* Took the last three days off work to decompress and travel. Happy to be back. *
Iraq
“They do not allow people to rejoice, even for a moment.”
Iraq rarely gets a break from violence during the Islamic celebration of Eid al-Adha — a holiday on which bombers have launched attacks in previous years. This year, sadly, was no different. A suicide bomber today killed at least 35 people and wounded scores when he detonated an explosives belt at a crowded Baghdad market on the eve of the festival, a busy time when families will have been out shopping for food.
More from Al Jazeera here.
Nigeria
Criminals have shot down a military jet in an extraordinary attack in Nigeria. The aircraft had just completed an air raid on a gang of kidnappers when it was shot out of the sky, according to local officials. As mentioned in previous newsletters, kidnappers have plagued the northwest of the country in recent months, primarily targeting schoolchildren and students for ransom. More than 1,000 people have been kidnapped since December and about 200 are reported to still be missing.
More from BBC here.
Haiti
Haiti is set to swear in a new prime minister in what is being seen as an attempt to avert a power struggle following the assassination of President Jovenal Moïse.
More from the Associated Press here.