Turkey's Parliament approved a reconciliation deal with Israel

Israeli and Turkish flags
(Image: RT)

Reuters - ANKARA: Turkey's parliament approved a reconciliation agreement signed with Israel in June which has brought to an end a six-year rift between the two regional powers, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Saturday.

Relations between the two countries crumbled after Israeli marines stormed a Turkish ship in May 2010 to enforce a naval blockade of the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, killing 10 Turks on board.

Belgium: deadly terrorist attack in Brussels left dozens dead, police started a huge manhunt following the attack

People are evacuated from the Brussels airport after the terrorist
attack
(Image: Reuters)

Associated Press - BRUSSELS: The Islamic State group on Tuesday officially claimed responsibility for the attacks in Brussels that left some 35 people dead and threatened further violence.

Belgium launched a huge manhunt Tuesday after a series of bombings claimed by the Islamic State group ripped through Brussels airport and a metro train, killing around 35 people in the latest attack to bring carnage to the heart of Europe.

Two huge blasts, both possibly caused by a suicide bomber, hit the check-in hall at Zaventem Airport, strewing the scene with blood and mangled bodies and sending hundreds of terrified travelers fleeing in terror.

Russia proposes March 1 ceasefire in Syria

Damaged buildings in the streets of Syrian cities
(Image: CBC)

Reuters -MUNICH, WASHINGTON: A Western official said on Wednesday that Russia has made a proposal to begin a ceasefire in Syria on March 1, but the official said no agreement has been reached on the Russian offer.

The official said the United States has concerns about some elements of the Russian proposal.

Envoy: Russia strikes boost ISIS

Earlier, the U.S. envoy to the coalition against ISIS said on Wednesday that Russian airstrikes in Syria are boosting the militant group because of the toll they are taking on U.S.-backed opposition fighters.

The UN announce start of Syria peace talks, as the government forces advance

Syria peace talks in Geneva
(Image: Reuters)

Reuters - GENEVA: The United Nations announced the formal start of peace talks for Syria on Monday and urged world powers to push for a ceasefire even as government forces, backed by Russian air strikes, launched their biggest offensive north of Aleppo in a year.

Government troops and allied fighters captured hilly countryside near Aleppo on Monday, putting a key supply route used by opposition forces into firing range, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group.

At least 32 ISIS fighters killed in strikes in Syrian Raqqa

Airstrikes against ISIS in Syria
(Image: Rush Hour Daily)

Reuters, NBCNews - BEIRUT: At least 32 ISIS fighters were killed and 40 more wounded in Syria's Raqqa province on Sunday, in a series of air strikes believed to be carried out by a U.S.-led coalition targeting the jihadists, a monitoring group said.

More than 15 explosions hit ISIS positions in the countryside of Raqqa province and near its capital, Raqqa city, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Raqqa is ISIS' Syrian stronghold.

German Parliament approves military actions against ISIS in Syria

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and members of German
Parliament cast their votes in favor of military operationin Syria
(Image: Ahrma Online)

German Parliament approved on Friday, 4 December, German military actions against ISIS to be carried out in Syria, following the decision of Great Britain's Parliament to launch airstrikes against ISIS in Syria and the first series of bombings carried out in Thursday, 3 December.

German Parliament agreed to the mandate for deployment of Tornado reconnaissance jets, a frigate and up to 1200 troops. The Parliament supported this decision by an overwhelming majority of 445 voices in favor against 146 voices against.

Hopes for peace in Syria are dim if Assad stays in power, according to Obama

Syria peace talks in Vienna
(Image: NDTV)

AFP,Ahram-Online: Hopes for a quick political transition in war-ravaged Syria dimmed Thursday as embattled President Bashar al-Assad threw cold water on an ambitious timetable agreed at international talks in Vienna.

At the same time, the US held firm to its calls for Assad's departure, with President Barack Obama insisting the war could not end unless the Syrian leader steps down.

"I do not foresee a situation in which we can end the civil war in Syria while Assad remains in power," said Obama.

Syria peace talks in Vienna result in "concrete calendar" leading to elections

Participants of Syrian peace talks happening in Vienna, Austria
(Image: Al-Arabiya)

AFP, Al-Arabiya- VIENNA: World diplomats gathered in Vienna had agreed on a fixed calendar for Syria that would see a transition government in six months and elections in 18 months.

The 17 countries, European Union, United States and Arab League meeting in Vienna agreed agreed on Saturday to accelerate efforts to end the conflict in Syria by launching negotiations between the government and opposition by January and holding elections within 18 months, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said.

France: Multiple terrorist attacks in Paris left scores dead, ISIS claims responsibility

Evacuation of people during the Paris attacks
(Image: Metro UK)

French capital Paris was hit by a wave of coordinated terrorist attacks on Friday, 13 November, leaving at least 132 people dead. This attack is the deadliest terrorist attack in Europe since 2004 train bombings in Madrid.

The attacks happened almost simultaneously at six different locations in the French capital and were well planned and coordinated. A massive explosion went off at the stadium Stade de France in the Northern part of Paris, where the friendly France-Germany football play was happening at the moment. French President Francois Hollande and many French and German officials were present at the game. A suicide bomber reportedly blew himself off at one of the gates of the Stadium. The number of people killed at this attack is still not mentioned by the French police. French President was immediately evacuated from the Stadium and headed for the emergency meeting with his Cabinet in order to deal with this situation. People were safely evacuated from the stadium a couple of hours later.

Turkey: Recently held parliamentary election shows victory of the ruling AK Party

Turkish citizens celebrating the outcome of the election
(Image: Reuters Blog)

Reuters - ANKARA: Turkey's Islamist-rooted AK Party swept to an unexpected victory in elections on Sunday, returning the country to single-party rule in an outcome that will boost the power of President Tayyip Erdogan but may sharpen deep social divisions.

With almost all ballots counted, the AKP had taken just shy of 50 percent of the votes, comfortably enough to control a majority in the 550-seat parliament and a far higher margin of victory than even party insiders had expected.

Malaysian Airlines MH17 flight was shot down by a Russian-made Buk-missile, according to the Dutch report

MH17 crash site in Eastern Ukraine, Donetsk region
(Image: Euronews)

Gilze-Rijen, Netherlands - REUTERS: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine by a Russian-made Buk missile, the Dutch Safety Board concluded on Tuesday in its final report on the crash in July 2014 that killed all 298 people on board, most of them Dutch.

But the long-awaited findings of the board, which was not empowered to address questions of responsibility, did not point the finger at any group or party for launching the missile.

Iran and world powers reach a historic nuclear agreement in Vienna

Iranians celebrate historic nuclear deal
(Image: Independent)

Islamic Republic of Iran and six world’s major powers of the P5+1 group including US, Russia, United Kingdom of Great Britain, France, Germany and China have reached a historic agreement on Tuesday, 14 July, in Vienna, after the decades-long nuclear negotiations. This agreement has a great significance and could potentially change and reshape the world and the Middle East region. United Arab Emirates officials, for example, welcomed the deal and stated that it will definitely turn a “new page” for the Gulf region.

Under the Vienna Accord signed by Iran and six world’s major powers Iran will curb on its nuclear program, while the sanctions imposed against Iran by US, UN and EU since decades will be lifted.

France security forces on high alert after the terrorist attack at the chemical factory

French police and security forces at the scene of an attack
(Image: RTE News)

A daily-light terrorist attack of a chemical plant, located 40 km from the city of Lyon, France, was carried out on Friday, 26 June, at about 10 a.m. local time.

A vehicle on a high speed has crashed the gates of the chemical depot in the morning, causing an explosion. In addition to that an assailant has reportedly planted some small explosive devices inside of the factory as well.

A severed head was also found thrown in front of the gates of the factory. Two flags, white and black, bearing Arabic inscriptions, were reportedly found next to the head. It is currently unclear whether the beheading occurred at the territory of the factory or the body and head were brought there by an assailant, stated the police.

Greek Summit: EU welcomes with caution reforms proposed by Greece

EU and Greek flags
(Image: Consillium Europe)

Emergency summit of EU countries regarding the Greek crisis was held in Brussels on Monday, 22 June, as the Eurozone leaders and Greece’s creditors arrived to this meeting with cautious optimism and hopes of an agreement with the Greek government.

Greek government presented during the Summit the new plan of economic and financial reforms to be implemented in the country in order to prolong financial help of EU creditors. The reforms’ plans include higher taxes, abolition of the preferential VAT treatment for Greek Islands, increase in taxes on corporate profits that are above 500 Million Euros and rising of retirement age up to 67 years and curbing early retirement in the country.

Ukraine joins NATO military training

Ukrainian and NATO flags
(Image: Info-News)

Ukrainian government has officially declared on Saturday, 20 June, that Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel are expected to join NATO military trainings, scheduled to be held in June and July this year. Part of these trainings will be held in Romania, while another part of the trainings will be held in Ukraine.

NATO military trainings Saber Guardian/Rapid Trident 15 start on Sunday, 21 June, in Romania. EU, US and Ukrainian soldiers and security personnel will participate in these trainings. According to the information of the US Defense Ministry, some training will be organized on Ukrainian territory.

Eastern Ukraine: situation remains extremely tense after terrorist attack of the bus and fierce battles in Donetsk airport

Control Tower of Donetsk airport
(Image: Maidan UA)

Situation on the Eastern front in Donetsk region remains extremely tense and deteriorated significantly after massive attacks of pro-Russian rebels and Russian military occurred during the recent days.

Despite the attempts of Ukrainian soldiers to keep the terms of the Minsk agreement signed between Ukraine and the separatist fighters on 5 September 2013, pro-Russian terrorists and Russian fighters continue to violate these terms systematically, opening fire on the positions of Ukrainian soldiers and attacking civilians in the cities and villages located in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Norway stated it stops political cooperation with Russia due to escalation in Ukraine

Erna Solberg, Norwegian Prime Minister
(Image: Wikipedia)

Norway’s government has officially declared on Sunday, 23 November, that it stops political cooperation with Russian Federation, according to the statement of Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg. She stated it in her interview made for Ukrainian newspaper “Dzerkalo Tyzhnya” (“Weekly Mirror”). In addition to that Norway also recalls all its military experts working in the field of strengthening of trust between the two countries and stops also all the joint trainings and maneuvers with Russian military.

“It is connected to the current situation in Ukraine,” Mrs. Solberg declared.

According to Norwegian Prime Minister, Oslo and Moscow still keep contacts in the sphere of the marine transportation and fishing, as these relations and this cooperation is a common practice, and Norwegian government doesn’t see it necessary to cut these relations.

US consider it being strange that Ukraine still didn’t impose sanctions against Russia

US Ambassador in Ukraine
Geoffrey R. Pyatt
(Image: Wikipedia)

US, one of the main Ukrainian supporters and allies since the Euromaidan protests and the beginning of Russian aggression on Ukrainian territory, are surprised over Ukrainian stance on the relations with Russia and consider it being really strange that Ukrainian government still didn’t take a decision to impose sanctions against Russian Federation, while EU, US, Canada, Australia, Japan and other countries did it.

This position was expressed recently by US Ambassador in Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt during his interview for Focus.

“It is crucially important that the decisions of Ukrainian government in the sphere of economic and trade didn’t affect negatively that influence and impact that EU and US sanctions against Russia could have. The current situation, when Ukrainian companies continue to cooperate with Russia and to receive commercial benefits from it, while the Western companies supporting Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity experience losses, is wrong,” Mr. Pyatt said in an interview.

International observers: Ukrainian parliamentary elections were held without serious violations

Ukrainian parliamentary elections, counting the votes
(Image: Reuters)

Canadian, US, EU and OSCE mission observing early parliamentary elections held in Ukraine on Sunday, 26 October, stated that the voting process was clear, legal and transparent, and there were no serious violations during the elections. Thus, Canadian observing mission CANEOM estimated recently held elections as elections totally reflecting democratic will and political aspirations of Ukrainian people.

Similar estimations were also given by the representatives of other international observing missions. In addition to that these elections were held in accordance with Ukrainian Constitution and electoral law and with the international norms and standards.

Ukrainian-Russian talks in Milan didn’t bring any significant results, as the situation in Eastern Ukraine remains tense

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Russian President Vladimir
Putin and EU leaders during the Milan talks
(Image: Kyiv Post)

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin met during the Milan Summit for the talks regarding Ukrainian crisis and the gas issue. The meeting was held within the framework of the ASEM Summit held on 17-18 October in Milan, Italy, and was attended by the prominent leaders of the EU countries, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini, British Prime Minister David Cameron and EU heads, President of European Council Herman van Rompuy and Head of European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso.