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 …
Read More »Egypt FM expresses demn concern over Yemen situation
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry has expressed deep concern on the Houthi takeover in Yemen. However, in an official statement, ministry spokesperson Badr Abdelatty called on respecting the Yemenis’ will in achieving their legal democratic aspirations. He added there should a political resolution instead of escalating the violence, to respect the National …
Read More »Egypt condemns Boko Haram killings in Central African countries
Egypt has condemned the latest “heinous act” committed by Boko Haram in Cameroon and Niger, which left over 100 dead, according to a statement Saturday by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. The ministry spokesman stressed Egypt’s stance in solidarity with Niger and Cameroon in their fight against terrorism. Islamist Boko Haram …
Read More »Merkel says Ukraine peace plan is uncertain, but worth trying
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the latest Franco-German initiative to end the deadly conflict in eastern Ukraine “remains uncertain” but was “worth trying” given the ongoing bloodshed. “I believe we owe this, above all, to the people of Ukraine affected by the conflict,” she told the 51st Munich Security …
Read More »Nigeria presidential elections delayed over security situation
Nigeria’s electoral commission has postponed the Feb 14 presidential election by six weeks over concerns about the security situation in the country, a media report said Sunday. Commission chief Attahiru Jega said he has been informed that the troops would not be available to help patrol the ballot because they …
Read More »Kerry, Lavrov to discuss Ukraine at Munich Security Conference
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov plan to meet Saturday to discuss the escalating Ukraine conflict at this year’s Munich Security Conference in Germany. The U.S. has accused Russia of directly intervening on behalf of pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine. The meeting comes at a …
Read More »Merkel, Hollande, Putin to discuss Ukraine
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande head to Moscow on Friday to secure President Vladimir Putin´s support for a peace plan to end surging separatist violence in the east. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said talks with Merkel and Hollande late Thursday raised “hope for a ceasefire” after …
Read More »New Tunisian President vows for country's reconciliation
Tunisia’s new president pledged a rule of reconciliation and consensus as he took his oath Wednesday before the newly elected parliament to complete the country’s democratic transition. The inauguration of Beji Caid Essebsi, an 88-year-old political veteran, comes in a year in which Tunisians wrote a new constitution and elected …
Read More »Heavy clashes in Benghazi as army tries to take control of port
Seven soldiers have been killed as clashes erupted in the centre of Libya’s main eastern city Benghazi on Thursday, with pro-government forces pushing to take the port district from Islamist militants. The fighting mirrors a wider struggle in the oil-producing North African state where two governments and parliaments, allied to …
Read More »EU pledges financial aid for Syria, Iraq to fight IS
The European Union has pledged one billion euros in funding for the crises in Syria and Iraq and the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the bloc’s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has said. “This package will strengthen our actions to help restore peace and …
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