DAMASCUS, Syria — Syrian government forces captured one of the largest and most strategic rebel-held towns in the country's northwest, the Syrian military and opposition activists said Wednesday, part of a Russian-backed military assault that has displaced hundreds of thousands of people fleeing to safer areas. The town of Maaret...
Putin Sits Down With New Ukraine Leader for First Time
PARIS — Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met for the first time Monday at a summit in Paris to try to end five years of war between Ukrainian troops and Russian-backed separatists. Both leaders sat down at the French presidential palace along with the leaders of...
Trump: Whistleblower 'Must Be Brought Forward to Testify'
WASHINGTON — The whistleblower who raised alarms about President Donald Trump's dealings with Ukraine and touched off the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry is willing to answer written questions submitted by House Republicans, the person's lawyer says. But President Donald says that's not good enough. Trump himself refused to provide anything but written answers...
Pentagon Nominee Regrets Turkey's 'Drift' From West
WASHINGTON — Army Secretary Mark Esper, President Donald Trump's nominee to become secretary of defense, told his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday he is troubled by Turkey's decision to defy the United States by acquiring Russian-made air defenses. "It is very disheartening to see how they have drifted over the past...
Putin Open for Talks With Trump, Warns Against Force on Iran
MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he's open for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump but doesn't expect quick progress on easing tensions with Washington. The Russian leader also strongly warned the United States against using force on Iran, saying it will trigger a "catastrophe." Trump said...
Beluga Whale With Russian Harness Raises Alarm in Norway
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — A beluga whale found with a tight harness that appeared to be Russian made has raised the alarm of Norwegian officials and prompted speculation that the animal may have come from a Russian military facility. Joergen Ree Wiig of the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries says "Equipment St....
Powerful Emirati Crown Prince Entangled by Mueller Report
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — One of the most powerful leaders in the United Arab Emirates has found himself entangled in special counsel Robert Mueller's report on U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian interference in America's 2016 election. Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, believed to...
In Plea Deal, Russian Woman Admits to Being a Secret Agent
WASHINGTON — A Russian gun-rights activist admitted Thursday that she was a secret agent for the Kremlin who tried to infiltrate conservative U.S. political groups as Donald Trump rose to power. Maria Butina, 30, agreed to plead guilty to a conspiracy charge as part of a deal with federal prosecutors....
US, Russian Astronauts Safe After Emergency Landing
BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan — A booster rocket failed less than two minutes after launching an American and a Russian toward the International Space Station on Thursday, forcing their emergency — but safe — landing on the steppes of Kazakhstan. It was the latest in a recent series of failures for the...
US Charges 7 Russian Intel Officers as West Condemns GRU
BRUSSELS — The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday charged seven Russian intelligence officers with hacking anti-doping agencies and other organizations hours after Western officials leveled new accusations against Moscow's secretive GRU military spy agency. Hours before the U.S. indictment was announced, Western nations accused the GRU of new cybercrimes, with...