Foreign News
UN Condemns Hospital Attack in Ukraine

UN humanitarians on Monday condemned Russian attacks on Sumy city in the northeast of Ukraine over the weekend that damaged a hospital.
Matthias Schmale, the top UN aid official in Ukraine, said that the Russian military strikes killed and injured several people. He insisted that health centres must not be targeted.
Local officials reported that nine had been killed in the twin drone strikes on the northeastern city close to the Russian border, with 12 injured and more than 120 evacuated for their own safety.
Schmale’s comments came amid continuing violence on Monday, including a reported wave of drone attacks on Kyiv and protective air defence manoeuvres launched in response, according to the Ukraine military.
Outside the capital, media indicated explosions as Russia launched drone and guided bombs attack on Zaporizhzhia that damaged railways and buildings, while in Russia, Ukrainian armed forces reportedly shelled the Belgorod region.
Meanwhile, authorities in Algeria were on Monday urged by top independent human rights experts to reverse a prison sentence handed down to a poet for supporting widespread protests against the Government.
Djamila Bentouis received a two-year prison sentence and 100,000 Algerian dinars fine (worth around $750) for participating in the Hirak social protest movement via her songs and poetry recitals.
Initial charges levelled against Bentouis accused her of belonging to a terrorist entity.
The Hirak demonstrations began in February 2019 – initially against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika – but evolved into demands for political reforms and other freedoms.
The independent experts who include Alexandra Xanthaki, Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, said that the criminal charges against Ms. Bentouis appeared “directly linked” to her wish to exercise her right to freedom of expression.
The experts – who are not UN staff and receive no salary for their work – also expressed their hope that Algeria “will abide by its international obligations to guarantee the right to freedom of expression” when the appeals court considers the case on Wednesday. (NAN)
Foreign News
Man Bites Off Part of Another Man’s Ear On Train

A fight on a German train saw a man bite off a piece of another man’s ear, police said on Monday.
The incident occurred on a Deutsche Bahn train between the south-western cities of Mannheim and Stuttgart.
An argument broke out after an unknown man accused a 43-year-old man of looking at his partner.
The former bit the ear of the 43-year-old, who retaliated by biting the man’s finger.
According to police, the unidentified man and his companion were able to leave the train at the central station in Stuttgart and fled.
Police said that they are searching for the man’s identity.
The 43-year-old was taken to the hospital, where the piece of his ear was sewn back on.
(dpa/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)Foreign News
Israeli strike hits hospital in Iran’s Kermanshah

A hospital in the western Iranian city of Kermanshah was reportedly struck by an Israeli airstrike, Iranian media said on Monday.
A video published by the newspaper Shargh showed a damaged intensive care unit, with blood-stained hospital beds visible in the footage.
An Israeli army spokesperson stated that the reports are under investigation.
Under international humanitarian law, hospitals are granted special protection as civilian facilities and may only be targeted if there is clear evidence they are being used for military purposes.
Israel says its military campaign inside Iran is now in its fourth day, aimed at thwarting the country’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
(dpa/NAN)Foreign News
Israel Claims Control of Tehran’s Skies as Deaths Mount on Both Sides

The Israeli military said on Monday it had gained control of airspace over Tehran and destroyed a third of Iran’s surface-to-surface missile launch pads.The casualties mounted on the fourth day of the conflict between the two regional powers.Military spokesperson Effie Defrin said that more than 50 Israeli fighter jets and precision missiles were involved in the strikes overnight.
This was targeted and destroyed over 120 Iranian launch pads. Missile depots and production facilities were also hit, he said.According to Defrin, Iran launched 65 missiles and dozens of drones at Israel overnight apparently only about half of what Iran’s military had intended to fire.“We thwarted a significant portion of the planned attack.“We can now say that we have achieved full air superiority in the skies over Tehran,’’ he said.He added that Israeli forces were continuing to target units actively attempting to launch missiles or engage Israeli aircraft.Since Friday, Israel has carried out widespread strikes on Iranian territory, including nuclear sites, defence installations, urban targets, and oil and gas infrastructure.According to the military, the attacks have also killed several high-ranking officers and nuclear scientists.Defrin reiterated that the operation’s central aim is to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and long-range missiles.He said strikes would now expand further east into Iran.“We still have difficult days ahead,but we will get through them together and emerge victorious,” he said.Iranian strikes kill eightIsrael’s Defence Minister Israel Katz on Monday promised harsh retaliation against Tehran following a fresh wave of deadly Iranian rocket attacks on Israeli cities overnight.Iran had carried out targeted shots at the civilian home front in Israel, he said, adding that “residents of Tehran will pay the price and soon.’’According to emergency services, eight people were killed and 92 injured in the overnight attacks.The total number of fatalities in Israel since Friday now stands at 23.Emergency officials reported four strikes in the Tel Aviv area.U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said the embassy’s branch office in Tel Aviv sustained “minor damage from concussions’’ caused by a nearby impact, but no injuries were reported.Iran casualties mountAt least 224 people have been killed in Iran since the Israeli attacks began last week, the Health Ministry said.Some 1,277 had been injured, a ministry official wrote on X on Sunday. More than 90 per cent of the casualties were civilians, the spokesman said.Iranian media reported that an Israeli strike hit a hospital in the western city of Kermanshah, with a video from the Shargh newspaper showing a damaged intensive care unit and a blood-stained bed.An Israeli army spokesman said the reports are under investigation.Under international humanitarian law, hospitals are protected civilian sites and may only be targeted if clearly used for military purposes. (dpa/NAN)