Niger army base attack death toll rises to at least 89: security sources
The death toll from Thursday’s attack by suspected jihadists on a Niger army base has risen to at least 89, four security sources said, surpassing a raid last month that killed 71 soldiers as the deadliest against Nigerien forces in years.
Thousands protest against Poland’s plan to discipline judges
Thousands of people, including judges and lawyers from many EU member states, marched through Warsaw on Saturday to protest against what they say are government attempts to curb the powers of the judiciary in Poland.
Iran says it shot down Ukrainian plane in ‘disastrous mistake’
Iran said on Saturday its military had shot down a Ukrainian plane killing all 176 aboard in a “disastrous mistake”, saying air defences were fired in error while on alert after Iranian missile strikes on U.S. targets in Iraq.
Protesting French forensic police recreate giant crime scene in Lyon
French forensic officers set up a giant fake crime scene on Saturday in front of the courthouse in Lyon at a demonstration to draw attention to their working conditions.
At least 17 killed in Syrian army bombing of rebel-held Idlib: witnesses
At least 17 people were killed and more than 40 injured on Saturday after Syrian army air strikes struck four cities in the country’s northwestern region of Idlib, witnesses and a local civil defense center said.
Iranian semi-official news agency reports anti-government protests
Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, in a rare report on anti-government unrest, said protesters in Tehran on Saturday chanted slogans against the nation’s top authorities, after the powerful Revolutionary Guards admitted shooting down a passenger pl…
Iran’s Rouhani speaks to Canadian PM, promises further investigation into crash
President Hassan Rouhani, during a telephone conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Saturday, promised further investigation into the downing of an Ukrainian passenger plane, state news agency IRNA reported.
U.S. applauds Tsai’s re-election as Taiwan president: Pompeo
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo congratulated Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on her re-election on Saturday and lauded her for seeking stability with China “in the face of unrelenting pressure.”
EASA urges airlines to avoid Iranian airspace
European airlines should avoid Iranian airspace until further notice, the EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said on Saturday following Iran’s admission that its armed forces inadvertently shot down a Ukrainian airliner earlier in the week.
Iran’s handling of plane disaster sparks new challenge to rulers
Iran’s clerical rulers risk a legitimacy crisis as popular anger has boiled up at the way the state handled a passenger plane crash, which the military took three days to admit was caused by an Iranian missile fired in error.
