News in Brief
Egyptian FM visits Syria after a decade
AFP – Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Monday pledged solidarity with the Syrian people after a deadly quake that sparked rare Arab outreach, during a rare visit to the country.
He is the third Arab foreign minister to meet Syrian President Bashar al-Assad since the February 6 quake struck Syria and neighbouring Turkey killing more than 46,000 people, after the United Arab Emirates and Jordan sent their top diplomats.
Belarusian group attacked Russian plane
REUTERS – A Russian A-50 military surveillance aircraft has been damaged in a drone attack at an airfield near the Belarusian capital of Minsk, according to Belarus partisans and members of the exiled opposition.
Belarusian antigovernment organisation BYPOL, which includes former law enforcement officers who support opposition politicians, has been branded a “terrorist” organisation.
Serbia, Kosovo weigh EU proposals
AP – The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo are holding talks on Monday on European Union proposals aimed at ending a long series of political crises and setting the two on the path to better relations and ultimately mutual recognition.
Tensions have simmered between Serbia and its former territory since Kosovo unilaterally broke away in 2008; a move recognized by many Western countries but opposed by Serbia, with the backing of Russia and China.