Global Sneak

October 2, 2015 Naresh Sagar

• Sweden likely to receive record number of asylum seekers in 2015

  Sweden expects to receive a record number of asylum seekers in 2015. Data published on Friday showed applicants have already exceeded a full year forecast issued by its migration agency just over two months ago, Reuters said. In the year to October 1, more than 74,000 people sought asylum in Sweden, meaning the full year figure will almost certainly top the record 84,000 seen in 1992 during the Balkan wars. At around a third of the total numbers, Syrians were by far the biggest group, followed by Afghans. Neighboring Finland on Friday raised its estimate for the number of asylum seekers expected in 2015 to 50,000 from a previous 30,000.

• Johannesburg mall shooting leaves 12 wounded

  Twelve people were slightly wounded in a shooting at a shopping mall in Alexandra, Johannesburg on Friday, the News24 website said, citing paramedics. Those wounded at the Pan African Mall reportedly include a 4-year-old child. The people were treated at the scene before being taken to various hospitals. The details of the attack were not immediately clear.

• Yemen govt cuts diplomatic relations with Iran – TV

  The Saudi-backed Yemeni government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has decided to sever diplomatic relations with Iran, Reuters said, citing a state-owned Aden television report on Friday. The previous day, Bahrain recalled its ambassador from Iran. The Saudi-led Arab coalition has been fighting the Houthis since March to try and restore Yemen’s government after it was forced into exile.

Biggest NATO military exercise since 2002 ‘involve personnel from 30 states’

NATO is launching its biggest military exercise since 2002 on Saturday, putting 36,000 alliance soldiers through their paces in Italy, Spain and Portugal, AFP reported. “Trident Juncture 2015” runs from Saturday to November 6 and involves personnel from more than 30 countries, according to the NATO Allied Joint Force Command center based in the Dutch city of Brunssum. The maneuvers will also involve Canada, Norway, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, together with operations in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. NATO will demonstrate “new increased level of ambition in joint modern warfare… and capacity to meet present and future security challenges,” the command center said.

Top Iraqi Shiite cleric Sistani calls for global war against ISIS

Iraq’s most powerful Shiite cleric on Friday called for a global war against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL), Reuters said. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani was speaking through an aide after nationally televised Friday prayers.“Battle with Daesh is destined for all Iraqis,” said Sistani, using an Arabic acronym for IS. “It’s not their battle alone but the whole world, because terrorists target with their dark ideology all humanity, its culture and morals,” he was quoted as saying. “It’s essential to join together all efforts and expand the parameters of countering this movement.”Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Thursday the Iraqi government would welcome Russian airstrikes against IS in Iraq, and was receiving information from both Syria and Russia on the group. Abadi told France 24 television he had not yet discussed airstrikes with Russia, adding that “it is a possibility.”

Media agencies