BRUSSELS/MOSCOW -- The European Union will participate in this week's Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday, while the Kremlin insisted that the negotiations would be joined by Russia, Ukraine and the United States, without European officials.
Von der Leyen said she had a "good call" with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of the talks, adding that the EU would be present alongside its partners. Zelensky said on social media X that the two had coordinated their positions ahead of the meeting and were working to "ensure that the trilateral format delivered results." (EU-Ukraine-Talks)
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ATHENS -- At least 20 migrants have died and 133 others have been rescued in a series of boat incidents south of the Greek island of Crete, Greece's public broadcaster ERT reported on Monday.
In the latest incident, according to ERT, a passing container ship spotted a boat about 15 nautical miles (about 28 km) southeast of Kaloi Limenes, a port on Crete's southern coast. A Greek Coast Guard vessel later rescued 18 survivors and recovered 12 bodies. The identities of the deceased and the circumstances of their deaths were not immediately known. (Greece-Boat Incidents-Death)
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BAGHDAD -- The Khor Mor gas field in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region sustained a drone attack late Sunday, and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, also commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces, has ordered a joint investigation, Iraqi authorities said.
The attack took place at 23:10 local time (2010 GMT) on Sunday, the Security Media Cell affiliated with the Iraqi Joint Operations Command said in a statement. There have been no reports yet of people killed or wounded in the attack. (Iraq-Gas Field-Drone Attack)
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TEHRAN -- Iran's southern Qeshm Island came under U.S. strikes Sunday night, with no damage to the residential and commercial areas as well as vital and service infrastructure on the island, the state-run IRIB news agency reported on Monday.
The targets hit were outside the residential and commercial areas, Hormozgan province's Deputy Governor Ahmad Nafisi was quoted as saying. The situation on the island remained under control, with all relief, service, and executive agencies in a state of high alert, he added. (Iran-Qeshm Island-Attack) ■
