Israeli military miffs politicians:

JERUSALEM — The Israeli military, which has battled foes on all of the country’s borders, is now facing a challenge from within: nationalist politicians who are openly disagreeing with army commanders and bickering with the security establishment.

This growing rift was underscored by angry reactions from inside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition to Wednesday’s manslaughter conviction of an Israeli soldier who fatally shot an already wounded Palestinian attacker. Netanyahu and other senior Cabinet ministers quickly called for Sgt. Elor Azaria to be pardoned.

Netanyahu questioned again:

JERUSALEM — Police questioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday for the second time over allegations that he improperly accepted gifts from wealthy supporters, pressing ahead with a probe that has threatened to challenge his long leadership of Israel’s government. Netanyahu has adamantly denied wrongdoing.

Duterte furthers Russia ties:

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will consider joint naval exercises with Russia, his spokesman said Thursday, months after he decided to reduce military drills with the U.S. Spokesman Ernesto Abella said Duterte saw this week’s visit by two Russian warships to Manila as an opportunity to enhance friendship between the navies.

Rebel nabbed during talk show:

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — A former rebel leader who is wanted on U.S. drug charges, and was recently elected to the Haitian Senate, was arrested Thursday as he appeared on a live radio talk show, a witness said. Guy Philippe was being interviewed live on the show with another recently elected lawmaker when the host abruptly announced that police were outside the studio in the Petionville district of the capital to arrest him. The host came back on air and said that authorities had taken him away.

Killer’s execution date delayed:

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Supreme Court has agreed to delay the execution date for serial killer Anthony Sowell, a Cleveland man convicted of killing 11 women. The execution had been set for Nov. 18, 2020.

Mom sentenced to 30 years:

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Michelle Lodzinski, a Florida woman convicted of killing her 5-year-old son in New Jersey in 1991, was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in prison by a judge who accused her of repeatedly lying about his disappearance.

Jury: DuPont should pay more:

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A federal jury says DuPont should pay an additional $10.5 million in punitive damages to an Ohio man who says he got testicular cancer because of a chemical used to make Teflon. The jury previously found DuPont should pay Kenneth Vigneron Sr. $2 million in compensatory damages.

‘Not fair,’ church gunman says:

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Dylann Roof wrote in a court filing unsealed Thursday that it was “not fair” for prosecutors to present such extensive testimony about the effect of his church shooting here on victims’ family members, arguing — because he was not presenting any evidence — that it would virtually assure a death sentence. “If I don't present any mitigation evidence, the victim-impact evidence will take over the whole sentencing trial and guarantee that I get the death penalty,” Roof wrote.

Fire extinguished on platform:

A fire broke out on an oil production platform in the Gulf of Mexico early Thursday, forcing four workers to evacuate by lifeboat before the blaze was extinguished. There were no injuries and inspectors found no sign of pollution, authorities said.

Bodies pulled from helicopter:

LOS ANGELES — Two bodies were pulled Thursday from the sunken wreckage of a helicopter that crashed inside the Port of Los Angeles breakwater, authorities said. The men were pulled from the fuselage of a Robinson R22 two-seater aircraft that went down Wednesday on a photography flight.

Mercedes recalls some SUVs:

DETROIT — Mercedes-Benz is recalling nearly 48,000 SUVs in the U.S. to fix a sensor problem that could stop the front passenger air bag from inflating in a crash. The recall covers certain GL, GLE and GLS models from the 2016 and 2017 model years.

Lawyer:Girl has concussion:

RALEIGH, N.C. — A student who was slammed to the floor by a police officer in a North Carolina high school has suffered a concussion and may have other related health issues, her attorney said Thursday.