Eurasia

Syrian official says peace talks could take place in November

Syria’s deputy prime minister says peace talks could take place in late November, saying it is the only way to resolve the conflict in his country. International peace talks on the Syria conflict could take place next month, a top Syrian official says, claiming the long-awaited conference was closer than …

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Group of Syrian opposition soldiers surrender to Turkish authorities

Soldiers with the Northern Hurricane Brigade armed group, which is fighting on the side of the Syrian opposition, surrendered to the Turkish authorities. According to data of the local media, 85 people have surrendered to a police station close to the border after Turkey opened fire at the Syrian territory. …

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Turkey fires back to al-Qaeda-affiliated fighters on Syrian border

The Turkish military said on Wednesday that it returned fire from fighters from Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) that is linked to al-Qaeda on the Syrian side of the border in the Kilis province. The General Staff said in a statement posted on its website that troops fired …

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Pakistan accuses India for tensions across border

Pakistan accused India of killing a paramilitary soldier in “unprovoked firing” across the border in eastern Punjab province Thursday in the latest frontier flare-up between the nuclear-armed neighbours. A spate of cross-border skirmishes this year have raised tensions between India and Pakistan, who have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947.

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Bulgaria to build border fence for easing Syrian influx

Bulgaria said Wednesday it plans to build a fence on its southeastern border with Turkey to limit the number of illegal Syrian immigrants entering the country and creating a refugee crisis. Deputy Interior Minister Vasil Marinov said the ministry had proposed building a 30 kilometre (19 mile) long, three metre …

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EC open to continue accession talks with Turkey

The European Commission has called on the bloc’s governments to reopen stalled membership talks with Turkey despite this year’s crackdown on protesters. The Commission’s annual report has criticized the Turkish government for its “uncompromising stance in the face of dissent” and use of “excessive force” by police

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Egyptian FM says relations with US are in ‘turmoil’

Relations between the United States and Egypt are in deep-seated turmoil which could hurt the entire Middle East, the Egyptian foreign minister said in remarks published on Wednesday. Nabil Fahmy told the state-run Al Ahram newspaper the extension of the period of instability in ties would “reflect negatively on the entire region, …

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EC to present annual progress reports on Serbia and other EU aspirants

The European Commission (EC) will officially present the annual reports “on progress of Serbia and other EU aspirants, Kosovo included. Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport will deliver the text of the report on Serbia’s progress to Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic, and afterwards EU

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