world news

UN rights chief: Syria siege involved 'war crimes'

UNITED NATIONS –  The U.N. human rights chief told an informal meeting of the Security Council Monday that the Syrian government's five-year siege of the Damascus suburbs of eastern Ghouta has involved "pervasive war crimes," use of chemical weapons and…

The Latest: 8 Security Council members demand Syria action

BEIRUT –  The Latest on the conflict in Syria (all times local): 1 a.m. Eight Security Council nations say it's "imperative" that the U.N. body Council "immediately pursue decisive action" to achieve a cease-fire in Syria if U.N. member states,…

Uruguay prosecutor wants charges against ex vice president

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay –  A prosecutor in Uruguay is asking for formal charges against a former vice president of the South American country. Lawmakers accepted Raul Sendic's resignation last year amid corruption accusations involving his tenure as head of state oil…

Trump Org. partner in India accused of bilking investors

NEW DELHI –  An Indian company that is partnering with the Trump Organization on an office tower project outside New Delhi has been accused of running an elaborate real estate swindle that cheated investors out of nearly $150 million. Documents…

Tunisia: Officials say man blew himself up after standoff

TUNIS, Tunisia –  Tunisia's Interior Ministry says a suspected extremist blew himself up in the Ben Guerdane area near the border with Libya following a standoff with police. The man's identity hasn't been disclosed. The ministry said in a statement…

Mexico rights agency: Police were complicit in 2011 killings

MEXICO CITY –  Mexico's governmental human rights agency says municipal police were complicit in at least 38 abductions and killings in the town of Allende in northern Coahuila state, near the U.S. border. The National Human Rights Commission issued a…

Norwegian aluminum maker apologizes for pollution in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO –  A Norwegian aluminum maker operating in Brazil is apologizing for polluting a river and promising to make changes so that it doesn't happen again. In a statement Monday, the CEO of Norsk Hydro, Svein Richard Brandtzaeg,…

Macedonia overturns terror convictions of ethnic Albanians

SKOPJE, Macedonia –  A Macedonian court has overturned the more than decade-old terrorism convictions of 10 ethnic Albanian men, many of whom served long prison terms over a mine attack on a NATO vehicle. The Skopje criminal ruled that there…

ISIS-linked suspect arrested in Colombia showed hate online

MADRID –  Spanish police say the man suspected of plotting an ISIS-inspired attack in Colombia appeared on their radar for his hate-filled messages toward the United States, a country where he had lived and was allegedly trying to get to.…

Cuba opens wholesale market to sell basic staples

HAVANA –  Cuba has opened up its first wholesale market in an economy dominated by government-run enterprises. State-run newspaper Granma says the market is part of an ongoing effort to "reorganize" commerce on the communist island. The market will sell…

Longtime leader in Montenegro to run for presidency in April

PODGORICA, Montenegro –  Montenegro's ruling party has nominated its leader, who took the tiny Balkan country into NATO in defiance of Russia, to be its candidate in next month's presidential election. The Democratic Party of Socialists' leadership announced the decision…

AP Explains: What's next after Turkey seizes Syria's Afrin

BEIRUT –  Turkey's seizure of the town of Afrin in northern Syria is a significant military achievement for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that gives him control over a large chunk of Syrian territory but also entrenches his troops as…

G-20 ministers convene in Argentina

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina –  Finance ministers and central bankers of G-20 countries are meeting in Argentina at a summit that has been eclipsed by growing concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump's import tariffs on steel and aluminum and the potential…

EU reluctant to amend Iran nuclear pact, sees security risk

BRUSSELS –  The European Union's foreign policy chief says the EU is reluctant to change the landmark nuclear agreement with Iran even as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens to walk away from the pact. Federica Mogherini said Monday after chairing…

Snow, high winds hit Europe; Croatia faces swollen river

Wind and white frost have formed an ice sculpture on Brocken mountain in the Harz region, Germany, Sunday, March 18, 2018.  (Associated Press) BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Emergency crews in Croatia struggled to contain a swollen river that reached record…

UN: Philippines' pullout from ICC is effective in 1 year

UNITED NATIONS –  The United Nations said Monday it received official notification of the Philippines' decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, a move that follows the tribunal's announcement of a preliminary probe of drug suspect killings under the…

Finland: Coast guard gives unsteady fawn a hand off ice

HELSINKI –  A fawn that became stranded on a patch of ice in Finland's Inkoo archipelago has gotten a hand from members of the Finnish coast guard. They spotted the unsteady animal from their hovercraft during a regular patrol on…

Videos show an assured Assad driving himself to Syria battle

BEIRUT –  Smoothly and confidently, Syrian President Bashar Assad merged into traffic at a large roundabout in Damascus before driving himself to the suburbs where his forces are battling rebels. The traffic around him and pedestrians making their way across…

Pope tells 3 new bishops: no politicking, no high society

VATICAN CITY –  Pope Francis is cautioning bishops to avoid politicking, business and high society. Francis elevated to bishops' rank three priests during a ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica on Monday evening. He said bishops should "abandon the temptation to…

Yemeni officials: UAE-backed force expanding reach in south

SANAA, Yemen –  Yemeni security officials say local forces backed by the United Arab Emirates are expanding their reach in the country's south, where they have clashed with forces loyal to the internationally recognized president. The UAE is part of…