Tillerson: US Has Opened Direct Line of Communication With North Korea

The United States has opened a direct channel of communication with North Korea and is investigating whether the government of Kim Jong Un is interested in pursuing talks to give up its nuclear weapons, according to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who was in Beijing Saturday seeking China's cooperation on a “maximum pressure” campaign against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

UN to send war crimes investigators to Yemen

The UN Human Rights Council agreed Friday to send war crimes investigators to Yemen, overcoming resistance from Saudi Arabia which sought to fend off an independent international probe.

Turkey halts flights to northern Iraq, issues travel warning

Turkey has issued a new travel warning to Turkish nationals after Turkey’s consulate in Arbil announced that Turkish airline companies will halt flying to northern Iraq after 6:00 p.m. on Friday Sept. 29 until further notice at the request of Baghdad, following a referendum for independence held by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

Kabul air strike: US attack causes civilian casualties

A US air strike against militants in the Afghan capital Kabul caused civilian casualties after a missile malfunctioned, officials said.

Russian Defense Ministry: Russian strategic bombers destroy positions for ISIS and al-Nusra terrorists in Deir Ezzor and Idleb

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that Russian strategic bombers have carried out strikes on positions of ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organizations in Deir Ezzor and Idleb provinces in Syria.

Reports disagree whether North Korea quake was man-made

A 3.0 magnitude earthquake detected near North Korea's nuclear test site Saturday is presumed to have been a natural quake, South Korea's weather agency said.

Lavrov: Eliminating terrorists in Syria requires coordination between Russia and US, but Washington rejects that

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that eliminating terrorists in Syria requires military coordination between Russia and the US, but Washington rejects that, noting that this coordination is blocked by the US Congress that doesn’t care about resolving conflicts.

En attendant Godot: French president asks Kurd leader to delay region poll

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday asked Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) President Masoud Barzani to postpone next week’s controversial referendum on Kurdish regional independence.

US Defenseless Against Ballistic Missiles as Trump Threatens to Destroy N Korea

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump threatened to "totally destroy" North Korea if Pyongyang does not stop its nuclear and missile tests. In fact, the US missile defense system is incapable of shooting down North Korean missiles, according to American expert on nuclear weapons Joe Cirincione.

Trump's U.N. speech draws mixed reactions from world leaders

World leaders had mixed reactions Tuesday to President Donald Trump's fiery speech at the United Nations General Assembly -- his first to the world body.

US F-35s, B-1B Lancers Conduct Flybys to Show ‘Military Options' to Pyongyang

The US has “pretty much exhausted all the things that we can do at the [UN] Security Council at this point,” Nikki Haley, US Ambassador to the UN, said Sunday regarding North Korea’s continued missile tests, adding she would be “perfectly happy” to pass the situation onto Pentagon chief James Mattis who has “plenty of military options.”

Pentagon: Russia knowingly hit US-backed SDF in Syria

Russian air strikes have targeted US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and coalition advisers east of the Euphrates River in Syria's Deir Az Zor province, according to the Pentagon.

Iraq’s Kurdish parliament approves September 25 independence referendum

Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region's parliament approved a plan to hold a Sept. 25 referendum on independence, ignoring Iraqi, Iranian and Turkish opposition as well as U.S and Western concern that the vote could cause new conflicts in the region.

Spain summons Catalan mayors over independence vote

Spain's state prosecutor has ordered a criminal probe of all 700-plus Catalan mayors who have backed an independence referendum, as Madrid seeks to block the separatist vote it deems illegal.

North Korea sanctions 'nothing compared to what will have to happen', Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the latest U.N. sanctions on North Korea were only a very small step and nothing compared what would have to happen to deal with the country's nuclear program.

Catalan independence rally: Thousands gather in Barcelona

Thousands of Catalans are thronging the streets of Barcelona to mark their national day - the "Diada" - and show support for an independence referendum.

Mexico to observe 3 days of mourning after 8.1 quake kills more than 60

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto has ordered three days of mourning in the aftermath of the most powerful earthquake to hit the country in a century.

36 dead as strong earthquake strikes near Mexico

At least 36 people died when the most powerful earthquake to hit Mexico in over eight decades tore through buildings, forced mass evacuations and triggered alerts as far away as southeast Asia.

Syria urges UNSC to take decisive measures to halt repeated Israeli aggressions on the country

Syria demanded UN Security Council to condemn the Israeli repeated aggressions on the country and take an immediate and decisive measure to halt them in accordance with its resolutions related to combating terrorism, warning of the catastrophic consequences of such attacks which complement the ISIS crimes and practices to escalate the situation and fuel the region and the world.

North Korea says it has 'gift packages' for US

Amid international uproar over North Korea's latest and biggest nuclear weapons test, one of its top diplomats has said it is ready to send "more gift packages" to the United States.

Moscow to Give Tough Response to US Hostile Acts: Russian FM

Moscow will give tough response to hostile steps by the United States aimed against Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday.