POLAND
Protests spreading over court overhaul
WARSAW — President Andrzej Duda is expected to sign new laws passed Saturday by the Parliament giving the conservative ruling party more control over the courts. But protesters hope they can dissuade him, with more demonstrations planned over the weekend. Democracy icon and former president Lech Walesa has joined the protests. Duda, who is closely aligned with the ruling party, agreed to meet with the chief of the Supreme Court before acting. (AP)
AFGHANISTAN
US airstrike kills12 police officers
KABUL — An errant US airstrike killed 12 Afghan National Police officers and wounded two others, Helmand provincial police chief Abdul Ghafar Safi said Saturday. The death toll in Friday’s airstrike was determined after an inspection of the compound in the Gereshk district. The Pentagon said the raid occurred during an operation against Taliban insurgents. The security forces have been fighting to retake Helmand territory from the insurgents. (AP)
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EGYPT
28 facing execution in death of official
CAIRO — An Egyptian court on Saturday sentenced 28 people to death for their involvement in the assassination of the country’s prosecutor general in 2015. Hisham Barakat was the most senior government official killed by Islamic militants since the 2013 military ouster of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi. The sentences came after consultation with the Grand Mufti, Egypt’s top religious authority. They are subject to appeal. (AP)