International Relations

Militant Islamist fighters hold the flag of ISIS while taking part in a military parade along the streets of northern Raqqa province in this June 30, 2014 file photo.

Oil prices have collapsed, but oil-rich ISIS says it's still in the black

News reports from Qatar say ISIS, which has control over oil fields in Iraq and Syria, will run a $250 million dollar surplus next year. So how is that possible with oil prices falling through the cellar?

Oil prices have collapsed, but oil-rich ISIS says it's still in the black
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger has released a new book called World Order.

Henry Kissinger would not have supported the Iraq War if he'd known what he knows now

Henry Kissinger would not have supported the Iraq War if he'd known what he knows now
NATO leaders meeting at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales, on Friday.

NATO sets up a 'rapid reaction force' to counter Russian aggression

NATO sets up a 'rapid reaction force' to counter Russian aggression
Barack Obama joins British Prime Minister David Cameron on a visit to a school prior to the NATO summit in Wales on Thursday. Western leaders are looking for strategies to deal with threats from Russia and the Islamic State.

The US is struggling to define its place in a 'world on fire'

The US is struggling to define its place in a 'world on fire'
Then-President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia toasts with champagne during a state dinner in Warsaw in 2010.

As Russia bans food imports, Russians freak out over foreign liquor

As Russia bans food imports, Russians freak out over foreign liquor
Representatives from various African nations gather at the opening session at the AGOA Forum during the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington August 4, 2014.

A summit of African leaders in Washington tries to move beyond 'speed dating'

The US is hosting its first-ever summit of leaders from across Africa, but the short timeframe and large number of attendees means that meaningful dialogue might be hard to achieve.

A summit of African leaders in Washington tries to move beyond 'speed dating'
Visitors walk past TV sets during Russian President Vladimir Putin's live broadcast nationwide phone-in at the DNS electronic shop in Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk.

Russian media say we've all got it wrong on flight 17

Outside of Russia, the narrative around Malaysia Airlines flight 17 has become fairly accepted — with Russia taking much of the blame. Inside Russia, however, the media is selling the Kremlin's line and saying Western countries are the ones hiding the facts.

Russian media say we've all got it wrong on flight 17
Julie Gayet at Deauville

What the French president's affair and separation say about love, politics and French culture

This weekend, French President François Hollande confirmed that he is separating from his partner Valérie Trierweiler. The French seemed to shrug at the news of Hollande's affair with actress Julie Gayet, seeing love and politics as separate. But France's neighbors and its former colonies don't necessarily agree.

What the French president's affair and separation say about love, politics and French culture
The moment of Jang Song Thaek's arrest, after he was denounced in the middle of a party meeting.

Execution challenges North Korea's friendship with China

North Korea has only one ally: China. And the reaction there to the reported execution of Jang Song Thaek has been muted. A foreign ministry spokesman said it was an internal matter. But there may be more concern below the surface.

Execution challenges North Korea's friendship with China
The Kennedy Memorial, called "Yad Kennedy" in Hebrew, in the Jerusalem Forest.

An Israeli memorial recalls Kennedy as the president who committed the US to Israel's defense

John F. Kennedy was an early and deep supporter of Israel. His support dates back to 1958, when he encouraged people to send trees to reforest Jerusalem. The move endeared him to Israelis and a memorial to him still stands in the forest he helped build.

An Israeli memorial recalls Kennedy as the president who committed the US to Israel's defense
Google Reunion Ad Still

This Google ad has moved people to tears across India and Pakistan

Google India made an ad to show how the search engine could help people reconnect with old friends. Now the campaign has touched an emotional chord across Pakistan and India, by reawakening memories of the painful partition of India in 1947.

This Google ad has moved people to tears across India and Pakistan
US Government Shutdown

Want to know what the world is saying about our government shutdown? We asked

People across the globe are watching to see if there's ultimately a resolution to this US government shutdown. And what they're saying — and hearing — isn't great. Many folks around the globe say the shutdown looks crazy. It looks silly. It looks like lawmakers are arguing about something that doesn't entirely matter.

Want to know what the world is saying about our government shutdown? We asked

Trying to escape the government shutdown? Don't head to the great outdoors

Many around the world have mocked the inability of US government officials to cooperate and end the government shutdown. Those who aren't laughing include people from around the world whose visits to US national parks have been ruined.

Trying to escape the government shutdown? Don't head to the great outdoors