Eurasia News

US rejects claims that it is coordinating airstrikes in Syria with Assad

The United States on Feb. 10 denied that it was coordinating air strikes either directly or indirectly with the Syrian regime against Islamic militants and renewed calls for President Bashar al-Assad to go. In an interview with the BBC, Assad said Damascus was being informed about the US-led coalition air …

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UK, France also close their Yemen embassies

THE United States, Britain and France said yesterday they were closing their embassies in Yemen amid the turmoil in the wake of the Shiite rebels’ takeover of the country. The closures, which came as Yemen marked four years since the start of its own uprising that eventually ousted its longtime …

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Chinese President to meet Obama in September

U.S. President Barack Obama called for “swift work” by Beijing to narrow their differences on cyber issues, the White House said, as the two sides start planning for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington in September. The world’s two biggest economies have been trying to ease tensions amid mutual …

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Niger army battles Boko Haram

Over 500 Boko Haram fighters have been killed by Niger’s defence forces supported by Chadian troops between last Friday and Tuesday, eyewitnesses have said. The eyewitnesses and workers of humanitarian agencies said over 200 decomposing bodies of Boko Haram militants were seen strewn all over near Kamadougou river which marks …

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US closes its Yemen embassy over violence escalation

The State Department has confirmed that it has closed the US Embassy in Yemen and evacuated its staff because of the political crisis and security concerns following the takeover of much of the country by Shiite rebels. The department announced it had suspended operations at the embassy in Sanaa and …

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Niger to send 750 soldiers to Nigeria to fight Boko Haram

Niger’s parliament has voted unanimously to send troops to Nigeria to join a regional fight against Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, lawmakers said. “The resolution was passed unanimously. All 102 lawmakers present voted favourably,” lawmaker Mohamed Ben Omar said yesterday. Another member of parliament said the resolution authorises the country …

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Obama not yet decided on arms aid for Ukraine

US President Barack Obama said Monday no decision had been made on whether to send weapons to Ukraine to help Kiev battle pro-Russian separatists, as he warned the West would not allow Russia to redraw Europe’s borders by force. Obama, who has faced increasing calls from domestic critics to supply …

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Malian government will hold meeting in Bamako on Algiers draft peace agreement

The Malian government will hold an information and consultation meeting on Saturday in Bamako with the living forces of the nation on the “Draft agreement for peace and national reconciliation in Mali” in view of the resumption of inter-Malian inclusive dialogue in Algiers in February, a Malian official source said …

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UN special envoy visits Syria for peace discussions

UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura arrived in Syria from Beirut on Monday for talks with officials in Damascus to follow up on efforts at ending the four-year conflict, official media reports said. De Mistura has been trying to facilitate local ceasefires in different areas of Syria since …

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EU delays sanctions on Russia awaiting Minsk negotiations

Efforts to set up Ukraine peace talks this week remain on track, despite US scepticism over whether a deal can be reached. President Barack Obama has refused to rule out sending arms to Ukraine, but has indicated he is willing to see if German-led efforts to broker a ceasefire succeed …

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