Syrian government launches offensive south of city of Aleppo
By PHILIP ISSA and ZEINA KARAM Syrian troops and their allies launched an offensive Tuesday to retake an important hilltop village south of the city of Aleppo from militants, including…
Geneva
Syrian forces enter IS-held Palmyra; intense clashes with IS
By ALBERT AJI and SINAN SALAHEDDIN Backed by Russian airstrikes, Syrian government forces on Thursday pushed into the ancient town of Palmyra that has been held by the Islamic State…
Russia denies striking charity’s hospital in Syria
By BASSEM MROUE and LYNN BERRY Russia on Tuesday denied its warplanes carried out strikes on a Syrian hospital supported by Doctors Without Borders that killed at least nine people,…
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…
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…
UN health chief: Zika virus is ‘spreading explosively’
By JAMEY KEATEN and MARIA CHENG Declaring that the Zika virus is “spreading explosively,” chief of the World Health Organization announced that it will hold an emergency meeting of independent…
Health minister: Brazil is ‘losing battle’ against mosquito
By JENNY BARCHFIELD Brazil’s health minister says the country will mobilize some 220,000 troops to battle the mosquito blamed for spreading a virus suspected of causing birth defects — but…
Austrian leader say accept migrants or pay
By The Associated Press The latest news as countries across Europe cope with the arrival of thousands of migrants and refugees. All times local (CET): 2:30 p.m. Austrian Chancellor Werner…