Asia
Xu Caihou, former general of China’s People’s Liberation Army died of bladder cancer at the age of 71. Caihou was disgraced last year when he was found to have been accepting bribes. There was no trial due to his illness, but he had his position of general revoked.
CNN
Africa
The Nigerian military uncovered a Boko Haram bomb factory inside a fertilizer company in the town of Buni Yadi. It was discovered after soldiers took over a northern tower from Islamist extremists, who gained control of the town back in August.
CNN
Europe
Two 17-year-olds and a 19-year-old from northwest London were arrested on charges of “suspicion of preparation of terrorist attacks.” The teenagers allegedly had plans to travel to Syria and join the terrorist group ISIS. They were arrested in Turkey after they landed in an Istanbul airport.
CNN
North America
Millionaire real estate heir Robert Durst, the subject of an HBO documentary series called “The Jinx,” was arrested over the weekend. Durst was previously a suspect in the 1982 disappearance of his wife, an investigation which fell flat when Durst’s friend Susan Berman was shot execution-style in her home in 2000. Durst was later acquitted of the murder of his neighbor Morris Black, which he admitted to. Durst was arrested for the murder of Berman after the documentary aired a recording of him saying, “What the hell did I do…killed them all of course,” as well as Berman’s step son revealing a letter from Durst with handwriting that is similar to a note that was sent to police tipping them off about the murder.
CNN
Middle East
In an interview with Israeli news site NRG, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that as long as he is the Prime Minister, there will never be a Palestinian state. This statement came the night before elections and reverses his previous stated support for a two-state solution. “Whoever moves to establish a Palestinian state or intends to withdraw from territory is simply yielding territory for radical Islamic terrorist attacks against Israel,” Netanyahu said.
New York Times
Washington
A bill designed to create a “Domestic Trafficking Victims’ Fund” for victims of human trafficking has had its progress halted because of language in the bill that would prevent any funds being used for abortions that Democrats say they were not aware of. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says there will not be a vote to nominate Loretta Lynch for attorney general until this bill is passed.
NPR
Pittsburgh
The city of Pittsburgh had a three day “pothole blitz” to fix the multitude of potholes that have appeared following the winter season. There were 400 requests in the center’s database, and eight crews with 102 employees were sent out to fulfill them.
Post-Gazette
