Portugal amends returnee program in bid to attract more citizens home
Portugal’s government on Tuesday eased some requirements in its program that aims to draw home at least 1,500 Portuguese emigrants, after only 71 people took up the offer in the first two months since its launch in July.
Factbox: Major Turkish companies affiliated with U.S.-sanctioned Turkish energy ministry
The United States has sanctioned Turkey’s energy ministry in response to the Turkish cross-border offensive in northeast Syria, raising questions about the impact on the country’s wider energy sector.
Russian and U.S. defense ministers discuss Syria by phone: Interfax
Defense ministers of Russia and the United States have spoken about the situation in Syria over the phone, Russia’s Interfax news agency reported on Thursday citing a statement by the Russian military.
France says too early to hold talks with Balkans on EU membership
France considers it is too early to open talks with Balkan countries on accession to the European Union, a French presidency official said on Tuesday.
Macron on course for clash with Merkel over EU talks with Balkan hopefuls
French President Emmanuel Macron was headed for a clash with German Chancellor Angela Merkel this week after Paris was isolated on Tuesday in opposing starting membership talks with North Macedonia.
Power shift: Who gains in the battle for Syria’s northeast?
President Donald Trump’s decision to pull out of Syria radically realigns the balance of power in the country’s northeast and creates a vacuum which Russia, Turkey and Iran are racing to fill.
U.S. wants China to press North Korea to be more constructive in talks: Pentagon official
The senior U.S. defense official for Asia said on Tuesday the United States wants China to improve its enforcement of sanctions on North Korea and take other steps to press Pyongyang to be more constructive in talks with the United States.
Italy lets French migrant ship dock to anger of far right
Charity rescue ship Ocean Viking headed toward the southern Italian port of Taranto on Tuesday after the government gave it authorization to bring 176 migrants ashore in a decision that angered the far-right League.
U.S. to mount pressure on Turkey to halt Syria offensive, may increase sanctions: U.S. official
The United States will mount diplomatic pressure on Turkey and threaten Ankara with more sanctions to persuade it to reach a ceasefire and halt its military offensive in northeastern Syria, a senior administration official said on Tuesday.
Brazil building collapses; 10 missing, one confirmed dead
A seven-story residential building collapsed in the northeastern Brazilian city of Fortaleza on Tuesday, killing at least one person, rescue workers told TV channel GloboNews.
