United Nations, United States | AFP | Muslim rebels who briefly seized power in the Central African Republic in 2013 have received fresh weapons supplies from traffickers in Sudan even as they take part in peace talks, according to a UN panel of experts. The panel tasked with monitoring sanctions …
Read More »Sarri admits new striker needed as Chelsea frustrated by Saints
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Maurizio Sarri admitted Chelsea need attacking reinforcements after they wasted a chance to cement their place in the Premier League’s top four with a 0-0 draw against struggling Southampton on Wednesday. Sarri’s team remain in fourth place, but they are now just three points …
Read More »Niger army kills at least 280 Boko Haram militants: ministry
Niamey, Niger | AFP | Niger’s army killed more than 280 Boko Haram militants near the southeast border with Nigeria in days of land and air raids, the defence ministry said Wednesday. More than 200 jihadists were killed in air strikes and a further 87 by ground troops since the …
Read More »Lukaku saves Solskjaer’s perfect record as Chelsea fire blanks
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United made it four wins out of four in the Premier League on Wednesday, beating Newcastle to close the gap on fourth-placed Chelsea, who were held at home by Southampton. United have been transformed since their former striker replaced Jose …
Read More »Conditions for papal visit to Iraq ‘not yet met’: Vatican
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | The conditions for a possible visit to Iraq by Pope Francis have not yet been met, the Vatican number two said on Wednesday, citing concerns about the possibility of a terrorist attack targeting the pontiff. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, …
Read More »Trump to meet lawmakers in bid to end government shutdown
Washington, United States | AFP | A partial shutdown of the US government entered a 12th day Wednesday as President Donald Trump prepared to meet top Democratic and Republican lawmakers in a bid to break the impasse over his demand for funding for a border wall with Mexico. One day …
Read More »Fighter’ Djokovic into Qatar quarter-finals after scare
Doha, Qatar | AFP | Novak Djokovic admitted he had to “fight” to come back from a set down to beat world number 36, Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics at the Qatar Open on Wednesday. The world number one survived a huge scare to eventually triumph 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. “For the first …
Read More »Klopp talks up ‘world’s best’ Man City ahead of title clash
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says Manchester City are the best team in the world ahead of his Premier League leaders’ top-of-the-table clash at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday. Klopp’s unbeaten side go into the meeting with a seven-point lead over City, who have slipped …
Read More »Over 60 wounded in Algeria football clashes
Algiers, Algeria | AFP | More than 60 people, mostly police officers, were wounded in clashes with supporters at a football match in Algeria, local authorities said on Wednesday. The fixture between top division club MC Alger and third league Village Moussa was marred by repeated stone-throwing before the referee …
Read More »Madagascar police fire tear gas to break up opposition protest
Antananarivo, Madagascar | AFP | Madagascan security forces on Wednesday fired tear gas to break up a protest by supporters of losing presidential candidate Marc Ravalomanana, who claims he was denied victory in last month’s election because of fraud. In the run-off vote on December 19, Ravalomanana won 44 percent …
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