European Union mediators were to resume a push on Tuesday aimed at securing the release of Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, with EU politicians warning that time is running out for the signing of a landmark trade agreement next month.

• October 29, 2013

Georgia's new president said on Monday he would press ahead with efforts to deepen the former Soviet republic's ties with the West despite Russian concerns.

• October 29, 2013

Spain summoned the U.S. ambassador on Monday to discuss alleged spying on Spanish citizens and said that, if true, the action was unacceptable behavior by an ally.

• October 28, 2013

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in an interview published on Saturday, said Japan was ready to be more assertive towards China as Beijing threatened to strike back if provoked.

• October 28, 2013

Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics during October 1-15th 2013
By John VanPool, EGF Turkey and Black Sea Regional Analyst

Key Points:

• Turkey agrees to a Chinese manufactured missile defense system, worrying its NATO allies.
• The European Commission says Turkey’s bid remains open to joining the EU while criticizing the government’s handling of the Gezi Park protests.
• Turkey’s EU negotiator expresses his doubts towards his Sisyphean task, saying that full membership is not likely.
• Abdullah Ocalan calls on the government to act on its promise to negotiate. The PKK’s military leader in the field has halted the organization’s withdrawal from Turkey, meaning that should talks fail, a resumption of violence would likely soon follow.
• TANAP and TAP pipeline projects move forward, while the KRG has made more than $1 billion in profits shipping oil overland to Turkish ports. The situation continues to draw the ire of Baghdad.

• October 28, 2013

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in an interview published on Saturday, said Japan was ready to be more assertive towards China as Beijing threatened to strike back if provoked.

• October 26, 2013

German Chancellor Angela Merkel wants the European Union's 28 member states to reach a "no spy deal" similar to an agreement France and Germany seek with the United State following allegations Washington tapped her mobile phone.

• October 26, 2013

European Union leaders rebuffed calls from southern European states on Friday for emergency action to tackle a wave of illegal migration from Africa despite the deaths of hundreds of people in Mediterranean boat disasters.

• October 26, 2013