8 EU members say conditions in Syria should be reassessed to allow voluntary refugee returns

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The governments of eight European Union member states said Friday the situation in Syria should be re-evaluated to allow for the voluntary return of Syrian refugees back to their homeland. In a joint declaration, officials from Austria, the Czech Republic,...

Shaken by the Fico assassination attempt, the EU wonders if June elections can be free of violence

BRUSSELS (AP) — In an increasingly vitriolic political climate, the last thing needed in the runup to the June European Union elections was an assassination attempt on one of the bloc’s most controversial figures. As Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico lay recovering from...

Facebook and Instagram face fresh EU digital scrutiny over child safety measures

LONDON (AP) — The European Union opened fresh investigations Thursday into Facebook and Instagram over suspicions that they're failing to protect children online, in violation of the bloc's strict digital regulations for social media platforms. It's the latest round of scrutiny...

Georgia's leader says a divisive media bill passed by lawmakers is unacceptable and she'll veto it

TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — A controversial media bill passed this week by Georgia's parliament is “unacceptable” and will be vetoed, President Salome Zourabichvili said Thursday, reaffirming her opposition to a measure that critics describe as a threat to free speech. In an...

Majority of EU nations want more partnerships to stem migration from countries of origin

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A majority of European Union members are calling for more agreements with countries where migrants depart from or travel through to get to Europe, saying the bloc needs to think outside the box to tackle irregular migration into the 27-member bloc. The...

Shooting of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico sends shockwaves across Europe

The shooting Wednesday of Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico in the town of Handlova following a political event sent shockwaves across Europe three weeks before EU parliament elections are scheduled to be held. Leaders from across the political divide denounced the apparent...

As countries tighten anti-gay laws, more and more LGBTQ+ migrants seek safety and asylum in Europe

RIETI, Italy (AP) — Ella Anthony knew it was time to leave her native Nigeria when she escaped an abusive, forced marriage only to face angry relatives who threatened to turn her in to police because she was gay. Since Nigeria criminalizes same-sex relationships, Anthony fled a...

At summit with Putin, Xi says China hopes Europe will return to peace soon and that China will play a constructive role

Open letter before European Parliament election: Prioritize democracy as authoritarianism grows

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Nearly 300 signatories have signed an open 10-point letter before next month's European Parliament election, saying lawmakers should be putting democracy at the top of their agenda in an increasingly authoritarian world. The letter, which was released on...

Senators urge $32 billion in emergency spending on AI after finishing yearlong review

WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan group of four senators led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is recommending that Congress spend at least $32 billion over the next three years to develop artificial intelligence and place safeguards around it, writing in a report released Wednesday that the U.S....