United Nations, United States | AFP | The United Nations on Friday conceded that an attack that killed 15 peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo late last year exposed “gaps” in how UN troops are trained. The December 7 attack in the Beni territory of North Kivu province was …
Read More »Watchdog warns EU leaders ‘weakening’ journalists after murder
Bratislava, Slovakia | AFP | A global media watchdog on Friday warned EU leaders against undermining the security of journalists in the wake of the murder of a Slovak investigative reporter gunned down in his home. Jan Kuciak, who had been probing alleged high-level political corruption in Slovakia linked to …
Read More »Congolese cross a lake to escape an inferno
Sebagoro, Uganda | AFP | A daily flotilla of wooden canoes makes the 10-hour eastward crossing of Lake Albert ferrying hundreds of refugees from DR Congo’s latest spasm of violence to the safety of Uganda. The repurposed fishing vessels come to Sebagoro beach crammed with the bedraggled and dispossessed survivors …
Read More »Student kills parents at US university, remains at large: officials
Chicago, United States | AFP | A university student fatally shot his parents on his school campus Friday in the US state of Michigan before fleeing and setting off an hours-long manhunt, officials said. The early morning incident put the campus into lockdown — trapping students in classrooms and dormitories …
Read More »Suicide car bombing caused blast at Burkina army HQ: minister
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso | AFP | A suicide car bombing caused the deadly blast at Burkina Faso’s military headquarters on Friday, the government said, adding that a regional anti-terrorism meeting may have been the target. Eight members of the armed forces were killed by the blast and a parallel attack …
Read More »Wenger ready to “fight” to end Arsenal crisis
Brighton, United Kingdom | AFP | Arsene Wenger has grown used to defending himself in recent years but the Arsenal manager’s grip on his position has never seemed less secure ahead of Sunday’s clash with Brighton. A crushing 3-0 loss against Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday intensified …
Read More »Thousands attend protest vigils for slain Slovak journalist
Bratislava, Slovakia | AFP | Thousands flocked to candlelit anti-corruption protests and memorials held across Slovakia on Friday for murdered journalist Jan Kuciak, killed as he was about to publish an explosive report on alleged high-level political corruption linked to the Italian mafia. Organisers estimated that around 25,000 people gathered …
Read More »Severe weather takes its toll on British sports fixtures
London, United Kingdom | AFP | A European-wide deep freeze that shows no sign of stopping anytime soon led Friday to the postponement of several British sports fixtures this weekend. And while no games in English football’s elite Premier League have yet been called off (pitches at most top-flight clubs …
Read More »Trump tariffs have world traders steeling for conflict
Paris, France | AFP | By opting to place heavy tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium, US President Donald Trump is on the surface hoping to protect jobs at home. Yet his policy threatens not only to frustrate trade partners but also cost US workers dear, many analysts as …
Read More »Kremlin says no interest in US arms race in ‘invincible weapons’ row
Moscow, Russia | AFP | The Kremlin on Friday said Russia will not be part of a new arms race as the United States and NATO voiced concern over Vladimir Putin’s boasts of new “invincible” weapons. Putin stunned the West — and many in Russia — on Thursday by using …
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