World News Roundup: NATO chief: Expect deal on helping Ukraine reach alliance standards; Germany's Scholz: Some nations see Western double standards on Russia and more

"I expect that we will agree a multi-year program, where we will work on how to help Ukraine transition from Soviet-era standards, doctrines and equipment to NATO standards and doctrines and equipment, and become fully interoperable with NATO," Stoltenberg told the Copenhagen Democracy Summit via video link. Germany's Scholz: Some nations see Western double standards on Russia Influential countries such as India, Vietnam and South Africa balk at criticizing Russia's invasion of Ukraine because they believe international principles are not applied equally, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a speech on Monday.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

NATO chief: Expect deal on helping Ukraine reach alliance standards

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday he expects allies to agree on a multi-year programme to help Ukraine advance towards NATO military standards at a July summit in Vilnius. "I expect that we will agree a multi-year program, where we will work on how to help Ukraine transition from Soviet-era standards, doctrines and equipment to NATO standards and doctrines and equipment, and become fully interoperable with NATO," Stoltenberg told the Copenhagen Democracy Summit via video link.

Germany's Scholz: Some nations see Western double standards on Russia

Influential countries such as India, Vietnam and South Africa balk at criticizing Russia's invasion of Ukraine because they believe international principles are not applied equally, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a speech on Monday. "When I talk to leaders from those countries, many assure me that they are not questioning the underlying principles of our international order. What they are struggling with is the unequal application of those principles," he said.

Baghdad gets make-over as repairs kindle guarded optimism

Living in Baghdad's sprawling Sadr City suburb for the past 15 years, Khodr Abbas, 73, had to walk along a mud and dirt track to get to his home, where he would struggle to get fresh water to flow and waste-water to flush through rickety pipes. That finally changed last month.

Turkish opposition supporters voice dismay over presidential vote

Opposition voters expressed dismay and disbelief on Monday after Tayyip Erdogan took a solid lead in the first round of Turkey's election, while the president's overjoyed supporters expressed confidence that he would prevail in the May 28 runoff.

"Until now I have witnessed many elections. My 14-year-old daughter who waited up all night for the election results went to bed disappointed. They have left me devastated this time," said 55-year-old Menser Ozakdag, a taxi driver.

U.S. imposes election-related visa restrictions on Nigerians

The United States has imposed entry restrictions on more Nigerians for undermining the democratic process during the African nation's 2023 election cycle, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday. "These individuals have been involved in intimidation of voters through threats and physical violence, the manipulation of vote results, and other activity that undermines Nigeria's democratic process," Blinken said in a statement.

Thai opposition parties agree to coalation after election success

Thailand's two main opposition parties agreed on Monday to form a ruling coalition after they trounced in a weekend election military-backed rivals that have controlled government for nearly a decade. The Move Forward party and opposition heavyweight Pheu Thai dominated Sunday's ballot in a stunning rout of army-backed parties, but they could face challenges in mustering enough support, with parliamentary rules drafted by the military after a 2014 coup skewed in favour of its allies.

Xi: Strong China-Eritrea ties part of keeping peace in Horn of Africa

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday strong China-Eritrea relations were key to bolstering peace in the Horn of Africa region and pursuing mutually beneficial development, speaking at a meeting in Beijing with his Eritrean counterpart. Eritrea has strategic importance for China given its location on the Red Sea, one of the world's key shipping corridors with access to both to the Suez Canal and Europe to the north and the Indian Ocean to the southeast.

Analysis-Turkey's Erdogan cruising, challenger scrambling toward runoff election

President Tayyip Erdogan will appeal to a "kingmaker" third candidate as he manoeuvres to seal victory in Turkey's runoff election, after the initial vote dashed his challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu's hopes of a swift win. Erdogan's strong performance on Sunday gave him 49.4% of the vote, well ahead of Kilicdaroglu on 45% and just shy of the 50% threshold for outright victory, shattering opinion polls that had suggested his 20-year reign was about to end.

Air strikes pound Sudan's capital as conflict enters second month

The Sudanese army carried out air strikes in the north of the capital Khartoum on Monday, attacking its paramilitary rivals around a hospital that witnesses said was damaged in the bombardment. Intense battles in Khartoum and its sister cities of Bahri and Omdurman have raged despite Saudi and U.S.-brokered talks between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Jeddah aimed at securing humanitarian access and a ceasefire.

Over 40% of Italy's LGBT+ workers say careers hit by discrimination

Four out of 10 LGBT+ people in Italy believe discrimination has damaged them at work, a survey by national statistics bureau ISTAT and state anti-discrimination office UNAR showed on Monday. Among those surveyed, 41.4% said that being homosexual or bisexual had been a disadvantage for their career, professional recognition or salary, especially among payroll workers in the private sector.