Josh Earnest

The White House on Nov 2 voiced displeasure at the "intimidation" of Turkish journalists during an election that bolstered the Justice and Development Party (AKP).

President Barack Obama has authorized the first sustained deployment of special forces to Syria, the White House said on Oct. 30, reversing a long-standing refusal to put US boots on the ground.

President Barack Obama will travel to Turkey for a G20 summit, followed by stops in the Philippines and Malaysia for meetings with world leaders next month, the White House said on Oct. 26.

Turkey has joined just three coordinated U.S.-led coalition airstrikes against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) targets in Syria since August.

Turkish war have jets struck ISIL positions in Syria in two of the three aerial campaigns so far, with the last of the air strikes coming late on Oct. 14, according to Turkish sources in Ankara.

A missile test announced by Iran over the weekend was an apparent violation of a U.N. Security Council resolution and Washington will raise it at the United Nations, the U.S. State Department said on Oct. 13. 

Iran said it tested a new precision-guided ballistic missile on Oct. 11, signaling an apparent advance in Iranian attempts to improve the accuracy of its missile arsenal. 

Pope Francis arrived in the United States on Sept.22 for his first visit -- a historic six-day trip during which his focus on consumerism, poverty and the marginalized risks appearing as a criticism of American society.

The White House said on Sept.17 it was open to limited talks with Moscow following the controversial deployment of Russian troops and heavy weapons to war-torn Syria.

US President Barack Obama will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Nov. 9 -- their first meeting after a deep row over the Iranian nuclear deal.

President Barack Obama will offer his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping a full state welcome at the White House on September 25, amid deep and growing tensions between the top economic and political powers.
 

Iran?s Supreme Leader said on Sept. 3 that he backed a parliamentary vote on a historic nuclear deal reached with six major powers and said sanctions against his country should be lifted completely rather than suspended, state television reported.