Washington, 15 April 2021 (Anadolu News) US President Joe Biden warned Russia on Thursday that he is ready to take further actions if Moscow continues to "interfere with our democracy" but held out hope for improved ties. The warning came shortly after the US imposed sanctions on dozens of Russian individuals and companies and expelled...

Doha, 15 April 2021 (NYT/Taleban) President Biden, frustrated in his efforts to end America’s “Forever War” a decade ago, announced on Wednesday a Sept. 11 deadline for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan after 20 years, a move that immediately triggered similar action among the country’s NATO allies. While a complete withdrawal has long been...

New Delhi, 14 April 2021 (Anadolu News) Moscow and New Delhi are committed to “agreed timelines and other obligations” of the S-400 missile system deal, Russia’s ambassador to India said on Wednesday. Amid the threat of US action against India, Ambassador Nikolay Kudashev said bilateral sanctions are “illegal tools of … pressure and even blackmail.”...

Washington, 14 April 2021 (Anadolu News) NATO will begin to withdraw all member state forces from Afghanistan by May 1, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday. The "orderly, coordinated and deliberate" drawdown will be completed "within a few months," Stoltenberg said at the conclusion of the alliance's defense and foreign ministers meeting in Brussels. “We...

Islamabad, 14 April 2021 (Media/Dawn) Prime Minister Imran Khan has signed a proposal on the recommendation of Interior Ministry using country's anti-terrorism law to ban the ultra right-wing Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) – whose supporters have rioted across the country for the past three days. The proposal which is already signed by the Prime Minister will...

Istanbul, 14 April 2021 (AlJazeera News) Turkey will host a peace summit for Afghanistan from April 24 to May 4 meant to jump-start efforts to end the war and sketch out a possible political settlement, Turkish authorities said. Turkey’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday the Afghan government and the Taliban would attend the 10 day...

Doha, 13 April 2021 (QT) By Ashraf Siddiqui Sri Lankan minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal, who is heading a six-member delegation to Qatar and Oman as part of his government’s Middle East outreach, has identified shipping, tourism, food security, investments, logistics and Islamic banking as potential areas in which Sri Lanka and Qatar can further deepen...

12 Apr 2021 (WSJ/Washington Post/NYT) Iran said saboteurs caused a blackout at the country’s main nuclear-enrichment plant, accusing the alleged culprits of attempting to derail informal talks with the US on reviving a 2015 nuclear accord that could pave the way for rolling back sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Tehran didn’t disclose any details about...

Nicosia (TRNC), 09 April 2021 Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Ersin Tatar received the British Under-Secretary of State for European Neighborhood and the Americas, Wendy Morton. Following the meeting Tatar made a statement to the press and noted that Morton also confirmed that the views of both sides are very important for a fair...

Islamabad, 09 April 2021 (Daily Dawn) A parliamentary delegation headed by National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser which had departed for Afghanistan on a three-day official visit on Thursday morning returned home within minutes after the Afghan authorities did not allow landing of their plane at Kabul airport due to “security reasons”. A nine-member delegation departed...