The Islamic State starts the new year under more pressure than it has faced since it erupted onto the scene in 2014. ISIS itself is losing territory, men and money. But it's still able to lash out as we've seen this weekend in Istanbul and Baghdad.

President Putin of Russia says he's going to simply ignore tough new US sanctions, announced Thursday by President Barack Obama in response to Russia's alleged attempts to influence the US election. However, Russian officials are concerned about the dangers of a US cyberattack.

Syrians on both sides of their country's political divide search for an end to a grinding conflict.

Syria’s “moderate” rebels have agreed on a national ceasefire with the government of Bashar al-Assad. It follows their crushing military defeat in Aleppo. But the ceasefire process is far from certain; and, anyway, peace in Syria is a long way off, since other conflicts continue.

Niloofar Rahmani, a 25-year-old pilot lionized widely as the "Afghan Top Gun" after the 1986 Tom Cruise film on flying aces, was scheduled to return to Afghanistan last week after a 15-month training course with the US Air Force. But on the eve of her departure, she declared she will not be returning citing fears for her safety, triggering a storm of criticism in Afghanistan for "betraying" her nation but also garnering support from activists.

Elizaveta Glinka died last weekend when a Russian military plane taking off from Sochi crashed into the Black Sea. Glinka ran a Russian humanitarian foundation that helped orphans and elderly people and was flying to Syria to help deliver food and medicine to children caught up in the civil war.

Exodus is a new documentary that follows the path of refugees as they make a life-threatening journey to Europe.

Twenty-five years after the Cold War ended, Russians and Americans are nostalgic for the spirit of collaboration.

Hundreds of thousands of Syrian children are attending temporary Syrian schools in Turkey, where they learn in Arabic. But the country is considering a plan to have them attend Turkish schools only.

Sponsors are ordinary Canadian citizens committed to do everything they can to help resettle the refugees — from providing financial support to offering practical support, like helping with groceries, doctor’s appointments and English lessons.