BERLIN – The U.N.’s human rights chief says his office has received reports that Boko Haram fighters fleeing advancing military forces murdered women and girls they had taken as “wives,” along with other captives. Zeid Raad al-Hussein told a special session of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva Wednesday …

JERUSALEM – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has rejected an Israeli transfer of millions of dollars in tax revenue. Abbas said he ordered the money returned Sunday because “they deducted one third” to pay for the utility bills it owes Israel. Palestinians are believed to owe millions of dollars for use …

BERLIN – Swiss authorities say they have arrested a 24-year-old man who is suspected of seeking to join an Islamic extremist group in Syria or Iraq. Federal prosecutors say the unidentified man was arrested at Zurich airport Tuesday afternoon as he attempted to board a plane to Istanbul, Turkey. Prosecutors …

JERUSALEM – A coalition of international aid groups says the world must change its approach to war-ravaged Gaza, including by demanding a lifting of the blockade of the Hamas-ruled territory. The Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA) said Monday that reconstruction of thousands of homes and businesses destroyed in last …

Beatty vs. Hepburn | Pop Star for Sale | ‘Gigli’ DOA | Beatty vs. Hepburn: Their Botched ‘Love Affair’ There was a lot of excitement about A. Scott Berg’s book “Kate Remembered” when it was published last month. Most of it had to do with Katharine Hepburn’s revelations about Spencer …

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has expressed sadness for the death of Cardinal Francis George, the retired Chicago archbishop. In a condolence telegram Saturday sent to current Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich, the pontiff offered “heartfelt condolences” to the prelate, clergy and other faithful of the third-largest U.S. archdiocese with 2.2 …

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Dutch anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders is copying part of Australia’s approach to stopping boat migrants by making a video telling would-be asylum seekers considering making the treacherous boat crossing from North Africa to Europe: “You will not make the Netherlands home.” The video, posted on Wilders’ …

ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey’s state-run television says a Turkish Airlines plane bound for Milan made an emergency landing at Istanbul after one its engines caught fire. All passengers were safely evacuated. TRT television on Saturday showed the plane landing at Ataturk Airport, leaving a trail of sparks and smoke behind …

KATHMANDU, Nepal – Mountaineering officials say the death toll from an avalanche on Mount Everest triggered by last weekend’s massive earthquake in Nepal has risen to 19, including two climbers from the United States and one each from China, Australia and Japan. The Nepal Mountaineering Association said Wednesday the 14 …

I recently received this comment from Brian D., in Louisiana: “It cracks me up when I hear the hypocrisy from the Republican talking heads complaining about actors voicing political opinions. Don’t they worship Ronald Reagan? And now Arnold the Terminator? Go Penn. Go Streisand. Go Baldwin. Go Sheen. Oh wait, …