IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Yemen

Govt says Iran armed Houthis

The Yemeni government on Saturday accused Iran of supplying Shiite Houthi rebels with drones used for cross-border attacks into Saudi Arabia. Riyadh said on Wednesday it had shot down two drones in the south of the kingdom as well as intercepting ballistic missiles fired from rebel-held parts of Yemen, the latest in a series of similar incidents. The Saudi-backed government said in a statement on Saturday that the drones are "made in Iran". It added that Yemen's military did not possess such aircraft and it was "impossible to manufacture them locally".

Nigeria

Troops kill 7 Boko Haram fighters

The Nigerian military on Saturday confirmed seven Boko Haram fighters were killed in an ongoing operation aimed at clearing remaining terrorists from the country's northeast region. Military spokesman Onyema Nwachukwu said the terror fighters were neutralized in separate ambushes on the troops on Friday. Some of the Boko Haram fighters were killed inside the Sambisa Forest, known as the former largest training camp of the group in the northern state of Borno, Nwachukwu said.

Mali

One dead in 'terror' attack

A rocket and car bomb attack left one UN peacekeeper dead, a dozen wounded and another dozen French soldiers hurt at Timbuktu's airport area, Mali's security ministry said on Saturday. "A terrorist attack" targeted France's Barkhan camp as well as UN troops stationed outside the northern Mali city during the afternoon, the ministry said. A dozen rockets were fired at the two camps with gunmen dressed as UN blue helmets riding two vehicles rigged with bombs.

United States

Boston marks 5 years since attack

Boston marked the fifth anniversary of the deadly Boston Marathon bombings with solemn remembrances and charitable acts. Mayor Marty Walsh and Governor Charlie Baker laid wreaths early on Sunday at the spots along downtown Boylston Street where two bombs killed three spectators and maimed more than 260 others on April 15, 2013.

Director Milos Forman dies at 86

Oscar-winning film director Milos Forman, celebrated for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Amadeus, has died aged 86, his agents told AFP on Saturday. "I heard from (Forman's wife) Martina Forman very early this morning letting me know Milos passed away at Danbury Hospital near his home in Warren, Connecticut," his friend and agent Dennis Aspland said. Czech news agency CTK quoted Martina Forman as saying her husband died suddenly on Friday after a short illness.

(China Daily 04/16/2018 page12)