Briefly

HAITI

Ex-top judge suspected in leader's assassination

Haitian police have outlined fresh accusations against former Supreme Court judge Wendelle Coq-Thelot over her links to the assassination of president Jovenel Moise on July 7, saying she had met Colombian mercenaries accused of killing him. Last week police had issued an arrest warrant for Coq-Thelot, who was ousted with two other judges in February when Moise alleged a coup was being planned against him. Coq-Thelot's whereabouts are unknown.

EGYPT

Five soldiers killed in ambush by IS militants

Islamic State group militants ambushed a checkpoint in the restive northern part of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on Saturday, killing at least five security forces soldiers, officials said. At least six other soldiers were wounded in the attack in the town of Sheikh Zuweid and taken to a military hospital, they said. Security personnel killed three militants in the firefight, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

IRAN

Accusations over oil tanker attack denied

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Sunday rejected "baseless accusations" after Israel blamed Teheran for a deadly attack on an oil tanker off the coast of Oman. The MT Mercer Street, managed by prominent Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer, was struck on Thursday off the coast of Oman with 2 crew members killed. On Friday, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said he had ordered the nation's diplomats to push for UN action against "Iranian terrorism". Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said Israel "must stop such baseless accusations", and the remarks were "condemned".

INDONESIA

Tigers recovering from COVID-19 at zoo

Two Sumatran tigers at an Indonesian zoo were recovering from COVID-19 after they tested positive in mid-July, the Jakarta government said on Sunday, adding that authorities were trying to find out how they were infected. Tino, a 9-year old tiger, and Hari, a 12-year old, were tested for coronavirus after both showed flu-like symptoms, had trouble breathing and lost their appetite, the government said. The tigers had undergone around 10 to 12 days of treatment and were gradually showing signs of recovery, Jakarta's Head of the Parks and City Forest Office, Suzi Marsitawati, said, although both tigers remain under close observation. None of the caretakers and workers had tested positive with coronavirus around the time the animals were infected, she said.

Agencies Via Xinhua