Jihadists from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) using heavy weapons have seized a string of villages around Kobane, also known as Ain al-Arab, as they close in on Syria’s third largest Kurdish town, a monitor said Sept. 18. “ISIL fighters have seized at least 21 villages …

China has called for a negotiated resolution of the border issue with India, shifting the focus on the root cause of problem, following the latest incidents in Chumar and Demchok, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said during his regular briefing on Thursday …

Russia has threatened to send more troops to its newly-annexed territory of Crimea, after NATO began exercises in western Ukraine. Russia’s defence minister Sergei Shoigu said the escalation of tensions in Ukraine and the presence of foreign military near Russia’s borders made the deployment of troops a top priority in …