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Kerry, Hammond discuss support for Ukraine

US Secretary of State John Kerry and British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond on Wednesday discussed ways to continue supporting Ukraine in its struggles with Russia in eastern Ukraine. “We agree on the need for Russia to withdraw its forces immediately from Ukraine, to end its material support for separatists and …

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France condemns attacks against UN troops in Mali

France on Wednesday condemned a fresh attack a day earlier against the UN stabilisation force in Mali in which a Senegalese was killed. Since September, several African volunteer forces in the UN mission have been killed and a number wounded. Soldiers from Chad and Nigeria have been among earlier victims …

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Syria buffer zone not yet to be considered by Pentagon

The idea of a buffer zone along the Syrian border to protect displaced people “is not something that is under consideration right now,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said on Wednesday, while a Pentagon spokesman said the idea was not under active consideration “as a military option.” The remark …

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Egypt, Libya to increase security co-operation

Egypt will train Libyan forces to fight terrorism and help secure a shared border, the prime ministers of the two states announced in Cairo on Wednesday, stepping up efforts against Islamist insurgents in both countries. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has expressed concerns over militants who have capitalised on the …

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Armenian, French FMs discuss Karabakh solution

On October 7 Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with his French counterpart Laurent Fabius. The issue of settlement of the Karabakh issue was on the agenda. Hailing the constructive involvement of France and the other Minsk Group co-chairing countries in the process, Minister Nalbandian emphasized the

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Hundreds killed during Ukraine cease-fire deal

At least 331 deaths have been reported in eastern Ukraine since last month’s ceasefire deal between Russian-backed separatists and government troops, the United Nations said Wednesday. Donetsk airport, the focus of much of the fighting, has no immediate tactical significance for separatist forces devoid of any air power. However, the …

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Syria unveils four chemical facilities

Syria has declared four chemical weapons facilities it hadn’t mentioned before, a special representative of the UN secretary-general has told the Security Council. The news heightened concerns that the Syrian government hasn’t been fully open about its chemical weapons program. Diplomats said Sigrid Kaag told them during closed consultations that …

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NATO chief says the alliance can deploy its forces wherever it wants

New NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said on Sunday that the Western alliance could deploy its forces wherever it wants, apparently calling into question post-Cold War agreements that have been shaken by Russia’s actions in Crimea and Ukraine. Stoltenberg was visiting NATO member Poland to reassure it that NATO would provide the protection it sought against its former communist …

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