Jeff Seldin WASHINGTON—Some U.S. officials are heralding new intelligence on the number of Islamic State (IS) fighters as a sign the tide is starting to turn in the battle against the terror group but there are concerns the self-declared caliphate’s larger, global strategy remains very well intact. The terror group, also known as ISIL or […]readmore
Luis Ramirez LONDON—U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has pledged nearly $1 billion in new U.S. aid for Syrian refugees at an international donors conference and is calling for the Syrian government and Russia to halt attacks on rebel-held areas in order to let humanitarian aid through. The conference opened Thursday in London with donor […]readmore
The United Nations is reporting new cases of alleged sexual abuse and exploitation by U.N. peacekeepers in the Central African Republic. The U.N. mission in the C.A.R., MINUSCA, said it has identified seven new possible victims in the town of Bambari. According to a statement Thursday, U.N. investigators believe at least five of the victims […]readmore
Simone Orendain BAHILE, PALAWAN PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES—In the tiny coastal Philippine town of Bahile in Palawan province, fishermen drop off the night’s catch with the local fish distributor.On the one main road that bisects the town, fish sorters load plastic tubs with the catch while children play on the shore during the sunny late morning. But […]readmore
Luis Ramirez, Ken Bredemeier, Chris Hannas LONDON/WASHINGTON—The United Nations on Wednesday called off the fractious Syrian peace talks in Geneva until the end of February.U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura, who was alternating between discussions with representatives of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and opposition groups trying to overthrow him, called the delay until February 25 a «temporary […]readmore
VOA News Negotiators meeting for Syrian peace talks that began Friday in Geneva are focusing on urgent goals: establishing a cease-fire, delivering humanitarian aid, and setting a course for long-term resolution of the nearly five-year conflict. They’re also confronting a crisis years in the making, rife with deep sectarian divisions, clashing regional and international interests, […]readmore
VOA News France is planning to make make another push to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but has warned that if its efforts fail, it will recognize a Palestinian state. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told French diplomats on Friday that in the coming weeks, Paris will try to organize an international conference to «bring about […]readmore
Pictures shared on social media purport to show people running away from the mosque attack. (Al Arabiya) Edward Yeranian Last updated on: January 29, 2016 12:02 PM CAIRO—Attackers wearing suicide belts and carrying assault rifles targeted a Shi’ite mosque in eastern Saudi Arabia during Friday prayer services, killing five people and wounding 18 others. It […]readmore
VOA News Memes are making the rounds mocking Italy’s decision to cover up nude statues at Rome’s Capitoline Museum with big white boxes for a visit by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Ahead of Monday’s press conference between Premier Matteo Renzi and Rouhani, wooden panels were erected around some Roman statues in the museum. The decision […]readmore
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrived in France Wednesday – the first official visit of an Iranian president there since 1999. Rouhani flew in from Italy where he closed business deals worth $18.5 billion. He is expected to do likewise in France. The visits come after the sanctions were lifted from the Islamic Republic as part […]readmore