Skip to Content

AP World News

UK foreign secretary visits Syria, renewing ties after 14 years of conflict

By SAMAR KASSABALLI and BASSEM MROUE Associated Press DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — British Foreign Secretary David Lammy met in Damascus on Saturday with Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, marking the restoration of relations after 14 years of tension during Syria’s conflict and Assad family rule. Syria has been improving relations with Western countries following the

Continue Reading

Pope Leo XIV signals continuity on fighting abuse with new head of child protection board

By NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV signaled commitment to continuing the fight against clergy sexual abuse by appointing France’s Bishop Thibault Verny to head the Vatican’s child protection advisory commission on Saturday. Verny, 59, replaces American Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the retired archbishop of Boston. O’Malley was the founding president of

Continue Reading

Europe’s human rights watchdog concerned over use of force against Serbia anti-corruption protesters

By JOVANA GEC Associated Press BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Europe’s human rights watchdog Friday expressed concern that Serbian authorities were using excessive force and arbitrary detentions to break up street protests against the populist government of President Aleksandar Vucic. Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights, said in a statement that “freedom

Continue Reading

UN experts say Rwanda supported rebels in Congo and smuggled minerals at ‘unprecedented levels’

By MONIKA PRONCZUK Associated Press DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Rwanda provided “critical” support to the M23 rebels’ recent offensive in eastern Congo, which helped secure Kigali’s access to minerals and fertile ground, according to a confidential United Nations report seen by The Associated Press. The Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group is the most prominent armed group

Continue Reading

Egypt says Ethiopia’s completed power-generating dam lacks a legally binding agreement

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt said Friday that Ethiopia has consistently lacked the political will to reach a binding agreement on its now-complete dam, an issue that involves Nile River water rights and the interests of Egypt and Sudan. Ethiopia’s prime minister said Thursday that the country’s power-generating dam, known as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam,

Continue Reading

Rome gas station blast that left at least 40 injured could have been worse, says mayor

By GIADA ZAMPANO and PAOLO SANTALUCIA Associated Press ROME (AP) — A gas station explosion early Friday in southeastern Rome injured at least 40 people, including 11 police officers and one firefighter, but immediate rescue intervention avoided a much more tragic outcome, local authorities and rescuers said. The explosion was heard across the Italian capital

Continue Reading

Indonesia suspends search for 29 missing after ferry sinking because of poor visibility

By FIRDIA LISNAWATI Associated Press GILIMANUK, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian authorities deployed navy ships and helicopters Friday in the intensified search for 29 people still missing almost two days after a ferry sank near the tourist island of Bali. But the search was later suspended because of poor visibility. More than 160 rescuers including police

Continue Reading

Firefighters race to contain wildfires in Greece as thousands evacuated, 2 die in Turkey

By DEREK GATOPOULOS and SUZAN FRASER Associated Press ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Firefighters battled blazes Thursday near Athens and on the island of Crete, where thousands were forced to flee holiday resorts, while blazes in neighboring Turkey claimed at least two lives. More than 5,000 tourists, hotel workers and residents were evacuated from the Ierapetra

Continue Reading