Ukrainian court puts an Orthodox leader under house arrest
April 1, 2023 GMTKYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A Kyiv court ordered a leading priest to be put under house arrest Saturday after Ukraine's top security agency said he was suspected of justifying Russian aggression, a criminal offense.
Russia-Ukraine war: Will there be a spring counteroffensive?
April 1, 2023 GMTEurope’s biggest armed conflict since World War II is poised to enter a new phase in the coming weeks.
With no suggestion of a negotiated end to the 13 months of fighting between Russia and Ukraine, the Ukrainian defense minister said last week that a spring counteroffensive could begin as soon as April.
Credit Suisse takeover hits heart of Swiss banking, identity
April 1, 2023 GMTGENEVA (AP) — The UBS takeover of embattled rival Credit Suisse has shaken Switzerland’s self-image and dented its reputation as a global financial center, analysts say, warning that the country’s prosperity could grow too dependent on a single banking behemoth.
Pope Francis leaves hospital; ‘Still alive,’ he quips
April 1, 2023 GMTROME (AP) — A chipper-sounding Pope Francis was discharged Saturday from the Rome hospital where he was treated for bronchitis, quipping to journalists before being driven away that he's “still alive.”
Chaplains made part of Ukraine’s military as war drags on
April 1, 2023 GMTKYIV, Ukraine (AP) — To the haunting chants of a church choir in Kyiv’s 11th century Saint Sophia Cathedral, the first group of chaplains to join the Ukrainian military’s command structure graduated in a ceremony Saturday.
Norwegian Arctic area to be evacuated due deadly avalanches
April 1, 2023 GMTHELSINKI (AP) — Norwegian authorities said Saturday they would evacuate an area in northern Norway where avalanches and landslides have killed four people, including tourists from Slovenia and Italy.
Moscow prison for US reporter was used in Stalin’s purges
March 31, 2023 GMTLefortovo prison, where American journalist Evan Gershkovich has been jailed on espionage charges, dates from the czarist era and has been a terrifying symbol of repression since Soviet times.
Lourdes shrine reviewing mosaics after Jesuit abuse claims
March 31, 2023 GMTROME (AP) — Officials at the Catholic shrine in Lourdes announced the creation of a study group Friday to decide what to do with one of the French sanctuary’s most famous but now controversial attractions: mosaics by a Jesuit artist who has been sanctioned by the Vatican and his religious order for sexually, spiritually and psychologically abusing women.
Russia might put strategic nukes in Belarus, leader says
March 31, 2023 GMTTALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Russian strategic nuclear weapons might be deployed to Belarus along with part of Russia's tactical nuclear arsenal, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Friday, ramping up his rhetoric amid tensions with the West over the Kremlin's war in Ukraine.
Charles wins hearts in Germany as soft power pays off
April 1, 2023 GMTBERLIN (AP) — King Charles III won plenty of hearts during his three-day visit to Germany, his first foreign trip since ascending to the throne following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, last year.
UK travelers face hours-long waits for ferries to France
April 1, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — British vacation travelers were stuck in hours-long lines as they tried to cross the English Channel on Saturday, with the Port of Dover in England blaming the delays on bad weather, heavy traffic and processing delays by French authorities.
Romania: Andrew Tate’s detention replaced with house arrest
March 31, 2023 GMTBUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Andrew Tate, the divisive internet personality who has spent months in a Romanian jail on suspicion of organized crime and human trafficking, has won an appeal to replace his detention with house arrest, an official said Friday.
Italy temporarily blocks ChatGPT over privacy concerns
March 31, 2023 GMTROME (AP) — Italy is temporarily blocking the artificial intelligence software ChatGPT in the wake of a data breach as it investigates a possible violation of stringent European Union data protection rules, the government's privacy watchdog said Friday.
Ukraine marks grim Bucha anniversary, calls for justice
March 31, 2023 GMTBUCHA, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainians marked the anniversary of the liberation of Bucha Friday with calls for remembrance and justice after a brutal Russian occupation that left hundreds of civilians dead in the streets and in mass graves, establishing the town near Kyiv as an epicenter of the war's atrocities.
Vatican: Pope OK to leave hospital, has pizza, baptizes baby
March 31, 2023 GMTROME (AP) — Pope Francis has been cleared by doctors for discharge on Saturday from the Rome hospital where he was treated for bronchitis, the Vatican said, adding that the pontiff had pizza one evening with medical staff and baptized a baby in the pediatrics ward.
Greece’s PM makes border wall extension an election pledge
March 31, 2023 GMTTHESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Greece’s prime minister promised Friday to extend an existing wall across all of the country’s land border with Turkey as he campaigned for the country's general election.
Several injured as 2 Swiss regional trains derail in storm
March 31, 2023 GMTBERLIN (AP) — Two regional trains in Switzerland derailed in separate incidents, injuring more than a dozen people Friday after a storm brought high winds and strong rains to the small Alpine nation, police said.
Europe’s inflation eases to 6.9% as energy falls but food up
March 31, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — Inflation in the 20 countries that use the euro currency slowed to the lowest level in a year as energy prices dropped, but food costs were still on the rise, keeping pressure on the European Central Bank to hike interest rates further.
Ukraine’s neighbors call on EU to address farm produce glut
March 31, 2023 GMTWARSAW, Poland (AP) — The leaders of five European Union members helping the transit of Ukrainian farm produce to third countries on Friday called for EU action over a glut that resulted from the goods not leaving for their destinations, bringing down prices in their own markets and angering farmers.
Greece: Suspects in foiled Passover attack appear in court
March 31, 2023 GMTATHENS, Greece (AP) — Two men accused of planning a Passover attack on a Jewish center in central Athens appeared in court Friday to answer to terrorism charges and were ordered to remain in pre-trial detention, authorities said.
Finland’s NATO membership: What’s next?
March 31, 2023 GMTHELSINKI (AP) — Finland received the green light to join NATO when Turkey ratified the Nordic country’s membership late Thursday, becoming the last country in the 30-member Western military alliance to sign off.
Finland’s young leader is popular but faces tough reelection
March 31, 2023 GMTHELSINKI (AP) — A parliamentary election in Finland on Sunday is shaping up as an extremely close race between three parties as Prime Minister Sanna Marin's Social Democrats fight to secure a second term running the government.
Charles III commorates WWII dead, child refugees in Hamburg
March 31, 2023 GMTBERLIN (AP) — King Charles III commemorated the more than 30,000 people, mostly German civilians, who were killed in the Allied bombing of Hamburg almost 80 years ago as he visited the northern city Friday on the last leg of his first foreign trip since becoming monarch.
Cyprus, Greece, Israel: East Med energy source for Europe
March 31, 2023 GMTNICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The eastern Mediterranean can provide a key energy corridor to Europe through a planned electricity cable connecting the power grids of Cyprus, Greece and Israel and a potential natural gas pipeline, the three countries' top diplomats said Friday.
Norway makes country’s largest-ever cocaine seizure in Oslo
March 31, 2023 GMTCOPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Police made the largest-ever cocaine seizure in Norway when they discovered 800 kilograms (1,760 pounds) of the drug in boxes of fruit in Oslo, officials said.
Norwegian news agency NTB said late Thursday that the drugs were found this week following a tipoff from German police who seized 1,200 kilograms (2,645 pounds) in Potsdam on Tuesday.
EU official says major aid to Lebanon depends on IMF deal
March 31, 2023 GMTBEIRUT (AP) — A European Union official visiting Lebanon said Friday that the international body will increase its humanitarian assistance to the crisis-struck country, but that more significant long-term aid depends on reforms and a deal with the International Monetary Fund.
Finland’s NATO membership: What’s next?
March 31, 2023 GMTHELSINKI (AP) — Finland received the green light to join NATO when Turkey ratified the Nordic country's membership late Thursday, becoming the last country in the 30-member Western military alliance to sign off.
AP Week in Pictures: Europe and Africa
March 31, 2023 GMTMarch 23-30, 2023
From protests against the raising of the retirement age in France to Kamala Harris’ visit to Ghana and Belgium beating Germany in an international friendly soccer match in Colgone, this photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published in the past week by The Associated Press from Europe and Africa.
Montenegro vote pits incumbent president against new blood
March 31, 2023 GMTPODGORICA, Montenegro (AP) — Voters in small Montenegro go to the polls this weekend to choose their next president in a runoff between pro-Western incumbent Milo Djukanovic and Jakov Milatovic, a newcomer supported by the shaky governing coalition with links to neighboring Serbia.
Poor Albanian town pins tourism hopes on communist tunnels
March 31, 2023 GMTKUKES, Albania (AP) — If you'd like to walk for miles in concrete burrows built to defend an isolationist totalitarian regime that nobody wanted to attack, Kukes in northeastern Albania is the place for you.
Russia arrests Wall Street Journal reporter on spying charge
March 31, 2023 GMTRussia's security service arrested an American reporter for The Wall Street Journal on espionage charges, the first time a U.S. correspondent has been detained on spying accusations since the Cold War.
UK agrees to join Pacific trade pact in post-Brexit deal
March 31, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — The U.K. has agreed to join an Asia-Pacific trade pact that includes Japan, Mexico and Australia — the biggest new trade deal Britain has struck since leaving the European Union three years ago.
Turkey’s parliament ratifies Finland’s membership in NATO
March 30, 2023 GMTANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s parliament on Thursday ratified Finland’s application to join NATO, lifting the last hurdle in the way of the Nordic country’s long-delayed accession into the Western military alliance.
American detained in Russia a ‘brave, committed’ journalist
March 30, 2023 GMTWorking as a journalist in Moscow seemed a natural fit for Evan Gershkovich, the son of immigrants from the Soviet Union who grew up speaking Russian at home in Princeton, N.J.
After he graduated in 2014 from Bowdoin College, one of the country’s most selective schools, however, “it took me awhile to figure out that journalism was the career for me,” he said in a 2020 interview on the school's website.
Transcript of AP interview with Volodymyr Zelenskyy
March 30, 2023 GMTON A TRAIN FROM SUMY TO KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — AP Executive Editor Julie Pace interviewed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Zelenskyy visited the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, which still faces regular shelling from Russian forces, and northern towns in the Sumy region that were liberated shortly after the war began a year ago.
Pope showing ‘marked improvement,’ could leave hospital soon
March 30, 2023 GMTROME (AP) — Pope Francis showed a “marked improvement” Thursday after being given intravenous antibiotics for a bronchitis infection and could be released from the hospital in the coming days, the Vatican and his doctors reported.
Prince Harry back in court for phone hacking hearing finale
March 30, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — A London judge said Thursday he would rule as soon as possible on whether to throw out or limit a phone hacking lawsuit brought by Prince Harry, Elton John and other well-known figures against a British tabloid publisher.
Horses came to American West by early 1600s, study finds
March 30, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The horse is symbolic of the American West, but when and how domesticated horses first reached the region has long been a matter of historical debate.
A new analysis of horse bones gathered from museums across the Great Plains and northern Rockies has revealed that horses were present in the grasslands by the early 1600s, earlier than many written histories suggest.
US: Russia seeks arms-for-food deal with North Korea
March 30, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Thursday said it has new evidence that Russia is looking again to North Korea for weapons to fuel the war in Ukraine, this time in a deal that would provide Pyongyang with needed food and other commodities in return.
Belarus detains Russian dad convicted in antiwar art case
March 30, 2023 GMTTALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Authorities in Belarus said Thursday they have detained a fugitive single father who escaped house arrest in neighboring Russia shortly before he was convicted of discrediting the army and sentenced to prison following his daughter's antiwar sketch at school.
Vatican rejects doctrine that fueled centuries of colonialism
March 30, 2023 GMTVATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican on Thursday responded to Indigenous demands and formally repudiated the “Doctrine of Discovery,” the theories backed by 15th-century “papal bulls” that legitimized the colonial-era seizure of Native lands and form the basis of some property laws today.
Greek defense minister to visit Turkey as tension wanes
March 30, 2023 GMTATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s defense minister announced Thursday that he will travel to neighboring Turkey next week as part of an effort to ease tension between the two NATO members, which have long-standing and often volatile disputes.
Veteran actress’ surrogate baby stirs controversy in Spain
March 30, 2023 GMTMADRID (AP) — Spain’s ruling Socialist party said Thursday it will study toughening legislation covering surrogate pregnancies following the revelation that a 68-year-old popular Spanish television celebrity used a surrogate mother in Miami to have a baby.
Macron unveils plan to save water amid climate change toll
March 30, 2023 GMTSAVINES-LE-LAC, France (AP) — President Emmanuel Macron launched a broad plan on Thursday to ensure that France has sovereignty over its water resources, growing increasingly scarce because of climate change, challenging farmers, drying lakes and leaving some households without water running from their faucets.
In Germany, Charles III makes organic ‘king cheese’
March 30, 2023 GMTBERLIN (AP) —
After schmoozing with Berlin's political elite in the morning, King Charles III headed to the German countryside for a down-to-earth afternoon visit at an organic farm, where Britain's monarch helped make an orange-colored cheese with a crown imprint.
King Charles III addresses German parliament, meets Scholz
March 30, 2023 GMTBERLIN (AP) — King Charles III became the first monarch to address Germany's parliament, the Bundestag, on Thursday as part of a high-profile visit by the U.K.
Russia to keep missile test notices under Cold War-era deal
March 30, 2023 GMTMOSCOW (AP) — Russia will continue to give the U.S. advance notice about its missile tests despite suspending the last remaining nuclear arms treaty between the two countries, a top Russian diplomat said Thursday.
Germany criticizes Russian role in French nuclear fuel plant
March 30, 2023 GMTBERLIN (AP) — German officials have criticized plans by French firm Framatome to produce nuclear fuel in a joint venture with Russia's Rosatom at a facility in western Germany, and said Thursday that they will consider whether an application to do so can be rejected.
Police shooting of Black man referred to UK prosecutors
March 30, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — Britain's police watchdog asked prosecutors Thursday to decide whether to charge a police officer over the fatal shooting of an unarmed Black man in London last year.
Chris Kaba died after an officer fired a single gunshot through the windshield of the car the 24-year-old was driving in a residential area of south London on Sept.
French foreign minister hopes Sweden, Finland join NATO soon
March 30, 2023 GMTVILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — France's top diplomat said Thursday that she hoped the NATO applications of Sweden and Finland would be “ratified quickly,” as the Turkish parliament was expected to vote soon on whether Finland should join the 30-member alliance.
Anti-torture body decries use of violence, dogs on migrants
March 30, 2023 GMTBRUSSELS (AP) — Europe’s anti-torture monitor said Thursday that police and border guards in some countries are using violence, dogs and the humiliation of stripping migrants of their clothing to drive them back across borders, and routinely deprive people of their right to apply for international protection.
Blinken compares Bosnia Serb leader to Putin
March 30, 2023 GMTSARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has compared the policies of the Bosnia Serb separatist leader to those of Russian President Vladimir Putin following his moves to curb dissent and LGBTQ rights.
EU chief urges caution in tech trade with China
March 30, 2023 GMTBRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union must be prepared to develop measures to protect trade and investment that China might exploit for its own security and military purposes, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned on Thursday.
4 bankers convicted over Swiss account of longtime Putin pal
March 30, 2023 GMTGENEVA (AP) — Four former bankers with the Swiss affiliate of a key Russian bank were found guilty Thursday of failing to properly check accounts opened in the name of a Russian cellist with longtime ties to President Vladimir Putin.
Finland says Russia spy operations weakened in Nordic nation
March 30, 2023 GMTHELSINKI (AP) — Expulsions of Russian intelligence officers and visa refusals have substantially weakened Moscow’s intelligence operations in neighboring Finland in the past year, the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service said Thursday.
Climate change helps breed springtime wildfires in Spain
March 30, 2023 GMTBARCELONA, Spain (AP) — In his more than a decade battling wildfires, firefighter Manuel Rubio had never seen a blaze like the one that raged for the past week in eastern Spain. Not this early in the year.
EU reaches provisional deal to raise renewable energy target
March 30, 2023 GMTBRUSSELS (AP) — European Union countries and negotiators from the EU's parliament reached a provisional deal Thursday to raise the share of renewables in the bloc's energy mix, another step to accelerate its green transition.
Ukraine by rail: Inside Zelenskyy’s efforts to buoy a nation
On a train in UkraineMarch 30, 2023 GMTZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) — The caravan of unmarked vehicles tears across the muddy grass next to the playground. On the merry-go-round, the children stop swinging and spinning. The curious — parents and other residents of this southeastern town — gather around.
Takeaways from AP’s interview with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy
March 30, 2023 GMTON BOARD A TRAIN FROM SUMY TO KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A team of journalists from The Associated Press spent two days traveling by train with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as he visited the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, which still faces regular shelling from Russian forces, and northern towns in the Sumy region that were liberated shortly after the war began a year ago.
UN agency warns of rising combat near Ukraine nuclear plant
March 29, 2023 GMTDNIPRO, Ukraine (AP) — The head of the U.N.’s atomic energy watchdog crossed the front line in the war in Ukraine to visit Europe's largest nuclear power plant Wednesday, and warned that it was easy to see evidence of intensified fighting in the area that poses a threat to the facility's safety.
Austria urges North Macedonia to end dispute on constitution
March 29, 2023 GMTSKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — Austria's president on Wednesday urged rival political parties in North Macedonia to end a dispute over a proposed amendment to the constitution, as European Union leaders continue to encourage the small Balkan country to clear hurdles toward membership in the bloc.
UN seeks court opinion on climate in win for island states
March 29, 2023 GMTThe countries of the United Nations led by the island state of Vanuatu adopted what they called a historic resolution Wednesday calling for the U.N.'s highest court to strengthen countries' obligations to curb warming and protect communities from climate disaster.
EU slams prison term for Russian father in antiwar art case
March 29, 2023 GMTTALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Russia's prosecution of a single father whose daughter drew an antiwar sketch at school elicited outrage from the European Union on Wednesday, even as the man, who fled house arrest before the verdict was announced, remained at large.
Pope Francis hospitalized with respiratory infection
March 29, 2023 GMTVATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis was hospitalized with a respiratory infection Wednesday after experiencing difficulty breathing in recent days and will remain in the Rome hospital for several days of treatment, the Vatican said.
Russia stops sharing missile test info with US, opens drills
March 29, 2023 GMTMOSCOW (AP) — Russia will no longer give the U.S. advance notice about its missile tests as envisioned under a nuclear pact the Kremlin has suspended, a senior Moscow diplomat said Wednesday, as its military rolled missile launchers across Siberia in a show of the country’s massive nuclear capability amid fighting in Ukraine.
King Charles III makes world debut as tour starts in Germany
March 29, 2023 GMTBERLIN (AP) — King Charles III arrived in Berlin on Wednesday for his first foreign trip as Britain’s monarch, hoping to improve the U.K.'s relations with the European Union and show he can win hearts and minds abroad, just as his mother did for seven decades.
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy is ‘ready’ for Chinese leader to visit
March 29, 2023 GMTON A TRAIN FROM SUMY TO KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's president invited his powerful Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, to visit his nation, saying they haven't been in contact since the war began and he is “ready to see him here.”
Mexico probes 4 marines found protecting Russian migrants
March 29, 2023 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s Navy said Wednesday it has placed four marines under investigation after they were allegedly found providing protection for a group of undocumented Russian migrants.
The Navy said the four marines were assigned temporarily to the quasi-military National Guard when the incident occurred.
Long Paris trash strike ends, workers face daunting cleanup
March 29, 2023 GMTPARIS (AP) — Striking sanitation workers in Paris began returning to work Wednesday, ending one of the most enduring symbols of opposition to French President Emmanuel Marcon’s unpopular pension bill, as nationwide protests also appeared to be winding down.
UBS brings back Ermotti as CEO with Credit Suisse deal ahead
March 29, 2023 GMTGENEVA (AP) — UBS said Wednesday that it's bringing back former CEO Sergio Ermotti to lead the Swiss bank as it executes a government-orchestrated plan to take over struggling rival Credit Suisse.
Founding member of pope’s child protection board resigns
March 29, 2023 GMTVATICAN CITY (AP) — A founding member of Pope Francis’ child protection advisory board resigned Wednesday, citing a host of problems inside the commission and in its relationship with the Vatican bureaucracy.
Ukrainian grain inflow triggers protests in Poland, Bulgaria
March 29, 2023 GMTWARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s agriculture minister promised financial support from the government and the European Union and easier rules for constructing grain storage as he met Wednesday with farmers angered by falling grain prices.
Should U.S. airlines pay passengers for delays like the EU?
March 29, 2023 GMTSouthwest Airlines spent the early part of 2023 trying to make good after a historic meltdown resulted in more than 16,700 canceled flights during the 2022 holidays. The airline reimbursed passengers for the cost of alternative travel arrangements and sent many travelers additional loyalty points.
Prince Harry blames royal family for delay in hacking suit
March 29, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — Prince Harry blamed the royal family for a delay in bringing a phone hacking lawsuit against the publisher of The Daily Mail as lawyers for the newspaper argued Wednesday that the case should be thrown out because he didn't file it soon enough.
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy: Any Russian victory could be perilous
AP ExclusiveMarch 29, 2023 GMTON A TRAIN FROM SUMY TO KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Tuesday that unless his nation wins a drawn-out battle in a key eastern city, Russia could begin building international support for a deal that could require Ukraine to make unacceptable compromises.
Swiss seniors take government to European court over climate
March 29, 2023 GMTSTRASBOURG, France (AP) — A group of Swiss retirees took their government to a top European court Wednesday over what they claim is its failure to take sufficient action on climate change.
Lawyers and members of the group Senior Women for Climate Protection appeared before the European Court of Human Rights for a rare public hearing that activists say could mark a legal milestone in efforts to force governments to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
UK to house thousands of asylum seekers in ex-military bases
March 29, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — Britain's government said Wednesday it was planning to house thousands of asylum seekers in two disused military bases, the latest in a series of measures to discourage migrants from crossing the English Channel to U.K.
Portugal: Muslim center stabbings not seen as terror attack
March 29, 2023 GMTLISBON, Portugal (AP) — Authorities in Portugal said Wednesday that the fatal stabbings of two women at an Ismaili Muslim center in Lisbon was not being treated as a potential act of terrorism.
Top EU official switches jobs as Qatar questions linger
March 29, 2023 GMTBRUSSELS (AP) — A top European Union transport official who accepted free flights and accommodation in Qatar has been transferred to another post at his own request, the European Commission said Wednesday, but it remains unclear whether the man is suspected of any wrongdoing.
Sweden summons Russian envoy over ‘retaliation’ remark
March 29, 2023 GMTCOPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Sweden’s Foreign Ministry summoned Russia's ambassador Wednesday after Moscow’s diplomatic mission in Stockholm said the Scandinavian country would become a “legitimate target for Russia’s retaliatory measures” if it joined NATO.