Philippine gov't, rebels sign cease-fire deal

The Philippine government and communist rebels signed a cease-fire agreement on Friday after week-long peace talks in Oslo to end Asia's longest-running insurgency, NTB news agency reported.

Philippine president mulls ceasefire to reciprocate rebel truce

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to declare a ceasefire on Saturday to reciprocate a week-long truce that the communist rebels announced, presidential communication secretary Martin Andanar said.

Philippine president withdraws cease-fire with rebels

Newly elected Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte lifted his cease-fire against communist rebels after the two sides were unable to reach an agreement.

Philippine president issues ultimatum to leftist rebels for declaration of ceasefire

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte issued Friday an ultimatum to the leftist rebel group to reciprocate the government's own ceasefire.

EC reluctant to penalise Canada, US over visa requirements for Bulgarians and Romanians

The European Commission said on July 13 that it would continue to “work toward” getting Canada and the United States to remove visa requirements for citizens of EU member states Bulgaria and Romania – but again hinted that it was reluctant to penalise Washington and Ottawa over the lack of visa reciprocity.

Russia imposes sanctions on 13 Canadian officials

Russia's Foreign Ministry has imposed sanctions on 13 Canadian officials and politicians, official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Lukashevich said. The sanctions against Canadian officials represent retaliatory measures in response to sanctions imposed by the Canadian government on a number of Russian officials and parliamentarians.

Among 13 sanctioned Canadian officials are Christine Hogan, Prime Minister's advisor on foreign and defense policy, Wayne Wouters, Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, and others.

AKP official: Halki Seminary will remain closed until the mosque in Athens opened. -Turkey has been insistent on reciprocity on the issue

The Greek Orthodox Halki Seminary in Istanbul 
(Constantinople) will not be re-opened until the Fethiye Mosque in Athens is opened for prayers, a senior figue of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has said.

“Do not have a doubt, Turkey has not taken a step to re-open Halki Seminary and it will not take a step until Greece, who did not hold up the promise it gave in Lausanne, opens Fethiye Mosque in Athens,” Metin Külünk, deputy chair of the party’s Foreign Affairs and Istanbul deputy, said Dec. 1 in Germany’s Witten, where he attended a meeting held by Western Thrace Turks Solidarity Association.