Turkey rejects EU decisions regarding its Syria operation, east Med drilling
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday that it rejected and condemned decisions taken by the European Union to suspend arms exports to Turkey following Ankara’s northeast Syria incursion and drilling activities in the eastern Mediterranean.
Trump ex-Russia adviser testifies in impeachment inquiry
U.S. President Donald Trump’s former Russia adviser testified on Monday behind closed doors as the latest witness summoned in the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry against Trump over his request that Ukraine investigate a domestic political rival.
Biden aims campaign finance and ethics proposals at Trump
U.S. Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden would look to ban private money from federal elections, his campaign said on Monday in a plan for government ethics that doubled as an attack on President Donald Trump.
U.S. House Speaker Pelosi backs bipartisan sanctions on Turkey: Graham
U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said on Monday that he had spoken with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi about Turkey’s offensive in northern Syria, and that she supported bipartisan sanctions against Ankara.
Trump ex-adviser arrives for testimony in House impeachment inquiry
U.S. President Donald Trump’s former Russia adviser arrived on Capitol Hill on Monday as the latest witness summoned in the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry against Trump.
Russia-backed Syrian forces step in as U.S. retreats
Russia-backed Syrian forces wasted no time in taking advantage of an abrupt U.S. retreat from Syria on Monday, deploying deep inside Kurdish-held territory south of the Turkish frontier less than 24 hours after Washington announced a full withdrawal.
Turkey says Kurdish forces emptied Islamic State prison in northeast Syria
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Monday Syrian Kurdish YPG fighters had emptied a jail holding Islamic State prisoners in a part of Syria where Ankara is mounting an offensive, and that the prisoners there had been abducted.
NATO’s Stoltenberg defends stance on Turkey’s offensive in Syria
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday defended his stance on Turkey’s attack on Kurdish militants in northeastern Syria as he came under pressure from some members of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly to be tougher with Ankara.
Turkish lira slides, but doubt lingers over Trump sanction threats
The Turkish lira slid 0.8% on Monday in the face of U.S. and European threats of sanctions and embargoes, though skeptical traders said it would weaken much further if Western allies turned words into action over Turkey’s incursion in Syria.
EU countries stop short of arms embargo for Turkey
European Union countries committed on Monday to suspending arms exports to Turkey, but stopped short of the EU-wide arms embargo that France and Germany had sought.
