world news

Palestinian kills 2 Israelis in car ramming: reports

JERUSALEM –  Israeli media is reporting that a Palestinian has rammed his vehicle into a group of people in the West Bank, killing two Israelis and wounding two others. Channel 10 TV and other media said Friday's incident appeared to…

My Lai ceremony highlights peace, but dark memories recalled

MY LAI, Vietnam –  Talk of peace dominated the 50th anniversary commemoration of the My Lai massacre in Vietnam, but among the hundreds in the audience were survivors and a former U.S. Army photographer whose gruesome images galvanized anti-war opinion.…

Swiss court sentences youth soccer coach to life for murders

GENEVA –  A court in Switzerland has sentenced a 34-year-old youth soccer coach to life in prison for the brutal slayings of four people that shocked the country. Lenzburg's regional court convicted Swiss citizen Thomas N., whose surname wasn't released,…

Former president Jacob Zuma to be prosecuted for corruption

JOHANNESBURG –  The director of South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority says that former president Jacob Zuma will be prosecuted on 16 charges of corruption. Shaun Abrahams announced Friday that Zuma will face charges including fraud, corruption, racketeering and money laundering.…

A look at the 8 candidates in Russia's presidential election

MOSCOW –  There are eight candidates in Sunday's Russian presidential election, including President Vladimir Putin. With his approval rating topping 80 percent and rivals trailing far behind, Putin is set to easily win a fourth term. Putin's most vocal critic,…

French fraud body unveils huge Cotes-du-Rhone wine scam

PARIS –  France's anti-fraud body says it has uncovered a huge scam in which a merchant tried to sell more than 48 million liters (some 12.7 million gallons) of wine falsely labeled as Cotes-du-Rhone. The DGCRF said in its annual…

Vendor's death highlights Spanish tensions over migration

MADRID –  Spain's capital is grappling with the aftermath of violent unrest following the death of an African street vendor who had been running away from police officers. The death, and the clashes between riot police and protesters that followed…

Egyptian teenager's death in UK sparks outrage at home

CAIRO –  The death of an Egyptian teenager in the UK has sparked outrage across Egypt, where officials have described the incident as "barbaric." Mariam Mustafa, an 18-year-old engineering student, was allegedly attacked on the street by a group in…

Migrants protest in Madrid after street vendor's death

Street clashes erupted Thursday night in central Madrid after the death of a 35-year-old African vendor.  (AP) A group of mostly migrant protesters clashed with police in Madrid Thursday and Friday, with demonstrators setting fire to trash bins and parked…

German minister questions Islam's place in the country

BERLIN –  Germany's new interior minister said Friday he doesn't consider Islam to be a part of Germany, a position that puts him at odds with Chancellor Angela Merkel on the central question of migration. Horst Seehofer, the country's top…

Germany's new foreign minister holds talks in Poland

WARSAW, Poland –  Germany's new foreign minister arrived Friday in Poland for talks on the European Union's future and security and on the two neighbors' bilateral relations. Heiko Maas said before departing he wanted to make it clear that Germany…

Egyptians abroad vote in presidential elections

CAIRO –  Thousands of Egyptian expatriates around the world are heading to polling stations to cast their ballots in the presidential election. Lasheen Ibrahim, head of the election commission, said the turnout Friday appears to be "good," without elaborating. Overseas…

Vatican convicts ex-Guam archbishop, but doesn't say of what

VATICAN CITY –  The Vatican said Friday it had convicted the suspended Guam archbishop, who was accused of sexually abusing minors, financial mismanagement and other charges, but didn't say exactly what crimes he had committed. A statement said only that…

Iraq's Kurds observe 30th anniversary of deadly gas attack

IRBIL, Iraq –  Iraq's Kurdish region has commemorated the 30th anniversary of Saddam Hussein's 1988 gas attack in the northeastern Kurdish town of Halabja that killed 5,000 people. Kurdish officials delivered speeches to a crowd of hundreds gathered for the…

Putin urges high voter turnout ahead of Russian election

MOSCOW –  President Vladimir Putin is urging Russians to cast ballots in Sunday's election, which he's certain to win. Putin said in Friday's televised address that "the will of the people, the will of each Russian citizen will determine the…

Russia's rebel mayor calls for presidential election boycott

MOSCOW –  The mayor of Russia's fourth-largest city cuts an odd figure in the country since most governors and mayors are either Kremlin nominees or hail from Kremlin-friendly parties. Yekaterinburg mayor Yevgeny Roizman, on the other hand, openly criticizes President…

Nepal plane crash survivor says don't drink, sleep on flight

KATHMANDU, Nepal –  A Nepali travel agent who survived a plane crash earlier this week says passengers should not drink during flights and refrain from sleeping during landing and takeoff. Dayaram Tamrakar said Friday from his hospital bed that he…

India troops kill 2 Kashmir rebels in gunfight, soldier hurt

SRINAGAR, India –  Indian government forces killed two militants who tried to snatch a guard's rifle in disputed Kashmir, police said, and protests against Indian rule and clashes erupted Friday as word of the killings spread. At least two insurgents…

5 Berlin police officers suspected of tipping drug dealers

BERLIN –  Berlin prosecutors say that five city police officers are suspected of taking bribes to tip off drug dealers about police operations. Prosecutors' spokesman Martin Steltner said that cellphones and cash were seized as evidence during raids early Friday.…

The Latest: Turkey urges Syrian Kurds in Afrin to surrender

BEIRUT –  The Latest on developments in Syria's seven-year civil war (all times local): 11:40 a.m. Turkey's military says it's dropped flyers in Arabic and Kurdish on the northern Syrian town of Afrin, asking residents to stay away from "terrorist…