Mali officials ask for UN air support to fight Islamic extremistsMarch 5, 2016 - 17:38 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Malian officials have asked for air support from visiting members of the United Nations Security Council to help dislodge jihadis in the central Mopti region, the Associated Press reports. The manager for the Mopti governor's office, Boukari Koita, said Saturday, March 5 that local officials made the request during the visit by 15 members of the U.N. Security Council ahead of a June vote on extending the mandate of the UN mission in Mali. The members will next visit the northern city of Timbuktu. Mali's north and central regions are sites of instability. The Mopti region is known to be a stronghold for the Macina Liberation Front, an Islamic extremist group that claimed responsibility for several attacks on the army last year. Related links: Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Armenia border residents dissatisfied with delimitation Residents Kirants are dissatisfied with the results of the delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “Great success”: Pashinyan pleased with new border protocol Pashinyan has described the signing by Armenia and Azerbaijan of a protocol on delimitation in Tavush as “a great success”. Armenia, Azerbaijan sign protocol on demarcation coordinates Armenia’s government took on May 15 another step towards handing over four border areas to Azerbaijan. Power of One Dram sums up two-year program with Teach for Armenia Idram Junior also joined the companies during the visit, bringing with it a fascinating intellectual game for children |