Moldovans are voting in a pivotal presidential runoff. But voter fraud threatens its democracy

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — Moldovan historian and politician Octavian Ticu remembers when the Soviet Union collapsed in the early 1990s, a seismic event that enabled him to become one of the first amateur boxers to fight for his country at the pinnacle of his sport: the Olympic Games. ...

Voters in Liechtenstein withdraw state funding from the country's public radio broadcaster

BERLIN (AP) — Voters in Liechtenstein have voted to withdraw state funding from the tiny country's public radio broadcaster, a decision that leaves the station's future in doubt. In a referendum on Sunday, 55.4% of participants voted to scrap legislation that grants state funding...

Congo's president announces plans for a new constitution. Opposition worried about term limit change

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Congo's President announced a national commission will be set up next year to draft a new constitution for the central African country, raising concern among the opposition over possible altering of the presidential term limit. Felix Tshisekedi was reelected...

King Charles III ends first Australian visit by a reigning British monarch in 13 years

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — King Charles III ends the first visit to Australia by a reigning British monarch in 13 years Tuesday as anti-monarchists hope the debate surrounding his journey is a step toward an Australian citizen becoming head of state. Charles and his wife, Queen...

Moldovans narrowly chose 'yes' in a referendum to secure the country’s EU path, electoral authorities say

Moldovan president appears set to win 1st round of presidential race, but EU vote could be rejected

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — Moldova’s pro-Western president early Monday looked set to win the first round of a presidential race but accused “criminal groups” of undermining a referendum asking voters to decide whether to secure a path toward European Union membership, which risked being...

Qatar's ruler says his nation will vote on abandoning legislative elections after just one poll

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Qatar's ruling emir said Tuesday his small, energy-rich nation will hold a referendum on ending a short-lived experiment in electing members of the country's advisory Shura Council. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani offered no immediate timeline...

Body of Scottish independence champion Alex Salmond soon to be flown home from North Macedonia

SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — The body of Alex Salmond, Scotland's former First Minister who died during a conference in North Macedonia, will soon be returned to Scotland by special flight, an official said Monday. Salmond, who as leader of the Scottish National Party took...

Ex-Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, who nearly got Scotland's independence from UK, dies at 69

LONDON (AP) — Alex Salmond, the former first minister of Scotland who for decades championed Scotland’s independence from the U.K. and nearly accomplished it, has died. He was 69. Salmond, who was one of the most divisive figure in British politics at the turn of the century and...

Kazakhstan faces up to the legacy of Soviet weapons testing in a vote on nuclear power

MOSCOW (AP) — Polls are open in Kazakhstan Sunday for a landmark referendum on building the country’s first nuclear power plant, confronting the country's painful legacy as a testing ground for Soviet nuclear weapons. The proposal is backed by the government and President...