World briefs

PHILIPPINES Back-to-back earthquakes cracked small buildings and blocked roads with minor landslides Saturday in a Philippine resort province south of Manila where jittery tourists left and patients were evacuated from a hospital amid aftershocks.

THAILAND Suspected Muslim insurgents have set off dozens of bombs in southern Thailand, bringing down power lines and setting tires on fire to block roads. Security officials said there were no reports of deaths or injuries.

AUSTRALIA-PAPUA NEW GUINEA future of hundreds of asylum seekers languishing at an Australian-run detention center in Papua New Guinea remained in doubt on Saturday, with the leaders of both countries declining to provide details about what will happen to the men if a deal to resettle them in the United States falls through.

INDIA Security forces in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir opened fire yesterday on crowds of people who attacked polling stations where voting for a by-election was taking place, killing five and injuring at least a dozen, officials said.

RUSSIA emergency services ministry says 15 people have been hospitalized after a long-distance passenger train slammed into a commuter train in western Moscow. The accident Saturday night occurred when a commuter train, which was empty except for its crew, applied its emergency brakes and a passenger train heading for Brest hit it from behind.

IRAN-SYRIA Iranian President Hassan Rouhani affirmed his support for Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government yesterday, following last week’s U.S. missile strike on a Syrian air base. In a phone call with Assad, Rouhani called the strike on Friday a “blatant violation” of Syrian sovereignty, Syrian state media reported. Assad accused the U.S. of trying to boost the morale of “terror groups” in Syria.

EGYPT Bombs exploded at two Coptic churches in different cities in northern Egypt as worshippers were celebrating Palm Sunday, killing at least 43 people and wounding about 100 in an assault claimed by the Islamic State group.

ITALY The long-delayed project to extend Rome’s subway system has brought treasures of the past to the surface. Rome city officials this week unveiled the Metro C archaeological exhibit, which features amphora, marble panels, coins and even peach pits dating back to the Roman era.

BRITAIN The body of a police officer killed in last month’s attack in London has been brought to lie in a chapel at Parliament, an honor usually reserved for senior politicians.