Trump praises 'very smart' Putin for response against US

 U. S. President-elect Donald Trump on Friday praised Russian President Vladimir Putin for not reacting immediately to Washington's move to punish it over alleged election-related interference.

US expels 35 Russian diplomats over cyber attack allegations

Thirty-five Russian diplomats have been expelled from the US, according to a statement from State Department.

Israel postpones settlement approval in bid to calm relations with U.S.

Israel postponed a vote Wednesday to authorize construction of additional Jewish settlement homes in East Jerusalem to avoid straining U.S.-Israeli relations, a local official said.

Lavrov warns Kerry against bringing US’ domestic agenda to UN SC

Attempts to use the Middle East Quartet and the United Nations Security Council is bickering between the Democrats and the Republicans are harmful, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in a telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday.

Turkey complains of a lack of international coalition aerial support in Syria

Turkey complained on Monday about an alleged lack of air support from the international coalition in its operation against the Islamic State, which has been concentrated for several weeks in the Syrian city of al-Bab.

Defense Ministry: Crashed Tu-154 plane flown by experienced pilot

The Tu-154 plane that crashed off the Black Sea coast near Sochi on Sunday was manufactured more than 30 years ago and was last time repaired in December 2014, and was flown by an experienced pilot, Russia’s Defense Ministry said.

Israel recalls envoys from 2 states over UN resolution

Israel has summoned ambassadors from Senegal and New Zealand following their support for a UN resolution condemning Israeli settlement building in the occupied territories.

UN Security Council demands end to Israeli settlements after US abstains from vote

After the United States abstained from voting, the UN Security Council on Friday passed a resolution demanding Israel stop building settlements on occupied Palestinian territory, a reversal of the usual US practice of protecting Israel.

Egypt delays U.N. resolution aimed at Israeli settlements

Egypt on Thursday asked to delay a vote on a United Nations Security Council resolution aimed at halting Israeli settlement expansion on Palestinian land after President-elect Donald Trump called for the measure to be vetoed.

Warplanes of Turkish and US-led Coalition commit two massacres in al-Bab and al-Tabqa cities

Turkish warplanes committed a new massacre in al-Bab city to the northeast of Aleppo city, calming the lives of at least 7 persons.

Berlin crash treated as terror attack; detained suspect cleared

Berlin prosecutors said Tuesday they released the person they initially detained as a suspect in a truck crash that killed 12 people at a Christmas market.

Russian ambassador shot in Turkey confirmed dead

The Russian ambassador to Turkey shot in Ankara was confirmed dead by Turkish and Russian officials on Monday.

China decides to return seized underwater drone to US

China has decided to return a US underwater drone seized by a Chinese warship during a security check in the South China Sea, a defense ministry spokesman said on Saturday.

Russian Military: All Women, Children out of Militant-Controlled Aleppo Areas, Only Radicals Remain

All women and children have been evacuated from terror/militant-controlled parts of Eastern Aleppo, and only radicals now remain there and are firing at the Syrian army forces, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed.

U.S. sues ISIS to recover stolen Syrian antiquities

The U.S. government filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking the return of antiquities plundered by the ISIS.

Kerry assures Lavrov US is working with opposition groups that sabotage intra-Syrian talks

US Secretary of State assured Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that Washington has been working with opposition groups that sabotage intra-Syrian talks, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Military Operation in Eastern Aleppo Ends, Syrian Gov't Regains Control

The fighting in Eastern Aleppo has stopped and the Syrian government has regained control over the territory after the withdrawal of militants from the city was agreed, Russia’s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin told the UN Security Council meeting in New York on Tuesday.

Russian Defense Ministry: ISIS attacked Palmyra after US-led coalition stopped operations in Raqqa

Russian Defense Ministry affirmed on Monday that ISIS terrorists exploited the suspension of the operations of the US-led coalition in Raqqa to attack Tadmur (Palmyra) city.

Ancient city of Palmyra on the verge of capture by ISIS

The so-called "Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham" (ISIS) has reportedly seized the Tar Mountains and Al-'Amariyah District in Palmyra after a swift assault that began on Thursday.

Russia: Syrian Army Suspends Active Military Operation in Aleppo for Days

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on Thursday that Syrian government forces have suspended “active military activities” against militants in Eastern Aleppo to enable the withdrawal of civilians from the city.

Park to calmly accept impeachment if passed

South Korean President Park Geun-hye said Tuesday that she will calmly accept the impeachment if it is passed in the scheduled parliamentary vote three days later.

Russian Foreign Ministry: Western calls to stop combating terrorism in Aleppo a desperate attempt to save terrorists

Russian Foreign Ministry expressed astonishment at London’s and Paris’ calls to stop the counter- terrorism operation launched in Eastern Aleppo under humanitarian pretext, describing the move as an attempt to shelter and rescue terrorists.

Italian PM Renzi vows to resign after referendum defeat

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi announced his resignation hours after learning he had suffered a crushing defeat in a referendum on constitutional reform.

Javad Zarif: Extension of sanctions discredits US

Extension of Iran's Sanctions Act (ISA) for another decade by US will discredit Washington at the international level, said Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday.

Russian Defense Ministry: Aleppo eastern neighborhoods haven’t received any UN aid yet

The Russian Defense Ministry stressed that the areas in Aleppo eastern neighborhoods, which were regained by the Syrian Arab Army, haven’t received any UN aid yet.