SEATTLE — A federal judge in Seattle on Saturday partially lifted a Trump administration ban on certain refugees after two groups argued that the policy prevented people from some mostly Muslim countries from reuniting with family living legally in the United States.

U.S. District Judge James Robart heard arguments Thursday in lawsuits from the American Civil Liberties Union and Jewish Family Service, which say the ban causes irreparable harm and puts some people at risk. Government lawyers argued that the ban is needed to protect national security.

Robart ordered the federal government to process certain refugee applications but said his directive did not apply to people without a “bona fide relationship” to a person or entity in the United States.

President Donald Trump restarted the refugee program in October “with enhanced vetting capabilities.” The day before his executive order, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke and Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats sent a memo to Trump saying certain refugees must be banned unless additional security measures are implemented.

It applies to the spouses and minor children of refugees who have already settled in the U.S. and suspends the refugee program for people coming from 11 countries, nine of which are mostly Muslim.

In his decision, Robart wrote that “former officials detailed concretely how the Agency Memo will harm the United States’ national security and foreign policy interests.” Robart said his order restores refugee procedures in programs to what they were before the memo and noted that this already includes very thorough vetting of individuals.

Coptic Christian diocese says hundreds attack Egypt church

CAIRO — Hundreds of Muslim demonstrators attacked an unlicensed church south of Cairo wounding three people, an Egyptian Coptic Christian diocese said Saturday, in the latest assault on members of the country’s Christian minority.

The incident took place after Friday prayers when demonstrators gathered outside the building and stormed it. The demonstrators called for the church’s demolition, the diocese in Atfih said. The demonstrators destroyed the church’s contents and assaulted Christians inside before security personnel arrived and dispersed them.

The wounded were transferred to a hospital, the diocese said after the attack, without elaborating. A media coordinator at the diocese, the Rev. Yehnes Youssef, said later Saturday that three Copts were wounded but have been treated.

As symphonies cut ties, Dutoit denies misconduct allegations

LONDON — Renowned conductor Charles Dutoit on Saturday denied serious accusations of sexual misconduct that have caused major symphonies in Europe, Australia and the United States to suspend relationships with him.

Dutoit’s office issued a statement saying the allegations “have absolutely no basis in truth” and he vowed to mount a defense. The Associated Press reported last week that three singers and a musician had accused him of sexual assault.

His first response to the allegations was defiant.

“The allegations made against me are as shocking to me as they are to my friends and colleagues. I do not recognize the man or the actions being described in the media,” he said in a statement emailed to the Associated Press.

London Zoo fire: 1 aardvark dead, 4 meerkats likely dead

LONDON — Firefighters and zookeepers rushed to help as a blaze broke out at the London Zoo on Saturday morning, but they were unable to save an aardvark named Misha and four meerkats.

Officials said Misha died in the fire and the four missing meerkats were presumed to have perished as well.

Staff members were treated for smoke inhalation and shock after the blaze broke out near a zoo cafe.

Staffers living onsite rushed to move animals as quickly as they could, but they were too late to aid Misha, a 9-year-old aardvark.

Zoo Director Dominic Jermey said the staff was “absolutely devastated” by the aardvark’s death. “We had our vet team on site immediately but sadly there was nothing that they could do for Misha.”

Thousands in Israel protest against Netanyahu

JERUSALEM — Thousands of Israelis rallied in the streets of Tel Aviv calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign over alleged corruption for the fourth consecutive week, while hundreds more gathered in Jerusalem for the first time in an anti-corruption demonstration.

Israeli police said several thousand people massed in central Tel Aviv on Saturday in the latest protest against the premier. Several hundred more attended a right-wing anti-corruption rally in Jerusalem, with speeches headlined by former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon.

Police have questioned Netanyahu at least seven times, investigating two corruption allegations surrounding the Israeli leader. They have said they suspect him of being involved in bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing.

Family: Man accused of terror attack was depressed

Days before he was charged with plotting a terror attack, Everitt Aaron Jameson went with his father and some friends to an Oakland Raiders game.

His father said that everything seemed fine and that his son expressed no anger and no plans for violence.

His family said they cannot believe charges by the FBI that Jameson, 26, planned to launch a suicide attack on Christmas Day at a San Francisco tourist attraction.

Family members say Jameson, a former Marine, was depressed and even suicidal over losing custody of his children and had begun studying Islam about a year ago. But they insist he never talked about violence.

“He just ain’t no terrorist, no way,” his father, Gordon, told the Merced (Calif.) Sun-Star.

MSNBC says it has decided not to renew a contract with contributor Joan Walsh, a decision that ignited social media. Walsh tweeted that she learned of the decision Friday while with her daughter. Her followers expressed their dismay with the trending #KeepJoanWalsh. Walsh later said she’d be joining CNN.

Japan’s Emperor Akihito marked his 84th birthday Saturday with a pledge to fulfill his duties until the day of his abdication in 2019, and to prepare for “passing the torch to the next era.” Akihito waved to thousands of well-wishers from a balcony of the royal palace in Tokyo.