The United States has accused Russia of deploying jet fighters to in what if confirmed would be a dramatic escalation of its military support for renegade field marshal Khalifa Haftar's war against the country's UN-recognised government. United States Africa Command said on Tuesday it had monitored several jet fighters flying from Russia to Libya via Syria, and that it expected them to be used to support Russian mercenaries fighting on the ground in support of Gen Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA). "We watched as Russia flew fourth generation jet fighters to Libya - every...…The United States has accused Russia of deploying jet fighters to in what if confirmed would be a dramatic escalation of its military support for renegade field marshal Khalifa Haftar's war against the country's UN-recognised government. United States Africa Command said on Tuesday it had monitored several jet fighters flying from Russia to Libya via Syria, and that it expected them to be used to support Russian mercenaries fighting on the ground in support of Gen Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA). "We watched as Russia flew fourth generation jet fighters to Libya - every...WW…

The Covid-19 epidemic could lead to a surge in wildlife poaching as the tourism industry that has long sustained conservation programmes across Africa collapses, conservationists have warned.Restrictions on international travel have already fuelled a jump in illegal hunting for bush meat as a catastrophic fall in revenue forces government wildlife agencies and NGOs to scale back anti-poaching operations.Fears are growing that organised crime syndicates involved in the ivory and rhino horn smuggling could also take advantage of the chaos. “Within the space of two weeks in...…The Covid-19 epidemic could lead to a surge in wildlife poaching as the tourism industry that has long sustained conservation programmes across Africa collapses, conservationists have warned.Restrictions on international travel have already fuelled a jump in illegal hunting for bush meat as a catastrophic fall in revenue forces government wildlife agencies and NGOs to scale back anti-poaching operations.Fears are growing that organised crime syndicates involved in the ivory and rhino horn smuggling could also take advantage of the chaos. “Within the space of two weeks in...WW…

Iran has asked the International Monetary Fund for financial assistance for the first time since 1962 to help it fight the coronavirus pandemic. Abdolnaser Hemmati, the head of Iran's central bank, said he had requested a $5 billion emergency loan to help fight the epidemic, which has infected at least 10,000 Iranians.  Javad Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister, said the request was made as soon as Kristalina Georgieva, the managing director of the IMF, announced a Rapid Financial Instrument support for affected countries."Our Central Bank requested access to this...…Iran has asked the International Monetary Fund for financial assistance for the first time since 1962 to help it fight the coronavirus pandemic. Abdolnaser Hemmati, the head of Iran's central bank, said he had requested a $5 billion emergency loan to help fight the epidemic, which has infected at least 10,000 Iranians.  Javad Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister, said the request was made as soon as Kristalina Georgieva, the managing director of the IMF, announced a Rapid Financial Instrument support for affected countries."Our Central Bank requested access to this...WW…

Egyptian tug boats backed by an international team of salvage experts were racing against the tides to reopen the Suez Canal on Wednesday after a vast container ship blown off course in high winds blocked the crucial water way. The Suez Canal Authority (SAC) said it was trying to rebalance in the hope that a high tide on Wednesday night would create enough extra draught to free it. “Once we get this boat out, then that’s it, things will go back to normal. God willing, we’ll be done today,” SAC Chairman Osama Rabie said. The SAC has hired Smit Salvage, a Dutch maritime...…Egyptian tug boats backed by an international team of salvage experts were racing against the tides to reopen the Suez Canal on Wednesday after a vast container ship blown off course in high winds blocked the crucial water way. The Suez Canal Authority (SAC) said it was trying to rebalance in the hope that a high tide on Wednesday night would create enough extra draught to free it. “Once we get this boat out, then that’s it, things will go back to normal. God willing, we’ll be done today,” SAC Chairman Osama Rabie said. The SAC has hired Smit Salvage, a Dutch maritime...WW…

Nervous. Worried. Used to it. Ask a civilian on either side of the frontline in eastern Ukraine how they feel living in the middle of the longest running European war since 1945, and they will usually answer with some combination of those words.But over the past few weeks, the fears have grown that"It is really tense," said Yuri, a retired police officer who lives in Russian-backed-separatist-controlled Donetsk. "After seven years of war people are used to it all. We might be able to hear shelling at the front but in the city centre we just get on with our lives."But everyone is nervous. We...…Nervous. Worried. Used to it. Ask a civilian on either side of the frontline in eastern Ukraine how they feel living in the middle of the longest running European war since 1945, and they will usually answer with some combination of those words.But over the past few weeks, the fears have grown that"It is really tense," said Yuri, a retired police officer who lives in Russian-backed-separatist-controlled Donetsk. "After seven years of war people are used to it all. We might be able to hear shelling at the front but in the city centre we just get on with our lives."But everyone is nervous. We...WW…

Portugal said it would sending troops to as clashes continued around the besieged town where Islamist insurgents have killed dozens people in a days-long rampage. Lisbon said it would deploy around 60 special forces troops to its former colony to train the country's armed forces in counter-terrorism techniques, in the first announcement of a deployment by a Western nation since the attack began. The UN reported ongoing , where thousands of people are still believed to be in hiding from militias who stormed into the town on Wednesday. Communications were largely cut on...…Portugal said it would sending troops to as clashes continued around the besieged town where Islamist insurgents have killed dozens people in a days-long rampage. Lisbon said it would deploy around 60 special forces troops to its former colony to train the country's armed forces in counter-terrorism techniques, in the first announcement of a deployment by a Western nation since the attack began. The UN reported ongoing , where thousands of people are still believed to be in hiding from militias who stormed into the town on Wednesday. Communications were largely cut on...WW…