Philippine officials say at least six people have been killed in battle between government forces and suspected Abu Sayyaf militants on a central resort island, far from the extremists' southern jungle bases and in a region where the U.S. government has warned the gunmen may be conducting kidnappings.

Military and police officials say a soldier and at least five gunmen were killed in an ongoing clash in Inabanga town in Bohol province, a popular tourist destination.

The United States has made a preliminary conclusion that Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack last week, but has no proof of Moscow's involvement, a senior U.S. official said Monday.

The official said that a drone operated by Russians was flying over a hospital as victims of the attack were rushing to get treatment. Hours after the drone left, a Russian-made fighter jet bombed the hospital in what American officials believe was an attempt to cover up the usage of chemical weapons.

Iran has opened registration for those hoping to run in the May 19 presidential race.

The official IRNA news agency said Tuesday that prospective candidates can register through the end of Saturday. They will then be vetted by the Guardian Council, a clerical body that will announce a final list of candidates by April 27.

A senior U.S. official says the United States has concluded that Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack last week.

The official says a Russian-operated drone flew over a hospital in Syria as victims of the attack were rushing to get treatment.

A Lebanese registered ship hijacked off the coast of war-torn Somalia has been freed, says a shipping expert.

The pirates who boarded the ship Saturday abandoned it Sunday before naval forces rescued the ship, Mohamed Abdirahman, former director of Puntland's marine forces, told The Associated Press.

At least five people have been killed and 32 others wounded in three days of fierce clashes at the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh in the southern city of Sidon, state-run National News Agency said.

Somalia's northeastern semiautonomous state of Puntland has executed five men who were convicted of murdering two regional officials.

Saturday's executions by firing squad are the latest of several in the region that is battling both extremist group al-Shabab and fighters linked to the Islamic State group.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he hopes U.S. President Donald Trump will take military action in Syria after this week's chemical attack.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday denounced Syria's President Bashar al-Assad as responsible for a "terrible," "egregious" crime, suggesting the United States could be poised to take action over this week's suspected chemical attack.

A man who spray-painted a marriage proposal on an Ohio shopping center has been fined for criminal mischief and sentenced to community service but says he doesn't regret it.

After all, she said yes.