IN BRIEF

Afghanistan

Taliban free 235 villagers

Taliban insurgents released 235 civilians held since seizing control of an area in northern Sari Pul province five days ago, provincial officials confirmed on Wednesday. Zabi Amani, spokesman for the provincial governor, said the civilians were released after negotiations between the Taliban and tribal elders. The insurgents were still holding an unknown number of civilians, he said.

France

Car rams into soldiers in Paris

A car rammed into a group of soldiers in a Parisian suburb on Wednesday, injuring six before speeding off in what officials identified as a suspected terrorist attack. The vehicle, a BMW, was parked in an alley before it accelerated into the soldiers as they left their barracks to go on patrol, said Patrick Balkany, mayor of Levallois-Perret. Police later arrested a man on a highway in the search for the driver.

Nigeria

Boko Haram kills 30 fishermen

Boko Haram militants killed at least 30 fishermen in raids on communities around Lake Chad in northeastern Nigeria, the governor of Borno state, residents and military sources said on Tuesday. The raids are part of renewed attacks by the militant Islamist group which, before the latest attacks, have led to at least 113 people being killed by insurgents since June 1.

Turkey

'Security wall' along Iran border

Turkey has begun building a "security wall" along part of its border with Iran, officials said on Tuesday, in a move aimed at stopping Kurdish separatists. Pictures showing huge concrete blocks being moved into place were published on the governor's website for the Agri province. Turkey announced construction of a 144-kilometer long barrier in May.

India

8 die, 25 injured in bus crash

At least eight people were killed and 25 others injured on Tuesday after a passenger bus they were traveling in fell into a canal in the eastern state of West Bengal, police said. The accident took place at Tehatta village in Nadia district, about 150 km north of Kolkata. Reports said the bus was speeding and its driver lost control resulting in the accident.

South Africa

Zuma survives secret ballot vote

President Jacob Zuma again survived a no-confidence vote in parliament on Tuesday in the most serious attempt yet to unseat him after months of growing anger over alleged corruption and a sinking economy. Zuma survived six previous attempts to dislodge him, but this was the first held by secret ballot after Parliamentary Speaker Baleka Mbete made the surprise decision to allow it.