World datelines

Afghanistan

KABUL — A U.S.-led coalition convoy hit a boy in Kabul and killed him, while Afghan and coalition forces arrested five suspected al-Qaida on Wednesday in eastern Afghanistan.

China

SHANGHAI — Faster Chinese trains running at about 125 mph began service Wednesday as part of a bid to keep up with ballooning transport demand, state media reported. The first of scores of high-speed trains left Shanghai Wednesday morning for the nearby city of Suzhou, making the 53-mile trip in 39 minutes, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Colombia

NEIVA — Thousands of people were evacuated after a long-dormant volcano erupted late Tuesday and again early Wednesday, provoking avalanches and floods that swept away houses and bridges. The Nevado del Huila volcano's eruptions were its first on record since Colombia was colonized by the Spanish 500 years ago.

Egypt

CAIRO — The Arab League on Wednesday picked Egypt and Jordan to take the lead in approaching Israel to promote the Saudi-drafted peace plan in a bid to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel has praised the broad land-for-peace offer but has said it will not accept the plan without some changes.

Mexico

TIJUANA — Police and soldiers battled gunmen at a hospital in the border city of Tijuana Wednesday in violence that left at least three people dead before the authorities subdued the attackers, officials said. Authorities believed that the gunmen were trying to free at least one of the prisoners.

Russia

MOSCOW — Russian lawmakers on Wednesday endorsed new restrictions on political extremism that will toughen punishments and could make it easier for the Kremlin to apply the rules to its opponents.

South Korea

SEOUL — South Korea began talks with North Korea on possible aid to the communist regime Wednesday despite its failure to make progress on an international agreement to dismantle its nuclear programs.

Sudan