This is yet another example of shifting alliances and relations in the wider Middle East. It also further embeds Pakistan in China's sphere of influence as both countries step up their pressure on India.

In a recent controversial decision, the European Court of Justice has upheld a ban on kosher and halal slaughter in Belgium.  Deutche Welle's religious affairs expert, Christoph Strack says that bans on such forms of animal slaughter in Belgium, and elsewhere, arose over debates over the way Islam is practiced in Europe. Individuals sought to impose tighter rules on Islam on the continent — yet also hit Europe's Jews.

High Representative Josep Borrell stated “The EU stands ready to assume a role in supporting and shaping a durable settlement to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, in close complementarity with the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. We are ready to use our peacebuilding and reconstruction tools to support this.”

"The EU stands ready to assume a role in supporting and shaping a durable settlement to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, in close complementarity with the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. We are ready to use our peacebuilding and reconstruction tools to support this."

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) was established in the 1990s as a multilateral security organisation for Europe and Eurasia. Following an organisational crisis this year, Will Murray speaks to Dr Walter Kemp about the organisation's history and approach to security, and what can be done to ensure its effectiveness going forward.

European Council president Charles Michel and Turkish president Recip Tayip Erdogan on Tuesday (15 December) held a telephone conversation to discuss EU-Turkey relations in view of recent decisions by EU leaders to maintain pressure on Ankara over its energy exploration policy in the East Mediterranean.

The ten-year Egypt-Russia economic and military cooperation agreement was signed in Sochi in October 2018. It  aims to reinforce cooperation between Egypt and Russia in the economic, investment, political and military areas.