Global News

By DPA | Posted by TOE Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has described the United States and Israel as enemies of the entire Muslim community and called on Muslim countries to unite against them. In a rare message, Khamenei on Sunday urged Muslim countries to recognize their true “enemy” and thwart its plans, according to the message published by state news agency IRNA. Khamenei has not appeared in public since being appointed Iran’s supreme leader in March. He succeeded his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the start of joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Six months later, diplomatic efforts to bring the war to an end are at an impasse. A 60-day deadline set out in June’s preliminary agreement for the two sides to reach a final peace deal expired earlier this month. While mutual attacks have declined in recent weeks, key points of contention remain unresolved, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. ...

By AFP and Posted by TOE Niger’s national television was off air on Saturday after a night of heavy gunfire in parts of the capital, including around a military base near the city’s airport which has been attacked twice this year by jihadists. Niger has been ruled for three years by a military junta that has struggled to contain jihadist violence, which has blighted the west African country for around a decade. The origins of Saturday’s shooting were not immediately clear but the military said: “In light of current events, let us remain calm and avoid sharing unverified information. “Our defence and security forces have been mobilised for the defence of the homeland,” it wrote on its official social media pages. One local resident told AFP that there was “heavy gunfire and explosions” at Base 101 in Niamey, a report confirmed by several other witnesses. At 9:00 am (0800 GMT), a black screen had replaced Tele Sahel...

By AFP and Reuters | Posted by TOE An air strike near Chad’s border with Sudan has killed at least 12 people, with Chad accusing the Sudanese army of launching it. Addressing Thursday’s strike, a Chadian security source said it “targeted a fuel market where the RSF [Rapid Support Forces] refuel. The strike killed 12 people and wounded seven”, AFP news agency reported about the attack on the paramilitary group. Chad’s accusation comes against the backdrop of a civil war between Sudan’s army and the RSF which has lasted over three years and displaced millions of people. Previously, Chad said that Sudan was responsible for an air strike that hit a military convoy in its territory last week. Chad’s army said the strikes took place more than 100km (62 miles) inside its territory in the eastern Ennedi region, and that there were no Chadian casualties. In response to threats posed by drones, Chad had raised its alert lev...

By Yomna Ehab and Parisa Hafezi Reuters Qatar’s prime minister ​will visit Tehran on Thursday in a bid to relaunch diplomacy after the U.S. and Iran traded recriminations over Washington’s promise to increase economic pressure on ‌Tehran by targeting its trade partners for sanctions. A Gulf neighbour of Iran and a U.S. ally, Qatar has served as a back-channel negotiator for the warring parties and played a direct role in securing the June ceasefire that briefly led to a cessation of hostilities. The visit comes as the war nears its sixth month with fighting largely paused but no diplomatic breakthrough in sight. Both sides are at odds over control of ​the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for global oil supplies that Tehran has used as leverage. An unidentified projectile hit a tanker in the strait to set off ​a fire that was later doused, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said early on Thursday, but all crew were safe and ⁠accounted for. ...

By Gopal Sharma Reuters | Posted by TOE Heavy casualties are feared after a massive flash flood in parts of northern Nepal washed away villages and damaged infrastructure, including a hydropower dam. A ⁠massive flash flood ⁠in the Himalayan nation of Nepal ⁠washed away villages while damaging roads, bridges and power projects in a region bordering Tibet, authorities said on Wednesday, as they warned against the risk of casualties. The waters ​were too high for helicopters to land in Nepal’s affected areas of Syapru Besi and Timure in the mountainous district of Rasuwa, with a population of about 50,000, officials said, while flagging the risk of casualties. “There could be heavy casualties or loss of property,” district administrator Narendra Pariyar told Reuters. “But I cannot say for sure now.” Pariyar urged those living on ‌the banks of the Bhote Koshi river ⁠in the area to seek higher ground, pointing to reports that nearby villag...

By DENG MACHOL AP | Posted by TOE Armed men ambushed a patrol traveling to a remote area of  South Sudan  on Monday, killing two U.N. peacekeepers, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan said. Though  violence is rampant  in the African country, attacks against peacekeepers are rare. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Seven others were wounded — three peacekeepers, two members of the South Sudanese police and two civilian staffers, the mission known as UNMISS said in a statement. The two peacekeepers killed and three injured were from Ethiopia, U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said. The mission said it had deployed a “Quick Reaction Force” to secure the area and support the emergency response after the attack. The patrol was going to the area of Pajut in the state of Jonglei when it came under attack. “Such deadly violence targeting UNMISS personnel who are serving to support peace in South Sudan is un...