Syria, Bangladesh, South Sudan

Today's three stories you should know

Syria

Fighting between government forces and Druze armed groups has eased slightly after days of clashes in the province of Sweida in southern Syria. Both sides blamed each other for violating a ceasefire that was agreed in July after a previous bout of bloodletting. The violence has raised fears of a major escalation between the sides. Speaking in London yesterday, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaiban denied that the country had a “sectarian problem,” adding the government was trying to build an inclusive state. President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited the White House earlier this week to shore up international support for his transitional administration as he struggles to unite the fractured nation.

More from AP here.

Bangladesh

Two crude bombs have exploded near the airport in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka as unrest persists before a verdict in the domestic war crimes trial of toppled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The 78-year-old former leader fled to India last year as protesters overran her residence after weeks of anti-government demonstrations. Dhaka has seen a string of attacks in recent days, including 32 crude bombs and the torching of buses on Wednesday alone. Hasina’s Awami League party has been barred from running in elections set for February.

More from Reuters here.

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South Sudan

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has fired his most powerful vice president in a move sure to increase tensions in an already febrile atmosphere. Benjamin Bol Mel, who has been tipped as a successor to Kiir, was stripped of his military rank of general and also sacked from the national security service. No explanation was given by the government. South Sudan became the world’s newest country after seceding from Sudan in 2011, but descended into civil war just two years later. The war ended with a 2018 power-sharing agreement but fighting between several armed groups and forces loyal to the president has surged recently.

More from BBC here.