World Briefs: Deadly bombing near Boko Haram birthplace

Deadly bombing near Boko Haram birthplace

MAIDUGURI • Four people were killed when suicide bombers blew themselves up in a village on the outskirts of Maiduguri city in north-eastern Nigeria.

Borno state police spokesman Victor Isuku said the incident occurred last Saturday evening when three bombers tried to enter Umarari village, just outside Maiduguri.

Maiduguri is the birthplace of Boko Haram, which has killed more than 20,000 people and forced 2.6 million from their homes since taking up arms against the Nigerian government in 2009.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE


Turkey digs heels in on European rally row

ANKARA • There is a possibility that Turkish ministers could plan another rally in Germany ahead of the April 16 referendum on changing the Constitution, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman said yesterday.

Turkey has been locked in a feud with Germany and the Netherlands after both countries prevented its ministers from addressing rallies of expatriate Turks, citing safety concerns.

Meanwhile, Turkey has summoned Germany's ambassador to express its fury over a Frankfurt rally where protesters brandished the insignia of outlawed Kurdish militants, said the spokesman.

REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE


Netanyahu threatens to dissolve Israeli govt

JERUSALEM • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has raised the possibility of snap elections, following a dispute with his finance minister over a new national broadcasting service.

Local papers, radio and television channels yesterday carried Mr Netanyahu's threat to dissolve the government - the most right-wing in the country's history - if the Public Broadcasting Corporation is not dissolved before its scheduled start date on April 30.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE


Merkel's handshake offer was not snubbed: Spicer

BERLIN • Mr Donald Trump's spokesman has denied that the United States President refused to shake hands with German Chancellor Angela Merkel as they sat side by side in the White House last week.

"I don't think he heard the question" posed by Dr Merkel when she suggested they shake hands in full view of press cameras, spokesman Sean Spicer told German weekly Der Spiegel, in a report published yesterday.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 20, 2017, with the headline World Briefs: Deadly bombing near Boko Haram birthplace. Subscribe