world news

Ally or rival? Macron to visit Trump on US visit late April

PARIS –  President Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron will get another chance to test their tough handshakes and argue over climate change when the French president visits Washington in April. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Wednesday on BFM…

DNA suggests 10,000-year-old Brit had dark skin, blue eyes

LONDON –  Researchers say DNA from a 10,000-year-old skeleton found in an English cave suggests he had dark skin and blue eyes. Scientists from Britain's Natural History Museum and University College London have analyzed the genome of "Cheddar Man," who…

The Latest: South Africa deputy expects 'speedy resolution'

JOHANNESBURG –  The Latest on South Africa's political turmoil (all times local): 2:40 p.m. The deputy of South African President Jacob Zuma says he anticipates a "speedy resolution" to his talks with the president about a power transition. Deputy President…

The Latest: Chemical weapon watchdog probing Syria attacks

BEIRUT –  The Latest on the situation in Syria (all times local): 2:35 p.m. The global chemical weapons watchdog says it is investigating recent allegations of chemical weapons use in Syria. In a statement on Wednesday, the Organization for the…

Kosovo says EU's new strategy not clear on its integration

PRISTINA, Kosovo –  Kosovo leaders say the new European Union strategy on the Western Balkans discriminates against their country and does not take into consideration its successes. The European Union on Tuesday urged Balkan countries to resolve their disputes before…

Finnish police: Knife attacker identified with IS

HELSINKI –  Finnish police say the Moroccan asylum-seeker who killed two people and injured eight others in last year's stabbing attack in southwestern Finland identified strongly with the Islamic State group and was motivated largely by hatred after heavy bombardments…

Thousands of African migrants protest Israeli deportations

HERZLIYA, Israel –  Thousands of African asylum seekers are protesting an Israeli plan to deport them. Israel says thousands of migrants have 60 days to accept an offer to leave the country for an unnamed African destination — known to…

European Parliament dismisses its Polish vice president

BRUSSELS –  The European Parliament has voted to dismiss one of its vice presidents, Ryszard Czarnecki of Poland, after he compared a rival Polish parliament member to a Nazi collaborator. Last month Czarnecki called Roza Thun, a European Parliament lawmaker…

Orangutan shot with air gun 130 times in 2nd Borneo killing

JAKARTA, Indonesia –  A male orangutan on the Indonesian part of Borneo died after being shot at least 130 times with an air gun, the second known killing of a critically endangered orangutan this year. Villagers spotted the wounded orangutan…

The Latest: EU to meet Turkey March 26 to discuss relations

ANKARA, Turkey –  The Latest on relations between Turkey and the European Union (all times local): 2:45 p.m. The European Commission says top EU officials will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on March 26 to discuss their ties,…

Turkey says it has met criteria for visa free travel to EU

ANKARA, Turkey –  A senior official in Turkey says the country has fulfilled all 72 requirements set by the European Union to secure visa-free travel for Turkish citizens to the bloc. Ibrahim Kalin, spokesman for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said…

Romania: AIDS movie that drew protests to be rescreened

BUCHAREST, Romania –  The Romanian distributors of a French movie about AIDS say it will be shown again after a screening was disrupted by religious protesters. Filmmaker Cristian Mungiu said Wednesday "120 Beats Per Minute" would be shown on Feb.…

French jihadis held in Syria and Iraq to be tried there

PARIS –  French foreign minister Jean-Yves le Drian says the French citizens who fought with the Islamic State group before being arrested in Syria or Iraq will be judged by local authorities. Speaking to BFM TV channel, Le Drian said…

Fire breaks out in hotel in downtown Berlin

BERLIN –  German officials say a hotel in Berlin's central Potsdamer Platz has been evacuated after a fire broke out on an upper floor of the 11-story building. Fire department spokesman Andreas Ohlwein told The Associated Press Wednesday the fire…

Pope Francis praises Koreas' Olympic cooperation

ROME –  Pope Francis is praising the decision of North and South Korea to compete alongside each other at the Winter Olympics, saying it shows that conflicts can be resolved peacefully through dialogue and mutual respect. Francis sent a special…

Pakistan sentences man to death in student's lynching

HARIPUR, Pakistan –  A Pakistani court has sentenced a man to death over the lynching of a 23-year-old university student who was falsely accused of blasphemy. Mohammad Mashal Khan was killed by a mob on his university campus in April…

Former Afghan leader urges sanctions on Pakistan officials

KABUL, Afghanistan –  Afghanistan's former president has lashed out at both the United States and Pakistan, accusing them of using the Afghan war to further their own interests and calling on Washington to sanction Pakistani military and intelligence officials. In…

Aid groups: 8,500 Syrians still held in Jordanian no-go camp

AZRAQ REFUGEE CAMP, Jordan –  International aid groups say about 8,500 Syrians are still locked up behind barbed wire in a no-go section of Jordan's second-largest refugee camp, despite initial assurances in 2016 the arrangement is temporary. The Jordan INGO…

Aid groups: 8,500 Syrians still held in Jordanian no-go camp

AZRAQ REFUGEE CAMP, Jordan –  International aid groups say about 8,500 Syrians are still locked up behind barbed wire in a no-go section of Jordan's second-largest refugee camp, despite initial assurances in 2016 the arrangement is temporary. The Jordan INGO…

The Latest: Session to re-election Puigdemont postponed

MADRID –  The Latest on the political crisis in Catalonia (all times local): 10:30 a.m. The speaker of Catalonia's parliament has postponed a session intended to re-elect the Spanish region's fugitive ex-president. Roger Torrent announced the decision Tuesday, hours before…

The Latest: Session to re-election Puigdemont postponed

MADRID –  The Latest on the political crisis in Catalonia (all times local): 10:30 a.m. The speaker of Catalonia's parliament has postponed a session intended to re-elect the Spanish region's fugitive ex-president. Roger Torrent announced the decision Tuesday, hours before…

The Latest: Russia says its Syria meeting in Sochi delayed

BEIRUT –  The Latest on the war in Syria, Turkey's offensive against the Syrian Kurdish militia in the enclave of Afrin and (all times local): 11:20 a.m. A Russian diplomat says the opening of a Russia-sponsored peace conference for Syria…

The Latest: Russia says its Syria meeting in Sochi delayed

BEIRUT –  The Latest on the war in Syria, Turkey's offensive against the Syrian Kurdish militia in the enclave of Afrin and (all times local): 11:20 a.m. A Russian diplomat says the opening of a Russia-sponsored peace conference for Syria…