New Mexico governor withdraws National Guard from border
AFP, Los Angeles
The governor of New Mexico has ordered the withdrawal of the majority of National Guard troops stationed at the US state’s southern border, denouncing as “a charade” President Donald Trump’s warnings about migrants swarming the border.
“I reject the federal contention that there exists an overwhelming national security crisis at the southern border, along which are some of the safest communities in the country,” Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement.
Yemen pro-govt forces
fighting rebels
AFP, Aden
Forces loyal to the Yemen government -backed by the Saudi-led coalition – are made up of different groups, some of which have been accused of being “largely unaccountable” by Amnesty International.
The London-based rights group on Wednesday accused the United Arab Emirates, a key partner in the coalition fighting the Iran-aligned Huthi rebels, of giving “billions of dollars worth of arms” to militias that “answer to no-one and are known to be committing war crimes” in Yemen.
Indian forces kill 10 Maoist rebels
AP, New Delhi
India’s security forces on Thursday killed at least 10 Maoist rebels during an attack on their training camp in a forested area in central India, police said.
An exchange of gunfire with the insurgents lasted nearly 2 ½ hours in Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh state, a rebel stronghold, said police officer Mohit Garg.
Five killed in South African coal mine gas explosion
Reuters, Johannesburg
Five people have been killed by a gas explosion in an unused coal mine in South Africa’s eastern province of Mpumalanga and several others remain trapped, police said on Thursday.
State broadcaster SABC said about 20 people were still stuck underground at the mine in Middleburg. Rescue efforts were hampered by dangerously high levels of toxic gas underground, SABC said.
