Leaders seek funds for Syria, elusive stability for region
By JILL LAWLESS Leaders and diplomats from 70 countries met London Thursday to pledge billions to help millions of Syrians displaced by war — and try to slow the chaotic…
Diplomacy
Syrian TV: Army breaks long rebel siege of Shiite villages
By BASSEM MROUE and JAMEY KEATEN Syrian troops and allied militiamen blasted their way into two Shiite villages in northern Syria on Wednesday, breaking a long-running rebel siege during a…
France calls on US to lift economic embargo on Cuba
By SYLVIE CORBET France called on the U.S. to lift the economic embargo against Cuba during a historic state visit Monday by the Caribbean island’s president aimed at boosting economic…
Republican Jeb Bush tells rival Marco Rubio ‘stop whining’
The Latest on the 2016 race for president on the final weekend of campaigning before Monday’s leadoff Iowa caucuses (all local times): 4:25 p.m. Jeb Bush is showing no sign…
Vatican says Iran now called on to combat terrorism.
By FRANCES D’EMILIO Pope Francis met with the Iranian president Tuesday, joining in a cordial discussion which touched on the recent nuclear accord and Iran’s role in the region. President…
Analysis: Calculated risk behind N. Korean H-bomb test claim
By ERIC TALMADGE When North Korea hinted it had a hydrogen bomb last month — twice — it was largely brushed off as bluster. Now that it’s claiming to have…
North Korea says it tested H-bomb to widespread skepticism
By FOSTER KLUG South Korea (AP) — Soon after the ground shook around its nuclear testing facility, North Korea trumpeted its first hydrogen bomb test — a self-proclaimed “H-bomb of…
Saudi allies scale back ties with Iran as tensions soar
By ALI AKBAR DAREINI and JON GAMBRELL Allies of Saudi Arabia followed the kingdom’s lead and began scaling back diplomatic ties to Iran on Monday after the ransacking of Saudi…