Geo Politics

Libya: Flights to and out of Misrata airport to resume on Monday

Flights to and out of Misrata Airport are due to resume on Monday, May 21. All air traffic in the airport was closed for five consecutive days and all flights were…

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Erdogan seeks support in his Presidential election bid in Sarajevo

Euronews and Al Jazeera report that Turkey's President Erdogan held a rally in Sarajevo ahead of next month's election in his country. On his arrival, he was greeted by the…

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France proposes 2018 elections plan to end Libya political stalemate

France has proposed an initiative to end Libya’s political impasse by holding parliamentary and presidential elections by the end of 2018 as per a United National timeline. “Political solution plus a…

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USA takes a step back from trade dispute with China

The Financial Times report that the USA has stepped back from the brink of a trade war with China after Washington halted plans to impose tariffs on up to $150bn…

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China carries training exercises on islands in the disputed South China Sea

China’s air force has landed several bombers of various types, on islands and reefs in the South China Sea as part of a training exercise in the disputed region, it said in…

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Ceasefire in Southern Damascus, Syria

The Middle East Eye reports that pro-government forces and the Islamic State (IS) group observed a brief ceasefire in southern Damascus on Saturday. The report, quotes the Britain-based Syrian Observatory…

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“Love is the way”

Love has the power to heal the world, the congregation at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has heard. In a powerful address Bishop Michael Curry chose a…

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Obituary – Former Maltese Ambassador Dr. Joseph Cassar passes away

Seasoned Maltese diplomat Dr. Joseph Cassar passed away. Born in 1947, Dr Cassar served as Malta's Ambassador to Portugal, Libya, the Russian Federation and Italy. He served as, Malta's permanent…

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Japan notifies WTO that it is reserving right to impose tariffs against the USA

On Friday, Japan notified the World Trade Organization that it was reserving the right to impose retaliatory tariffs against the United States in response to tariffs on steel and aluminum…

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Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin meet

Germany has a strategic interest in good relations with Russia. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said this following meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meetings focused on Syria, the conflict…

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Salisbury poisoned agent leaves hospital

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, whose poisoning with a nerve agent in the UK triggered a diplomatic crisis with Russia, has been discharged from a British hospital. The 66-year-old, a former colonel in Russia's…

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Erdogan : Muslim leaders should unite and confront Israel

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on Muslim leaders to unite and confront Israel. Speaking at an extraordinary summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Friday, Erdogan said Israel…

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Belgium: Two-year-old girl died after being shot during a police chase for a van with Kurds

A two-year-old girl died on Thursday after being shot in the face by a bullet near Namur, Belgium. The incident happened during a police chase on the highway to a…

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Explosions in Syria kill at least 11

Massive explosions rocked the Hama military air base in western Syrian early on Friday afternoon, killing at least 11 pro-Assad regime fighters, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human…

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Trump: US – North Korea summit still on the cards. No threat for Kim Jong-un, but only if he agrees to deal

US President Donald Trump said that the US and North Korean officials are continuing to prepare for a scheduled diplomatic summit next month, even as Pyongyang threatened in recent days…

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UN rights council approves probe into Israeli response to Gaza clashes

The United Nations Human Rights Council approves a commission of inquiry to investigate Israel’s handling of clashes on the Gaza border and alleged human rights violations in the Strip, West…

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Corporate Dispatch – Morning Briefing

Good morning, Here is your morning update, just in case you missed something. Russian President met Syrian counterpart to discuss next steps in the political process in Syria. Gina Haspel…

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USA, Gulf States impose new sanctions against Hezbollah leaders

The United States, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates started to impose further sanctions on Hezbollah leaders, proclaiming the Iran-backed Lebanese group a terrorist organisation and…

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Kuwait’s attempt to resolve Qatar crisis failed

After a year of playing mediator, Kuwait's latest attempt to resolve the Qatar crisis has failed, diplomatic sources told Kuwait's Al-Rai newspaper. Earlier this week, the emir of Kuwait sent five letters…

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Egypt to open Rafah border for Muslim holy month of Ramadan

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Thursday opened the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, according to his official Twitter account.…

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Vladimir Putin meets Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad on Thursday and said their "military success" in Syria allowed for a large-scale "political process" leading to the withdrawal of foreign…

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Paraguay to move its Israeli embassy to Jerusalem

Paraguay's government says President Horacio Cartes will open the country's new embassy to Israel in Jerusalem on Tuesday, following similar steps by the United States and Guatemala. The decision to…

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Arab League calls for an international probe into the violence in Gaza

Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit called for an international probe into alleged "crimes" committed by Israeli security forces against Arab rioters and terrorists during mass infiltration attempts along the…

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EU committed to Iranian nuclear deal; wants the US to exempt the bloc from steel tariffs

The EU remains firmly committed to the Iranian nuclear deal, and it wants the US to permanently exempt the bloc from steel tariffs. Donald Tusk, the European Council president said…

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Insight: Oppressed people are killed twice, first by the bullet, next by the language – Moustafa Bayoumi

It is the peculiar fate of oppressed people everywhere that when they are killed, they are killed twice: first by bullet or bomb, and next by the language used to…

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EU proposes upgrade for Visa Information System

The European Commission proposed to upgrade the Visa Information System (VIS), the database containing information on persons applying for Schengen visas, in order to better respond to evolving security and…

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European Agenda on Migration: Still fragile situation gives no cause for complacency

While joint EU efforts have continued to show results, the situation remains fragile due to ongoing migratory pressure, as evidenced by newly increased arrivals along the Eastern and the Western…

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Land and air military operations in Derna, Libya

Forces loyal to Libyan military leader Khalifa Haftar have launched fresh land and air operations against besieged Derna, one of the last eastern cities still outside of his control whose…

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TOTAL warns that it will stop its operations in Iran

French company TOTAL announced that in view of the sanctions Total will not be able to operate its project SP 11, unless it will get special waivers. The company said…

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House of Lords deliver another defeat for May over Brexit

The House of Lords have inflicted a 15th defeat on the government’s key Brexit bill, underlining the acute political challenge Theresa May faces in seeking a deal that both parliament and her…

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Fifty of the Palestinians killed were Hamas members

The Jerusalem Post reports that fifty of the Palestinians killed in the past days on the border region between the Gaza Strip and Israel were Hamas members, Hamas Politburo member…

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The clash of the Donalds – With friends like this, who needs enemies? Donald Tusk on Donald Trump

“Looking at the latest decisions of Trump, someone could even think: With friends like that, who needs enemies?” Donald Tusk, President of the European Council didn't leave much to anyone's imagination to…

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Iceland first country having a petition to boycott next year’s Eurovision

More than 18,000 people have signed a petition calling for Iceland to boycott next year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Israel, citing human rights violations against Palestinian people, Euronews reports. The…

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USA still hopeful about planned summit with North Korean leader

The United States is still hopeful about a planned summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un but President Donald Trump is prepared for a tough negotiation process, White House…

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Scotland rejects EU withdrawal bill

The Scottish parliament has voted against backing Theresa May’s key piece of Brexit legislation, paving the way for a constitutional crisis. Politicians at Holyrood refused to grant consent to the EU…

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Juncker to meet Polish Prime Minister amid rule-of-law dispute between Poland and the EU

Poland’s prime minister and the European Commission chief will meet for talks on Wednesday amid a protracted rule-of-law dispute between Warsaw and Brussels, according to reports. Radio Poland, reports that the…

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There is a limit in showing goodwill and offering opportunity – North Korea

North Korea, through the country's official news agency, didn't mince words and expressed its dismay and anger at the joint drills taken by South Korea and the US, which for…

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Turkey and Israel expel respective ambassadors; Belgium and Ireland summon Israeli ambassadors over Gaza violence

The Haertz reports that "Israel expelled the Turkish consul in Jerusalem hours after the Israeli ambassador to Turkey was expelled on Tuesday. Israel's official statement to Turkey on the expulsion…

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North Korea cancels meeting with South Korea and threatens to cancel summit with the USA

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency says North Korea is canceling a high-level meeting between the two countries and is threatening also to cancel a summit with the United States due…

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‘Constructive meeting’ between Iran and and the EU

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has hailed as "very good and constructive" the meeting he had in Brussels with the European Union's foreign-policy chief, Federica Mogherini. Zarif was in…

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Ukraine expresses its anger as Putin inaugurates bridge to the Crimean Peninsula.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has opened the country's newly built bridge to the annexed Crimean Peninsula, driving a truck across the span and drawing angry condemnation from Kyiv and the…

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Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini on violence in Gaza and latest developments

Dozens of Palestinians, including children, have been killed and hundreds injured from Israeli fire today, during ongoing mass protests near the Gaza fence. We expect all to act with utmost…

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Eight month baby, eight children under age of 16, amongst the 59 killed in Gaza

Palestinians held funerals for 59 killed by Israeli forces in the violence which erupted yesterday in the Gaza neighbourhood. Today coincides with the day Palestinians mark the “Nakba”, or catastrophe,…

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Editor Perspectives – Tuesday 15th May 2018

The Times’ editorial focuses on how Enemalta’s latest controversy following the publication of a leaked report that shows that, were Enemalta not obliged to buy gas from Electrogas, the economic…

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DFB reprimands football players, Mesut Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan for meeting Erdogan

Germany players Mesut Özil and Ilkay Gündogan have been criticized for meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Both are of Turkish heritage, but chose to represent Germany in international…

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Tunisia’s largest trade union considers preventing American ships from entering the country’s ports over US embassy move to Jerusalem

Tunisia's largest trade union is considering preventing the unloading and launching of American ships in the country's ports in response to the US decision to transfer its Israeli embassy to…

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The world reacts after 60 Palestinians killed and over 2,700 injured in Gaza – Updated

Updated: Egypt issued a rare condemnation Monday of Israel’s deadly response to clashes along the border with the Gaza Strip, while Turkey said the United States also bore responsibility for…

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Iraq elections – Muqtada al-Sard’s coalition comes first

The release final results of Iraq's parliamentary vote indicate that Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr's Sairoon coalition (the Alliance of Revolutionaries for Reform) is leading in the polls. Coming in second…

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“We will build a Catalan republic” – Catalonia Leader

Newly appointed regional president Quim Torra declared that the vision for an independent Catalonia is still alive. A close ally of exiled leader Carles Puigdemont, 55-year old lawyer Torra vowed…

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Potential motive for Salisbury poisioning

Attack victim Sergei Skripal gave briefings to European intelligence in the past years, reports say. The former Russian spy who moved to Britain was targeted by a nerve agent and…

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Amnesty International condemns what appears to be ‘wilful killings constituting war crimes’ by Israel

Responding to reports that dozens of Palestinians have been killed and hundreds injured by the Israeli military during protests along the fence that separates Gaza and Israel today, Philip Luther,…

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Updated – Reactions to violence and deaths at the Gaza Border

Saudi Arabia condemned Israel over the deaths of 52 Palestinians during violent clashes at the Gaza border. A foreign ministry spokesperson said, “Saudi Arabia strongly condemns the Israeli occupation forces’…

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United Nations profoundly alarmed by the violence in Gaza

The Secretary-General is profoundly alarmed by the sharp escalation of violence in the occupied Palestinian territory and the high number of Palestinians killed and injured in the Gaza protests.Israel security…

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Developing Story – 52 dead, 2,400 wounded in Gaza as Israeli troops fired bullets at residents rallying against opening of the US embassy in Jerusalemi

Violent clashes erupted along the Gaza Strip's border hours ahead of the controversial opening of the USA embassy in Jerusalem on Monday, leaving 52 dead and 2,400 more wounded. Earlier:…

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Insight – Effects of US sanctions not limited to higher oil prices but could spill over into global trade jitters (Diplomatique.Expert)

Although the immediate response to Tuesday’s announcement of the US withdrawal from Iran’s nuclear deal was a jump in oil prices, most analysts seem to agree that the largest economic…

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Al-Qaeda Chief Zawahiri Calls for ‘Jihad’ as US Shifts Embassy to Jerusalem Today.

Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri on Sunday urged Muslims to carry out jihad against the United States as it prepares to move its embassy to Jerusalem, AFP reported. In a five-minute video entitled "Tel Aviv…

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Iran Nuclear Deal – US doesn’t exclude sanctions on European companies that do business with Iran

The US administration is prepared to impose sanctions on European companies that do business in Iran following his withdrawal of the US from the international nuclear deal. Trump’s most senior foreign policy aides…

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