Michele Kelemen

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is in Washington Tuesday for a meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry that is likely to be dominated by events in Ukraine.

The website Unlock Iran documents what life is like for political prisoners in Iran. Activists say that little has changed despite promises by the new Iranian president to overhaul the country.

Addressing the collapse of Middle East peace talks for the first time, Secretary of State John Kerry called for pause and reassessment. Meanwhile, he's under fire for comparing Israel's treatment of Palestinians to Apartheid.

In a message from its state news agency, North Korea called South Korea's president a "crafty prostitute" to her "pimp," President Obama. The verbal assault followed Obama's trip to South Korea.

The most dangerous chemicals in its declared stockpile are supposed to be removed by Sunday. But there are reports Syria may be using less toxic chemicals, including chlorine, against civilians.

Aid has only trickled into Syria since the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution calling for more access to the country. Aid workers say bureaucratic obstacles continue to be a major problem.

Iran's reported decision to name Hamid Aboutalebi as its ambassador to the United Nations has ignited anger in the U.S. That's because the diplomat was part of the student group that held Americans hostage in 1979. Now, dozens of lawmakers are urging the Obama administration to deny him a visa.

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NATO is scaling back cooperation with Russia to punish it for its annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula. While the rhetoric is tough, Secretary Kerry is keeping the door open for negotiations.

The U.S. might release a notorious Israeli spy in order to keep peace talks with the Palestinians going — but the idea faces backlash both in the U.S. and abroad.

The new government has taken some steps says Anders Aslund, who advised Ukraine and Russia in the 1990s. They've let the exchange rate float and cut subsidies that he says enriched the ex president.

After visiting Rome, President Obama's next stop is Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Friday. He will reassure Saudi officials that the U.S. is committed to security in the Gulf.

Russia's annexation of Crimea has troubled its relations with the U.S. As Russia and the U.S. begin to trade sanctions in retaliation, analysts wonder if this spells a renewal of Cold War rivalry.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a treaty to annex Crimea and delivered a rousing speech to mark the occasion. The U.S. denounced the action as illegal but has few tools to change his mind.

Ukraine's interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk takes his case to the United Nations on Thursday, as he tries to build support for his country in its territorial conflict with Russia.

Ukraine's territorial integrity is under threat. The region of Crimea is expected to vote to secede and possibly join Russia. U.S. efforts to resolve this diplomatically with Moscow have gone nowhere.

Before Secretary of State John Kerry agrees to visit Russia, the State Department says it wants to see concrete evidence that Russia's ready for serious discussions on ending the crisis in Ukraine.

Secretary of State John Kerry met with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in the first direct high-level meeting between the U.S. and Russia since Russia sent troops into Crimea.

Secretary of State John Kerry is having discussions in France on Wednesday with America's allies about the crisis in Ukraine. He also is expected to meet with his Russian counterpart.

Secretary of State John Kerry is in Kiev Tuesday, offering $1 billion in American loan guarantees and promises of technical assistance to the new Ukrainian government.