World briefs 1/19/16

French avalanche kills 5 soldiers

PARIS -- An avalanche in the French Alps swept away a military unit training in the backcountry, killing five soldiers and injuring several others Monday, officials said. The Savoie prefecture confirmed the deaths and said 11 people out of a group of about 50 were struck by the avalanche. Jean-Claude Raffin, mayor of Modane, the nearest town, said the soldiers were out for an all-day backcountry skiing session when the avalanche hit. The unit from the southeast of France was skiing at an altitude of about 6,500 feet when the avalanche struck about 2 p.m. Julien Noel, director of the ski area, said the location where the avalanche hit is known for skiing and was not known as particularly dangerous. The avalanche comes days after a school group also skiing in the Alps was swept away, killing three people.

Lawmakers to meet released Americans

LANDSTUHL, Germany -- Three U.S. Congressmen traveled Monday to the medical center in Germany where three Americans, released by Iran as part of a prisoner swap, are being treated. Former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati, Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian and pastor Saeed Abedini arrived late Sunday at the U.S. military's Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. Rezaian, freed Saturday after almost 18 months of incarceration in an Iranian prison, met with Washington Post editors Monday for the first time since his release, the Post reported. "I want people to know that physically I'm feeling good," said Rezaian, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans provided to him on board the plane that flew the prisoners to freedom. Post executive editor Martin Baron and foreign editor Douglas Jehl said Rezaian "looked good" during their two-hour meeting in a conference room at the Landstuhl medical center near Ramstein Air Base.

First suspect held over Cologne rapes

BERLIN -- Authorities in Germany have arrested a 26-year-old Algerian man on suspicion of committing a sexual assault in Cologne during New Year's celebrations. Cologne prosecutors said Monday the unidentified asylum-seeker was arrested at a refugee home in the nearby town of Kerpen over the weekend. The man is the first person to be held on sexual offense related charges, after a string of assaults in Cologne that sparked a debate about integration in Germany. Prosecutor's office spokesman Ulrich Bremer told The Associated Press that 497 women have come forward alleging sexual assault, including three rapes, during New Year's. The suspect in custody is accused of groping a woman and robbing her cellphone. A total of 21 people have been charged with non-sexual offenses.

Palestinian attacker stabs Israeli woman

JERUSALEM -- A Palestinian attacker stabbed and wounded a pregnant Israeli woman in the West Bank on Monday before being shot, Israeli officials said. The attacker entered the Tekoa settlement and stabbed the 30-year-old woman, the Israeli military said, before being shot by the settlement's head of security. As a result, the military said "security measures" have been imposed in the West Bank, and effective immediately, Palestinian workers will not be allowed to enter Israeli settlements, though they still will be able to enter industrial zones.

-- From wire reports