Ukraine should use Russian frozen assets for domestic weapons production, Zelenskiy says

Ukraine should use Russian frozen assets for domestic weapons production, Zelenskiy says

Reuters. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday (October 23) that Ukraine should be able to use Russia’s frozen assets for domestic weapons production and to purchase European and U.S. weapons.   The president’s comments came as European Union leaders gathered at a summit in Brussels are set to agree in principle to finance Ukraine…

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Azerbaijan lifts all restrictions on transit of goods to Armenia, Aliyev

Azerbaijan lifts all restrictions on transit of goods to Armenia, Aliyev

“Azerbaijan has lifted all restrictions on the transit of existing goods to Armenia,” Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said in a joint press statement with Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana, APA reports.   According to Aliyev, the first such transit shipment was the transportation of Kazakh grain to Armenia.    Aliyev also said a new…

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Georgian Foreign Ministry expresses concern over Elina Valtonen’s visit, issues protest note to OSCE Secretariat

Georgian Foreign Ministry expresses concern over Elina Valtonen’s visit, issues protest note to OSCE Secretariat

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia (MFA) expresses concern regarding the visit to Georgia by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Finland, Elina Valtonen, in her capacity as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Georgian Public Broadcaster reports. The Ministry addresses the OSCE Secretariat and participating states with a protest note, the Foreign Ministry told…

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Military appears on stage as Madagascar protesters demand Rajoelina’s resignation

Military appears on stage as Madagascar protesters demand Rajoelina’s resignation

Reuters. Military police officers appeared on stage outside Antananarivo’s city hall on Tuesday (October 14), as youth-led protests against President Andry Rajoelina continued to swell. One officer stood guard inside a military vehicle, rifle in hand, while others drove through crowds of demonstrators gathered in the square.   Their presence, and public remarks, have fuelled…

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Azerbaijan, Russia and Iran discussed development of North-South international transport corridor

Azerbaijan, Russia and Iran discussed development of North-South international transport corridor

On October 13, Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev met with Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Farzaneh Sadegh, Azerbaijani media reports.   The meeting highlighted mutual satisfaction with the comprehensive development of Azerbaijan–Iran relations.   The sides exchanged views on key issues of mutually beneficial cooperation, particularly in the areas of transport…

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French PM Lecornu names new government before looming budget deadline

French PM Lecornu names new government before looming budget deadline

France’s newly re-appointed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu named a new government Sunday, as he faces pressure to urgently produce a budget and quell political turmoil that is scaring businesses and staining the country’s image, France 24 reports.   The Cabinet includes several members who served in previous governments, from French President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist camp…

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Turkey welcomes ceasefire in Gaza

Turkey welcomes ceasefire in Gaza

Turkey welcomed the establishment of a ceasefire in Gaza and expressed hope that this ceasefire would bring an end to the “genocide that has continued for the past two years. We expect the ceasefire agreement to be fully implemented”.   The statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry reads:    “With the ceasefire in place, it…

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October 4 elections marked by extensive crackdown on media, civil society, and opposition parties, Hipper

October 4 elections marked by extensive crackdown on media, civil society, and opposition parties, Hipper

“The elections held on Saturday were marked by an extensive crackdown on media, civil society, and opposition parties. We have also seen low turnout, which was also marked by a boycott of the opposition. We have also seen that the Georgian authorities failed to invite OSCE and ODIHR observers in due time, undermining the transparency…

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