US envoys to travel to Islamabad despite Iran ruling out direct negotiations with US

The army in junta-ruled Mali said on Saturday it was battling what it called “terrorist groups” that launched surprise attacks around the capital Bamako and other parts of the West African nation. The attacks were claimed by the Azawad Liberation Front, a separatist group that has been fighting the Malian army for more than a decade. FRANCE 24 journalist Justice Baidoo reported that the FLA has largely been confined to northern Mali in recent years.

Local elections are being held in the West Bank and parts of Gaza on Saturday. The vote will determine the makeup of local councils tasked with overseeing water, roads, and electricity. Bertrand Besancenot, former French ambassador to Qatar and Saudi Arabia, said the vote would provide “credibility to Palestinian sovereignty” if voter turnout is high.

Clashes between the Malian army and rebel groups are being reported in cities across the country.

An Indonesian soldier has become the sixth UN peacekeeper killed in recent hostilities in southern Lebanon.