NEWS OF THE DAY
From Around the World
1 Qatar crisis: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday rejected a demand by major Arab states to remove Turkish troops from Qatar, saying their sweeping list of ultimatums has threatened the small gulf country’s sovereignty. Erdogan added that Turkey would continue to support Qatar against the many sanctions it has faced since several Arab countries moved this month to isolate the country for its alleged support of terrorism. Turkey shipped supplies and food via cargo planes to Qatar after its neighbors closed down air, land and sea routes.
2 Syria fighting: The Israeli military said Sunday that it attacked a series of targets belonging to the Syrian military, after several projectiles from neighboring Syria landed in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights for a second day. The military said it targeted artillery positions and an ammunition truck. There were no immediate reports of casualties. But as an added precaution, the military instructed Israeli civilians from gathering in open areas in the border area. It was the second straight day that Israel responded to what it has described as errant fire from Syria. Israel has tried to stay out of the sixyear civil war in Syria and refrained from taking sides, but has responded to spillover fire on numerous occasions.
3 Severe storm: Tropical Storm Dora has formed off the Pacific coast of Mexico, and forecasters said Sunday that it’s likely to bring heavy rains without making a direct hit on land. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Dora was centered about 165 miles southwest of Lazaro Cardenas and was moving northwest at 14 mph. Forecasters said it could reach hurricane force Monday as it moves roughly parallel to the coast and then curves west. Some coastal areas could get as much as 5 inches of rain.
4 Spain fire: A forest fire in southern Spain forced the evacuation of 1,000 people and threatened a national park famous for its biodiversity, authorities said Sunday. The flames entered Donana National Park, one of Spain’s most important nature reserves and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Susana Diaz, the regional president of Andalusia, said 1,000 people were evacuated from campsites and homes near the town of Moguer on Spain’s southern coast where the fire started Saturday night. By Sunday afternoon, at least 750 people were allowed to return. Fighting the fire was proving difficult because of the hot, dry weather, with temperatures reaching 102 degrees.
5 Afghanistan attack: Taliban militants attacked a security post in western Afghanistan, killing at least 10 police officers and wounding three others, an official said Sunday. Jelani Farhad, spokesman for the governor of Herat province, said the Taliban attacked late Saturday, setting off a gunbattle in which five insurgents were killed. The Taliban have steadily expanded their reach across Afghanistan since U.S. and international forces formally concluded their combat mission at the end of 2014, switching to a support and counterterrorism role.
6 Nuclear protest: Thousands of protesters demanded Sunday that Belgium shut down two nuclear reactors because of safety concerns. People from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands formed a human chain across the border triangle of the three countries. Protesters are concerned over the safety of the pressure vessels at the Tihange 2 and Doel 3 reactors in Belgium. German Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks urged Belgium last year to take the two reactors offline “until open safety questions are cleared up.”