Modi begins historic visit to Israel

JERUSALEM, Middle East - Narendra Modi landed in Israel on Tuesday for the first visit by an Indian prime minister to the country. His three-day visit marks 25 years of full diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Peru reveals face of pre-Incan female ruler

LIMA - She died in her twenties about 1,700 years ago, and is believed to have ruled over a desert valley in ancient Peru where her elaborately tattooed body was buried with weapons and gold objects.

Philippine panel calls for better dog squad

MANILA, The Philippines - An independent government institution has voiced concern over the lack of military dogs to protect Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and visiting foreign leaders.

No signs of early end to crisis over Qatar

DUBAI/CAIRO - Four Arab foreign ministers gathered in Cairo to weigh possible further sanctions against Qatar on Wednesday in a dispute that has aroused deep concern among Western allies of the region's ruling dynasties, key partners in energy and defense.

IN BRIEF

Sport turns to police boot camp to reverse decline

JAMBI, Indonesia - A police boot camp complete with shooting lessons may not seem like a natural training ground for sportsmanship, but Indonesia's sepak takraw team is hoping that military-style discipline will help them achieve sporting glory.

Chinese universities reflect region's strength

Universities in China and Singapore dominated the top five places of the first Asia-Pacific University Ranking 2017 published by the London-based magazine, Times Higher Education.

Europe's city centers sound alarm as locals are forced out

BARCELONA, Spain - Memories of the past come flooding back as Manuel Mourelo strolls through Barcelona's picturesque Gothic Quarter: children playing, fun with the neighbors, traditional bars ... But now, "all of that has disappeared."

Jousters 'needed skills of modern sportsmen'

LONDON - In medieval England it was one of the top combat sports as knights on horseback competed against each other in jousting contests.

Poll drubbing could hit Abe party hard

Experts: Public dissatisfied with the ruling party and its policies

10 killed in Bangladesh factory blast

DHAKA - A boiler explosion at a Bangladeshi garment factory killed 10 people and injured dozens, fire officials said on Tuesday, the latest mishap to hit one of the world's biggest garment producers.

Australian lawmakers battle to contain dark web data breach

CANBERRA - The Australian government is doing "absolutely everything possible" to protect its citizens' private data, after it was revealed that healthcare data was on sale on the dark web.