Russian warships are reportedly planning to conduct rocket tests off the Libyan coast later this month. Russia is a supporter of the eastern government and its forces of Dignity Operation, led by Khalifa Haftar, who visited Moscow and was even given a tour on a Russian aircraft carrier earlier this year, when he allegedly made a deal for arms supply by the Russians. Source Libya Observer
France is to nationalise its biggest shipyard at St-Nazaire rather than allow it to pass into Italian ownership, its economy minister has announced. The nationalisation, which was confirmed on Thursday afternoon, will mark President Emmanuel Macron’s first major industrial policy intervention, and appears a far cry from the former banker’s usual philosophy. Source The Guardian
Russia ordered the U.S. to slash hundreds of embassy and other personnel in the country in a dramatic and sweeping retaliation to the passage of a new sanctions bill in the U.S. Congress. Source: Bloomberg
Japan will impose additional sanctions on North Korea for its weapons programs, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said on Friday, just hours after the U.S. Senate also voted for new sanctions on the secretive state. Source: Yahoo!News
