Retirement home in Yemen attacked

SANAA, Yemen – Gunmen in southern Yemen on Friday stormed a retirement home run by a charity established by Mother Teresa, killing 16 people, including four Catholic nuns, officials and witnesses said.

The killing spree began with two gunmen who first surrounded the home for the elderly in Aden. Meanwhile, four others entered the building on the pretext they wanted to visit their mothers at the facility, according to the charity, Yemeni security officials and witnesses. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

The gunmen then moved from room to room, handcuffing the victims before shooting them in the head.

There were around 80 residents living at the home, which is run by Missionaries of Charity, an organization established by Mother Teresa.

China to slow growth in military spending

BEIJING – China said Friday it will boost defense spending by about 7 to 8 percent in 2016, the smallest increase in six years, reflecting slowing growth in the world’s second-largest economy and a drawdown of 300,000 troops as Beijing seeks to build a more streamlined, modern military.

The People’s Liberation Army, being trimmed to 2 million troops from 2.3 million, will still be the world’s largest standing military. A robust armed forces remains a major priority for China’s leaders, who have pushed an increasingly aggressive campaign to assert territorial claims in the South China Sea and East China Sea, raising tensions with its neighbors.

Associated Press