Reuters, Islamabad
A Taliban delegation met U.S. special representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad on Thursday, two sources told Reuters, the first known contact between the two sides since U.S. President Donald Trump called off talks last month. Trump halted the talks, which aimed at a plan to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan in exchange for Taliban security guarantees, following the death of a U.S. soldier and 11 others in a Taliban bomb attack in Kabul.
EU chiefs talks with
Macedonia, Albania
AFP, Brussels
The EU’s top leaders said in a joint statement Thursday it is “time to start accession talks” with North Macedonia and Albania for them to join the European Union.
The combined call was issued by outgoing European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and his successor Ursula von der Leyen, as well as the EU Council chief and the head of the European Parliament.
US conducts new joint patrol with Turkey in northeast Syria
AP, Beirut
The U.S-led coalition says it’s conducted the third joint patrol with Turkey in northeastern Syria, part of a plan designed to defuse tensions between its NATO ally and Syrian Kurds.
The coalition said the patrol went ahead as planned on Friday. Washington says the deal reached with Ankara in August aims to address Turkey’s security concerns.
Egypt deports Mauritanian student
AP, Cairo
Cairo airport officials say a Mauritanian student arrested by Egyptian authorities amid the recent crackdown following anti-government protests has been released and deported back home.
The officials said Ahmed Ould Lamamy Maska boarded a flight to Morocco on Friday after Egypt’s prosecutors ordered his release and deportation.
Russian journalist detained in Iran
AP, Moscow
The Russian embassy in Tehran says that a Russian journalist has been detained in the Iranian capital. The embassy on Friday confirmed reports that Yulia Yuzik was in custody in Tehran but said it was still studying the details.
