Basin Radio Network

VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Benedict XVI has praised the "great generosity" of American Catholics in welcoming new immigrants and backed the commitment of bishops in the United States to immigration reform.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Greece's Parliament is to be dissolved so new elections can be held June 17.

PARIS (AP) - When Nicolas Sarkozy bounded up the steps of France's presidential palace in jogging shorts and shoes on his first day in office five years ago, many French instantly sensed they were in for something new.

MOSCOW (AP) - Vladimir Putin has been sworn in as Russia's president for a third term after four years as prime minister.

PARIS (AP) - Final results from France's presidential election show Francois Hollande narrowly defeated incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy with 51.62 percent of the vote.

BRUSSELS (AP) - Unemployment across the 17 countries that use the euro rose to 10.9 percent in March, its highest level since the euro was launched in 1999, official figures show.

PARIS (AP) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy says that a former top aide to Libya's Moammar Gadhafi apparently wanted by Interpol is living in France with government permission.

NEW YORK (AP) - Standard & Poor's says it's lowering Spain's long-term credit rating by two notches, saying the country's budget problems are likely to get worse because of its weak economy.

PARIS (AP) - France's bleak economic outlook has returned to the forefront of the country's presidential campaign after new figures showed the number of job seekers rose for the 11th consecutive month in March.

PARIS (AP) - Francois Hollande, a mild-mannered French Socialist, is heading into a presidential runoff election with the upper hand over incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy after winning the most votes in the first round of voting.

MADRID (AP) - Spain's central bank says the country is now in a technical recession as the economy contracted 0.4 percent in the first quarter of the year.

PARIS (AP) - France's foreign minister says the international community has to live up to its responsibilities in Syria and prepare for the possible failure of an increasingly fragile peace plan.

VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Benedict XVI is having a very Bavarian birthday, celebrating his 85th milestone at the Vatican with his brother and bishops from his native land.

MOSCOW (AP) - Russia's president-elect Vladimir Putin says he would support a motion that barrs a person from being elected to the presidency more than twice.