Syrian official rules out Assad departure ahead of talks
By ZEINA KARAM and ALBERT AJI A top Syrian official urged the opposition to let go of its dream of easing President Bashar Assad out of power in a transitional…
War and unrest
Brussels authorities charge 2, detain 3 others over attacks
Two men have been charged with offenses related to the Brussels bombings, and three others have been detained in Brussels in connection to the Paris attacks, Belgian authorities said Tuesday.…
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…
Officials: Group that hit Brussels planned 2nd France attack
By RAPHAEL SATTER The attackers who struck Brussels on March 22 initially planned to launch a second assault on France, Belgium’s Federal Prosecution Office said Sunday. But the perpetrators were…
Kerry backs Iraqi leader, no planned increase in US troops
By BRADLEY KLAPPER and SUSANNAH GEORGE U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry backed Iraq’s prime minister on Friday in his efforts to resolve a mounting political crisis, underlining the importance…
Foreign fighters are evading Europe’s security net
By LORNE COOK and DOMINIQUE SOGUEL When Ibrahim El Bakraoui blew himself up in the Brussels Airport check-in area, killing and maiming scores of travelers, it was at least the…
Obama hails Iran deal as a model for nuclear diplomacy
By JOSH LEDERMAN President Barack Obama hailed the nuclear deal with Iran on Friday as a “substantial success” and a model for future diplomacy, as world leaders took stock of…
Egypt plane drama ends: hijacker arrested, passengers freed
By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS and HAMZA HENDAWI An Egyptian man wearing a fake explosives belt who hijacked a domestic EgyptAir flight and forced it to land in Cyprus on Tuesday has…