Nato hits out at Russia exercises

BUCHAREST: Russia is straining its relationship with Nato by holding unannounced military exercises, said the Western military alliance’s deputy secretary general.

Russia had staged large drills with no advance notification with increasing frequency, said Alexander Vershbow. He said there had been about a dozen in the past two years. A MAN carries his five-day-old son after been rescued from a crowded wooden boat as they were fleeing Libya.

Thousands of migrants and refugees were rescued from the Mediterranean 13 miles off the Libyan coast yesterday from more than 20 boats by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO.

They were then transferred to the Italian coastguards and other NGO vessels operating at the zone. Picture: Emilio Morenatti