NATO defense ministers have approved a plan to increase presence in Eastern Europe.
Here is a round-up of global news developments:
- NATO defense ministers have approved a plan to extend the alliance’s presence in Eastern Europe. The military coalition says the defense lines of some of the member states need to be strengthened. Russia says the build-up is a destabilizing factor in the region.
- Russia has warned about Turkey’s intention to create a so-called Daesh-free zone in northern Syria. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says such a move will be in breach of international law and will cause substantial and qualitative tensions in the region.
- Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has warned that terrorism and extremism can spread across the globe unless they are completely defeated. Rouhani said terrorism could not be defeated by slogans and that all countries must intensify their efforts in fighting extremism.
- More than 60 people have been killed and nearly 80 injured in an attack in northeastern Nigeria. Officials say two female bombers detonated their explosives in a refugee camp in the northeast of Borno State’s capital, Maiduguri. They blame Boko Haram terrorists for the bombings.
- Efforts to form a unity government in Libya have failed over the key post of the Defense Ministry. The post was given to a prominent military figure close to Libya’s internationally-recognized administration. But the nomination was rejected by a UN-backed council tasked with forming the unity government.
- Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir says Riyadh is willing to commit its special forces to Syria should quote-the international coalition decide to deploy ground troops there. Jubeir claimed the mission would be to fight Daesh. Earlier, another Saudi official said the soldiers will also fight the Syrian government forces.
- Nearly a dozen people, including eight members of a family, have been killed in the latest Saudi airstrikes on the Yemeni capital Sana’a. Three civilians were also killed in separate Saudi attack in Sa’ada province. More than 83-hundred Yemenis have been killed since Saudi Arabia launched its war on Yemen in late March.
- French lawmakers have voted in favor of a controversial package of measures to change the constitution. The amendment was requested by the Socialist government of François Hollande after the November terror attacks in Paris. The law would allow the stripping of convicted terrorists of their French nationality.
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