi Jinping's rise as China's potential leader-for-life as the ceremonial legislature prepares to amend the constitution to remove presidential term limits. 1953 — Xi Jinping is born the second son of Xi…

Brazilian prosecutors sue to shut church over forced labor

SAO PAULO –  Brazilian labor prosecutors have filed suit to shut down a church and school with ties to the U.S.-based Word of Faith Fellowship, saying the church and its leaders "reduced people to a condition analogous to slavery." Brazilian…

Judge rejects polygamy law challenge in Canada

CRANBROOK, British Columbia –  A judge has rejected a challenge of Canada's polygamy laws that was launched after two men were found guilty. Winston Blackmore and James Oler were found guilty in British Columbia Supreme Court last July of having…

Turkey: 2 opposition journalists released until trial ends

ANKARA, Turkey –  Turkey's state-run news agency says a court in Istanbul has ordered two journalists for the opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper released from prison pending the conclusion of their trial on terror charges. Anadolu Agency reported that the court ruled…

Trump to attend Summit of the Americas meeting in Peru

LIMA, Peru –  U.S. President Donald Trump will attend the Summit of the Americas regional meeting of Western Hemisphere leaders in Peru. A high-ranking Peruvian government official with direct knowledge of the upcoming event confirmed to The Associated Press on…

Kosovo deputy PM acquitted of war crime charges

PRISTINA, Kosovo –  Kosovo's deputy prime minister has been acquitted of charges that resulted from two slayings during the 1998-99 Kosovo War. Fatmir Limaj was accused in 2016 of failing to prevent the killings of two Albanians in 1998, when…

Trump organization to sue to restore name on Panama hotel

PANAMA CITY –  Lawyers for the Trump Organization in Panama say they will take legal action to restore the Trump name to the Panama City hotel where workers pried off metal letters bearing the brand. On Friday, Britton and Iglesias…

Chile cardinal seeks to deflect criticism for pope's trip

VATICAN CITY –  The retired archbishop of Santiago is trying to deflect criticism for Pope Francis' troubled visit to Chile, blaming everything from the summer weather to an "absentee" spokesman for the lower-than-expected turnout and negative press coverage. Cardinal Javier…

Prosecutors want life sentence for killing of German student

BERLIN –  Prosecutors are demanding a life sentence for an Afghan migrant on trial in Germany for the rape and killing of a 19-year-old medical student in October 2016. Chief prosecutor Eckart Berger told Freiburg's regional court Friday that the…