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Spanish train drivers go on strike

MADRID (AP) — Spanish rail company Renfe says around a quarter of its commuter and long distance trains have been canceled owing to a strike by drivers. The strike, called by the Semaf union, had little apparent affect Friday as a government demand to have some 70 percent of services operating during rush hour meant most trains ran as normal. No major delays were reported though a noticeable increase in traffic in cities like Madrid suggested many people decided to use alternative forms of transport. Semaf called the strike — the first of four planned this month — after talks with Renfe over staffing and working conditions broke down last month.

Vice News journalists face deportation.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A lawyer says two Vice News journalists who were arrested on terror-related charges are expected to be deported from Turkey. The two British journalists, correspondent Jake Hanrahan and cameraman Philip Pendlebury, were detained last week in Diyarbakir, the main city in Turkey’s mostly Kurdish southeast, where renewed fighting between Kurdish rebels and security forces has killed scores of people. A court ordered the two released on Thursday but their Turkey-based assistant, Mohammed Ismael Rasool, remains jailed pending the conclusion of an investigation. Tahir Elci, head of the Diyarbakir lawyers’ association, said Friday the two Britons were expected to be expelled after formal procedures are complete. They were being kept at a local migration administration office. Their arrests prompted strong protests from media rights advocates, the U.S. and the European Union.

Islamic militants destroy tombs in Syria

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DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — A Syrian government official in charge of antiquities says that Islamic State militants have destroyed three ancient tower tombs in the central city of Palmyra. Tower tombs, built on high grounds, are a particular feature of the Roman-era ancient caravan city. Maamoun Abdulkarim, the head of the Antiquities and Museums Department in Damascus, said Friday the militants destroyed the tower tombs, including the Elahbel tower that dates back to the 103 AD, 10 days earlier. He said the destruction took place before the militants destroyed on Sunday the twomillennia old temple of Bel in the city, confirmed by U.N. satellite images. The smaller Temple of Baalshamin was also destroyed days before, and the group posted images of the damage.

Ukraine party leader questioned in Kiev

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — The leader of a right-wing party has been questioned in connection with Monday’s clashes outside the Ukrainian parliament on Kiev. Three National Guard officers died from injuries suffered in a grenade explosion during clashes between police and nationalists who were protesting a constitutional amendment granting more powers to Ukrainian regions including the rebelheld east. Svoboda leader Oleh Tyahnybok turned up for questioning at the Interior Ministry on Friday. Tyahnybok is officially a witness while 16 Svoboda members have been arrested on suspicion of orchestrating the riots. Most of the 100 violent protesters at Monday’s rally outside the parliament were members of Svoboda, which holds only a handful of seats in parliament. Wielding truncheons and sticks with nails, they faced off against police in riot gear.



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