Daily Mail: Pence and Pompeo's mission improbable: US diplomatic duo arrive in Ankara for showdown with Erdogan as they try to persuade him to call off his invasion of Syria - or face tougher sanctions
* US delegation including Pence and Pompeo sent to negotiate a Syria ceasefire
* Vice President was pictured meeting Erdogan, despite the Turkish President suggesting at one point that he would refused to meet anyone except Trump
* Erdogan has repeatedly said he will not call off his invasion of northern Syria
* The attack was effectively green-lit by Trump after he withdrew American troops
Mike Pence met with President Erdogan on Thursday as he tried to pull off the politically improbable by getting the Turkish leader to agreed to a ceasefire in Syria.
The US Vice President touched down in Ankara alongside Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser Robert O'Brien as they tried to stop the Syrian civil war descending into a bloody new phase.
However, the outlook for any deal appears bleak after Erdogan briefly toyed with the idea of refusing to meet with Pence at all.
He later relented, but has repeatedly insisted he will not stop his assault on the Kurds - America's former allies in Syria - until he has driven them away from his border.
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MIDDLE EAST
Turkey advances on Kobani in latest broken promise.
US-led coalition continues withdrawal as Syrian forces enter key border town, blocking Turkish plans.
Syria to counter Turkey by 'all legitimate means': Assad.
Syria Kurd families flee to Iraq as array of armies advance.
France, Iraq diplomats hold talks on ISIL prisoners in Syria.
Lebanon to tax calls on messaging apps.
Saudi Arabia bus crash leaves 35 Arab and Asian expatriates dead.
ASIA
UN decries recent 'unprecedented' Afghan civilian casualties. 'Unprecedented' Afghan civilian casualties in July- September.
Five killed in Kashmir's deadliest day since losing special status.
Hong Kong: Hecklers dragged out in new parliament chaos.
Chinese diplomats must notify their moves in US. Beijing says US policy change for Chinese diplomats violates international law.
Two U.S. citizens detained, charged with 'illegal' activity in China.
China’s growth expected to weaken further this year and in 2020, as trade deal with US leaves tariffs in place.
Hong Kong pro-democracy leader Jimmy Sham hospitalised after hammer attack.
Malaysia must prepare navy for possible conflict in South China Sea, foreign minister warns. Malaysia looks to strengthen navy as sea tensions grow.
AFRICA
Peace process in jeopardy as tensions rise in South Sudan.
Gunmen raid cafes in Libya capital to curb social freedoms.
Nine deaths confirmed in Guinea 'third term' protests.
EU: Mozambique elections marred by climate of fear.
Murder of Mozambique election observer under spotlight.
Niger's president blames explosive birth rate on 'a misreading of Islam'.
S.African govt apologises for rolling blackouts.
EUROPE
Brexit: EU and UK reach deal but DUP refuses support.
EU leaders give Brexit deal cautious approval but foresee obstacles .
Turkish invasion of Syria sparks NATO crisis, but eviction from alliance is unlikely.
Russia protests after catching U.S. diplomats near military test site.
Angela Merkel to make relations with China top priority when Germany takes on EU presidency next year.
Spain's Catalan region rocked by third day of violent unrest. Catalan separatist leaders' jailing prompts violent protests in Barcelona.
Hardline PM Viktor Orban warns Hungary will 'use force' to fend off a new wave of migrants if Turkey delivers on its threat to allow refugees to flood into Europe.
AMERICAS
Trump golf course to host next G7 summit.
Bipartisan House majority condemns Trump for Syria pullout.
Liz Cheney’s Turkey sanctions bill would ban US arms sales.
'I am here to tell the truth.' Donald Trump's EU ambassador tells impeachment probe president ordered him to run Ukraine policy through Rudy Giuliani - but he did not know about demand to investigate the Bidens.
Top impeachment investigator says Pentagon was ordered to not comply with subpoena.
Elijah Cummings, Democratic chairman and powerful Trump critic, dies at 68.
Top immigration official Ken Cuccinelli doubles the estimate of illegal immigrants in the US from 11 million to 22 MILLION, after reviewing MIT study.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
ISIS boasts it has 'freed' women held by Syria's Kurds after storming a security headquarters near Raqqa.
ISIS is already rising from the ashes.
US has recently assisted foiling terror attacks in Russia by providing info - Russia's FSB.
India on alert as Afghan origin terrorists enter Kashmir.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
China says U.S. must kill all tariffs to resolve trade feud. China reiterates US must lift all tariffs to end trade war, but Beijing open to partial interim deal, spokesman says.
IMF's Georgieva: US-China truce 'not good enough'.
Oil nosedives as EIA confirms huge inventory build.
