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Niger claims it has regained control of an airbase following a mutiny by soldiers
Niger's military regained the control of an important military airbase after a day-long mutiny by soldiers. This is the latest challenge for military ruler Abdourahamane Tiani, as his government struggles to contain insurgent jihadists. The attack highlighted tensions in Niger's armed services, who have repeatedly suffered battlefield losses fighting West Africa's al Qaeda affiliates and Islamic State. Early Saturday morning, gunfire and explosions echoed throughout Niamey. This included the area around the military base and the presidential palace. On Sunday, three security sources said that the government forces had retaken Niamey's airbase following hours of fighting. Residents reported that the capital was calm on Sunday as aircraft circled overhead and authorities removed roadblocks put up during the unrest. The airbase, located in the same complex of Niamey’s civilian airport, is home to military aircraft and drones, as well as the counter-terrorism unit of Alliance of Sahel States, which includes Niger Mali Burkina Faso. There are also Italian and Russian forces. Viktor Voropaev said that the Russian Ambassador to Niger had given an interview with TASS on Saturday. The Niger presidential office reported that Algeria also sent assistance in the form four fighter jets and a refueling aircraft delivered on Sunday. Before Saturday's attack, the airbase was already targeted twice in this year - by the regional Islamic State affiliate in January and by the regional al Qaeda affiliated in June. Niger's state media reported late Saturday night that "hundreds" of soldiers were involved in the attack and that it lasted several hours. Forces loyal to Tiani, the military leader, tried to regain power. The footage was purported to show mutineers surrendering. The report by the state-run media has not been independently verified. Three security sources reported that the Presidential Guard came to Tiani's defense. Tiani hadn't made any public appearances by Sunday. Since a coup in July 2023 that removed President Mohamed Bazoum, the Niger, an oil-rich nation in West Africa, is ruled by military officials. SAHEL LEADERS FIGHT AGAINST JEHADISTS Tiani has not made any progress against the jihadists, as his counterparts have in Burkina Faso and Mali. In the past month, 18 soldiers were killed in an attack by the Islamic State affiliate on the Niger military. Soldiers from Niamey, as well as those in the nearby localities of Ouallam Tera and Dosso where the army has suffered heavy losses, were involved in the mutineers operation. Security sources and analysts say that frustration with the government has increased within the frontline units. This creates another vulnerability for Tiani, beyond the insurgents. Since gaining power, 'Tiani’s government has shifted its focus away from Western allies, 'deepened ties to Russia, and broken with regional ECOWAS - bloc. As authorities tighten their control on the uranium industry, Orano in France has been forced to sell assets. Niger was a major supplier of nuclear fuels to Europe. It accounted for 15% of Orano’s uranium at full capacity.
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Trump announces that the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve will be refilled with Venezuelan oil
U.S. President Donald Trump announced 'on Sunday' that oil from the recently negotiated deal with Venezuela will be used to replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. This reserve has been depleted in recent years due to global supply disruptions, and high fuel prices. Trump stated in a post on social media that the "topping-out" process would begin soon, and described the Venezuelan oil as a gift from Venezuela to "the People of the United States." The speed at which the Venezuela deal could deliver oil to the reserves or provide any immediate benefit to U.S. drivers is not clear. The agreement Trump announced Friday is intended to revive Venezuela's battered oil industry. However, it will take significant investment and infrastructure improvements before production can increase substantially. As of August 21, the reserve contained about 290 million 'barrels. This is a 44-year-low after the United States reduced its stockpiles under the Biden and Trump Administrations to respond to global supply disruptions.
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Source: Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan will hold the first meeting of their defence pact.
A Turkish Foreign Ministry source said that top officials from Turkey and Saudi Arabia, as well as Pakistan, will meet in Istanbul Monday to hold the first committee meeting of their joint defence agreement, which they signed this month. Signed on August 7, the "Mecca Joint Defence Agreement" brought together Sunni Muslim U.S. Allies who were concerned about the Iran war and regional conflicts that have led to Iranian missile attacks on Gulf oil exporters. The aim is to increase 'collective deterrence' against any aggression. It stipulates that any armed attack against one of the three countries would be considered an attack against all. This is similar to NATO Article 5 Collective Defence Clause. The source from the ministry said that the foreign and defence ministers as well as chiefs of staff will be attending the meeting in Istanbul. Source: "International security will be on agenda." Discussions are expected to include enhancing defence capability, greater interoperability between their armed forces, and deeper cooperation in the defense industry, including joint development and production. The three nations are concerned about the military positions of Israel and the revolutionary Shi'ite Iran as the U.S., a long-time ally, struggles to contain the regional?upheavals that have caused a global?energy crisis. Negotiations are stuck six months after the U.S., Israel and other countries launched a war against Iran. President Donald Trump has intensified efforts to punish Iran economically with what it calls an "economic D-Day". The pact between the nuclear-armed Pakistan, and top oil exporter Saudi Arabia, is open to expansion, with Egypt as an potential candidate, and does not seek to replace current alliances.
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Niger claims it has regained control of an airbase following a mutiny by soldiers
Niger has regained control over a major military airbase located in Niamey, following an attack on Saturday by mutinous troops. This is the latest challenge for military ruler Abdourahamane Tiani in his struggle to contain the jihadist insurgency. The attack revealed tensions in Niger's armed services, who have repeatedly suffered battlefield losses fighting West Africa's al Qaeda affiliates and Islamic State. Early Saturday morning, gunfire and explosions erupted in Niamey. This included the military airbase as well as the area around the presidential palace. The airbase, located in the same complex of Niamey’s civilian airport, is home to military aircraft, drones, and a counter-terrorism team of the Alliance of Sahel States, which includes Niger. Mali, and Burkina Faso. There are also Italian and Russian forces. Viktor Voropaev said that the Russian Ambassador to Niger Viktor Voropaev stated in an interview on Saturday with TASS, "Africa Corps, a Kremlin controlled paramilitary, has received a request from Niamey for assistance against mutinous protesters." Before Saturday's attack on the airbase, it had already been targeted twice in this year - by the regional Islamic State affiliate in January and by the regional al Qaeda affiliate in June. Niger's state media reported late Saturday that "hundreds" of soldiers were involved in the attack and that it lasted several hours. Forces loyal to Tiani, the military leader, tried to regain power. The footage purported to show mutineers surrendering. The report by the state-run media has not been independently verified. Three security sources reported that the Presidential Guard rallied in Tiani's defense. Tiani hadn't made any public appearances by Sunday. Since a coup in July 2023 that removed President Mohamed Bazoum, Niger has been ruled solely by military officers. SAHEL LEADERS FIGHT AGAINST JEHADISTS Tiani has not made any progress in the fight against jihadists, as have his counterparts from Burkina Faso and Mali. In the past month, 18 soldiers were killed in an attack by an Islamic State affiliate on the military of southwest Niger. Soldiers from Niamey, Tera, Dosso and?Ouallam were involved in the mutineers' operations. The army suffered heavy losses at these locations. Security sources and analysts say that frustration with the government is increasing within frontline units. This creates another vulnerability for Tiani, beyond insurgents. Since assuming power, Tiani’s government has shifted its focus away from?Western allies, deepened ties to Russia, and?broken ties with the regional ECOWAS group. Authorities are tightening control on the uranium industry after seizing assets from France's Orano. Niger was a major supplier of nuclear fuels to Europe. It accounted for 15% of Orano’s uranium at full capacity.
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One dead, several injured, in Swiss shooting incident, police say
Local police reported that a shooting in the?northern Switzerland?killed? one?person? and injured five others, including some seriously. The Aargau cantonal police?said that a manhunt was underway, and?asked the public if they had any 'film or photos of the incident. According to the mass-market 'Blick' tabloid, the incident allegedly occurred at a rave party in the hippodrome. On its website, a video showed successive gunshots. Police have cordoned off large areas of Aarau and increased their 'presence' beyond the town. Switzerland has one of the highest gun ownership rates in Europe, despite violent shootings being rare. In 2019, it tightened its 'gun control laws.
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Nepal-Tibet death count 750 due to Himalayan floods, 3,000 missing
Authorities said that the death toll from the catastrophic floods in Nepal and Tibet last week reached 750 people on Sunday, with another 3,044 still missing. Rescuers were forced to move to higher ground when rains swollen river levels. Rescue operations have been suspended a few times since Friday because of the bad weather. There are also concerns that a mudslide caused by Wednesday's collapsed glacier could cause fresh flooding in Nepal after a lake formed across a border between Nepal and China. According to Red Cross, more than 90 000 people may have been affected by this disaster. China has linked it to climate change. China's foreign minister Wang Yi informed his Nepalese equivalent in a telephone call on Saturday that the mudslide had been their "most serious cross-border catastrophe" in recent times and that rescue efforts were unprecedented in difficulty?and complexity. Rescue efforts are centered on tunnels Nepal's rescue efforts are now focused on hundreds believed to be trapped inside?tunnels in hydropower plants following a torrential downpour of ice and rock. The disaster authority of Nepal reported that 734 people have died in Nepal, 2,498 are missing, and 7,514 have been rescued. As of Saturday night, 16 people were dead in China's Gyirong County and 546 others were missing. Officials in Tibet announced this at a press briefing. In China's first nationality breakdown, the Chinese said that 261 foreigners from a total of?23 different countries were missing from the Tibetan side. This included 104 Nepalese, 49 Indians and 33 Latvians. CCTV reported that Beijing and Kathmandu were working together to find missing citizens, foreign nationals and strengthen their cooperation in disaster mitigation and climate change response. Nepalese Police reported that the water levels in the Trishuli River rose after a fresh rainfall on Sunday, causing residents and rescue workers alike to seek higher ground. Nepal claims it doesn't need foreign assistance for general rescue. However, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Chhetri stated that the country needs help in areas such as tunnel rescues, DNA testing and refrigerated storage of bodies, as well as forensic identification of decomposed remains. Chhetri stated that Indian and Chinese experts were on the ground to help open tunnels. CCTV reported that the lake, which had formed upstream in an attempt to halt rescue operations, had been drained largely by Saturday night. CCTV reported that drones had detected a landslide on Saturday evening?2.8 km (1.75 miles) downstream from the lake. This landslide formed a new pool of water and a dam. The broadcaster reported that authorities moved?rescue personnel near Gyirong's border to ensure the safety of those crossing. Link to 'LONG TERM EFFECTS of CLIMATE Change' CCTV reported that the flood was caused by "glacier instability due to the long-term impacts of global warming". It was described as a "new, prominent feature of "cryosphere" disasters on the Tibetan plateau. CCTV reported that the mudslide took between six and seven minutes from the Nepalese border to reach the Gyirong?border crossing. The findings of Chinese scientists were cited. Dramatic surveillance footage, shared around the world, showed torrents and debris engulfing building as people fled. China has allocated 220 million Yuan ($32.7 millions) to support relief efforts and mobilised more than 2,100 rescue workers. CCTV reported that China is providing Nepal with emergency cash aid as well as disaster relief supplies, satellite data, tunnel rescue experts, and disaster relief supplies. China began using heavy-lift drones to airdrop supplies and equipment near the border. Soldiers are using drones, life-detection gear and navigation systems to search for the missing.
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China identifies 261 missing foreigners in Himalayan mudslide
China said on Sunday that 261 foreigners from 23 different countries were missing on the Tibetan border with Nepal after a mudslide which ripped through the Himalayan area. The death toll for Tibet is now 16 people. At a press briefing, officials from China's Tibet Autonomous Region stated that the largest number of foreigners missing was from Nepal, with 104. Also unaccounted for were 49 Indians, 33 Latvians, 18 Americans and 15 British nationals. Beijing authorities have informed foreign missions, they said. This was the first nationality breakdown from the Chinese since Wednesday's collapse of a ice sheet?released a torrent of rock, mud, and debris into Himalayan rivers. As of Saturday evening, authorities reported 16 deaths in Gyirong County and 546 missing people. The disaster authority in Nepal reported that at least 675 deaths occurred on the Nepalese side of the border.?2,498 people are still missing, and 7,514 people have been rescued. Residents and rescue workers were reportedly'moved up to higher ground by local police after the water level in the nearby Trishuli River grew over the last few hours. This highlights the danger of further flooding, even while rescue efforts continue. CHINA LINKS GLOBAL WINTER WARMING TO DISASTER Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said the disaster was caused by "glacier instability due to the long-term impacts of global warming". It is "a new and prominent feature of the cryosphere catastrophes" on Tibet's plateau. CCTV, citing Chinese scientists, reported that it took between six and seven minutes for the mudslide to reach the Gyirong crossing from the Nepalese border. The surveillance footage showed that torrents of debris and water were engulfing the buildings as people fled. In a Saturday telephone call, China's foreign minister Wang Yi informed his?Nepalese equivalent that the mudslide had been their "most serious cross-border catastrophe" in recent times, and that rescue efforts were unprecedented in difficulty and complexity. China has mobilised more than 2,100 rescue workers to assist in relief efforts and committed at least 220 millions yuan (about $32.7 million) for the cause. The?state broadcaster also said that it is providing emergency cash assistance, disaster relief supplies and satellite and hydrological information to Nepal. CCTV reported that the countries were working together to identify missing citizens, foreign nationals and strengthen cooperation in disaster mitigation and climate change response. The Red Cross estimates that more than 90 000 people may have been affected.
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Venezuela's interim President says US energy agreement will last 25 Years
Delcy Rodriguez, Venezuela's interim president, said on Saturday that an energy deal with the United States would remain in force for a period of 25 years. The agreement would be in place for 25 years, and aim to increase crude production up to 1.5 million barrels a day (bpd). It will also preserve Venezuela's sovereignty in relation to its natural resources. In a late night address, Rodriguez described the agreement as "historic", saying that it would revitalize the economy and increase government revenues. He also said the deal would help shape the future of the country. Rodriguez told state broadcaster VTV that the project, which spans 25 years, involves 17 strategic oilfields and a target production of 1.5 million barrels a day. This figure is based on the bilateral agreement between Venezuela and the United States. Rodriguez said that the 1.5 million barrels per day target set in the agreement was just an initial goal. The broader plan included the development eight greenfield oil block as part of a larger expansion of the energy sector of the country. Donald Trump announced plans on Friday to have the U.S. take a partial control over Venezuela's vast reserves of oil. He believes that American companies can help the South American nation's energy industry, which has been shattered by the recession. They also believe they can provide a new supply of crude oil to lower U.S. gasoline prices. Trump gave few details about the agreement. He said that the U.S. secured majority control over more than 65 billion bbls of Venezuela's proven reserves of oil through a partnership between private businesses. Venezuela is the country with the largest oil reserves in history, but its production has been far below potential due to years of mismanagement, sanctions and underinvestment. Rodriguez stated that the agreement would generate approximately $209 billion for the Venezuelan government, based upon a benchmark price of $65 a barrel. However, she did acknowledge that crude prices can fluctuate. She said that roughly $19 of each barrel produced and purchased under the agreement would go directly to Venezuela. This would provide a significant boost in government revenue. She stated that the country retains "ownership and sovereignty" of its natural resources "while leveraging the capital, technology, and operational expertise in order to support the recovery and recovery of a strategically important?industry which has been severely impacted by sanctions." On Saturday morning, dozens pro-government groups protested against the U.S. military presence in Venezuela. Rodriguez said that the agreement would boost economic growth and increase revenue for the government following Trump's announcement. Venezuelan officials are preparing to sign next week agreements?granting new rights for oil exploration and production to several companies, including U.S.-based firms. Two sources familiar with the negotiations told us on Friday that Chevron would be among the companies to complete the transition of its Venezuelan joint-ventures into the new energy framework in the country.
Nepal requested early warnings from China before the flood disaster.
Experts and officials from Nepal and China met in Kathmandu three months before the wall of mud, water and rock that hurled down a Himalayan Valley bordering Nepal and China killed hundreds.
The agenda for the meeting, held in the capital of Nepal on May 27, included 10 Nepalese officials and 12 Chinese officials, including those from the Tibet region, where the disaster occurred. They discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries to monitor and respond effectively to hazards such as floods, bad weather, and glacier-related hazards.
Participants called for joint measures to reduce risk, such as inventories of ice-lakes and hazards mapping.
Two Nepali officials said they didn't receive enough information from China about glacier risks and the water levels following the meeting. They feared that insufficient data sharing would hinder their ability to prepare and anticipate major disasters.
We wanted to know early if there were any glacier movements and movements in that area. This is what we still want," said Sauhardra Joshi, an hydrologist from Nepal's Flood Forecasting Division who attended the meeting.
CHINA SAYS ITS DATA SHARE HAS BEEN TIMELESS
Experts and officials have not placed blame on either side. The natural disaster will cost Nepal a tenth of its annual economic output. Nepali officials claim that the priority for them is to intensify their cooperation with China.
The Chinese foreign ministry has not responded to a question about the meeting in May or Nepal's request for more information.
Binod Paraajuli, a Nepali government hydrologist, told Binod that the Chinese refused to sign the agreement because they didn't have the authority to do so. They asked for further discussion.
The meeting was not reported in detail, nor were the Nepalese demands for greater cooperation to monitor the glaciers which threaten the communities on both sides.
In a statement posted on X, the Chinese embassy in Nepal stated that Beijing and Kathmandu have been in constant contact and made "substantial" progress at the May meeting on promoting disaster information sharing across borders.
Officials in Nepal expressed similar concerns in 2013. However, experts and officials warned that the slow progress they described was not a factor in the recent disaster. A glacier collapse unleashed an epic mudslide in both countries, which has left nearly 800 dead and more than 3,000 people missing.
The Chinese Embassy rejected criticisms from Nepali social media users who claimed that China failed to give adequate warnings. It said Chinese and foreign experts had significant difficulties monitoring hazards in remote Himalayan regions.
It said that Chinese teams shared "important information" with Nepal in a timely fashion.
Last year, Nepal expressed concern about a flooding in the same region, which was triggered by a sudden release of water in Tibet from a glacial ice lake. At least nine people died in Nepal, and more than a dozen are still missing.
Parajuli explained that "when the Chinese side observes heavy rainfall forecast in the Tibet region, they will provide us with this forecast and these observations." But "not for extreme events, such as landslides and avalanches."
China started sharing heavy rain forecasts in Tibet via WeChat and email about a month back, according to Parajuli.
TIMELINE FOR CALAMITY
In an email sent to Nepali officials 12 days prior to the disaster, the World Meteorological Centre of China warned them that a monsoon was predicted for the region from August 14-19.
China warned that "additional rainfall is expected across much of Nepal and we wish to bring your attention to secondary and cascading risks, including but not limited to flash floods and landslides."
The Chinese Embassy said that China had been sharing data, including on the lake formed from debris left over after last week's disaster.
Discussions over data sharing highlight the difficulty of monitoring, forecasting, and providing early warnings in a region dominated by geopolitical rivals such as China and India who control remote mountainous regions that hold vast quantities of snow and ice.
According to Austin Lord, senior Fellow at Washington's Stimson Center, the collapse of a glacier in an area that was relatively unmonitored was the cause of Wednesday's disaster. Lack of bilateral cooperation did not play a major role in Nepal's reaction, said Lord.
"That doesn't excuse the fact that it's not really a well articulated system." There is very little exchange between Nepalese and Chinese," said Lord. He is part of the team that supports Nepal's government in disaster and climate risk reduction.
"Chinese researchers have a greater capacity and have more resources to monitor than the Nepalese side in general."
Parajuli stated that the time it took for the torrent to reach Nepal is a good example of the importance of early warning systems.
According to the?surveillance video that has become the defining image of this disaster, around 8:32 am Nepal time on Tuesday, the deluge blasted a border crossing into Tibet as people tried to flee.
Parajuli received a call 26 minutes later from the head of Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority alerting him about a flooding on the Trishuli River. Parajuli and his team discovered that a border station monitoring station hadn't transmitted data since 8:40.
He said that the team tried to contact stations downstream, but they were unable to post data. This led them to believe the devices had been washed out.
Parajuli stated that after contacting local Nepali officials to confirm the flooding his team sent a public warning to mobile phone users around 9:13.
According to the Nepali government, the flood carried 57.4 millions cubic metres of water (2 billion cubic feet), more than twice as much as usual.
"HUGE GUSH of MUD Coming Straight At Us"
According to the Stimson Center, the floodwaters that swept through Nepal damaged 19 bridges, 40 km of highway and more than 10 percent of the country's electricity generation capacity.
"It wasn't water. Keshav Baral, a resident of Tupche Village, located about 25 km (15miles) downstream from the border, described a gush of mud that was coming straight at them. "I tried grabbing my wife's hands, but she was swept by the mud."
According to Nepali authorities, when a part of the glacier shattered and crashed to the valley's floor, hundreds of meters below, it unleashed flash floods of high speed.
The Hindu Kush Himalayas are home to millions of people, from Afghanistan to Myanmar. They contain the largest amount of ice in the world outside of the poles. There are 63,700 ice glaciers that cover nearly 56,000 sq km (22,200 sq miles), an area almost as large as Croatia. These glaciers can store up to 5,700 cu km (1,400 cu miles) of frozen water.
Basanta Adhikari is the director of Nepal's Tribhuvan University's Centre for Disaster Studies. He estimates that the chunk of glacier responsible for the latest disaster contained 5 million cubic meters of ice, rock and other debris.
According to a study from 2023 by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, climate change is driving glacier melting as snow cover decreases and snowfall becomes erratic.
The centre believes that these changes will lead to more floods and landslides as mountain communities are also faced with hazards such as erosion and sedimentation.
Many of Nepal's main river systems begin in Tibet and flow through one the most seismically active, flood-prone areas of the world.
Parajuli, Nepal's Minister of Home Affairs, said that Nepal will work with China on research and building systems to monitor avalanches as well as the release of water in glacial lakes - major risks to mountain communities.
He said that his department would propose an agreement for data sharing with China along the lines of one Nepal has with India. This will allow more frequent information about precipitation, river levels and not only high-precipitation predictions.
He said that Nepal would seek data from satellites every 10 minutes, so "we could warn and save our people." "Our primary goal is to not miss any future catastrophe."
(source: Reuters)