World Briefs

HIROSHIMA By visiting Hiroshima, Barack Obama parachutes himself into a seemingly endless dispute among key U.S. allies and trading partners over World War II.

CHINA-US Improved relations between the U.S. and Vietnam must not lead to greater pressure on China or threats to its interests, an official Chinese newspaper says.

AUSTRALIA Right-wing firebrand politician Pauline Hanson, who opposes Muslim immigration, has a realistic chance of returning to Australia’s Parliament in July elections, experts say.

INDONESIA A human rights group urges Indonesia to involve forensic experts in exhuming mass graves linked to massacres a half-century ago to ensure the preservation of crucial evidence and allow for the identification of bodies.

INDIA India has successfully tested its first small space shuttle as part of its efforts to make low-cost reusable spacecraft. The Indian Space Research Organization said the shuttle lifted off on a rocket from a launch pad in southern India this week and completed a successful 13-minute test flight.

INDIA British actor Ian McKellen has criticized India’s use of a British colonial law to crack down on homosexuals, saying in an interview with a Mumbai newspaper that “India needs to grow up.”

SYRIA The Russian military says it has called for a 72-hour cease-fire in Syria between government and opposition forces in two Damascus suburbs. In a statement, Lt. Gen. Sergei Kuralenko says this would allow Russian war planes to carry out airstrikes against the Nusra Front, the Syrian branch of al-Qaida.

TENNIS Rafael Nadal is back doing what he does best: Demolishing opponents on the red clay of Roland Garros. The nine-time champion’s 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 victory against Sam Groth of Australia added another notch to the Spanish player’s stunning record in Paris, now at 71 wins, with just two losses.