World datelines

Afghanistan

KABUL — Gunmen fired on a car carrying two Afghans from a German relief agency in a former Taliban stronghold, officials said Wednesday, killing them both in another setback to stuttering efforts to bring assistance to long-suffering Afghans. The U.S. military forecast more attacks on civilians — possibly including a major strike in the capital — as tension and violence continue to mount in the run-up to landmark October elections.

Czech Republic

PRAGUE — Czech President Vaclav Klaus appointed a new Cabinet on Wednesday, reshuffling the government a month after the former prime minister resigned over his party's crushing defeat in European parliamentary elections. New Prime Minister Stanislav Gross, appointed as premier late last month, leads the new Cabinet. He succeeds Vladimir Spidla, who stepped down as prime minister and leader of his Social Democratic Party after its poor showing in June's European vote.

Egypt

CAIRO — Outrage over a columnist's description of the Holocaust as a lie prompted a front-page clarification Wednesday in a weekly newspaper published by Egypt's ruling party. Al-Lewaa al-Islami, or "The Islamic Banner," said that two columns by Rifaat Sayed Ahmed expressed only "the opinion of the writer, which is subject to discussion, agreement or rejection." Editor Mohammed al-Zorkany said in an interview with The Associated Press that he had not expected the columns in the Islamic-oriented weekly to generate controversy. Ahmed himself was unapologetic.

England

LONDON — Police questioned 12 young men Wednesday after arresting them in a series of anti-terrorist raids that added to jitters about a possible attack in Britain and fueled suspicions among Muslims about being unfairly singled out. Police arrested 13 men, age 19 to 32, in raids late Tuesday in London, the nearby towns of Watford and Luton and Blackburn in northwest England.

France

PARIS — Legendary French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, who traveled the world for more than half a century capturing human drama with his camera, has died at age 95. Cartier-Bresson shot for Life, Vogue and Harper's Bazaar magazines, and his work inspired generations of photographers. Cartier-Bresson became a French national treasure, though he was famously averse to having his own picture taken or to giving interviews.

Gibraltar