Greek defense minister resigns over Macedonia name change

January 13, 2019

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece's conservative defense minister, who leads the junior partner in the country's coalition government, resigned Sunday over the Macedonia name deal, which he opposes. Panos Kammenos announced his resignation after meeting with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Sunday morning. He said his party is quitting the government.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said, in response, that he will ask for a vote of confidence in Parliament in the coming week. He added he had a "frank discussion" with Kammenos, whom he thanked for his government partnership.

Tsipras also announced that Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will replace Kammenos as defense minister. Greece and Macedonia agreed last June to a deal that would change the name of Greece's northern neighbor to North Macedonia. In exchange, Greece would lift its objections to the country joining NATO. The deal ended a dispute that had been going on since the early 1990s.

Macedonia's parliament ratified the deal on Friday and the Greek parliament now needs a majority for its ratification, but Greek conservatives believe that Tsipras gave too many concessions in agreeing to the deal.

Tsipras' left-wing Syriza party has 145 deputies in the 300-member Greek Parliament. With the departure of his coalition partner, Tsipras would need opposition help to pass the Macedonia name deal. In a press conference that followed his resignation, Kammenos made it clear that he and his party, the right-wing populist Independent Greeks, will vote against the government confidence motion, as well as the Macedonia name deal, when it comes up for ratification, and the protocol approving Macedonia's NATO membership.

Kammenos claimed that ratifying the Macedonia name deal by a simple majority vote is unconstitutional. He admitted, however that he is only assured of three votes, his own and that of two other lawmakers, one of whom, Maria Kollia-Tsaroucha, the deputy defense minister, will resign along with Kammenos.

Two other lawmakers, one an ally who is not a party member, have long declared they will vote for the Macedonia name deal. Kammenos harshly criticized the remaining two allied lawmakers, Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura and Deputy Agriculture Minister Vassilis Kokkalis, who are both on trips abroad. Neither one has stated their position on the confidence motion but Kokkalis has said he will vote against the name change deal. Kammenos implied that both would do anything to keep their jobs.

In the Macedonian capital of Skopje, Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov told a press conference Sunday that he has been "assured" by a Greek government official that Athens remains "strongly committed" to completing its part of the name change deal,

Konstantin Testorides contributed from Skopje.

Germany, France renew friendship treaty, warn of nationalism

January 22, 2019

AACHEN, Germany (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Tuesday against rising nationalism in Europe and called for a revival of cross-border cooperation as she and her French counterpart signed a pact renewing their countries' decades-long friendship.

The new accord was inked in the ancient western German city of Aachen exactly 56 years after the 1963 Elysee Treaty, which set the tone for the two countries' close relationship following centuries of conflict that ended with World War II.

"Populism and nationalism are strengthening in all of our countries," Merkel told French, German and European officials gathered in Aachen's town hall. Citing Britain's departure from the European Union and the growing protectionist tendencies around the world, Merkel noted that international cooperation is going through a rocky time.

"Seventy-four years, a single human lifetime after the end of World War II, what seems self-evident is being called into question again," she said. "That's why, first of all, there needs to be a new commitment toward our responsibility within the European Union, a responsibility held by Germany and France."

Her words were echoed by French President Emmanuel Macron, who noted that France and Germany no longer pose a threat to each other. "(The threat) comes from outside Europe and from within our societies if we are not able to respond to the growing anger," he said.

Outside the Gothic town hall, protesters staged noisy rallies — some in support of the treaty, others against. Among those opposed were dozens of people wearing yellow safety vests, which have become the signature outfit of anti-government protesters in France.

The Treaty of Aachen aims to boost cross-border cooperation along the 450-kilometer (290-mile) Franco-German frontier, and also improve coordination between the two nations when it comes to tackling international problems such as climate change and terrorism.

One long-standing bone of contention has been the issue of military action outside Europe. Berlin's traditional hesitancy to send troops abroad — rooted in Germany's grim history of militarism — has softened somewhat in recent years.

Merkel said that with the new pact, the two countries pledge to develop "a joint military culture" that includes a Franco-German arms industry and a common stance on weapons exports. "By doing so we want to contribute to the creation of a European army," she said, noting that this would go hand-in-hand with greater foreign policy coordination in general.

Germany and France are often described as the engine of the European Union — to the occasional annoyance of other members, who feel sidelined by the cozy relationship between Paris and Berlin. The point was made by EU Council President Donald Tusk, Poland's former prime minister, who told Merkel and Macron bluntly that "Europe needs a clear signal from Paris and Berlin that enhanced cooperation in smaller formats is not an alternative to the cooperation of Europe as a whole. That it is full integration — and not instead of — integration of Europe."

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said some countries might feel the constant show of amity between France and Germany was "a bit much." "But it will be very painful as soon as Germany and France are not of one and the same opinion," he said. "So you should stick to this policy because that means that we others can also forge a position together."

Jordans reported from Berlin. Raf Casert in Brussels and Sylvie Corbet in Paris also contributed to this report.

Merkel's Bavarian allies elect new head, ushering in new era

January 19, 2019

BERLIN (AP) — Chancellor Angela Merkel's Bavarian allies elected a new leader Saturday, a change that offers Germany's center-right a chance to move past their persistent bickering over recent years. The 52-year-old Markus Soeder was elected unopposed in Munich with more than 87 percent of the votes to lead the Christian Social Union. The CSU is the Bavaria-only sister party to Merkel's Christian Democratic Union, an independent-minded and sometimes-awkward ally despite the fact that they have a joint group in Germany's national parliament.

Soeder replaces 69-year-old Horst Seehofer, the CSU leader for the past decade and the most prominent domestic opponent of Merkel's welcoming approach to refugees in 2015. The friction between Merkel and Seehofer threatened at one point to bring down the chancellor's coalition government over Seehofer's insistence that some asylum-seekers should be turned away at the country's borders.

Soeder already succeeded Seehofer, now Germany's interior minister, as Bavarian governor last year. With Seehofer now replaced as head of the CSU, Merkel's Cabinet now has no governing party leaders as ministers, including from the junior coalition Social Democratic Party.

Last month, Merkel ally Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer took over leadership of the CDU. She and Soeder appear keen to improve relations between the two parties that have frayed at times. Soeder told delegates at the party congress where he was elected that it was "time for a new strength of the CDU and CSU together in Germany."

"We must open a new chapter of cooperation," he said. Kramp-Karrenbauer, who was invited to talk at the CSU congress, told delegates the two parties' differences made them a more effective bloc. "I come from a family of with many siblings. And we are siblings, CDU and CSU, not identical twins," she said. "We were never that. We are different, and that makes us stronger."

Avalanche slams into German hotel; no injuries reported

January 14, 2019

BERLIN (AP) — Officials say a large avalanche has slammed into a hotel in southern Germany, damaging the building but causing no injuries. A spokeswoman for Oberallgaeu regional authorities said the hotel's 100 guests were evacuated to other dwellings in the village of Balderschwang.

Brigitte Kloepf told The Associated Press that about 1,100 people are unable to leave Balderschwang, near the Austrian border, because of an avalanche risk on roads following days of intense snowfall.

Authorities in parts of Austria, Germany and Switzerland have warned that further snow and rainfall is raising the risk of avalanches, and increase the weight on snow-laden roofs. Dozens of people have died in avalanches or weather-related accidents across central Europe in recent days.

Germany's top security official planned to visit affected areas Monday.

French yellow vests protest despite Macron's outreach

January 19, 2019

PARIS (AP) — Thousands of yellow vest protesters rallied Saturday in several French cities for a 10th consecutive weekend, despite a national debate launched this week by President Emmanuel Macron aimed at assuaging their anger.

In Paris, about 8,000 protesters started their march at the Invalides monument in Paris, home to Napoleon's tomb, to remember the 10 people killed in protest-related traffic accidents and the hundreds injured since the movement for economic justice kicked off on Nov. 17.

French police have been criticized for using rubber projectiles that have caused several serious injuries to protesters. "It's not normal to treat people the way we are being treated. We have injured people every Saturday," said Juliette Rebet, a demonstrator in Paris.

Protesters marched peacefully in the French capital but clashes erupted at the end of the main demonstration. Some activists wearing masks threw projectiles and knocked down a traffic light before police charged at them, using tear gas and water cannons. Thirty people were arrested in Paris, police said.

Clashes were also reported in Bordeaux, Toulouse and the western city of Rennes. At the Invalides, protesters carrying a banner that read "Citizens in danger" marched at the front of the procession and held coffin-shaped boards in memory of those killed.

Paris deployed 5,000 police around the capital, notably around government buildings and the Champs-Elysees shopping area. About 80,000 police fanned out nationwide. The capital and much of France have endured weeks of protests over economic demands by French workers and students that at times descended into violence. The grassroots protests started two months ago over fuel taxes but became a broader revolt against economic problems.

According to the Interior Ministry, there were 27,000 protesters across France by early Saturday afternoon, down from 32,000 at the same time the week before. Macron is facing a plethora of demands ranging from the re-introduction of France's wealth tax on the country's richest people to the implementation of popular votes that allow citizens to propose new laws.

Macron launched his grand debate this week during meetings with mayors and local officials. The three-month-long debate involves a series of meetings organized by citizens, groups and elected officials to enable the French to express their views on the economy and democracy.

Macron has already cancelled a fuel tax hike and released other funds to help French workers. He said he is open to discussions but has warned he won't give up on his major reforms, including the touchy issue of changing France's pension system later this year.

"We do not believe in the grand debate," said Jonathan Gaby, a demonstrator from the Paris suburbs. "We won't decide, the government will decide, in the end."

France pledges 1B euros in aid to rebuild Iraq

January 14, 2019

BAGHDAD (AP) — France is committing $1 billion euros ($1.15 billion) to help Iraq rebuild after its war against the Islamic State group, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Monday. Le Drian was in Baghdad on a busy day that also saw Iraq's top officials receiving King Abdullah II of Jordan.

The French diplomat said the aid would go to rebuilding Iraq's most devastated areas. He also promised that France would support Iraq's stability, while seeking a rapid "political exit" from Syria, where France has deployed an estimated 200 troops in the battle against the extremist group.

"The situation in Syria has to stabilize, and we have to eliminate terrorism," Le Drian said at a press conference with Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohamed Alhakim France is a member of the U.S.-led international coalition that has defeated the group in most of its territory in Iraq and Syria.

U.S. President Donald Trump surprised allies last month when he announced he was pursuing a complete military withdrawal from Syria. On Saturday, the U.S. began pulling equipment, but not troops, out of the country. An estimated 2,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Syria.

Iraq's Planning Ministry last year estimated the cost of reconstruction at $88 billion. The country was able to raise $30 billion at a donor conference in Kuwait in February. Alhakim thanked France for its assistance to Iraq's minority Yezidi community. Islamic State militants enslaved and killed thousands of Yezidis during their brief reign in north Iraq earlier this decade.

King Abdullah II met with Iraqi President Barham Salih and Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi. It was his first visit to the country in a decade. The king and prime minister discussed regional and bilateral issues, Abul-Mahdi's office said in a statement.

Doubts greet Macron letter to quell French yellow vest anger

January 14, 2019

PARIS (AP) — Yellow vest protesters and political rivals say a sweeping "letter to the French" from President Emmanuel Macron doesn't go far enough to quell national anger at his policies. Macron's letter explains how he's addressing the movement's concerns through a "grand debate" in local meetings around the country starting Tuesday. The debate will focus on taxes, public services, climate change and democracy.

Yellow vest representative Jeremy Clement told BFM television Monday that the letter "settles part of the problem" but doesn't go far enough to address sinking purchasing power. Protester Jerome Rodrigues told CNews television that Macron failed to recognize "the urgency" of concerns of low-income workers and retirees.

Others criticized Macron for ruling out a restoration of France's wealth tax. Opposition lawmakers also criticized the letter.

European divisions beyond Brexit on display in Davos

January 24, 2019

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — Europe's divisions were on display Thursday at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, with key leaders arguing over the region's big issues, from Brexit to the Italian populist government's tough approach to the EU.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was particularly pointed, warning of divisions in the European Union beyond Brexit: between the generally richer countries in the north and the poorer south centered on an array of issues including Italy's stand against the single currency bloc's debt rules.

The Italian government has decided to ramp up spending far beyond EU expectations and only backed off slightly after the EU threatened legal action. Concerns remain that the Italian government's spending plans will add to Italy's huge debt load and potentially rekindle financial jitters that have been dormant since 2015, when Greece was bailed out for a final time.

Speaking at the gathering of political and business elites, Rutte said people in his country are asking him why the Netherlands is implementing measures to abide by the budget rules when others like Italy are not.

The dispute, he said, is "creating distrust between north and south." The prime minister of Poland, which has had run-ins itself with the EU over its moves to overhaul the judiciary, replied that Italy is not being treated in the same manner as France. France's relatively high deficit over the past few years was widely seen as being tolerated by the EU.

The EU, he insisted, "should apply the same standards for different member states." Tensions have grown between Italy and France in recent days over issues including how to handle migrants travelling to Europe by boat. Italy's interior minister, the head of one of two populist and euroskeptic parties leading the country, this month called the French leader Emmanuel Macron — who is unabashedly pro-EU — "a terrible president.

The diplomatic spats are an unwelcome backdrop for the EU, which is due to lose key member Britain this year. British Prime Minister Theresa May saw her Brexit deal voted down by parliament and is struggling to find a solution. That is raising the possibility that Britain might fall out of the EU without a deal on March 29, which could have huge repercussions for the economy as tariffs and border checks are re-established.

Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said in Davos that British banks are financially strong enough to survive such a scenario. But he warned that ports and borders will face many logistical problems.

Businesses, he said, are "doing what they can but in many cases they can't do it." Further insights into the government's thinking were expected to come from British Treasury chief Philip Hammond but he canceled a scheduled appearance on a panel at the last minute for reasons that are still unclear. He is due to address U.K. business leaders Thursday, though.

May plans next move in Brexit fight as chances rise of delay

January 20, 2019

LONDON (AP) — As Prime Minister Theresa May prepared her next move in Britain's deadlocked Brexit battle, a senior opposition politician said Sunday that it's unlikely the U.K. will leave the European Union as scheduled on March 29.

A government minister, however, warned that failure to deliver on Brexit would betray voters and unleash a "political tsunami." May is due to present Parliament with a revised Brexit plan on Monday, after the divorce deal she had struck the EU was rejected by lawmakers last week. With just over two months until Britain is due to leave the bloc, some members of Parliament are pushing for the U.K. to delay its departure until the country's divided politicians can agree on a way forward.

Labour Party Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer said "it's inevitable" Britain will have to ask the EU to extend the two-year countdown to exit that ends on March 29. "The 29th of March is 68 days away," Starmer told the BBC. "We are absolutely not prepared for it. It would be catastrophic."

Britain's political impasse over Brexit is fueling concerns that the country may crash out of the EU on March 29 with no agreement in place to cushion the shock. That could see tariffs imposed on goods moving between Britain and the EU, sparking logjams at ports and shortages of essential supplies. Many economists expect Britain to plunge into recession if there is a "no-deal" Brexit.

May's government is split between ministers who think a disorderly departure must be avoided at all costs, and Brexit-backers who believe it would be preferable to delaying or reversing Brexit. Former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, who quit the government in opposition to May's agreement with the EU, said a no-deal Brexit would have "short-term risks," but they would be "manageable."

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox wrote in the Sunday Telegraph that "failure to deliver Brexit would produce a yawning gap between Parliament and the people, a schism in our political system with unknowable consequences."

He said public anger could trigger "a political tsunami." May has spent the days since her deal was thrown out meeting government and opposition lawmakers in an attempt to find a compromise. But the talks have produced few signs that May plans to make radical changes to her deal, or to lift her insistence that Brexit means leaving the EU's single market and customs union.

Fox said one possible solution could be to strike a deal with the Irish government guaranteeing there would be no border controls between EU member Ireland and the U.K.'s Northern Ireland. He said that could ease concerns about the deal's most contentious measure — an insurance policy known as the "backstop" that would keep Britain in an EU customs union to maintain an open Irish border after Brexit. Pro-Brexit lawmakers worry that Britain could be trapped indefinitely in the arrangement, bound to EU trade rules and unable to strike new deals around the world.

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, however, tweeted that the Irish government was committed to the entire withdrawal deal, "including the backstop." British lawmakers who want a softer Brexit are preparing to try to amend May's plans in a Jan. 29 debate, and to use parliamentary rules to try to prevent a no-deal Brexit and take control of the exit process.

Conservative lawmaker Nicky Morgan said she and several opposition colleagues planned to introduce a bill to ensure "that if the prime minister can't get an agreement approved by the House of Commons by the end of February," the U.K. will ask the EU to postpone its departure date "so that we can build a consensus and get ourselves more prepared for Brexit. "

Delaying Brexit would require approval from the 27 other EU nations. Starmer said there was a roadblock in the way of a solution to the Brexit crisis, "and that roadblock is the prime minister." "Her mind is closed," he said.

Labor Party seeks 'frank debate' on UK's Brexit plan

January 19, 2019

LONDON (AP) — Britain's Labor Party is calling for an "open and frank debate" on the government's stalled Brexit plan and an increased role for Parliament — but still won't meet with Prime Minister Theresa May for talks.

The main opposition party's Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer plans to use a speech Saturday to say it is now up to Parliament to take the tough decisions needed to break the impasse. May's withdrawal plan from the European Union was soundly rejected in Parliament this week, leading to crisis talks before her return to Parliament Monday with amended plans.

As things stand now, Britain is scheduled to leave the EU bloc on March 29 without an agreed upon withdrawal plan. Many economists and national leaders warn this "no-deal" scenario could have serious economic consequences.

Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn refuses to take part in the talks May has requested until the prime minister removes the possibility of a "no-deal" departure from the table. She says there is no legal way for her to do so.

Corbyn said in a Friday night letter to May that the talks are just a delaying tactic and complained that she is unwilling to consider extending the deadline for Britain's withdrawal or allowing a second referendum on the Brexit question.

"Whatever one thinks of those issues, that reinforces the view these are not genuine talks, but designed to play for time and give the appearance of reaching out, while sticking rigidly to your own emphatically rejected deal," he said.

Former Conservative Prime Minister John Major told the BBC Saturday that a "no-deal" departure would be the worst possible outcome that would harm millions of people. He said Parliament should be allowed to hold a series of "indicative" votes on a number of different Brexit plans, and lawmakers should ideally be given a free vote without being constrained by party loyalties.

This could provide a way out of the morass, he said, adding that a second referendum may be necessary now that more facts are known about the complexity of Brexit.

Wild week over Brexit leaves British politics in crisis mode

January 19, 2019

LONDON (AP) — Britain's Parliament is crumbling — shored up by scaffolding, patched by endless repairs. And after a week of upheaval over Brexit in the House of Commons and angry exchanges on the streets outside, Britain's democratic system is looking a bit shaky, too.

In the Commons chamber, Prime Minister Theresa May suffered the biggest defeat in Parliament's history over her European Union divorce deal, narrowly survived a no-confidence vote the next day and was left scrambling for a workable new Brexit plan.

Outside, rival protesters sounded off and squared off, with some aiming angry shouts of "traitor" at their opponents. Brexit has divided Britain, and left the country's democratic system battered, if not broken.

"We have become an international laughing stock: anxious, angry, uncertain, divided," opposition Labor Party lawmaker Chris Bryant said during Tuesday's EU debate, lamenting that politicians had "squandered two years" arguing about Brexit.

"Party politics has failed," Bryant said. Soon after he spoke, lawmakers rejected the deal May's government had painstakingly negotiated with the EU by 432 votes to 202, the biggest margin of defeat any British government has ever suffered.

The next day, Parliament held a no-confidence vote in the government called by Labor. May sat stony-faced as Labor deputy leader Tom Watson savagely said she lacked "the empathy, the ability and, most crucially, the policy to lead this country any longer."

May survived by fewer than 20 votes, and ended the week clinging to office, holding talks with allies and opposition politicians in an attempt to forge a "Plan B" that must be presented on Monday. But Parliament's Brexit factions are still deadlocked, with competing plans and no clear majority for any of them.

Steven Fielding, a professor of political history at the University of Nottingham, said Brexit has paralyzed the U.K.'s parliamentary system. "I cannot think of a moment in modern British politics that is at all comparable," he said. "Maybe when (Prime Minister Robert) Peel split with his own party over the Corn Laws in 1846.

"The whole point of Britain's parliamentary system used to be that — in contrast to continental (European) countries — we elect majority governments that make decisions," he said. "There was none of this messy compromise stuff. ... And (now) it is failing."

Britain's political crisis has been building since the 2016 Brexit referendum that resulted in a narrow vote — 52 to 48 percent — for Britain to leave the EU. An election the following year — called to cement the power of May's Conservatives — saw them lose their majority in Parliament, leaving her atop a fragile minority administration that struggles to pass legislation.

In a further complication, Brexit has split the main political parties, Conservatives and Labour, right down the middle. Each party includes both pro-Brexit and pro-EU factions, divided into multiple sub-categories: clean-break "hard Brexiteers" who want a firm break with the EU; those who support keeping close ties to the bloc; and those who back holding a second EU membership referendum.

May will show lawmakers her revised Brexit blueprint on Monday, and they will try to amend it and seize control of the Brexit negotiations during a debate in the House of Commons on Jan. 29. But is not clear what policy, if any, can find majority support.

Meanwhile, Britain draws ever closer to an abrupt and potentially chaotic "no-deal" departure from the bloc on March 29. Watching this epic political spectacle lurching forward each day, Britons are bored, bemused, angry and afraid — sometimes all at the same time. And the country is still as divided over its relationship with Europe as they were during the referendum campaign.

"Brexit or a penalty shootout? The choice is yours ... I know where we'll be," soccer commentator Gary Lineker said Wednesday night when May's latest televised speech collided with the end of an exciting FA Cup game.

All week, pro-Brexit and pro-EU demonstrators gathered outside Parliament in London to trade chants, arguments — and, in a small number of cases, abuse. Anti-Brexit campaigner Jane Keane said Parliament's impasse was "a democratic crisis," and urged lawmakers to order a new referendum on Britain's EU membership.

"We're praying and hoping for common sense and cool heads to prevail amongst MPs (members of Parliament)," Keane said, holding a British Union Jack alongside an EU flag. Standing just yards away, pro-Brexit painter-decorator Thomas Prior was adamant that Parliament must do the exact opposite, and walk away from the EU without a deal.

"It's going to happen — because if it doesn't, it'll be the end of democracy," he said. "Two years ago we voted to leave the European Union. We've had two wasted years." Away from the drama in Parliament, which dominated the week's news broadcasts, many voters just want politicians to sort something out. In Romford, a heavily pro-Brexit district of east London, market trader Olubunmi Akande said he was disappointed in lawmakers who had blocked May's EU divorce deal.

"We need teamwork," he added. "That's what I would suggest, because with a team we can move anything, we can move any mountain." But Fielding said he doubted Britain's rigid political system was up to the task of compromise.

"There aren't enough MPs who've got the bravery or the principles — or the stupidity — to actually put their heads above the parapet in order to come to an agreement," he said. "We've got a group of politicians who are unable to think themselves into another political culture."

Britain's Prince Philip, 97, recovers after Land Rover crash

January 18, 2019

LONDON (AP) — Queen Elizabeth II's 97-year-old husband Prince Philip was recovering at the royal Sandringham estate after the Land Rover he was driving rolled over on its side in a collision with another vehicle.

An alarming photo showing Philip's toppled black Land Rover dominated the front pages Friday of Britain's tabloids. The Daily Mirror's headline read: "Philip, 97, cheats death in crash." Buckingham Palace said Philip received a "precautionary checkup" at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn on Friday and was found to have "no injuries of concern."

Witness Roy Warne told the BBC he was driving home from work Thursday when the accident involving Philip's Land Rover and a compact car unfolded in front of him shortly before 3 p.m. "I saw a car, a black Rover, come out from a side road and it rolled and ended up on the other side of the road," Warne said. "I saw it careering, tumbling across the road and ending up on the other side."

Warne said he helped free a baby from the second car, a Kia, before helping the prince out of his vehicle, which was lying on its side. Warne found Philip trapped in the car, but persuaded him to move one leg at a time to get out. He then pulled him out, saying he was not sure whether it was through the windshield or the sun roof. The prince was able to immediately stand up and walk around.

"He was obviously shaken, and then he went and asked if everyone else was all right," Warne said. The driver of the Kia, a 28-year-old woman, suffered cuts to her knee while her passenger, a 45-year-old woman, suffered a broken wrist. Both were taken to the hospital and sent home. The 9-month-old baby in the Kia was not injured.

Police said they conducted breath tests on both drivers after the accident and both tested negatively for alcohol. Philip has largely retired from public life but is well known for his fierce independence and his love of driving cars and horse-drawn carriages. He has seemed to be in generally good health in recent months.

There is no upper age limit for driving in Britain, although drivers 70 and over are required to renew their licenses every three years and notify authorities if they have suffered from ailments like strokes, epilepsy or glaucoma.

Buckingham Palace officials said Friday that Philip has a valid driver's license and has complied with all Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency requirements. He and Elizabeth, 92, have been on an extended Christmas vacation at Sandringham, one of her favored rural homes, located 110 miles (177 kilometers) north of London.

Prime Minister Theresa May sent Philip a message wishing him well after the accident. Police did not provide further details about the crash. "We are aware of the public interest in this case, however, as with any other investigation it would be inappropriate to speculate on the causes of the collision until an investigation is carried out," Norfolk Constabulary said.

By coincidence, authorities in the area had planned to consider improving safety on the road, the A149. Norfolk County Council will discuss reducing the speed limit on the road from 60 mph to 50 mph and installing safety cameras.

Taking stock: UK businesses brace for no-deal Brexit

January 16, 2019

DUNSTABLE, England (AP) — Brexit has British business owners on edge — and that is great news for Lovespace, a storage and warehousing company outside London. Lovespace, which collects boxes from customers, stores them and then returns the goods when needed, says revenue from businesses doubled over the past year and inquiries quadrupled as enterprises large and small began stockpiling inventory because of concerns they will be cut off from suppliers if Britain leaves the European Union without an agreement on future trading relations.

"People are working out how to store stuff — how to get things to their own customers as the year progresses," CEO Steve Folwell said as workers moved boxes around the company's 20,000 square-foot (1,860 square-meter) warehouse in Dunstable, about 35 miles (55 kilometers) northwest of London. "There's uncertainty because of Brexit and there's a lack of trust in the political process at the moment."

The risk of a no-deal Brexit is increasing amid widespread opposition to the divorce agreement Prime Minister Theresa May negotiated with the EU. While May says her deal is the only way to ensure that trade continues to flow smoothly after Britain leaves the bloc on March 29, U.K. lawmakers overwhelmingly rejected the agreement late Tuesday because opponents fear it will leave the country tied to the EU for years to come.

Without an agreement on future relations, 40 years of free trade between Britain and the EU would be replaced by tariffs, border inspections and other non-tariff barriers, with potentially devastating impacts on the British economy. The government's own contingency plans raise the specter of lengthy border delays that could cause shortages of food and medicine, and the Bank of England predicts gross domestic product could shrink by as much as 8 percent this year.

"Businesses would face new costs and tariffs," said Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of the Confederation of British Industries, which represents 190,000 businesses. "Our ports would be disrupted, separating firms from the parts they need to supply their customers."

Among those taking precautions is Richard Ellison, the founder of Wanderlust Wine, who imports wines from small producers off the beaten track. Worried that supplies to his customers could be interrupted, he's stocked up in advance to brace for disruption at the border and the potential for an increase in paperwork.

"Everything will have to be checked at the border," he said, explaining his precautions. "We bought quite a lot in advance — an extra pallet or two to tide us over." Companies ranging from supermarket giant Tesco, which imports food from continental suppliers, to carmakers like Ford, who rely on European parts to feed British production lines, have been lobbying politicians for clarity about future trading relations ever since U.K. voters backed leaving the EU in a June 2016 referendum. Now they are taking action to ensure they can continue to operate in the event no deal is reached.

A survey of U.K. manufacturers found that stockpiles of both finished goods and raw materials rose at near-record rates in December as businesses prepared for a possible disruption in supplies, according to the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply.

More than 60 percent of U.K. manufacturers are preparing to stockpile goods and 29 percent have already begun to do so, according to a November survey of 242 companies by EEF, the manufacturers' organization. Some are even erecting new buildings to increase storage capacity.

"They are looking for places to store stuff," said Francesco Arcangeli, the EEF's economist. "They are looking for space. They are creating new space. That never happened before." Charlie Pool, CEO of Stowga, which loosely describes itself as the Airbnb of British warehousing, said customers looking for storage space searched the company's site 10,000 times in December, up from an average of 3,000 a month. Businesses are sometimes even paying deposits to secure their bookings, which isn't standard practice, Pool said, comparing it to paying for a hotel before arrival.

"The data we have is proving that stockpiling for Brexit is definitely a thing," he said. "It's happening now." That is driving up the cost of storage space. The average price to store a pallet of goods jumped to 2.10 pounds ($2.71) a week last month from 1.85 pounds in September. Pool said he wouldn't be surprised if exceeded 3 pounds should a no-deal Brexit become a reality. That would still be relatively cheap compared with the cost of not getting products to the end consumers, he said.

The dangers of Brexit to business are evident even for storage companies like Lovespace. Despite the boom in revenue, a potential investor pulled back last year because of the uncertainty caused by Britain's exit from the EU.

The investor said "it seems awfully complex to me," Folwell said. "People are looking at the U.K. as a bit of a basket case at the moment."

Sweden votes for Lofven, ends political deadlock

January 18, 2019

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A center-left minority government led by the current caretaker prime minister, Stefan Lofven, was approved Friday by Swedish lawmakers, ending a four-month political deadlock.

The vote in Riksdagen, or parliament, was 153-115 in favor of Lofven, with 77 abstentions. His own Social Democrats and the Greens backed him and the center-right bloc voted against, while three smaller parties abstained in Friday's ballot.

In Sweden, a prime minister can govern as long as there is no majority against him or her. Swedish politicians have been trying to form a government without the Sweden Democrats, which has neo-Nazi roots. Parties have refused to cooperate with Sweden's third-largest party, which made great strides in the Sept. 9 national election.

Jan Bjorklund of the Liberals, whose party supported Lofven, noted "how racist and populist parties have strengthened their positions across the world." He cited U.S. President Donald Trump, France's National Rally led by Marine le Pen and Hungary's nationalist prime minister Viktor Orban as examples.

"We have chosen another path," he said. Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Akesson, who had hoped for more political influence, repeatedly used the word "absurd" to describe the coalition talks. "My ambition now is that the Sweden Democrats will be a dominating forced in a new strong center-right opposition," he said.

The September election produced a hung parliament with the left-leaning side and the center-right bloc securing about 40 percent of the vote each, leaving neither with a majority and paving the way for months of complex coalition talks.

To get the support from two center-right parties, Lofven had to compromise over labor laws, causing irritation from his party's union backers and the Left Party. Lofven who heads Sweden's largest party but has no majority, will present his government and start his second term as prime minister on Monday.

Zimbabwe's president returns amid economic crisis, crackdown

January 22, 2019

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa arrived in Harare late Monday after cutting short his fund-raising trip in order to address the country's economic crisis and crackdown.

Mnangagwa was welcomed at Harare International Airport by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, former army commander who was in charge during the president's week-long absence and when the government launched a widespread clampdown in which 12 people were killed, more shot by troops and others dragged from their homes and beaten, according to human rights groups.

Mnangagwa hugged Chiwenga and chatted with him on the runway for 15 minutes. The president then told state broadcasting that his trip to Russia and Kazakhstan was fruitful and will benefit Zimbabwe in the long run. During his trip Mnangagwa met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and asked him for a loan.

Earlier Monday the government intensified its crackdown on dissent by charging the leader of the country's largest labor organization with subversion, as the courts ruled that the shutdown of the internet was illegal.

Zimbabwe police arrested Japhet Moyo, secretary general of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, and charged him with subversion for his role in organizing last week's national strike. The arrest and Mnangagwa's return come after a week of turmoil. During the strike, some people went onto the streets to protest the government's drastic increase in fuel prices. The government said the demonstrations degenerated into riots, prompting it to launch a sweeping wave of repression. Security forces opened fire on crowds, wounding many bystanders, and went house to house in some neighborhoods, beating up many men, according to witnesses.

The government also imposed an internet blackout across the country. On Monday Zimbabwe's High Court ordered the government to restore full internet to the country. The shutdown of the internet was illegal because the Minister of State for Security, who ordered the internet closure, does not have powers to issue such a directive, said the court ruling. Only President Emmerson Mnangagwa has the authority to make such an order, said the court. Over the weekend the government restored partial internet access, but kept a blackout on social media apps like Facebook, Whatsapp and Twitter. The government alleges the internet has been used to organize violent demonstrations.

Zimbabwe's capital gingerly recovered from the week of tumult Monday. Most shops and businesses reopened, although many people are stocking up on food items in case of further unrest. Indicating the severity of Zimbabwe's economic problems, South Africa confirmed that it turned down Mnangagwa's request for a loan of $1.2 billion recently. "We just don't have that kind of money," South African treasury spokesman Jabulani Sikhakhane told the broadcaster, eNCA.

Activist and pastor Evan Mawarire has been jailed since Wednesday and has been charged with subversion against the government for which he faces 20 years in jail if convicted. Mawarire had used social media to support peaceful protests against the fuel price increases. The case against Mawarire is a "travesty of justice" said his lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa. His application to be released on bail will be heard on Jan. 23.

In the widespread crackdown, about two-thirds of the more than 600 people who were arrested have been denied bail, said Mtetwa. When Mnangagwa tweeted Sunday that he would cut short his European trip and to come back to Zimbabwe, he didn't mention the violence, saying only that he is returning "in light of the economic situation." He said his first priority "is to get Zimbabwe calm, stable and working again."

At Davos, he planned to appeal for foreign investment and loans, but the visit had been expected to be a challenge. His Davos visit a year ago came shortly after he took over from longtime, repressive leader Robert Mugabe, a move cheered by Zimbabweans and the international community.

But Mnangagwa has faced a year of troubles in which his administration failed to improve the collapsed economy, narrowly won a disputed election and violently put down anti-government protests. The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference last week lamented the government's "intolerant handling of dissent" and its failure to halt economic collapse, concluding that "our country is going through one of the most trying periods in its history."

Congo's surprise new leader in 1st peaceful power transfer

January 24, 2019

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi was sworn in as Congo's president Thursday, marking the country's first peaceful transfer of power since independence from Belgium nearly 60 years ago, and immediately announced plans for the release of all political prisoners.

The 55-year-old Tshisekedi succeeds Joseph Kabila, the strongman who governed the largely impoverished and corruption-riddled Central African country for 18 years before stepping down under pressure. "We are committed to building a modern, peaceful, democratic and caring state for every citizen," the new president said, "a state that will guarantee the happiness of all."

He called on the troubled nation to engage in a new battle, one for "the well-bring for each citizen of this beautiful country." Kabila watched from behind mirrored sunglasses as the extraordinary scene of an opposition figure becoming president unfolded. When Kabila left the dais, some in the crowd booed.

Tshisekedi also called for national reconciliation in the wake of the disputed Dec. 30 election. The balloting was marked by allegations of large-scale fraud and suspicions of a backroom deal by Kabila to install Tshisekedi over another opposition candidate who according to leaked electoral data was the real winner.

But many Congolese appeared satisfied just to see Kabila go and relieved to witness a peaceful change of power in a politically repressive country with a history of violent coups. Supporters of Tshisekedi stormed the People's Palace, which houses the legislature, for a glimpse of the inauguration.

The new president declared that Congo will not be a nation of "division, hate or tribalism" and spoke of "fundamental rights." He vowed to take on corruption, asserting that $16 billion to $20 billion is lost each year to graft, and rid the country of its dozens of rebel groups. And he surprised observers by announcing his government will free all political prisoners.

It is unclear how many political prisoners are held in Congo "simply because they keep changing — they arrest people in Congo every day for nothing and release some hours later," said Jean-Mobert Senga, a researcher with Amnesty International. More than 100 were arrested in post-election violence, some arbitrarily, he said.

"I have no reason to doubt" the release will happen, Senga said. "It is in his interest to do what he promised to do. Otherwise, people will quickly lose trust." The largely untested Tshisekedi has inherited much goodwill from his father, the late opposition icon Etienne Tshisekedi, who pursued the presidency for decades. In his inaugural address, Tshisekedi referred to his father as "president" to wild cheers.

Tshisekedi's charismatic father had posed such a challenge to Kabila that after he died in Belgium in 2017, Congo's government did not allow his body to be brought home. His son's spokesman has said that will be corrected soon.

Many Congolese hope Tshisekedi will bring change after Kabila, who in his final address on Wednesday night urged the country to unite and support the new leader. But Tshisekedi faces the challenge of working with a legislature dominated by members of Kabila's ruling coalition. That could hurt efforts to bring about dramatic reforms in Congo, a mineral-rich country of more than 80 million people.

"One must transform these words into actions," said Ben Mpoko, Congo's ambassador to South Africa and an influential member of Kabila's ruling coalition. "We have lost much in wars and quarrels. We have no time to lose."

Few had expected an opposition victory in Congo, where Kabila had hung on for more than two turbulent years of election delays. Declared runner-up Martin Fayulu mounted a court challenge to Tshisekedi's win, alleging widespread rigging and demanding a recount. The Constitutional Court on Sunday rejected it. Outside court, Fayulu accused Kabila of making a deal with Tshisekedi as it became clear the ruling party's candidate did poorly at the polls.

Observers have said Fayulu, a businessman outspoken about cleaning up corruption, posed a bigger threat to Kabila and his allies. The new president saluted Fayulu in his speech as a "veritable soldier of the people."

Just one African head of state, Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta, was seen at the inauguration after the African Union and others in the international community expressed reservations about the election. The United States and others have said they will work with the new leader but have not offered congratulations.

Congo gained independence in 1960. Its first leader, Patrice Lumumba, was removed in a military coup and assassinated in 1961. Mobutu Sese Seko ruled for more than three decades before he was overthrown in 1997 by rebel leader Laurent Kabila, who was assassinated in 2001. Kabila's son, Joseph, then took over at age 29.

On Thursday, Congo's new president caused a few minutes of confusion and worry by pausing during his inauguration speech. It turned out his bulletproof vest had been too tight.

Anna reported from Johannesburg. Associated Press writer Andrew Meldrum in Johannesburg contributed.

Congo's new leader completes 1st peaceful transfer of power

January 24, 2019

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Congo's new President Felix Tshisekedi made news as soon as he was sworn into office on Thursday by announcing he would release all political prisoners and by praising his father, the late opposition icon Etienne, calling him "president" to cheers from the crowd.

The 55-year-old Tshisekedi's inauguration marked the Central African nation's first peaceful transfer of power since independence nearly 60 years ago. He takes over from Joseph Kabila, who led the country since 2001. Kabila quietly watched from behind his mirrored sunglasses the extraordinary scene of an opposition leader becoming president. When Kabila left the dais, some in the crowd booed.

Tshisekedi appealed for tolerance as questions remained about the disputed Dec. 30 election, calling national reconciliation "one of our priorities." Congolese largely have accepted his win in the interest of peace.

Despite the concerns, the new leader has inherited much goodwill with the legacy of his father, who pursued the presidency for decades but never achieved the post his son has won. The reference to Etienne Tshisekedi as "president" was a nod to the late opposition leader's defiant declaration after losing the disputed election in 2011 to Kabila.

Tshisekedi's father had posed such a charismatic challenge that after he died in Belgium in 2017, Congo's government did not allow his body to be brought home. His son's spokesman has said that will be corrected soon.

Supporters of the new president stormed the Palais de la Nation for a glimpse of the inauguration. Just one African head of state, Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta, was seen at Thursday's ceremony after the African Union and others in the international community expressed reservations over alleged election fraud. The United States and others this week said they will work with the new leader but did not offer congratulations.

Many Congolese hope that Tshisekedi will bring change after Kabila, who in a final address on Wednesday night urged the country to unite and support the incoming leader. He said he was stepping aside with no regrets.

Tshisekedi now faces the challenge of working with a legislature dominated by members of Kabila's ruling coalition, likely restricting the chances of dramatic reforms in a country that remains largely impoverished and plagued by dozens of rebel groups.

Few had expected an opposition victory in Congo, where Kabila had hung on for more than two years of turbulent election delays. Declared runner-up Martin Fayulu mounted a court challenge to Tshisekedi's win, alleging massive rigging and demanding a recount. The Constitutional Court on Sunday rejected it. Outside court, Fayulu accused Kabila of making a backroom deal with Tshisekedi as it became clear the ruling party's candidate did poorly at the polls.

The new president saluted Fayulu in his speech as a "veritable soldier of the people" and acknowledged the Catholic Church, whose large electoral observer mission found that Fayulu had won. Observers have said Fayulu, an opposition lawmaker and businessman who is outspoken about cleaning up Congo's sprawling corruption, was seen as a bigger threat to Kabila and his allies.

Few Congolese have taken up Fayulu's call for peaceful protest, appearing instead to accept Tshisekedi's win as long as Kabila is on the way out. Congo will not be a nation of "division, hate or tribalism," the new president declared.

Tshisekedi also vowed to take on widespread corruption, asserting that billions of dollars are lost per year. He called the revenue brought in "the weakest in the world." Congo has trillions of dollars' worth of mineral wealth but the country remains badly underdeveloped, to the frustration of the population of its 80 million people.

The new president briefly paused his inauguration speech, surrounded by concerned supporters, before resuming several minutes later and asking the crowd for its understanding. He cited a "small moment of weakness." A number of people in the crowd earlier had fainted in the heat.

Pacific Rim trade bloc meets in Tokyo, prepping for growth

January 19, 2019

TOKYO (AP) — Representatives from a Pacific Rim trade bloc geared up to roll out and expand the market-opening initiative as they met Saturday in Tokyo, reaffirming their commitment to open and free trade and inviting new membership.

The Pacific Rim free trade agreement, rejected by President Donald Trump after he took office in 2017, took effect at the end of last year after Australia became the sixth nation to ratify it. So far, seven of the 11 member countries have done so, and the others are expected to follow through soon.

Known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership, the agreement aims to streamline trade and slash tariffs to facilitate more business among member nations with a combined population of nearly 500 million and GDP of $13.5 trillion.

The trade officials at the meeting in Japan's capital reaffirmed the importance to promote free trade and economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, said Japanese Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, who chaired the gathering.

The 11 nations remaining after the U.S. withdrawal amended the pact to enable it to take effect even without Washington's participation. Vietnam, Canada, Mexico and Singapore also have ratified it. Peru, Chile, Brunei and Malaysia have not yet done so and were encouraged at the meeting to push forward the process.

"Amid growing concerns over recent trends toward protectionism, the ministers shared the view that it is of paramount importance to maintain and further strengthen the principles of an effective, open, inclusive and rules-based trading system," Motegi said, reading from a joint statement.

In his opening statement earlier at the meeting, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe praised the 11 ministers for achieving the trade bloc at a difficult time for supporters of the free trade system amid rapid change in the increasingly globalized economy, causing concerns and frustration about the existing system and triggering trade disputes.

"We should not turn the clock backward. ... We need to squarely face any worries and anxieties and achieve fair regulation so as to further develop free trade. TPP is at the forefront of that movement," Abe said. "The door is always open to those who share our vision, and those who accept TPP's high standards."

The U.S. departure was a huge loss given the size of the American market. But others, including Taiwan, are reportedly interested in joining the trade deal, seen as a first step toward a pan-Pacific free trade zone.

Trump said he was putting "America first" in seeking bilateral deals rather than broader ones like the Trans-Pacific Partnership — the trading group's original name. Members are still hopeful the U.S. might eventually rejoin.

"We welcome new participation of as many countries and regions as possible, including the United States," Motegi said. For now, nearly two dozen stipulations sought by the U.S. in the original deal reportedly have been shelved after Washington withdrew, watering down the plan proclaimed by the previous administration of President Barack Obama as being the "gold standard" for 21st century trade rules.

Separate efforts are underway to forge a free trade arrangement within Asia called the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which encompasses the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, India and China, but not the United States.

Kurtenbach reported from Bangkok. Associated Press videojournalist Richard Colombo contributed to this report.

UN envoy: No prospect Rohingya refugees can go home soon

January 26, 2019

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — A U.N. human rights envoy said that hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees won't be able to return to Myanmar soon because of threats to their safety in the Buddhist-majority nation.

Myanmar has been criticized by global rights groups and many nations for state-sponsored violence against ethnic minorities. Yanghee Lee, the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, on Friday also criticized India and Saudi Arabia for mistreatment of the Rohingya in those countries.

Lee spent 10 days in Thailand and Bangladesh, speaking to refugees living in Bangladesh, authorities, U.N. agencies and international experts. More than 700,000 Rohingya refugees have fled into Bangladesh since late August 2017.

"It is clear that Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh cannot return to Myanmar in the near future," she said. She said violence against the Rohingya by the Myanmar army in Rakhine state that prompted them to flee to neighboring Bangladesh "bear the hallmarks of genocide." Myanmar has repeatedly turned down her request for allowing her to visit the country.

Myanmar has rejected all the allegations that any crimes against humanity and genocide took place. Global rights groups have called the country's top military officials to be tried for their alleged roles in the killing and rapes of Rohingya.

Lee said the violence against other minority groups must also end in Myanmar. "Its campaign of violence against ethnic minorities, including the Rohingya, the Kayin, the Kachin and the Shan, must end," she said.

She added: "There must be accountability for the campaign of ethnic cleansing and possible genocide against the Rohingya, as well as the war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated against ethnic minorities around the country."

Lee told journalists she was disturbed by reports of new violence in Rakhine state and she accused Myanmar of failing to create a peaceful environment so the refugees could return from Bangladesh. "The campaign of violence against the Rohingya continues, with the security forces slowly bleeding the remaining Rohingya population and continuing to force them to flee to Bangladesh," she said.

Lee said she was dismayed by Saudi Arabia's recent deportation of 13 Rohingya to Bangladesh, where they have been arrested and charged with forging the passports that they used to travel to Saudi Arabia.

About 1,300 Rohingya have recently arrived in Bangladesh from India, Bangladesh officials said earlier this week. Another 61 Rohingya, including many children, were arrested earlier this week by India in its northeastern states of Assam and Tripura. India rejected repeated U.N. calls against a decision by India to send at least 40,000 Rohingya back to Myanmar.

Bangladesh attempted to start repatriation in November last year under a deal with Myanmar despite reservations by the U.N. and other global human rights groups that conditions were not safe for Rohingya in Myanmar, which said it was ready to receive them. Bangladesh subsequently postponed the process.

The exodus of Rohingya began after Myanmar security forces launched a brutal crackdown following attacks by an insurgent group on guard posts in late August in 2017. The scale, organization and ferocity of the crackdown led the U.N. and several governments to accuse Myanmar of ethnic cleansing and genocide. Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had ordered border guards to open the border allowing them to get in.

Most people in Myanmar do not accept that the Rohingya Muslims are a native ethnic group, calling them as "Bengalis" who entered from Bangladesh centuries ago. Nearly all have been denied citizenship since 1982, as well as access to education and hospitals.

Russian and Japanese leaders talk about territorial dispute

January 22, 2019

MOSCOW (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sat down for talks Tuesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin focusing on a decades-long territorial dispute between the two nations. The Soviet Union took the four southernmost Kuril Islands during the final days of World War II. Japan asserts territorial rights to the islands, which it calls the Northern Territories, and the dispute has kept the countries from signing a peace treaty.

Greeting Abe at the start of the talks, Putin noted that their conversation will follow up on recent meetings between the two nations' top officials. "I'm very glad to see you here," Putin said with a smile. "It's very pleasant that our meetings have become quite regular."

Abe noted that he would like to talk about the peace treaty issue based on last week's talks between top diplomats of the two countries. "I would like to have a through discussion on the peace treaty," Abe said through an interpreter.

The Japanese leader has held dozens of meetings with Putin in recent years in a bid to solve the dispute, and they agreed in November to accelerate negotiations based on a 1956 Soviet proposal to return two of the islands to Japan.

Earlier this month, Abe voiced hope that this year will mark a breakthrough in talks and spoke about an imminent change of the islands' status — remarks that irked Moscow. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned Japan last week that it must recognize all four islands as part of Russia as a starting point for talks — a tough demand that did not bode well for Abe's talks with Putin.

On Sunday, Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov noted that recent statements from Tokyo made the talks between the two presidents even more difficult. Speaking to the Interfax news agency before the talks, Abe emphasized that the signing of a peace treaty is needed to pave the way for closer cooperation between the two nations.

He added that he intends to maintain intensive talks with Putin in order to reach a "mutually acceptable solution." Japanese media reports have indicated that Tokyo is open to a deal for the transfer of two smaller islands to Japan, fueling concerns in Russian nationalist circles.

Several dozen demonstrators gathered outside the Japanese Embassy in Moscow to protest against the islands' return. One of the protesters held a placard reading: "We didn't vote for the sale of the islands."

Left-wing activist Sergei Udaltsov said Tuesday that 11 protesters were detained by police.

Nataliya Vasilyeva in Moscow contributed to this report.

Russians plunge into icy waters to mark feast of Epiphany

January 18, 2019

MOSCOW (AP) — Across Russia, the devout and the daring are observing the Orthodox Christian feast day of Epiphany by immersing themselves in frigid water through holes cut through the ice of lakes and rivers.

Epiphany celebrates the revelation of Jesus Christ as the incarnation of God through his baptism in the River Jordan. Russian believers imitate the baptism by entering the water and ducking themselves three times either on the evening before Epiphany or on that Jan. 19 feast day. Many make the sign of the cross, some others hold their noses.

Some of the people who do it scurry out quickly and wrap themselves in large towels. But many seem unfazed by it all and extol the practice as strengthening both the soul and the body. The ritual is watched by priests who have blessed the water. Emergency workers are also on hand in case anyone succumbs to the heart-racing shock of the icy immersion.

There's usually a contingent of warmly dressed onlookers, too, maybe wondering if they'll have the boldness to try it next year. Some Orthodox pilgrims get to dunk themselves in the actual River Jordan, which is a whole lot warmer.