Nation, world briefs 9/30/15

First trial set in Freddie Gray case

BALTIMORE -- The first trial in the case against six Baltimore police officers charged in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray will be held Nov. 30, and the other trials are set for early next year. Judge Barry Williams decided Tuesday officer William Porter, one of three officers to check on Gray after he was put in a police van, will stand trial first. Porter is accused of failing to provide or request medical care for Gray and not securing him safely in a van. Porter faces charges of manslaughter, assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office in the death of Gray, a black man who died a week after he was handcuffed, shackled and put in the van. Prosecutors have said they intend to call Porter as a witness against at least two other officers, including the van driver and sergeant who checked on Gray after he was put inside the van.

Snowden joins Twitter, follows NSA

NEW YORK -- Edward Snowden, who has confounded U.S. officials since his abrupt departure from the country, has just found a new megaphone in Twitter. The former National Security Agency worker, who leaked classified documents about government surveillance, started tweeting Tuesday. The account, which is verified by Twitter, had more than 185,000 followers an hour after its first tweet, "Can you hear me now?" He is following just one account on the messaging service: the National Security Agency. Snowden is living in exile in Russia. He faces charges in the U.S. that could land him in prison for up to 30 years. Twitter Inc. did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

German housing codes are lowered

BERLIN -- Refugees coming to Germany can expect a roof over their head, a bed to sleep in and three meals a day. But with authorities struggling to find housing for tens of thousands of people each month, many new arrivals will find their lodgings a squeeze. Smaller, in fact, than what's permitted for a German shepherd dog. An Associated Press survey has found several of Germany's 16 states have waived the usual rules expected of communal housing. As a result, migrants in some parts of Germany are finding themselves living in cramped conditions rights groups say are unfit for human habitation.

Dog accidentally puts truck in lake

ELLSWORTH, Maine -- Police said a dog alone in a pickup had to be rescued after it caused the truck to go into a lake in Maine. Ellsworth Police said a man was walking the dog near Branch Lake on Saturday afternoon in Ellsworth. He put the dog into the truck after an encounter with another dog. While the man spoke to the other dog's owner, the Yorkshire terrier managed to bump the Chevrolet Silverado into gear, causing it to roll about 75 feet into the lake, and bounce off a rock before sinking in roughly 10 feet of water. Police said a family friend swam into the lake and saved the trapped dog. A towing company was called in to remove the truck. No humans or dogs were injured.

-- From wire reports