NEWS OF THE DAY
From Around the World
1 Deadly clashes: The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Central African Republic said 25 people have been killed in clashes between armed groups amid “rising tension” in parts of the turbulent country. The statement late Friday said 15 fighters were killed Thursday in the communities of Mbriki and Belima on the outskirts of the central town of Bambari. And on Friday, six police and four civilians were killed in an ambush on a main road there. Central African Republic descended into conflict in 2013 when the mostly Muslim Seleka rebels overthrew the Christian president. When the rebel leader left power, a deadly backlash by the Christian anti-Balaka militia against Muslim civilians followed.
2 Egypt violence: A roadside bomb killed two soldiers and wounded four others Saturday in the restive northeastern region of the Sinai Peninsula, security officials said. The bomb struck an armored vehicle carrying soldiers to Sheikh Zuwaid near the city of el-Arish. The four injured soldiers were in critical condition and the death toll could rise. Egypt has battled Islamic extremists in Sinai for years, but the insurgency has grown deadlier and spread into the mainland since the 2013 ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.
3 Security risk: The State Department ordered family members of employees posted to the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul to leave Saturday because of security concerns. The agency said the decision was based on security information indicating extremist groups are continuing aggressive efforts to attack U.S. citizens in areas of Istanbul where they reside or frequent. The Consulate General remains open and fully staffed. The order applies only to Istanbul, not to other U.S. diplomatic posts in Turkey. Anti-American sentiment runs high in Turkey despite its status as a NATO ally.
4 North Korea pressure: A senior U.S. official urged China on Saturday to work with the U.S. to close a loophole on North Korean coal exports that Washington believes has been critical to propping up the isolated country’s finances. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Beijing that Chinese coal imports from North Korea contributed to $1 billion in revenue for Pyongyang last year. The U.S. has been seeking new U.N. sanctions to stymie North Korea’s economy and force leader Kim Jong Un into abandoning his nuclear and missile programs.
5 Historic hotel damaged: A fire has severely damaged what is thought to be England’s oldest hotel. The blaze in the southwestern city of Exeter raced through the Royal Clarence Hotel, which overlooks the city’s medieval cathedral. Firefighters were still tackling the blaze Saturday, a day after it broke out. The hotel, which had been operating under the name Abode Exeter, dates to 1769.
6 Spain politics: Parliament voted Saturday to approve acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s bid to form a new minority government, putting an end to the country’s 10-month political deadlock. Rajoy, leader of the conservative Popular Party, won a second term as prime minister with a 170-111 vote and 68 abstentions. Rajoy’s will likely be sworn in before King Felipe VI on Sunday or Monday. He has said he plans to announce the members of his Cabinet on Thursday.