world news

1 UNICEF worker, 5 others killed in Central African Republic

DAKAR, Senegal –  The United Nations children's agency says one of its workers and five other education workers have been killed in an attack in Central African Republic. UNICEF's West and Central Africa Regional Director Marie-Pierre Poirier says the team…

Poland's Kaczynski reprimanded for saying rivals 'murderers'

WARSAW, Poland –  Polish media are reporting that Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the head of Poland's conservative ruling party, has been reprimanded by a parliamentary ethics committee. The development Wednesday comes in response to an emotional outburst Kaczynski made in parliament last…

Czech man attacked trains, blamed it on Islamic militants

PRAGUE –  Czech authorities have detained a man suspected of carrying out two attacks on trains while blaming them on Islamic militants. State prosecutor Martin Bily said Wednesday that the man is suspected of cutting down two trees that fell…

Swiss government: Pope Francis to visit Geneva this summer

GENEVA –  A Swiss government spokesman says Pope Francis will visit Geneva in June. Federal Council spokesman Andre Simonazzi says details of the June 21 visit are being worked out, adding only that President Alain Berset would welcome Francis. St.…

EU demands that Russia, Iran, Turkey halt Syria fighting

BRUSSELS –  The European Union is demanding that Russia, Iran and Turkey take responsibility for ensuring that the fighting stops in Syria and that a real 30-day halt in fighting is respected. In a letter to the countries' foreign ministers,…

The Latest: Slovak minister resigns after reporter's death

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia –  The Latest on the killing of a Slovak investigative journalist (all times local): 2:40 p.m. Slovakia's culture minister has announced his resignation following the slaying of an investigative journalist and his girlfriend. Marek Madaric, a member of…

The Latest: Cold weather kills mean in Slovenia, Serbia

LONDON –  The Latest on the wintry weather conditions across Europe (all times local): 1 p.m. Serbia and Slovenia have reported their first cold-related deaths in a snap of freezing weather that has gripped much of Europe this week. Slovenia's…

The Latest: Theresa May: EU Irish border plan 'unacceptable'

LONDON –  The Latest on Brexit negotiations (all times local): 12:45 p.m. Prime Minister Theresa May says a European Union proposal for the Irish border after Brexit would "undermine the constitutional integrity of the U.K." and is unacceptable to Britain.…

Trains collide in Egyptian province of Beheira, killing 10

CAIRO –  Egypt's state-run news agency says a train collision in coastal Beheira province has left 10 people dead and 15 others injured. Wednesday's report by the MENA news agency quotes the spokesman of the Health Ministry as saying the…

Sudanese president names new military chief, top commanders

CAIRO –  Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has reshuffled his military command, naming a new chief of staff, as well as leaders of the ground, naval and air forces. His decree, carried by the state-run SUNA news agency late Tuesday, says…

Ethiopian Jews threaten mass hunger strike over Israel move

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia –  Representatives for thousands of Ethiopian Jews say they will stage a mass hunger strike if Israel eliminates funding to allow them to join their families in that country. Hundreds gathered at a synagogue in Ethiopia's capital…

Moroccan knife attacker charged with Finland terror murders

HELSINKI –  Finnish prosecutors say a Moroccan asylum seeker has been charged with two terror-related murders and an attempt to murder eight others during a stabbing attack in the south west of the country last year. The state prosecutor's office…

UN aid agency plans fund-raiser in response to US cuts

JERUSALEM –  The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees says it's holding a special fund-raising conference next month in Rome to make up for a cut in funding by the Trump administration. UNRWA's spokesman Chris Gunness said on Wednesday that Sweden,…

Heavy winter weather batters UK, European mainland

LONDON –  Persistent snow and freezing conditions are causing delays in many parts of Britain, with roads and train service hit particularly hard. Many rail systems were disrupted, in the northern and eastern parts of Britain, and several lines of…

Israel group mints Trump coin to honor Jerusalem recognition

JERUSALEM –  An Israeli organization has minted a coin bearing President Donald Trump's image to honor his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The Mikdash Educational Center says Wednesday that the "Temple Coin" features Trump alongside King Cyrus, who 2,500…

Cyprus: Turkey's gas search blockade prevents peace talks

NICOSIA, Cyprus –  Cyprus' president says a resumption of talks to reunify the ethnically divided island nation is unlikely any time soon because of Turkey's blockade of an offshore gas search and "unacceptable" demands by breakaway Turkish Cypriots. Nicos Anastasiades…

Albania police seize Colombian cocaine from banana shipment

TIRANA, Albania –  Albanian police say they have seized 613 kilograms (1,350 pounds) of cocaine that arrived in the country in a shipment of bananas from Colombia. Top policeman Ardi Veliu on Wednesday said two people were arrested a day…

The Latest: EU negotiator unveils Brexit draft text

LONDON –  The Latest on Brexit negotiations (all times local): 11:35 a.m. European Union Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has unveiled the first draft text of the EU's legal agreement so far with Britain on the country's departure from the bloc…

Egypt's chief prosecutor wants close monitoring of the media

CAIRO –  Egypt's chief prosecutor is reminding his staff to closely monitor the media and start legal action against any outlet that disrupts security or hurts national interests. Wednesday's statement by Nabil Sadeq's office says "forces of evil" — one…

Norway to ban semi-automatic firearms after 2011 attack

COPENHAGEN, Denmark –  Norway is moving to ban semi-automatic firearms as of 2021, which will mark a decade since mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik used such weapons to kill 69 people, most of them teenagers, before surrendering to police. Peter…

German military refuels Iranian FM's plane in Munich

BERLIN –  The German Defense Ministry says the military was called in to refuel the Iranian foreign minister's plane in Munich, after airport workers refused to do it for fear of running afoul of sanctions on Iran. The Defense Ministry…