World: News and Reviews from The Washington Post

Here is the latest World News from The Washington Post.

UK police condemn Trump’s complaint about British Muslims
A senior British counter-terrorism police officer has condemned Donald Trump’s assertion that British Muslims are not reporting extremists in their communities to police.

Gay parents fight for custody with surrogate in Thailand
An American-Spanish same-sex couple opened a high-profile custody battle in Thailand on Wednesday for a baby girl born to a surrogate mother, who decided she wanted to keep the child when she found out they were gay.

Syrian army seizes hills overlooking IS-held town of Palmyra
The Syrian government says its troops have seized highland around Palmyra and are now stationed on hills overlooking the ancient town controlled by the Islamic State group.

Elephant dung at Prague Zoo morphs into a new form: paper
At first, their elephant dung was sold to gardeners as fertilizer. Now Prague Zoo has come up with a new use for it: making paper.

German government advisers trim economic growth forecast
The German government’s independent panel of economic advisers is trimming its growth forecast this year to 1.5 percent, citing growing risks to exports.

Greece: Refugee protests at border, islands
Refugees and migrants in Greece staged protests Wednesday at the country’s border with Macedonia and on islands near the Turkish coast, with officials still unsure when an international agreement to reduce migration will take full effect.

Dutch government closes consulate general in Istanbul because of “possible terror threat”
Dutch government closes consulate general in Istanbul because of “possible terror threat”

UN envoy to Libya says he isn’t allowed to land in Tripoli
The Islamist-linked government in the Libyan capital has declined to give permission for the U.N. envoy to Libya to land in Tripoli, the diplomat said on Wednesday.

Russia accuses Ukraine of ignoring peace deal
Opening a day of intense international diplomacy Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday accused Ukrainian’s government of dragging its feet on implementing last year’s cease-fire agreement.

The international soccer friendly between Belgium and Portugal set for next Tuesday has been called off
The international soccer friendly between Belgium and Portugal set for next Tuesday has been called off.

In Argentina, Obama hopes to forge better U.S. ties
The visit represents an opportunity for improved U.S.-Argentina relations.

Dutch shut diplomatic post in Istanbul after threat
The Dutch government temporarily closed its consulate-general in Istanbul on Wednesday because of a “possible terror threat” and advised its citizens to avoid the area, which is close to the scene of a suicide bombing that killed four foreign tourists on Saturday.

Belgium’s main airport to remain closed until at least Thursday night after Brussels attacks
Belgium’s main airport to remain closed until at least Thursday night after Brussels attacks.

French PM Valls says it is ‘vital’ Euro 2016 goes ahead
Striking a defiant tone, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls says it is “vital” the European Championship in France goes ahead to show the country will not cower in the wake of the deadly attacks in Brussels and Paris.

At national rally, Pakistan president vows to end terrorism
Pakistan’s President Mamnoon Hussain praised his country’s security forces and pledged to continue the fight against terrorism, speaking at a rally during a national holiday.

Is China heading in the wrong direction? For once, the West calls Beijing out.
With its assertive, repressive policies, China alarms and unites Western nation.

Belgian broadcaster identifies 2 Brussels attackers as brothers Khalid and Brahim El Bakraoui
The suspects were identified in connection with attacks that left at least 31 people dead. This is a developing story. It will be updated.

In Buenos Aires, Obama aims to boost Argentina’s new leader
After years of anti-American posturing by its leader, Argentina has a new president whose outstretched hand has been eagerly accepted by the United States. President Barack Obama will reward the South American nation on Wednesday with a state visit aimed at keeping that promising trajectory on track.

Belgian broadcaster identifies 2 Brussels attackers as brothers Khalid and Brahim El Bakraoui
Belgian broadcaster identifies 2 Brussels attackers as brothers Khalid and Brahim El Bakraoui.

Has terrorism become the new normal in Europe?
After the July 7 bombings in London in 2005, Europe and Britain in particular were prepared for terrorism to become the new normal on the continent. That fear did not materialize until recently.

Political crisis relegates Rio Olympics to an afterthought
Brazil’s economic and political crisis has relegated Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic preparations to an afterthought with South America’s first games just over four months away.

Belgian broadcaster identifies 2 suspects in attacks
Belgian authorities were searching Wednesday for a top suspect in the country’s deadliest attacks in decades, as the European Union’s capital awoke under guard and with limited public transport after 34 were killed in bombings on the Brussels airport and a subway station.

Belgian broadcaster identifies 2 suspects in attacks
Belgian state broadcaster RTBF has identified two of the attackers who targeted Brussels as brothers Khalid and Brahim Bakraoui.

Belgian authorities identify attackers as pair of brothers as manhunt continues
Police were also seeking a man who was seen with two of the bombers minutes before they detonated

China, Southeast Asian leaders seek greater cooperation
Leaders from China and five neighboring Southeast Asian countries are meeting in a southern Chinese resort city this week amid wariness but also hope for greater regional cooperation.

Fearful of China’s reach abroad, dissidents try risky voyage
Dong Junming was detained several times in his Chinese homeland before he and his family fled to Bangkok in February 2015. A year later, he was preparing to make a more desperate journey to evade Chinese authorities who still felt dangerously close.

China detains dozens after sales of poorly stored vaccines
Police in eastern China have detained 37 people implicated in a scandal involving the selling of poorly refrigerated and probably ineffective vaccines, state media reported Wednesday.

Asian indexes little changed as Belgian attacks worries ease
Asian stock indexes were little changed Wednesday, but mostly lower, as worries gradually settled over the deadly bombings in Belgium.

Obama lands in Argentina for state visit with Macri
President Barack Obama has arrived in Argentina for the first state visit by a U.S. president since 1997.

Obama visit to Argentina stirs up ‘Dirty War’ past
When Barack Obama’s state visit to Buenos Aires was announced early this year, Argentina’s new president cast it as a sign that the South American nation was on a U.S.-backed path to investment and modernization that would help it conquer its economic problems.

Islamic State claims deadly bombings in Brussels
Islamic extremists struck Tuesday in the heart of Europe, killing at least 34 people and wounding scores of others in back-to-back bombings of the Brussels airport and subway that again laid bare the continent’s vulnerability to suicide squads.

Zebra runs amok in Japanese golf course, dies in lake
A zebra that was on the loose on a Japanese golf course for hours has died after it was chased around by a dozen men including police officers, likely drowning after being shot by tranquilizer dart and plunging into a lake.

Taiwan takes media on tour of South China Sea island claim
Taiwan flew international media to its largest island holding in the South China Sea on Wednesday in a bid to reinforce its territorial claims in the disputed and increasingly tense region.

Head of UN mission to Libya: unity gov’t in Tripoli in days
The head of the U.N. mission to Libya says the new unity government will install itself in Tripoli within days.

US airstrike hits al-Qaida training camp in Yemen
The U.S. military conducted an airstrike Tuesday against an al-Qaida training camp in Yemen, causing dozens of casualties, a Pentagon spokesman said.

With presidents Obama, Castro watching, Rays beat Cuban team
When Kevin Kiermaier slid into home for the Tampa Bay Rays’ first run of the day, President Barack Obama flung his arms wide in the sign for “safe.”

Fighting intensifies in USVI over Republican delegates
A fight among Republicans in the U.S. Virgin Islands is intensifying over which delegates will be sent to the upcoming national convention.

The Latest: IS threatens more countries after Brussels
The Latest on the explosions Tuesday at Brussels airport and a subway station (all times local):

Niger president wins 92 percent of vote amid low turnout
Niger’s president has cruised to an easy re-election while his main opponent remains in France seeking medical treatment after being jailed for several months.

Vietnam puts prominent blogger on trial for anti-state posts
A prominent Vietnamese blogger who is a former police officer and the son of a late government minister went on trial Wednesday for alleged anti-state postings.

Belgium’s big problem with radical Islam
The Brussels terror attacks highlight a continent’s security crisis.

Official: Death toll in Brussels rises to 34 after Islamic State attacks on airport, metro
Official: Death toll in Brussels rises to 34 after Islamic State attacks on airport, metro.

A quiet morning in Brussels ends in gruesome terrorist attacks
Victims at the Brussels airport “were in pieces,” recalls a former Belgian commando.

Fighting intensifies in USVI over Republican delegates
A fight among Republicans in the U.S. Virgin Islands is intensifying over which delegates will be sent to the party’s national convention this summer.

Human rights body condemns Salvadoran journalist’s killing
An arm of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is condemning the slaying of a radio journalist in El Salvador.

Belgian prosecutors say ‘chemical products,’ Islamic State group flag found in raid
Belgian prosecutors say ‘chemical products,’ Islamic State group flag found in raid.

Italian police arrest Iraqi said to have terrorist contacts
Italy’s interior minister says police have arrested on a European warrant an Iraqi identified by French and Belgian authorities as having contact with terrorists.

Yemeni officials, witness say airstrike hits al-Qaida base
Yemeni security officials and a witness say an airstrike has hit a former military base that has been taken over by al-Qaida militants near the terror group’s stronghold city of Mukalla, causing casualties.

The Latest: Russia, Finland to tighten migration controls
The Latest on the flow of migrants into Europe (all times local):

UN closes military office in disputed Western Sahara
The United Nations says it has closed a military liaison office in the disputed Western Sahara after Morocco gave the U.N. observers there 72 hours to leave to protest remarks by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Obama visit to Argentina stirs up ‘Dirty War’ past
When President Barack Obama’s state visit to Buenos Aires was announced early this year, Argentina’s new president cast it as a sign that the South American nation was on a U.S.-backed path to investment and modernization that would help it conquer its economic problems.

Pedestrian strip becomes canvas of support in Brussels
A pedestrian strip outside the stock exchange in Brussels became a colorful canvas of support and defiance after Tuesday’s deadly bombings as those wanting to show solidarity chalked messages in everything from local French to Asian script.

UN envoy to Syria: Sides in Geneva talks exchanged documents
Syria’s warring parties taking part in the Geneva talks exchanged documents on Tuesday outlining each side’s basic positions, the U.N. special envoy said.

Head of UN mission to Libya: unity gov’t in Tripoli in days
The head of the U.N. mission to Libya says the new unity government will install itself in Tripoli within days.

Turkey detains 13 suspects amid fear of new attack
A Turkish state-run agency says authorities detained three men, including two foreigners, suspected of planning another attack in Istanbul. Security forces also captured 10 men suspected of being linked to the Islamic State group in southern Turkey.

Canada projects deficit 3 times larger than originally said
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s new Liberal government projects a federal deficit almost three times the size it promised during last year’s election.

Finland sentences Iraqi man for war crimes
A Finnish court has given an Iraqi man a 13-month suspended sentence for war crimes committed in his home country last year, finding him guilty of degrading the body of a dead enemy soldier.

Rob Ford, colorful and controversial former Toronto mayor, dies after cancer battle
The scandal-ridden, wise-cracking former mayor bowed out of a reelection bid after his cancer diagnosis.

Tunisia extends state of emergency for 3 more months
Tunisia has extended for three months the state of emergency declared after a November Islamic State-linked suicide bombing in the country’s capital that killed 12 members of the president’s security detail.

Infamous ex-Toronto mayor Rob Ford dies after cancer fight
Knocking over a grandmother while rushing to the defense of his brother, who was insulting spectators in the City Council chamber. Threatening “murder” in a profane, incoherent rant captured on video. Swearing and slurring, calling the police chief a derogatory name and trying to imitate a Jamaican accent.

Watching a Cuban family watching Obama
In one household, his words provoked applause, regrets and a few tears.

Five stories you should read to understand the Brussels attacks
There have been warnings of an attack on Brussels for years.

World landmarks to light up in Belgian flag colors after Brussels attacks
Iconic structures, including the Eiffel Tower, will pay tribute to the victims of the attacks in Brussels.

‘It’s absolutely unacceptable to live in this kind of world’
Witnesses at a crisis center near Brussels Airport describe their experiences.

Federal police in Belgium issue wanted notice for suspect in Brussels airport bombing
Federal police in Belgium issue wanted notice for suspect in Brussels airport bombing.

ISIS promises ‘dark days’ for all its enemies
It noted that Belgium was “participating in the international coalition against the Islamic State.”

Belgian prime minister says ‘we face enemies that battle our fundamental values’
Belgian prime minister says ‘we face enemies that battle our fundamental values’

Belgian prime minister declares 3 days of national mourning
Belgian prime minister declares 3 days of national mourning.

Belgian prime minister says country to take additional security measures at borders
Belgian prime minister says country to take additional security measures at borders.

Prize-winning Palestinian teacher: ‘I create a safe, peaceful, loving environment’
Troubled young students find a safe place to learn despite violence around them.

Prince Harry smears red powder on Nepal villagers
Britain’s Prince Harry smeared red power Tuesday on villagers in Nepal celebrating the Holi festival marking the beginning of spring.

FIFA ethics committee opens bribery probe into Franz Beckenbauer, Germany’s 2006 World Cup bid
FIFA ethics committee opens bribery probe into Franz Beckenbauer, Germany’s 2006 World Cup bid.

Brussels mayor says at least 20 people died in subway attack near EU headquarters
Brussels mayor says at least 20 people died in subway attack near EU headquarters.

Witnesses describe blood, dust and chaos in Brussels attacks
More than two dozen people were killed Tuesday when bombs exploded in Belgium’s capital — two at the main international airport and one on a downtown subway train near European Union headquarters. Witnesses described chaotic scenes of blood, dust and flying glass as the blasts hit transport hubs in the middle of a busy rush hour. Here are some of their accounts:

Russian court sentences Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko to 22 years in prison.
Russian court sentences Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko to 22 years in prison.

Russian court sets 22-year sentence for Ukrainian pilot
A Russian court on Tuesday found a Ukrainian pilot guilty of complicity to murder in the deaths of two Russian journalists in eastern Ukraine, opening a path to a potential prisoner swap

FIFA opens 2006 WCup cases against Beckenabuer, Niersbach
The FIFA ethics committee opened a bribery investigation Tuesday into Franz Beckenbauer and other officials from Germany’s 2006 World Cup bid team.

Brazil builder Odebrecht latest target in corruption probe
Brazilian officials say they’ve carried out searches and detentions across the country linked to the huge Odebrecht construction company as part of their probe into corruption at the state-run oil giant Petrobras.

Obama addresses the Cuban nation in historic Havana visit
His top advisers said he will outline his vision of the future to ordinary Cuban citizens and to Cuban Americans.

Obama: US embargo is hurting the Cuban people instead of helping them
Obama: US embargo is hurting the Cuban people instead of helping them.

Obama says he came to Cuba to “bury the last remnant of the Cold War in the Americas”
Obama says he came to Cuba to “bury the last remnant of the Cold War in the Americas”

Obama: US will do ‘whatever is necessary’ to bring Belgium attackers to justice
Obama: US will do ‘whatever is necessary’ to bring Belgium attackers to justice.

France reinforces security at airports, train stations, metros.
France reinforces security at airports, train stations, metros.

Belgian prime minister says ‘we know there are many dead, many injured’
Belgian prime minister says ‘we know there are many dead, many injured’

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel says ‘what we feared has happened, we were hit by blind attacks’
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel says ‘what we feared has happened, we were hit by blind attacks’

European airports increase security after Brussels attacks
Authorities in Europe have tightened security at airports, on subways, at the borders and on city streets after deadly attacks Tuesday on the Brussels airport and its subway system.

Belgian prime minister says no information now whether attacks related to Paris suspect arrested last week
Belgian prime minister says no information now whether attacks related to Paris suspect arrested last week.

Belgian federal prosecutor says that all three explosions “were terrorist attacks”
Belgian federal prosecutor says that all three explosions “were terrorist attacks”

UN refugee agency alters Greece efforts after EU-Turkey deal
The U.N. refugee agency says it’s suspending some operations in Greece because centers known as “hotspots” to handle an influx of migrants “have now become detention centers” under a European Union deal to send back some to Turkey.

Belgian federal prosecutor says at least one of airport blasts was probably caused by a suicide bomber
Belgian federal prosecutor says at least one of airport blasts was probably caused by a suicide bomber .

Blasts leave ‘scores’ dead at Brussels airport and metro station
The attacks raised fears of reprisal strikes after the arrest of key Paris terror suspect.

French prime minister: “We are at war. We have been subjected for the last few months in Europe to acts of war.”
French prime minister: “We are at war. We have been subjected for the last few months in Europe to acts of war.”

Explosions rock Brussels airport, subway; 13 reported dead
Explosions, at least one likely caused by a suicide bomber, rocked the Brussels airport and its subway system Tuesday, prompting a lockdown of the Belgian capital and heightened security across Europe.

Brussels transit spokesman Guy Sablon says 15 dead, 55 injured in attack at subway station
Brussels transit spokesman Guy Sablon says 15 dead, 55 injured in attack at subway station .

French president: “Terrorists struck Brussels but it was Europe that was targeted.”
French president: “Terrorists struck Brussels but it was Europe that was targeted.”

In Cuba, Obama briefed on Brussels attacks
President Barack Obama, traveling in Cuba, was briefed Tuesday morning on the Brussels attacks that killed dozens of people. The White House said U.S. officials were in contact with Belgian officials about the explosions at the Brussels airport and subway system.

Officials announce creation of Dubai endowment consultancy
Officials speaking on behalf of Dubai’s ruler have announced a new endowment center in his name.

The Latest: French PM after Belgium attacks: “We are at war”
The Latest on explosions at Brussels airport and metro station (all times local):