News in brief

Sri Lanka seizes record drugs haul at sea

AFP, Colombo

Two foreign trawlers packed with over $33 million worth of heroin and crystal methamphetamine were seized in Sri Lanka’s biggest-ever drugs bust at sea, a navy spokesman said yesterday. Troops found 400 kilogrammes (about 880 pounds) of heroin and 100 kilogrammes (about 220 pounds) of the drug “ice” on board the two vessels, spokesman Isuru Sooriyabandara said. The street value of the seized narcotics was estimated by officials to be 6,000 million rupees ($33.5 million). The vessels, as well as a Sri Lankan fishing boat, were yesterday escorted to a harbour near the capital Colombo.

Jihadists kill five police in Nigeria’s restive north

AFP, KANO, Nigeria

Jihadists have killed five policemen in an attack on a northern Nigerian town where more than 100 schoolgirls were abducted two years ago, residents said yesterday. Fighters aligned to Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in four trucks fitted with machine guns stormed Dapchi town in northeastern Yobe State late on Wednesday, sparking intense fighting with security forces, according to local residents. “This morning, we collected the bodies of five policemen killed in the fight with the insurgents,” a resident told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Formar UN chief Pérez de Cuéllar dies at 100

AP, Lima, Peru

Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, the two-term United Nations secretary-general who brokered a historic cease-fire between Iran and Iraq in 1988 and who in later life came out of retirement to help re-establish democracy in his Peruvian homeland, has died. He was 100. His son, Francisco Pérez de Cuéllar, said his father died Wednesday at home of natural causes. Current U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the Peruvian diplomat a “personal inspiration.”

News in brief

Sri Lanka seizes record drugs haul at sea AFP, Colombo Two foreign trawlers packed with over $33 million worth of heroin and crystal methamphetamine were seized in Sri Lankas biggest-ever drugs bust at sea, a navy spokesman said yesterday. Troops found 400 kilogrammes (about 880 pounds) of heroin and 100 kilogrammes (about 220 pounds) of the drug ice on board the two vessels, spokesman Isuru Sooriyabandara said. The street value of the seized narcotics was estimated by officials to be 6,000 million rupees ($33.5 million). The vessels, as well as a Sri Lankan fishing boat, were yesterday escorted to a harbour near the capital Colombo. Jihadists kill five police in Nigerias restive north AFP, KANO, Nigeria Jihadists have killed five policemen in an attack on a northern Nigerian town where more than 100 schoolgirls were abducted two years ago, residents said yesterday. Fighters aligned to Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in four trucks fitted with machine guns stormed Dapchi town in northeastern Yobe State late on Wednesday, sparking intense fighting with security forces, according to local residents. This morning, we collected the bodies of five policemen killed in the fight with the insurgents, a resident told AFP on condition of anonymity. Formar UN chief Prez de Cullar dies at 100 AP, Lima, Peru Javier Prez de Cullar, the two-term United Nations secretary-general who brokered a historic cease-fire between Iran and Iraq in 1988 and who in later life came out of retirement to help re-establish democracy in his Peruvian homeland, has died. He was 100. His son, Francisco Prez de Cullar, said his father died Wednesday at home of natural causes. Current U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the Peruvian diplomat a personal inspiration.