IRUT (AP) — Lebanese officials insisted Friday on the return home of Prime Minister Saad Hariri from Saudi Arabia, and the leader of the militant group Hezbollah said the Saudis had “declared war” on Lebanon by holding Hariri against his will. The U.S. added its voice to those urging that Hariri be allowed to return … Continue reading
ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Latest on the release of an American woman, her husband and their three children after being held for years by a group with ties to the Taliban (all times local): 6:50 a.m. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has thanked Canada’s allies around the globe for their work in achieving a positive … Continue reading
BEIJING (AP) — China’s president on Thursday strongly condemned the killing of a Chinese hostage by Islamic State extremists, saying such groups are enemies of mankind. Though President Xi Jinping expressed resolve to crack down on terrorism, there was no indication that China would change its consistent opposition to outside involvement in the conflict in … Continue reading
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Thirty-year veteran teacher Twila Smith had scarcely started a new school year when a 14-year-old freshman entered her world studies class and drew a gun Tuesday. “I knew if I lost my composure, this is going to end badly,” Smith told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday. “He told me … Continue reading
BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — A Dutch national who was held in captivity by Islamic militants for more than three years has left Mali and is headed back home, officials said Tuesday. Sjaak Rijke, who was abducted from a hotel in northern Mali in November 2011, flew into Mali’s capital Bamako on Tuesday. He stepped out … Continue reading
DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) — After days of intense fighting, Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine claimed Monday they had seized control of Donetsk airport once again. The Ukrainian military denied this but acknowledged that the fighting for the rubble-strewn trophy had been fierce. Three Ukrainian servicemen were killed and 66 wounded in the previous 24 … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 