Radicals march
SOFIA – Hundreds of far-right extremists marched through the centre of Sofia on Saturday to honour a Bulgarian general who led a pro-Nazi organisation in the 1930s and 1940s. The march, which raised concern in local media about the rise of the right wing in the Balkan state, went ahead despite international condemnation.
Britain quake
LONDON – Britain was hit by its biggest earthquake in a decade on Saturday, with tremors felt across parts of Wales and southwest England but no notable damage reported. The BGS said the quake was of magnitude 4.4, the biggest quake in Britain since 2008.
Gaza explosion
JERUSALEM – An explosive device wounded four Israeli soldiers, two severely, near the border fence with the Gaza Strip on Saturday, spurring Israeli air strikes later in the day against Palestinian militant targets. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion.
Crash kills 13
SANTIAGO JAMILTEPEC – At least 13 people, including three children, were killed when a Mexican military helicopter crashed in a small town in the southern state of Oaxaca on Saturday. The helicopter, which was carrying Mexico’s interior minister and the state governor, crashed on top of two vans in an open field while trying to land in Santiago Jamiltepec.
Killer sentenced
LAHORE – A Pakistani anti-terrorism court on Saturday sentenced a suspected serial killer to death for the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl. The girl’s murder ignited nationwide protests over allegations of government inaction, and a media campaign led to his arrest after years of him being on the loose.
Factory fire
BEIJING – Nine people have died in a fire at a waste processing facility in southern China that is suspected of being sparked by fireworks residue. The fire broke out in the early hours of the morning in Qingyuan city in the southern province of Guangdong, Xinhua said, citing the local government.
Macron’s rating
PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron’s approval rating has fallen below 50 per cent to its lowest level since October last year. In a February 7-17 survey by pollster Ifop for the weekly Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper, 44 per cent of respondents said they were satisfied with Mr Macron, down 6 points from the previous poll.
Election feud
WASHINGTON – A Russian propaganda arm oversaw a criminal and espionage conspiracy to tamper in the 2016 US presidential campaign to support Donald Trump and disparage Hillary Clinton. The office of US Special Counsel Robert Mueller charged 13 Russians and three Russian companies, including St Petersburg-based Internet Research Agency known for its trolling on social media.
