FIFA-RAIDS

ZURICH — Swiss federal prosecutors open criminal proceedings related to the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, throwing FIFA deeper into crisis only hours after seven soccer officials were arrested and 14 indicted Wednesday in a separate U.S. corruption probe. FIFA says Friday's presidential election would go ahead as planned with Sepp Blatter going for a fifth term. Blatter was not named in either investigation. 

FRANCE-PANTHEON

PARIS — France is honoring four people who resisted the Nazis during World War II by inducting them into Paris' Pantheon mausoleum, in a rare and highly symbolic ceremony aimed at uniting the French against extremism and anti-Semitism. Though the names were designated last year, the ceremony and its emphasis on France's fundamental values of liberty, equality and fraternity takes on special meaning in a country still shaken by deadly attacks in January on a newspaper and kosher market. 

FRANCE-MILITARY SEX ABUSE

PARIS — The French president's office says judicial authorities in France and Central African Republic are cooperating to investigate allegations of child sexual abuse by French soldiers. Following a meeting Wednesday in Paris between French President Francois Hollande and Central African Republic President Catherine Samba-Panza, a French official said they are aiming at "shedding full light on this affair." 

UNITED NATIONS-WORLD HUNGER

ROME — The number of hungry people around the world has dropped to 795 million from over a billion a quarter-century ago despite natural disasters, ongoing conflicts and poverty, the three U.N. food agencies said Wednesday. Countries in East Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean showed the most progress in reducing hunger, thanks in part to economic growth that didn't exclude the poor, investments in agriculture and political stability, the agencies said in their annual State of Food Insecurity report. 

BRITAIN-QUEEN'S SPEECH

LONDON — Britain's first all-Conservative government in two decades unviels plans for power, including laws to hold a referendum on European Union membership, give Scotland more autonomy and toughen immigration policies. A list of proposed legislation was read by Queen Elizabeth II Wednesday at the State Opening of Parliament, a blend of politics and pomp replete with gilded throne, diamond-studded crown and officials in antiquated garb. 

DENMARK-POLITICS

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Danish Social Democratic Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt on Wednesday announced that parliamentary elections will be held on June 18. She said the minority government, whose term ends in September, would not resign before the election but that it was time for voters to have their say on its policies. 

GERMANY-ECONOMY

BERLIN — A closely watched survey shows German consumers remain optimistic as their economic expectations and willingness to make purchases have been bolstered by robust domestic demand and low inflation rates. The GfK research group said Wednesday its forward-looking consumer climate index rose to 10.2 points for June, up from 10.1 points in May. 

BERLIN — Doctors caring for quadruplets born prematurely to a 65-year-old Berlin woman say the babies are still in intensive care, but have been gaining a little weight and are being given their mother's milk through feeding tubes. Mother Annegret Raunigk left intensive care 48 hours after the delivery and is doing well. She gave birth by cesarean section to a girl and three boys during her 26th week of pregnancy at Berlin's Charite Hospital on May 19. SENT: 130 words, photos.

UKRAINE

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukrainian government and rebel officials say seven people have been killed over the last day of fighting between armed forces and separatists. The regional government of Luhansk, which is loyal to Kiev, said Wednesday that one civilian and one soldier were killed in mortar and grenade attacks. 

GERMANY-WWII BOMB

BERLIN — Some 20,000 residents in the western German city of Cologne are being forced to evacuate their homes after authorities discovered a 200-kilogram (440-pound) bomb from World War II. Schools and kindergartens remained closed and dozens of ambulances were on the scene to evacuate residents of a nursing home.