Briefly

IRAN

Websites seizure 'not constructive' for talks

Teheran warned on Wednesday the US seizure of websites run by Iran-linked media was "not constructive" for ongoing talks on bringing Washington back into a landmark nuclear deal. The United States on Tuesday seized dozens of websites used by Iranian news outlets for alleged violation of sanctions. A statement by the Justice Department said 33 websites were taken down. The websites of the Iranian state-owned news channel Press TV and Al-Alam were among those being blocked, while both are running again later in the day by using Iranian domains. The move came one day after Iran's President-elect Ebrahim Raisi urged the US to lift "all unjust sanctions" against Iran and ruled out a meeting with US President Joe Biden.

AFGHANISTAN

Taliban still in control of key border crossing

The Taliban remain in control of Afghanistan's main crossing with Tajikistan, local officials said on Wednesday, a day after the insurgents seized a vital inland transit hub and sent government forces fleeing into the neighboring country. The militants have launched a sweeping offensive across large swathes of northern Afghanistan in recent days, swallowing up a dizzying number of rural districts as US and NATO forces wind up their withdrawal from the country. The Pentagon said on Monday that it would complete its full withdrawal by Sept 11, but the pace of the pullout could be slowed given the Taliban's gains.

BURKINA FASO

Gunmen kill 15 police officers in ambush

Gunmen ambushed a group of police officers in Burkina Faso, killing at least 15 of them in the deadliest attack of its kind yet in this West African country where extremist violence is escalating. Initially 11 police officers were reported killed and four missing after Monday's attack near the town of Barsalogho in the volatile country's center-north region. Five police sources told Reuters that the four missing were now confirmed dead. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, though suspicion immediately fell on extremists who have unleashed unprecedented violence recently.

ISRAEL

Demolition approved on attacker's house

Israel's Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the decision to destroy the family home of a detained Palestinian accused of a deadly shooting. It rejected a petition by his estranged wife, who lives in the house with their children and says she knew nothing about the attack. The case drew attention to Israel's policy of demolishing the family homes of attackers after they have been killed or arrested. Israeli officials say the demolitions deter future attacks, while rights groups view it as a form of collective punishment.

Agencies - Xinhua