Central African Republic rebels kill at least five civilians in attack
Bangui, Central African RepublicReuters At least five civilians were killed when rebels attacked a town in north-west Central African Republic on Thursday, the latest reported escalation in a decade-long conflict, a local official said. Members of an alliance of armed groups known as the Coalition of Patriots for Change assaulted the town of Moyenne Sido […]
Car rushes Vatican gate, is fired on by gendarmes; driver apprehended
Vatican CityAP A car driven by someone with apparent psychiatric problems rushed through a Vatican gate Thursday evening and sped past Swiss Guards into a palace courtyard before the driver was apprehended by police, the Holy See said. Vatican gendarmes fired a shot at the speeding car’s front tires after it rushed the gate, but […]
Driver arrested after seven, including migrants, killed in Brownsville, Texas
Reuters At least seven pedestrians were killed and several others injured on Sunday when an SUV mowed down people near a homeless shelter that attends to migrants in Brownsville, Texas, police said. The male driver was in custody, Lieutenant Martin Sandoval of the Brownsville Police Department said, adding he was charged with reckless driving and […]
Some militant arms in Niger came from West African state stockpiles – report
Lagos, NigeriaReuters Significant proportions of weapons and arms seized from Islamist insurgents in Niger came from West African state stockpiles, suggesting authorities are struggling to secure arms stores in the region, a report said on Monday. There was no suggestion that any governments were sending weapons to militants who have launched attacks in Niger as […]
List Afghanistan as religious liberty violator, report urges US State Department
United StatesRNS The US Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended that Afghanistan be added to the State Department’s list of worst religious freedom violators, citing the changes that resulted when the Taliban took control of the country last year. The federal panel said in its annual report released on Monday that the regime change has […]
ICC says Central African Republic war crimes suspect surrendered
Amsterdam, The Netherlands Reuters The International Criminal Court on Monday said the former Central African Republic’s militia leader Maxime Jeoffroy Eli Mokom Gawaka had been surrendered to the court by the authorities of Chad for crimes against humanity and war crimes. Mokom, a national coordinator of the so-called anti-balaka militias, is accused of crimes against […]
US and France attack actions of Russian mercenaries in CAR
United NationsAP The US and France criticized mercenaries in the Central African Republic from the Russian security company Wagner, accusing them on Tuesday of executing civilians, attacking UN peacekeepers and targeting predominantly Muslim communities in their military operations. Russia never mentioned mercenaries or Wagner in responding, but said that “Russian specialists” are working “successfully” in […]
Five dead after Myanmar security forces ram car into Yangon protest – media
Reuters Five people were killed and at least 15 arrested after Myanmar security forces in a car rammed into an anti-coup protest on Sunday morning in Yangon, local news portal Myanmar Now reported. Witnesses on the scene told Reuters dozens had been injured. Photos and videos on social media show a vehicle that crashed through […]
Updated: At least five killed after car drives through Christmas parade in US state of Wisconsin
Updated: 5.30pm (AEDT) At least five people have been killed and more than 40 wounded after a car drove through a Christmas parade in the US state of Wisconsin. Video footage of the incident in Waukesha, west of Milwaukee, shows a red sports utility driving through the parade at about 4.40pm Sunday. The City of […]
UN arms embargo on CAR extended for year, China abstains
New York City, New York, USReuters The United Nations Security Council on Thursday extended a Central African Republic arms embargo and targeted sanctions regime for another year, however China abstained in the vote because it believes the measures should be removed. The 15-member Security Council imposed the arms embargo on CAR in December, 2013, when […]