The Latest: China envoy says halting Syria war good for all

AKCAKALE, Turkey (AP) — The latest on Turkey's invasion of northern Syria (all times local): 11:25 p.m. China's U.N. ambassador says it is "in the general interest of all countries to stop the military action" in northeastern Syria. Zhang Jun commented to reporters Wednesday after the U.N. Security Council...

Brexit talks inch closer to deal before summit

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union and Britain inched ever closer to a Brexit deal on Wednesday, with the leaders of France and Germany saying they expected an agreement could be sealed within a day at an EU summit. Positive vibes radiated from French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela...

The Latest: EU negotiator: Brexit talks make "good progress"

BRUSSELS (AP) — The Latest on Brexit (all times local): 9:15 p.m. EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier says Brexit talks with the UK are making "good progress" as both sides try to finalize a last-minute deal ahead of a meeting of EU leaders. Barnier spoke briefly to reporters as he arrived at the European...

Macron and Merkel try to showcase unity as Brexit looms

TOULOUSE, France (AP) — President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Angela Merkel sought Wednesday to show unity at a meeting in southern France, as the European Union and Britain appeared close to a tentative Brexit deal. "We must show that ... we, Europeans, Germany and France in particular, are defending...

Retail worry: Will wine, cheese tariffs hurt holiday sales?

NEW YORK (AP) — The tariffs the Trump administration is about to impose on wine, liquor and cheese from Europe couldn't come at a worse time for small retailers. "It's kind of scary in the sense that we're getting to the holiday season," says Joseph Kakos, owner of Kakos Fine Wine & Spirits in...

French President Emmanuel Macron says on Brexit that he wants 'to believe that a deal is being finalized'

Da Vinci's "Vitruvian Man" drawing can go on loan to Louvre

ROME (AP) — An Italian court has ruled that Leonardo Da Vinci's iconic "Vitruvian Man" drawing can be loaned to France's Louvre Museum, solving an ongoing cultural dispute between Italy and France. The Venice court last week had suspended the loan of the world-famous drawing, which is part of a batch of...

Paris says Iran has detained 2nd French researcher

PARIS (AP) — Iran has been holding a second French researcher in custody for months, France's foreign ministry said Wednesday, denouncing the detention as "unacceptable" and demanding his release. The confirmation that Roland Marchal is being held in Iran — as well as his fellow-academic Fariba...

Cambodian police arrest suspects in rape of French tourist

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Three men accused of raping a female French tourist in southern Cambodia last week have been arrested, police said Wednesday. Kampot province police chief Maj. Gen. Mao Chanmathurith said the 43-year-old woman reported that she was walking alone at 3 a.m. Friday in Kampot town...

The Latest: Erdogan rejects call for ceasefire in Syria

CEYLANPINAR, Turkey (AP) — The latest on Turkey's offensive in northern Syria (all times local): 12:50 a.m. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he rejects a call from U.S. President Donald Trump to declare a ceasefire and halt Turkey's military offensive in northeastern Syria. Erdogan said: "They...