AP, Kuwait City
Kuwait and Qatar today became the latest Arab countries to follow in Saudi Arabia’s footsteps by urging their citizens already in Lebanon to leave and issuing a travel warning for nationals planning to visit there.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain – all member-states of the tight-knit Gulf Cooperation Council – have called for their citizens to avoid travel to Lebanon.
Obama weighs a Republican for SC post
Reuters, Washington
President Barack Obama is considering appointing a moderate Republican to the US Supreme Court, a source close to the process said on Wednesday, but leaders in the Republican-led Senate held firm to their threat to block anyone he nominates.
The source said Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, a Republican and former federal judge, was among the possible candidates.
Australia to bolster naval strength
AP, Canberra
Australia will bolster its naval strength with more submarines and warships as part of a long-term military buildup needed to maintain peace in the Asia-Pacific region, the prime minister said Thursday.
Australia plans to double the size of its submarine fleet to 12 as well as commissioning three additional destroyers, nine anti-submarine frigates and 12 patrol boats.
French special forces in Libya
AFP, Paris
French special forces have been deployed in Libya to fight the Islamic State group, France’s Le Monde reported Wednesday — triggering an official probe into a possible leak of classified information.
Le Monde said special forces and members of the DGSE external security service were present in Libya for “clandestine operations” against IS jihadists, thought to number several thousand in the chaos-scarred country.
