عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
World

Jailed French Tourist to Appear in Iran Court on Thursday on Spying Charges

A woman holds a photo of Benjamin Briere during a rally in Paris, France, on January 8, 2022. (AP)
A woman holds a photo of Benjamin Briere during a rally in Paris, France, on January 8, 2022. (AP)
TT
TT

Jailed French Tourist to Appear in Iran Court on Thursday on Spying Charges

A woman holds a photo of Benjamin Briere during a rally in Paris, France, on January 8, 2022. (AP)
A woman holds a photo of Benjamin Briere during a rally in Paris, France, on January 8, 2022. (AP)

A jailed French tourist in Iran, Benjamin Briere, will appear before a Revolutionary Court on Thursday on spying charges, his Iranian lawyer told Reuters on Wednesday.

"Benjamin will attend the court to be tried for spying and acting against national security charges," one of his lawyers Saeid Dehghan said.

Briere has been held since May 2020, when he was arrested after flying a helicam - a remote-controlled mini helicopter used to obtain aerial or motion images - in the desert near the Turkmenistan-Iran border. He was charged with espionage and propaganda against Iran.

His trial comes as the United States and parties to Iran's 2015 nuclear deal including France are trying to restore the pact, which was abandoned in 2018 by then-US president Donald Trump.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have arrested dozens of dual nationals and foreigners in recent years, mostly on espionage charges.

Rights activists have accused Iran of arresting dual citizens and foreigners to try to win concessions from other countries. Tehran denies holding people for political reasons.

Most Viewed

 
 
World

Zelenskiy Says 'Moscow will Burn' if Russian Strikes Continue

Ukrayna Devlet Başkanı Volodimir Zelenskiy (EPA)
Ukrayna Devlet Başkanı Volodimir Zelenskiy (EPA)
TT
TT

Zelenskiy Says 'Moscow will Burn' if Russian Strikes Continue

Ukrayna Devlet Başkanı Volodimir Zelenskiy (EPA)
Ukrayna Devlet Başkanı Volodimir Zelenskiy (EPA)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday heavy drone attacks on Russia were retaliation for a strike that damaged a historic monastery in Kyiv this week, and that "Moscow will burn" if attacks continue.

Scores of drones targeted Moscow overnight, hitting the Russian capital's oil refinery for the second time this week.

"We don't want this war, we never did, and everyone knows it, and our partners know it," Zelenskiy said in a voice message sent to reporters on a WhatsApp group. "But if Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn."

At least 10 people were killed on Monday across Ukraine in a drone and missile attack that damaged the 1,000-year-old Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery, Reuters reported.

Zelenskiy was due to attend a meeting of Ukraine's military allies in Brussels on Thursday. He said the supply of air defences to Ukraine through a NATO programme and the creation of an anti-ballistic missile system by Ukraine and its allies would be discussed at the meeting.

Zelenskiy called on Europe and the United states to increase pressure on Russia through sanctions on Russia's defence and energy sectors and broader economy to force President Vladimir Putin into ending the war.

"Everyone need to put pressure on Putin: Ukrainians, absolutely all the Europeans, Americans, and Russians - it's time to sober up and put pressure on their leader."

World

Gunfire at Airport in Niger's Capital

General view of Niamey, the capital of Niger (Reuters)
General view of Niamey, the capital of Niger (Reuters)
TT
TT

Gunfire at Airport in Niger's Capital

General view of Niamey, the capital of Niger (Reuters)
General view of Niamey, the capital of Niger (Reuters)

Gunfire erupted early on Thursday at the airport in Niger's capital, Niamey, residents told AFP, five months after a terrorist attack at the facility.

Niger has been ruled for the past three years by a military junta that has struggled to contain violence blamed on terrorists.

In January, the Diori Hamani international airport in Niamey and a military drone base were targeted in an attack claimed by the ISIS in the Sahel (EIS).

Nigerien armed forces and their Russian allies repelled the strike, which was a rare development since violence had previously been contained to other parts of the vast Sahel country.

"I heard the first shots around 6 o'clock (0500 GMT). The shooting was coming from the airport entrance," a resident told AFP by telephone on Thursday.

He said firing was still ongoing two hours later.

Another resident confirmed the gunfire was coming from the airport entrance, where there is a security checkpoint.

A number of residents said a large military presence had been put in place at the airport.

Twenty assailants were killed and four soldiers wounded in the surprise assault on January 29, which caused damage, authorities said.

The head of the ruling junta, Abdourahamane Tiani, who seized power in a coup in July 2023, said on state television "a flaw in the system" had "enabled the attack", whose aim, he said, "was to destroy all of the air capabilities" of the army.

In recent weeks, the authorities have started tearing down thousands of illegally built homes next to Niamey airport.

They alleged the shanty towns had been infiltrated by extremists.

The demolitions affected 26,000 people living in four neighborhoods that occupy nearly a quarter of the airport area, authorities said.

The airport perimeter fence has been extended and more than 350 security cameras installed inside and outside the perimeter.

Niger and its military-ruled allies in west Africa -- Burkina Faso and Mali -- have faced a decade of violence attributed to extremists.

They have moved away from former colonial power France and sought support from other partners.

World

Switzerland Says Talks Planned for Friday between Iran and US

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE - JUNE 17: US President Donald Trump (C) is joined by (L-R) US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as he speaks at a press conference during the G7 Leaders' Summit on June 17, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/AFP
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE - JUNE 17: US President Donald Trump (C) is joined by (L-R) US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as he speaks at a press conference during the G7 Leaders' Summit on June 17, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/AFP
TT
TT

Switzerland Says Talks Planned for Friday between Iran and US

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE - JUNE 17: US President Donald Trump (C) is joined by (L-R) US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as he speaks at a press conference during the G7 Leaders' Summit on June 17, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/AFP
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE - JUNE 17: US President Donald Trump (C) is joined by (L-R) US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as he speaks at a press conference during the G7 Leaders' Summit on June 17, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/AFP

Initial talks between the United States and Iran are planned at the Buergenstock mountaintop resort in Switzerland on Friday, following ‌the signing ‌of a ceasefire ‌agreement ⁠between Tehran and ⁠Washington, the Swiss government said on Thursday.

"As things stand, the plan is ⁠still for the ‌US ‌and Iran, along with ‌mediators Pakistan ‌and Qatar and other involved countries, to meet tomorrow at ‌Buergenstock for initial negotiations about implementing the ⁠agreement.

"No ⁠further information is currently available regarding the schedule and details of this meeting," the Swiss foreign ministry said in a statement.