An urgent appeal on behalf of millions of Syrian people has gone largely unanswered, according to a joint statement by heads of UN humanitarian agencies in the country.  "The war escalates in many areas. The humanitarian situation deteriorates day after day....

France will unveil a plan to stop the stream of French youths joining jihadist groups in Syria, with a new focus on preventing radicalization. President Francois Hollande said Tuesday that France will take "all kinds of measures to dissuade, to stop, to punish those who would be...

Russia's decision last week to sign a peace accord on Ukraine does not mean that the Kremlin is backing down, rather that President Vladimir Putin is prepared to be patient in pursuit of his ultimate objective. That aim, his own reflections and those of people close to...

Celebrating Easter Sunday, Christianity's most joyous and hopeful day, Pope Francis prayed for peace in Ukraine and Syria and for an end to the terrorist attacks in Nigeria that have targeted so many Christians. More than 150,000 tourists — Romans and pilgrims, young and old — had...