Some 13 Turkish warplanes violated Greek airspace 30 times on Tuesday in an Agean 'Cold War', amid mounting cost of an arms build-up.

The EU has joined Sweden in urging China to give access to a dissident book publisher, but its low-level statement did little to make a difference.

The Libyan conflict has become a test of EU geopolitics in the Mediterranean, as foreign arms flood onto battlefields, a former UN weapons inspector has said.

Europe and even the Pope have voiced opposition to new Israeli settlements and potential annexation of Palestinian land.

Intensity of shelling in east Ukraine on Tuesday gave lie to Russia's claim it has no forces in region, Ukrainian diplomats have said.

Foreign ministers reached a political agreement to create a new EU naval force to replace Operation Sophia. It aims to enforce an UN arms embargo on Libya and operate in area where migrants do not take boats.