World datelines

Afghanistan: Attack

KABUL — A gunman attacked a group of German and Afghan aid workers inspecting a high school under renovation in eastern Afghanistan on Friday, killing one person and injuring several others, officials said.

One of those wounded in the attack in Khost province was a German citizen, said a spokesman for the German Foreign Office. The person who was killed was Afghan.

Chile: Another quake

SANTIAGO — A strong earthquake shook northern Chile on Friday, worrying a nation still rattled by last month's megaquake. There were no victims or major damage, the national emergency agency said.

The 6.2-magnitude temblor struck just before noon and prompted some people to evacuate buildings. Emergency officials said some roads were affected by land and rock slides.

Colombia: Boy, 12, killed

BOGOTA — A package bomb killed a 12-year-old boy who may have been given it to take to a police station after school in Colombia's turbulent, coca-growing southwest, authorities said Friday.

The boy, still in his school uniform, died about 4 p.m. Thursday in the blast, which also injured two officers at the police station in the town of El Charco, authorities said. Narino state Gov. Antonio Navarro said the bomb exploded as the boy approached the station.

Cuba: Swine flu vaccine

HAVANA — Cuba will begin vaccinating nearly 10 percent of its citizens against swine flu next week, reversing its previous skepticism about the high cost and effectiveness of immunization to combat the virus.

Communist Party newspaper Granma said Friday that the vaccinations will come in two waves, the first beginning April 1. More than 1.1 million Cubans deemed particularly vulnerable to swine flu will get them in a country of about 11.4 million.

Ecuador: Chavez on press

QUITO — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Friday defended the arrest of a major TV channel owner, calling him a criminal and denying the government is carrying out an assault on press freedom.

The back-to-back arrests this week of two government opponents — including the owner of Venezuela's only remaining anti-Chavez TV channel — have drawn accusations that Chavez is growing increasingly intolerant and authoritarian as his popular support has slipped.