Latest Europe News

Sweden close to becoming first 'smoke free' country in Europe as daily use of cigarettes dwindles
STOCKHOLM (AP) — Summer is in the air, cigarette smoke is not, in Sweden's outdoor bars and restaurants. As the World Health Organization marks “World No Tobacco Day” on Wednesday, Sweden, which has the lowest rate of smoking in the Europe Union, is close to declaring itself...

Efforts to defuse Kosovo crisis intensify amid more protests
ZVECAN, Kosovo (AP) — International efforts to defuse a crisis in Kosovo intensified Wednesday as ethnic Serbs held more protests in a northern town where recent clashes with NATO-led peacekeepers sparked fears of renewed conflict in the troubled region. Hundreds of Serbs repeated...

US, Europe working on voluntary AI code of conduct as calls grow for regulation
LONDON (AP) — The United States and Europe are drawing up a voluntary code of conduct for artificial intelligence, a top European Union official said Wednesday, as the developing technology triggers warnings about the risks it poses to humanity and growing calls for regulation. The...

EU aspirant Moldova prepares to host major international summit
CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — European leaders started gathering in Moldova Wednesday on the eve of a sprawling summit aiming to show a united front in the face of Russia's war in Ukraine and underscore support for the Eastern European country’s ambitions to draw closer to the West and keep Moscow...

German inflation slows to 6.1% in May, though food prices are still surging
BERLIN (AP) — German inflation eased to 6.1% in May following several months of declines, even as Europe's biggest economy registered another painful increase in food prices of nearly 15%. Preliminary figures show that the annual inflation rate was lower than the 7.2% registered in...

Auschwitz museum criticizes use of death camp in politics after ruling party uses it in political ad
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial museum has denounced a political spot by Poland's ruling party that uses the theme of the Nazi German extermination camp to discourage participation in an upcoming anti-government march. The state-run museum attacked...

China factory activity slows, adding to economic strains
BEIJING (AP) — China's manufacturing slowdown deepened in May as consumer and export demand weakened, a survey showed Wednesday, adding to signs an economic rebound following the end of anti-virus controls is slowing. Chinese leaders are under pressure to shore up the recovery...

NATO to send 700 more troops to Kosovo to help quell violent protests
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — NATO will send 700 more troops to northern Kosovo to help quell violent protests after clashes with ethnic Serbs there left 30 international soldiers wounded, the alliance announced Tuesday. The latest violence in the region has stirred fear of a renewal of...

Israeli army says Palestinian gunmen kills Israeli civilian in West Bank shooting
JERUSALEM (AP) — Palestinian gunmen shot and killed an Israeli man on Tuesday near the entrance to a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli army said. The Israeli military said the man was shot near the settlement of Hermesh, in the northern West Bank. Local...

US and EU criticize Polish plans for law that could keep opposition from holding office
BRUSSELS (AP) — The United States and the European Union's top justice official on Tuesday criticized Polish plans for a law that they say could keep political opponents from holding public office without them having the full powers to challenge the decision in court. The EU also...
