Raid sparks warning
Burkina Faso’s leaders urged vigilance yesterday, a day after brazen Islamic extremist attacks on the army headquarters and French Embassy in the capital, which killed eight people. An al-qaeda-linked group based in neighbouring Mali claimed responsibility for the assaults. It was the third attack on Ouagadougou in just over two years and it was aimed directly at the army’s central command and the heavily guarded embassy, raising concerns that extremists are growing bolder in their assaults on the West African nation. The attack on the army headquarters narrowly missed a conference of top military leaders, indicating the extremists may have had inside information.
MH370 search end date
The search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 by a US company will likely end in June, a Malaysian official said, as families of passengers marked the fourth anniversary of the plane’s disappearance with renewed hope that the world’s biggest aviation mystery will be solved. Malaysia inked a ‘‘no cure, no fee’’ deal with Houston, Texas-based Ocean Infinity in January to resume the hunt for the plane, a year after the official search in the southern Indian Ocean by Malaysia, Australia and China was called off. Ocean Infinity started the search on Jan. 22 and has 90 search days to look for the plane. Malaysia’s civil aviation chief, Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, said the 90-day term will spread over a few months because the search vessel has to refuel in Australia and bad weather could be a factor. Azharuddin said Saturday the search is going smoothly and is expected to end by mid-june.
Sled dog race sets out
Cheering fans lined the streets as mushers took their dog teams for a short sprint in Alaska’s largest city yesterday for the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The morning trek along snow-heaped paths in downtown Anchorage gave supporters a chance to mingle with mushers and their furry teams before the competitive portion of the 1600km race to Nome begins today to the north in the community of Willow. But two hours before yesterday’s action got started, a dog on Norwegian musher Lars Monsen’s team got loose and disappeared during preparations for the 18km run through town. The dog, Hudson, was not immediately found, Iditarod spokesman Chas St. George said.
New flag for Markle
She was raised a Protestant, went to a Catholic school and married a Jewish man. Now Meghan Markle is to be baptised and confirmed as an Anglican by the Archbishop of Canterbury at Kensington Palace. Prince Harry’s fiancee will formally embrace the Anglican faith in a private service expected to take place this month - possibly this week in the palace’s 19th-century chapel. Among the family members expected to be present is Markle’s father, Thomas, who lives in Mexico and has not yet met his future son-inlaw. Her mother, Doria Ragland, is expected to travel from her home in California. A source close to the couple said the American former actress had asked the archbishop, Justin Welby, to conduct the service ‘‘as she has formed a close bond with him. She and Harry have been doing wedding prep with him.’’