Iran Marks National Army Day with parade

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

• Iran holds nationwide parades to mark the National Army Day. A ceremony was also held in the capital Tehran, demonstrating the military capabilities of Iran’s Armed Forces. President Hassan Rouhani attended the event. The occasion marks the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Army.
• Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has hailed the army's role in defending national sovereignty. He made the remarks during the National Army Day ceremony in Tehran. Rouhani said Iran's armed forces are ready to repel any aggression. He emphasized that Iran's military power is merely for defensive purposes.
• Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh says he won't attend a meeting of oil producers in Qatar over output freeze plans. Zanganeh said Tehran is against the plan because its output is below pre-sanctions levels. He said a production freeze will not allow Iran to benefit from the lifting of sanctions.
• The United Nations says 161 Afghan children have been killed in the first three months of 2016. According to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, child deaths comprise a third of the overall civilian toll. It has warned that continued fighting near schools and residential areas will worsen the situation.
• Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa declares a national emergency after a magnitude seven-point-eight earthquake kills nearly 80 people there. The quake has caused considerable damage in several northwestern cities. It has also caused damage in Ecuador’s northern neighbor Colombia. Its southern neighbor Peru has issued a tsunami alert.
• Japanese rescuers continue their search for those missing in the wake of twin earthquakes in the southern Kyushu region. The quakes have destroyed roads and bridges, blocking access to the area. The tremors have killed over 40 people and injured one thousand others.
• Israel has issued demolition orders for two Palestinian-owned buildings in the Silwan neighborhood of Jerusalem al-Quds. Silwan has witnessed strong Israeli military presence over the past month. Local officials say 18 Palestinian families are currently at risk of displacement due to the recent demolition orders.
• Israel has detained over 40 journalists, including a woman, since tensions began to grow across the Palestinian territories last October. According to the Committee to Support Palestinian Journalists, two of the detainees were foreigners and the rest local Palestinians. The journalists have reported torture and medical negligence during their detention.

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