Syria says it does not want to fight with Turkey
Reuters, Beijing
Syria does not want to see fighting with Turkey, its foreign minister said on Tuesday, after Turkey said one of its observation posts in Syria’s Idlib region was attacked from an area controlled by Syrian government forces.
Russia, which supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country’s civil war, and Turkey, long a backer of rebels, co-sponsored a de-escalation pact for the area that has been in place since last year.
New York OKs driving licenses for
undocumented migrants
AFP, New York
New York State Monday passed a law allowing undocumented migrants to obtain their driving license, a controversial move by the Democratic stronghold intended to thwart the Trump administration’s restrictive immigration policy.
“This legislation will not only provide undocumented immigrants with a legal solution to obtain a driver’s license, but its positive impacts will include significant economic growth, improved road safety, and it will keep hardworking families together,” Senator Luis Sepulveda, one of its leading proponents, said in a statement.
Radio France staff strike over plans to axe nearly 300 jobs
AFP, Paris
Employees at Radio France turned off their microphones Tuesday over plans to shed nearly 300 jobs as part of a cost-cutting effort, with many of the daily programmes replaced by music.
Following a call by six unions, including the powerful CGT, employees halted productions at the public service broadcaster’s stations, which range from talk radio to pop music and classical. “Following calls for a strike… we are unable to broadcast all of our normal programmes,” said a pre-recorded announcement on Radio France.
US, Turkey remain in dialogue over S-400, F-35 dispute: NATO
Reuters, Le Bourget
U.S. Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan and his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar remain in contact about Ankara’s plans to buy a Russian air defence system, and may meet during NATO meetings in Brussels next week, NATO’s commander told Reuters. U.S. General Tod Wolters said the military-to-military relationship between the United States and NATO remained “absolutely, positively solid,” despite Washington’s decision to cancel Turkey’s purchase of F-35 stealth fighters if it proceeds with its purchase of the Russian S-400 air defence system.
Qatar sends technical experts to Israel
Reuters, Gaza
A Qatari technical delegation held talks in Israel and the Gaza Strip this week about helping pay for a proposed new power line between them, officials on both sides said on Tuesday, marking a potential expansion of Doha’s aid efforts for Palestinians. Qatar has in recent years funneled hundreds of millions of dollars into relief projects in Hamas-controlled Gaza.
, which it views as helping stave off privation and fighting with Israel.
