CAIRO/ AFP An EgyptAir flight from Paris to Cairo crashed into the Mediterranean on Thursday with 66 people on board prompting an investigation into whether it was mechanical failure or a bomb. There were no immediate reports of the discovery of any debris in the area of sea between the Greek islands and the Egyptian coast where the plane …

  ISTANBUL / AFP Turkey’s ruling party was expected to name on Thursday a close ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as prime minister, as the strongman seeks to tighten his grip on power. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) was poised to appoint Transport Minister Binali Yildirim as its chairman, meaning he would automatically become prime minister. …

  Berlin / AP The speaker of Germany’s Parliament is criticizing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over a push to strip legislators in Turkey of their immunity from prosecution. Norbert Lammert was quoted in daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily on Thursday as accusing Erdogan of “autocratic ambitions.” He added that the development continues “a whole series of events with which Turkey …