Eurasia

Russian President Vladimir Putin has supported the Egyptian army chief’s bid for president even as the two countries agreed to rebuild defence and economic ties. Putin wished Field Marshal Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi victory in Egypt’s presidential elections later this year.

Visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davotuglu on Wednesday urged Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to carry out reforms as soon as possible amid social unrest.

The Afghan and Pakistani leaders are expected to discuss security in Afghanistan after the NATO troop pullout and efforts to negotiate with the Taliban when they meet in Turkey on Thursday.

A humanitarian ceasefire in the Syrian city of Homs was extended on Thursday for three more days, Talal al-Barazi, the city’s governor said. 

European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fule has presented a plan to resolve the ongoing political crisis in Ukraine.

At least 51 people, including 13 rebels, died in a single day of Syrian government airstrikes and shelling of opposition-controlled districts of Aleppo, activists said Thursday as international mediators were trying to salvage faltering

Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dačić and Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci will on Wednesday in Brussels hold another round of the Kosovo dialogue. As on previous occasions the talks will be facilitated by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif left for Ankara on Wednesday on a three-day visit to Turkey to attend Turkey-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Summit, officials said. The trilateral process, an important platform for high-level dialogue, security cooperation, and economic development partnership, was launched in 2007.

Turkey will continue to support Bosnia and Herzegovina, said Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, on Wednesday in a visit to the capital Sarajevo which has witnessed scenes of mass unrest since Friday. “Turkey is and will be on the side of our Bosnian brothers anytime for its stability, peace, political and territorial integrity,” said Davutoglu. “We came here …

US President Barack Obama met Tuesday at the White House with French President Francois Hollande during which they discussed several regional issues, including Syria and Iran. During a joint press conference, Obama praised France for its “determination to meet its responsibilities as a global leader,” saying “from Mali and the …