Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces have retaken a town on the Lebanese border as they press an offensive against rebels in a conflict that has now cost more

UN peacekeepers will start operations in Mali on July 1 after the UN Security Council gave the green light on Tuesday for the mission, which will be the world body’s third largest when fully deployed by the end of this year, envoys and officials said.

The programme of a North Atlantic Council’s delegation’s visit to Georgia has been announced. The visit of a NATO delegation will arrive in Georgia today and will end on June 27.