Nurse may have killed more than 200 people

BERLIN - German nurse Niels Hoegel, already serving a lengthy term for previous killings, will go on trial before anguished relatives on Tuesday over the murders of around 100 more people - a spree prosecutors say is unprecedented in the postwar period.

Nations call for political solution to Syria crisis

The leaders of Turkey, Russia, France and Germany called for a political solution to Syria's devastating seven-year civil war and a lasting cease-fire in the rebel-held northwestern province of Idlib after a four-way summit held over the weekend.

Ireland lifts blasphemy ban after president's win

DUBLIN - Ireland has voted to lift a rarely enforced constitutional ban on blasphemy in the latest secular reform for the once staunchly Catholic country, referendum results showed on Saturday.

IS kills US-backed fighters in showdown

DAMASCUS - At least 70 fighters with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces have been killed and 100 others wounded over the past 24 hours as a result of a counteroffensive by the Islamic State group in eastern Syria, a war monitor reported on Saturday.

Apple, Samsung fined for 'planned obsolescence'

ROME - Two of the world's largest smartphone makers, Apple and Samsung, were fined a total of 15 million euros ($17 million) this week in part for taking what are seen as illegal steps to force customers to buy new replacement phones sooner than they would have.

Mattis: Saudis promise full probe of killing

PRAGUE - Saudi Arabia has promised a "full" investigation into the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said on Sunday following talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir in Bahrain.

China, Israel vow more cooperation

JERUSALEM - Chinese Vice-President Wang Qishan wrapped up a fruitful visit to Israel on Thursday with a reaffirmed commitment from both sides to further boost bilateral innovation cooperation for mutual benefits.

ROK set to conduct military exercises amid stalled drills with US

SEOUL - The Republic of Korea will stage two military drills next week amid a thaw in relations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which have prompted Seoul and Washington to suspend joint exercises to spur nuclear talks.

Investigators search for sender of package bombs to Trump critics

WASHINGTON - Investigators have been searching across the United States for the culprit and motives behind the bizarre mail-bomb plot aimed at critics of the president, analyzing the crude devices to reveal whether they were intended to detonate or simply sow fear less than two weeks before midterm elections in the US.

UK nuke sector objective on CGN

Former British environment minister Tim Yeo said he expects Chinese investment in the United Kingdom's nuclear sector not to be deterred by pressure from the United States, stressing that British nuclear regulators will take an "evidence-based approach" to objectively assess Chinese investment.

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EU backs plastics ban for 2021

STRASBOURG, France - The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday for an EU-wide ban on single-use plastics such as straws, cutlery, cotton buds and balloon sticks.