Politics by country

"Britain's exit from EU structures without a deal has not yet been removed as an opportunity and is a real danger." Brussels chief negotiator Michel Barnier said in Brexit talks, The Independent and Focus reported.

As the UK prepares for early elections on December 12, Barnier said future trade talks could be "difficult and "demanding".

Turkish police on Oct. 31 detained 19 suspects for their suspected links to the FETÖ, the group behind the 2016 defeated coup attempt, security sources said.

The Turkish parliament on Oct. 31 condemned the U.S. House of Representatives' passing a resolution recognizing the so-called "Armenian genocide" as well as a bill backing sanctions on Turkey.

Political tensions over the Novartis investigation simmered on Wednesday after former premier and SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras wrote to Parliament Speaker Konstantinos Tasoulas to complain about the exemption of leftist MPs Pavlos Polakis and Dimitris Tzanakopoulos from a House committee probing alleged meddling in the investigation.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis received Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades in Athens on Wednesday to coordinate their stance ahead of the latter's upcoming discussions with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a bid to resume talks to reunify the island.

North Macedonia Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said on Wednesday that the Prespes deal foresees the opening of European Union accession talks with the country and as such will be fully enforced. 

Zaev's comments came a day after he indicated that a veto on the country's European Union accession talks meant the deal would be "frozen," prompting concern in Athens.  

In a letter to Parliament Speaker Constantinos Tasoulas, former prime minister and SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras complained about the exemption of leftist MPs Pavlos Polakis and Dimitris Tzanakopoulos from a parliamentary committee probing alleged meddling in the Novartis investigation.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Oct. 30 asked Prime Minister Saad Hariri to continue as a caretaker premier, until a new government is formed.

The Syrian Constitutional Committee -- made up of opposition, civil society, and regime members -- began its work on Oct. 30 in Geneva with UN facilitation.

Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has criticized the U.S. House of Representatives' recent resolution on the events of 1915 and a sanctions bill, saying doing such things out of "vengeance" is wrong.