Thousands of people have fled into Cameroon from north-east Nigeria following violent attacks by a faction of the militant group Boko Haram, which looted and destroyed large parts of a major town.

More than 8,000 refugees have crossed the border into Bodo after the attacks on the Nigerian town of Rann on Monday, in which at least 10 people are thought to have been killed. Homes and humanitarian organisations’ buildings were burned down. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said it was preparing to help 15,000 people with food, water and medicine. The organisation released photos showing smouldering buildings that had been burned to the ground, and columns of fleeing people crossing a river, their few belongings balanced on their heads.

“What struck me when we arrived was the silence. Usually Rann bustles with life, but yesterday it was eerie and quiet, like a graveyard. The town has been devastated and I was devastated to see it,” said Isa Sadiq Bwala, an MSF nurse.(theguardian)…[+]

WASHINGTON – In a victory for President Donald Trump, the U.S. Senate yesterday rejected legislation to keep sanctions on companies linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, including aluminum firm Rusal. Senators voted 57-42 to end debate on the measure, as 11 of Trump’s fellow Republicans broke from party leaders to join Democrats in favor of the resolution, amid questions about Trump’s relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

That result fell short of the 60 votes necessary to advance to a final passage vote in the 100-member Senate, where Republicans have a 53-47 seat majority.A similar measure will be brought up for a vote on Thursday in the House of Representatives, where Democrats control a majority of seats. But its long-term fate was uncertain. To keep the administration from lifting the sanctions, the measure must pass both the House and Senate and muster the two-thirds majority needed in both chambers to override an expected Trump veto.(Reuters)…[+]

The son of a retired police inspector has become the fourth person to be arrested and charged with the kidnapping, rape and robbery of two women days before the new year. Anniece Ravello, 28 of San Fernando appeared before magistrate Alicia Chankar claiming that his life had been threatened by his co-accused after he assisted the police in the matter.

Ravello faced the same charges as Jerod Boysie aka Raymond Abdul, 20, Joshua Williams, 31 and Rueben Thomas, 20. It was alleged that he together with others on December 29 2018 at M2 Ring Road, Debe and armed with a firearm, used personal violence as they robbed one woman of her $1,800 cellular phone and another of $40, a cell phone valued $1,500, a pair of $300 gold earrings. It was also alleged that at that location he and others had sexual intercourse with the women without their consent and committed grievous sexual assault on them. Ravello was also charged that on that day he, together with others, took and carried away the women against her will from south Trinidad.(Trinidad Express)…[+]