MOGADISHU -- The Somali military said it killed eight al-Shabab fighters on Sunday, a military officer confirmed Monday.

The eight were killed when they tried to ambush Somali National Army (SNA) troops in Wajid, a town in the southern Bakol region, said Isak Mohamed Ibrahim, commander of the SNA's 260th Unit division. (Somalia-Shabab)

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BISHKEK -- A woman and her three children were killed in a fire in Kyrgyzstan, the press service of the country's Ministry of Emergency reported Monday.

The fire occurred at about 2:30 p.m. local time (0830 GMT) Sunday in a private house in the village of Novopokrovka, Chui Oblast. (Kyrgyzstan-Fire)

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JOHANNESBURG -- Eswatini Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini died Sunday afternoon in South Africa after contracting COVID-19, said a government statement released by Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku late Sunday night.

However, he did not reveal more details about Dlamini's death. (Eswatini-PM-COVID-19)

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BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday that he is ready to work with Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed to enhance bilateral cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for the benefit of the people of both countries.

Xi made the remarks in an exchange of congratulatory messages with his Somali counterpart celebrating the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between the two countries. (China-Somalia-Diplomatic Relations)

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KUNDUZ, Afghanistan -- Six Afghan security personnel were killed after Taliban insurgents attacked a security checkpoint in the northern Kunduz province on Monday, district governor Mahboubullah Sayedi said.

A group of Taliban militants, according to the official, stormed a security checkpoint in the troubled Imam Sahib district at 2:00 a.m. local time Monday and fled the scene after killing six personnel of the Border Force with their weapons taken away. (Afghanistan-Militants-Attack) Enditem