Skip to main content

Photos show the aftermath of clashes between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters

ALEPPO, Syria (AP) — Displaced Syrians returned to the city of Aleppo after clashes between government forces and the U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces earlier this month forced them to move to neighboring towns.

On Saturday, Syrian government troops moved into two northern towns after Kurdish-led forces pulled back in an effort to avoid further clashes.

On Sunday, the Syrian government announced a ceasefire with the SDF.

—

This is a photo gallery created by AP photo editors.

Beijing bans 4 New Zealand lawmakers from entering China because they visited Taiwan

By WTOP Staff
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Beijing banned four New Zealand lawmakers from traveling to China for a year and demanded they apologize because they visited Taiwan on a parliamentary trip, according to a message from the Chinese embassy conveyed via parliamentary officials and shown to The Associated Press on Thursday. China has hit lawmakers from other countries with sanctions related to contact with Taiwan before, but it's the first time for New Zealand parliamentarians, the government in Wellington said. Beijing has been increasing pressure in recent years on the democratically governed island that it claims as its own territory. Two lawmakers reached by the AP on Thursday rejected the demand for an apology, while the other two could not be immediately reached. New Zealand's government said it would express concern about the travel bans to Beijing. The elected officials visited Taipei in May, as New Zealand parliamentarians have done “for decades,” a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement.
Read Next Story

Related News

Beijing bans 4 New Zealand lawmakers from entering China because they visited Taiwan

Police warn families of Tiananmen crackdown dead not to visit graves on 37th anniversary

Women are the first caregivers in this Ebola outbreak and the most at risk