Asian shares rose Wednesday, buoyed by hopes for a diplomatic solution instead of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. But analysts warned the tensions were far from completely resolved, and the situation remains volatile. “In short, provided we get a further pause in geopolitics, we might be...

International aid to Syria is at an inflection point. More than 10 years into the Syrian conflict, the majority of Syria’s population is displaced and lacks adequate food. While Western donor governments have contributed nearly $2.5 billion a year in humanitarian aid, needs continue to rise. In...

The death toll from devastating mudslides and floods that swept through a mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro state has reached 44, local authorities said Wednesday. The city of Petropolis was slammed by a deluge on Tuesday, and Mayor Rubens Bomtempo said the number of dead could rise as...

The leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah revealed Wednesday that his militant group has been manufacturing military drones in Lebanon and has the technology to turn thousands of missiles in their possession into precision-guided munitions. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said Hezbollah has been working on...

The U.N.'s special envoy for Syria said Wednesday he expects a committee representing the Syrian government and the opposition to resume talks next month over draft constitutional reforms. Geir Pedersen spoke to reporters in the capital of Damascus after he met with Syrian officials,...

Russia said Wednesday it was returning more troops and weapons to bases, yet another gesture apparently aimed at easing fears it is planning to invade Ukraine, even as the U.S. said the threat of an attack remained. Russia has massed about 150,000 troops east, north and south of Ukraine,...

A Syrian refugee was shot dead by a Lebanese robbery gang in the Central Bekaa Valley, one of the victim’s relatives told Zaman al-Wasl Tuesday. The gang pretended to be security officers when they broke into his house in al-Omariya town on Sunday but soon a quarrel erupted, and the gang...

Four civilians, including three children, were killed in northwestern Azaz town due to a rocket attack by the US-backed Kurdish YPG militia. According to local activists, 12 more people were injured in the opposition-held town of Azaz, which was the target of rockets fired from the nearby...

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that he welcomed a security dialogue with the West as his military reported pulling back some of its troops near Ukraine. But U.S. President Joe Biden said the U.S. had not verified Russia’s claim and that an invasion was still a distinct...

The Russian military on Tuesday deployed long-range nuclear-capable bombers and fighter jets carrying state-of-the-art hypersonic missiles to its air base in Syria for massive naval drills in the region amid soaring tensions with the West over Ukraine. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu...

A bomb attached to a bus carrying Syrian troops in Damascus exploded Tuesday morning, killing one soldier and wounding 11, state TV reported. The blast happened during rush hour at a customs roundabout near the capital's landmark Omayyad Square, according to the report. It gave no further...

Residents of a village in the country side of Raqqa province in northeast Syria have said that oil pollution has contaminated their supply of drinking water, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Monday. Last week, the residents of al-Asadiyah - a village in the outskirts of...

Israel's Arab minority and Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip have raised $10 million in less than a month to build homes for Syrian refugees, according to activists behind the campaign. "The idea was to collect 100 heaters for 100 houses. Then we found out that people...

BEIJING (AP) — Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva was worn out after a grueling doping hearing ended with her being allowed to skate Tuesday in the women's short program at the Beijing Olympics. The 15-year-old Valieva is the overwhelming favorite for the gold medal alongside Russian...

Jordan's Energy Minister Saleh Al Kharabsheh on Monday said the kingdom could begin exporting electricity to Lebanon through Syria in March, but an agreement with the World Bank needs to be concluded first. The energy ministers of Jordan, Lebanon and Syria signed a deal last month in Beirut...

The Kremlin signaled Monday it is ready to keep talking with the West about security grievances that led to the current Ukraine crisis, offering hope that Russia might not invade its beleaguered neighbor within days as the U.S. and European allies increasingly fear. Questions remain about...

In a photo posted in November, 18-year-old Sabee al Saidi is shown wearing bright-pink lipstick as she leans from the side of a rickety wooden boat, a calm blue sea stretched out behind her. In a video, she smiles alongside a dozen other migrants, gesturing to a popular rap song. A month...

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s top diplomat advised President Vladimir Putin on Monday to keep talking with the West on Moscow’s security demands, a signal from the Kremlin that it intends to continue diplomatic efforts amid U.S. warnings of an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine. Moscow wants...

WASHINGTON/KYIV, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Russia could invade Ukraine at any time and might create a surprise pretext for an attack, the United States said on Sunday, as it reaffirmed a pledge to defend "every inch" of NATO territory. Russia has more than 100,000 troops massed near Ukraine, which...

After her son was killed fighting for the Syrian government in 2013, the state began paying Amouna al-Berri a monthly salary which easily covered all her household expenses. Today, the "martyrs salary" - given to families of people who have died for Damascus in the 11-year long war - barely...