Mali

The Serbia U-20 men's national football team is through to the U-20 World Cup in New Zealand after beating Mali 2-1 in extra time in the semifinal on Wednesday.

The teams were tied 1-1 at full time as FK Partizan's Andrija Zivkovic put Serbia in front after four minutes and Youssouf Kone equalized in the 39th minute.

Al-Qaeda's North Africa arm has claimed responsibility for two attacks against the United Nation's MINUSMA peacekeeping mission in Mali this week, the Mauritanian Al-Akhbar news agency reported May 31. 

Mutual effort in Africa-Bulgaria ties could bring about cross-investment, more substantial economic exchange and closer human relations, the Dean of the Group of African Ambassadors to Bulgaria has said.

Militants opened fire on two Bangladeshi peacekeepers in Mali's Bamako on May 25, killing one, the second attack within days in the capital of what is considered the most dangerous UN mission in the world.

Austrian writer and humanitarian Peter Handke was presented with the Charter of Honorary Citizen Of Belgrade by Mayor Sinisa Mali on Thursday.

Mali said during the ceremony the charter was "a stamp on the friendship of a city and a man, a writer and humanitarian who has a special commitment to Belgrade," Tanjug reported.

Police find 70 illegal migrants at train station

NIS -- During the May 1 holiday weekend, the police in the southern Serbian town of Nis discovered 70 illegal migrants at a train station.

The most numerous among the group were 38 citizens of Syria, the local police administration said.

There were also 25 Afghanis, five Somalis, and two citizens of Mali.

France will increase its defence budget by 3.8 billion euros ($4.2 billion) over four years from 2016 to ensure the army can tackle problems at home and maintain missions abroad, notably in Africa and the Middle East, President Francois Hollande said. 

Army chief visits Serbian peacekeepers in Cyprus

Chief-of-Staff of the Serbian Army (VS) Gen. Ljubisa Dikovic has visited the soldiers deployed as part of the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus.

During his trip on Monday, Dikovic said that the Serbian army members were "performing all tasks within this UN multinational operation in a highly professional way."

BELGRADE - Chief-of-staff of the Serbian Armed Forces Ljubisa Dikovic has visited the members of the Serbian army engaged in the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus.

During his visit to Cyprus on Monday, Dikovic said that the Serbian army members are performing all tasks within this UN multinational operation in a highly professional way.

Mayor addresses claim trams were hiding protesters

BELGRADE -- Belgrade Mayor Sinisa Mali said that the tram traffic in Belgrade was interrupted last night because of a protest of citizens.