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In Central Europe, Biden Can Build on Trump’s Record

Today, the United States’ relations with Central Europe are at an inflection point. Much of the recent media coverage in the region has focused on how Washington’s influence might wane if President Joe Biden picks a fight with the governments of Hungary and Poland, whose leaders had cultivated close ties …

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Crisis-hit Turkey risks disastrous foreign investor flight

Erdogan’s interference with the central bank is badly damaging foreign investor confidence in Turkey, threatening hard-currency crunches that could send the Turkish lira to new lows. The turbulence rattling Turkey’s financial markets since the shocking removal of the central bank governor March 20 has caused significant losses for foreign investors, …

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Exclusive: U.N. team finds Houthis launched Aden airport attack that killed 22 – diplomats

An investigation by a U.N. team of experts found Yemen’s Houthis were responsible for a Dec. 30 attack on Aden airport that killed at least 22 people as members of the country’s internationally recognized government arrived, two diplomats familiar with the matter said on Monday.

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Iraq fortifies Syria border against Islamic State

Iraq is cooperating on border security with Syria, Russia and Iran. Iraq’s Joint Operations Command has secured about 140 kilometers (87 miles) of the border with Syria against Islamic State militants in coordination with Russia, Iran and the Syrian regime. Despite the terror group’s defeat in July 2017, IS continues …

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Egypt to open new naval base, shield itself against Libya

Egypt is close to opening a new naval base on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, near its border with Libya. Egypt prepares to open a naval base on the Mediterranean, near its border with Libya, as the populous country is trying to protect itself against unrest in the neighboring country, assert its …

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Kurdish forces in northeast Syria conduct security raid in al-Hol camp

The United Nations said the operation in al-Hol interfered with humanitarian services, but the US military, which supported the operation, said the disruption was minimal. Violence has increased greatly in the camp this year. Northeast Syrian security forces conducted a security raid on Sunday at the notorious al-Hol camp housing …

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Pro-Iran parties launch smear campaign against Iraq’s intelligence service

A political campaign targeting the Iraqi National Intelligence Service poses new challenges for the state’s key institutions. Iraq’s intelligence service has warned it will prosecute those leveling baseless accusations against it, tarnishing its reputation and questioning the patriotism of its officers and employees.

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Egypt weighs UAE mediation initiative in Nile dam crisis

Sudan approved an initiative by the United Arab Emirates to break the deadlock in the negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, but Egypt has not yet followed suit. A Sudanese delegation headed to Abu Dhabi on Feb. 26 for talks on the border dispute with Ethiopia, as part of …

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US offers up to $10M reward for information on Hezbollah operative

The United States is seeking information on the whereabouts of Salim Jamil Ayyash, who is wanted for the assassination of Lebanon’s former prime minister. The United States is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information on the whereabouts of Salim Jamil Ayyash, a top Hezbollah operative who …

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Afghan President Offers Three-Step Peace Plan

Addressing a conference on Afghanistan, President Ashraf Ghani described a three-step process for “making, building and sustaining peace” that he said should result in a “sovereign, democratic, united, neutral and connected Afghanistan.” The two-day Heart of Asia conference in Tajikistan’s capital, Dushanbe, is one of a host of regional conferences …

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