7 die in U.S. helicopter crash in Iraq

BEIRUT — A U.S. military helicopter crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, killing all seven people on board, the Pentagon confirmed Friday.

In a statement issued Friday, the U.S. Central Command said the aircraft, an HH-60 Pave Hawk, crashed about 6:45 p.m. local time near the town of Qaim in Iraq’s Anbar province.

The names of those killed will be released by the Pentagon after families have been notified, Central Command said.

Military officials said that the crash did not appear to be the result of enemy activity and that the incident was under investigation.

A U.S. official said the helicopter was not engaged in combat activity but had been transporting elements between locations and that the crash had almost certainly been caused by the helicopter hitting an obstruction.

Archbishop removed

VATICANCITY — The Vatican on Friday removed the suspended Guam archbishop from office and ordered him not to return to the Pacific island after convicting him of some charges in a sex abuse trial.

The Vatican didn’t say what exactly Archbishop Anthony Apuron, 72, had been convicted of, and the sentence was far lighter than those given high-profile elderly prelates found guilty of molesting minors. It amounts to an early retirement that can be taken anywhere in the world but Guam, a remote U.S. Pacific territory where nearly everyone is Roman Catholic.

The Vatican spokesman declined to comment.

Zuma to face charges

JOHANNESBURG— Not long ago, former South African President Jacob Zuma seemed untouchable, but the corruption case he escaped on the eve of the 2009 parliamentary election resurfaced Friday as prosecutors reinstated charges against the ex-leader and gave new life to a case that has haunted Mr. Zuma for years.

Mr. Zuma’s party, the African National Congress, went on to win the 2009 elections and voted him in as president, ushering in nearly nine years of chaotic governance and corruption.

Last month, he was ousted by his party as president, and state prosecutors announced Friday that charges against him relating to a $2.5 billion arms deal in the late 1990s would be reinstated.

National prosecutions chief Shaun Abrahams said the charges against Mr. Zuma had a reasonable chance of succeeding. The former leader faces 16 criminal counts related to 783 payments that have been challenged as corrupt.

Mr. Abrahams said Mr. Zuma denies wrongdoing.

Saudi Arabia trims deals

Saudi Arabia is cutting back on its dealings with some German companies amid a diplomatic spat with its top European trading partner, according to those knowledgeable about the matter.

Government agencies have been told not to renew some nonessential contracts with German firms following comments made in November by Germany’s then-foreign minister, Sigmar Gabriel, said two of the people, who requested anonymity.

Essential business is continuing as normal, they said.

Among the contracts at risk are Deutsche Bank’s mandates in the kingdom.