Reuters

The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russian forces would stay in Mali to help the military-led government battle insurgents as West Africa's al Qaeda affiliate claimed to have seized more territory. 

France has urged its nationals in Mali to leave "as soon as possible" following coordinated attacks at the weekend, including in the capital Bamako, a travel advice update for the West African country said.

In simultaneous attacks launched on Saturday, an alliance of al Qaeda-linked militants and separatist rebels killed Mali's defence minister, hit the capital's airport and drove Russian soldiers out of a desert town over a thousand kilometres away.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were rushed out of the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington by Secret Service agents on Saturday night after a man opened fire on security personnel nearby.

Insurgents launched attacks across Mali early on Saturday, with the army later saying it had regained control as the military-led government faced one of the biggest operations against it in a long battle with affiliates of al Qaeda and Islamic State.

An internal Pentagon email outlines options for the United States to punish NATO allies it believes failed to support U.S. operations in the war with Iran, including suspending Spain from the alliance and reviewing the U.S. position on Britain's claim to the Falkland Islands, a U.S. official told Reuters.

Seven ministers from Romania's largest party, the Social Democrats, resigned from the pro-European coalition government of Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan on Thursday, depriving him of a parliamentary majority and endangering access to EU funds.

Libya's eastern-based coast guard of the Libyan National Army rescued at least 404 migrants on board 10 boats after they had "faced harsh conditions at sea," the Tobruk Red Crescent said on Wednesday.

Myanmar's new president is considering "good things" for detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Thailand's foreign minister said on Wednesday, as the country seeks to normalise ties with regional bloc ASEAN after five years on the sidelines. 

The foreign ministers of Niger and Mali have accused neighbouring countries of sponsoring terrorism, but said they were willing to cooperate on some matters with the West African regional bloc ECOWAS, from which they formally split last year.

Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said on Tuesday he will lead a minority government to ensure that reforms needed to tap European Union funds are met, in comments a day after the leftist Social Democrats (PSD) - his coalition's biggest party - withdrew their support.

Vice President JD Vance is still in the United States and has not yet departed for Pakistan, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters, as prospects for a second round of negotiations with Iran remain unclear.