MILAN — Russian President Vladimir Putin is meeting with Italian officials and Pope Francis as the U.S. seeks to encourage the Vatican to join the West in condemning Moscow's actions in Ukraine. Putin will speak with Premier Matteo Renzi in Milan before heading to the Vatican, fresh from his latest snub by the Group of Seven developed nations, which reaffirmed sanctions against Moscow at a summit this week. 

GERMANY-FRANCE-PLANE CRASH

DUESSELDORF, Germany — The coffins of 15 of the 16 German high school students killed in the Germanwings plane crash are leaving Duesseldorf airport in a hearse convoy to their hometown of Haltern. Lufthansa airline has brought back the remains of the first 44 of the 150 people killed when a Germanwings plane smashed into the French Alps on March 24. 

FRANCE-NATIVE ARTIFACTS — After a French auction house first drew condemnation for selling off Native American artifacts, it didn't back down and instead chose to multiply such auctions, positioning itself as the premier place to sell Hopi masks and other items that can't be legally sold in the U.S. 

EUROPE-MISTAKEN FOR TERRORIST

PARIS — The British government is on trial at the European Court of Human Rights over the death of a 27-year-old electrician, shot by police who thought he was an extremist in the tense aftermath of deadly 2005 London subway bombings.

FIFA INVESTIGATION-PLATINI

PARIS — Michel Platini has declined to divulge his intentions for the FIFA presidency. Speaking publicly for the first time since Sepp Blatter announced his decision to resign, the UEFA president shied away from questions about his plans for the future. 

GERMANY-OBIT-LAST

BERLIN — Big band leader James Last, who sold tens of millions of records over his 50-year career, has died. He was 86. 

PORTUGAL-FORMER PREMIER

LISBON, Portugal — A judge has ruled that former Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates must remain in prison after refusing an offer of house detention requiring him to wear an ankle bracelet monitoring device. Socrates is being investigated on suspicion of corruption, money-laundering and tax fraud.