Nation, world briefs 2/25/16

Bundys, others plead not guilty

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Ammon Bundy and another 15 defendants have pleaded not guilty to a federal conspiracy charge related to the armed takeover of an Oregon wildlife refuge. U.S. District Judge Anna Brown reminded the defendants Wednesday they are considered innocent until proven guilty. Several of the accused doubted that. One of them, Jason Patrick, said: "You're the federal government; you're going to do whatever you want." The judge set an April 29 trial date, though that seems unlikely to occur. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Knight said a superseding indictment with additional charges was likely. Defense lawyers and their investigators plan to visit the refuge today. It will be their first look at the scene of the 41-day standoff. The judge denied Bundy's request to tag along with his attorneys.

Facebook 'like' button evolves

NEW YORK -- Facebook's "like" button isn't going away, but it's getting some company. Facebook has been testing alternatives to "like" in about a half-dozen countries, including Ireland, Spain and Japan. On Wednesday, Facebook began making "haha," "angry" and three other responses available in the U.S. and the rest of the world. In changing a core part of Facebook -- the 7-year-old "like" button has become synonymous with the social network -- the company said it tried to keep things familiar. The thumbs-up "like" button will look as it has, without the other choices cluttering the screen or confusing people. Users have to hold that button or mouse over the "like" link for a second or two for the alternatives to pop up.

Austria, Balkans seek halt of migrants

VIENNA -- Overwhelmed by a wave of refugees and what they call indecision in the European Union, Austria and its southern neighbors along the Balkan migrant route agreed Wednesday to tighter border controls -- and warned sooner or later they will have to shut their doors entirely. Playing off warnings the restrictions will lead to disastrous accumulations of refugees on borders along the route, Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner called for "a chain reaction of reason." Interior and foreign ministers from EU members Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Bulgaria, as well as Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia met Wednesday in Vienna and issued a declaration that struck the same tone.

Israel: Iran setting up terror network

NICOSIA, Cyprus -- Israel's defense minister on Wednesday accused Iran of building a terror network that includes "sleeper cells" that are stockpiling arms, intelligence and operatives to strike on command in places including Europe and the U.S. Moshe Yaalon said Iran aims to destabilize the Middle East and other parts of the world and is training, funding and arming "emissaries" to spread a revolution. He said Tehran is the anchor of a "dangerous axis" that includes Baghdad, Damascus, Beirut, Sanaa and other cities in the region. Israel considers Iran the biggest threat to the region, citing its support for anti-Israel militant groups, and has criticized the nuclear deal with Iran.

-- From wire reports