Philip Williams

Philip Williams has been the ABC's chief foreign correspondent since late 2016. Previous to that, he was Europe correspondent based in London. It was Philip's second stint in London for the ABC, and he has also worked as Tokyo correspondent (1990 to 1993).

• Israeli building approvals show 'two-state solution' becoming fiction Analysis

  By chief foreign correspondent Philip Williams

  Posted January 23, 2017 12:57:48 | Updated January 23, 2017 13:03:59

  When permits were granted for 560 units to be built in three areas of East Jerusalem, it was taken by many as yet another intrusion by Israelis into what is regarded as Palestinian land — further evidence the supposed goal of the "two-state solution" is drifting from fading hope towards fiction.

  Topics: world-politics, territorial-disputes, israel, palestinian-territory-occupied, united-states

• Berlin attack will have ramifications for Merkel Analysis

  By chief foreign correspondent Philip Williams

  Posted December 20, 2016 10:24:32 | Updated December 20, 2016 11:53:06

  The carnage of the market attack in Berlin will have ramifications for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who faces concerns about her open door policy for Syrian and other refugees in the lead up to next year's election.

  Topics: terrorism, world-politics, germany

• New Zealand shows Australia how political stability is done Analysis

  By chief foreign correspondent Philip Williams

  Posted December 11, 2016 08:39:55 | Updated December 11, 2016 09:44:04

  In the week our school children slipped down the global ratings and our economy recorded a rare deficit, the New Zealanders could quickly point to a budget surplus with more to come, writes chief foreign correspondent Philip Williams.

  Topics: world-politics, federal-government, new-zealand, australia

• Going out in style: John Key leaves on his own terms Analysis

  By chief foreign correspondent Philip Williams

  Posted December 05, 2016 12:49:13 | Updated December 05, 2016 15:33:14

  For the past eight years John Key has so dominated New Zealand politics it seemed his rule as Prime Minister had no use-by date — but of course, as every political leader should know, all have one, but few recognise the signs it is time to go, writes Philip Williams.

  Topics: government-and-politics, world-politics, new-zealand

• New US president to face chilly relations with Russia Analysis

  By chief foreign correspondent Philip Williams

  Posted October 12, 2016 05:49:30 | Updated October 12, 2016 10:37:36

  There was a quiet but deadly serious issue raised in the second US presidential debate: what to do about Syria and, more broadly, how to counter Russia in that blighted nation and other places.

  Topics: world-politics, us-elections, united-states, russian-federation, syrian-arab-republic

• Putin accuses Ukraine 'terrorists' of trying to provoke new Crimea conflict

  By chief foreign correspondent Philip Williams, wires

  Posted August 11, 2016 07:53:27

  Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have heightened after claims by Moscow that Ukrainian forces attempted to infiltrate the annexed territory of Crimea.

  Topics: territorial-disputes, unrest-conflict-and-war, world-politics, ukraine, russian-federation

• Turkey accuses EU of insincerity as refugee funding falls

  By Philip Williams in Istanbul

  Posted July 27, 2016 09:03:34

  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accuses the European Union of failing to deliver on a deal that has stemmed the flow of Syrian refugees to Europe.

  Topics: refugees, world-politics, unrest-conflict-and-war, turkey, european-union

• What does the Chilcot report mean for Iraq? (photos)

  By chief foreign correspondent Philip Williams

  Posted July 07, 2016 05:51:48 | Updated July 07, 2016 09:28:13

  The Chilcot report is a step in the right direction for Britain, but it will not mean much to the Iraqis who lost loved ones and live under a new oppressive rule thanks to the West's war, chief foreign correspondent Philip Williams writes.

  Topics: unrest-conflict-and-war, united-kingdom

• Brexit 'an adventure into the unknown'

  By chief foreign correspondent Philip Williams in Naples

  Posted June 24, 2016 23:49:21 | Updated June 25, 2016 13:29:17

  The full ramifications of the United Kingdom exiting the EU will be played out in years not days, writes Philip Williams.

  Topics: world-politics, government-and-politics, referendums, united-kingdom

• Jo Cox murder shocks Britain as political fault lines deepen

  By chief foreign correspondent Philip Williams

  Posted June 17, 2016 10:49:28 | Updated June 17, 2016 11:43:52

  MPs in the UK and in Australia may well be worrying in the wake of Jo Cox's death, writes Philip Williams. With the political discourse becoming increasingly inflammatory, theirs is now a job that carries new risks and fewer rewards.

  Topics: murder-and-manslaughter, world-politics, referendums, united-kingdom, england

• Australian troops in Afghanistan for at least 3 more years

  AM

  By chief foreign correspondent Philip Williams

  Posted April 21, 2016 09:13:52 | Updated April 21, 2016 10:28:14

  Australian troops have been involved in the Afghanistan war for 15 years, and Air Vice Marshal Tim Innes says they will continue their work there for at least another three years.

  Topics: unrest-conflict-and-war, foreign-affairs, defence-forces, terrorism, australia

• Analysis: Belgian attacks a problem for all of Europe

  By chief foreign correspondent Philip Williams

  Posted March 23, 2016 10:23:56 | Updated March 23, 2016 11:06:22

  Belgium's security forces could have done more to prevent the Brussels attacks, but so could every security service in the world.

  Topics: terrorism, security-intelligence, world-politics, belgium

• Iran's Foreign Minister criticises Australia's treatment of asylum seekers

  Lateline

  By chief foreign correspondent Philip Williams, Brigid Andersen

  Posted March 16, 2016 19:05:08 | Updated March 17, 2016 00:09:18

  Iran's Foreign Minister has criticised Australia's treatment of asylum seekers, describing their living conditions as "unconscionable".

  Topics: refugees, immigration, rights, foreign-affairs, iran-islamic-republic-of, australia

• 'We lost everything': Tales of survival from shattered Fiji

  7.30

  By chief foreign correspondent Philip Williams

  Posted March 04, 2016 19:27:05 | Updated March 05, 2016 17:39:59

  The ABC is among the first to reach an isolated Fijian community battered by Cyclone Winston, where locals who lost homes and loved ones reveal how they survived and how they will plan to move on.

  Topics: cyclones, relief-and-aid-organisations, fiji, pacific

• Cyclone Winston leaves island villagers reeling

  By chief foreign correspondent Philip Williams

  Posted February 24, 2016 22:39:46 | Updated February 25, 2016 10:56:30

  A week ago the villagers of Namacu on Koro island were tending their gardens, fishing, and relaxing in a beautiful coastal hamlet of around 250 people — they could not know that by Sunday morning their lives would be utterly, violently, changed.

  Topics: cyclone, cyclones, disasters-and-accidents, weather, fiji, pacific

• With so many opposing forces, is peace in Syria impossible?

  By chief foreign correspondent Philip Williams

  Posted February 19, 2016 17:31:01 | Updated February 19, 2016 18:47:27

  With so many internal factions fighting in Syria, and foreign superpowers fighting proxy wars over the territory, can a return to peace really be achieved?

  Topics: unrest-conflict-and-war, world-politics, terrorism, syrian-arab-republic

• Australian used as WWII sex slave still fighting for justice from Japan

  By chief foreign correspondent Philip Williams

  Posted February 17, 2016 06:24:55 | Updated February 19, 2016 16:13:53

  Jan Ruff-O'Herne, 93, was repeatedly raped in a Japanese army brothel. Now, she is campaigning for the Japanese Government to offer apologies and compensation to herself and other "comfort women".

  Topics: sexual-offences, law-crime-and-justice, world-war-2, history, adelaide-5000, japan

• Parisians 'afraid to go outside' after pizzeria sprayed with bullets

  By Europe correspondent Philip Williams

  Posted November 18, 2015 08:28:56

  Outside La Casa Nostra Pizzeria, there is a single chair with a sign in five languages, simply saying: "why". It is a question not many in the steady stream of mourners can confidently answer.

  Topics: community-and-society, unrest-conflict-and-war, terrorism, france

• Despite the signs of normality, Paris is still a city in shock

  By Europe correspondent Philip Williams

  Posted November 17, 2015 07:39:12

  Some shops are opening, the traffic flows, but despite the appearance of a semblance of normality, Paris is still a city in shock.

  Topics: terrorism, law-crime-and-justice, community-and-society, france

• 'I had dead people all around me': Bataclan survivor recalls siege horror

  7.30

  By Europe correspondent Philip Williams

  Posted November 16, 2015 20:18:13 | Updated November 17, 2015 10:44:54

  Italian businessman Massimiliano Natalucchi recalls the moment four terrorists stormed Paris's Bataclan theatre and his interaction with one of the unmasked gunmen.

  Topics: unrest-conflict-and-war, terrorism, murder-and-manslaughter, france

• NATO, US warn Russia against increasing troop numbers in Syria

  By Europe correspondent Philip Williams, wires

  Posted September 11, 2015 09:10:42

  NATO and the US warn Russia against building up its military presence in Syria after reports Russian ground troops have been involved in fighting there.

  Topics: unrest-conflict-and-war, world-politics, law-crime-and-justice, syrian-arab-republic, united-states, russian-federation

• Why do we care more about two deaths than 50?

  Correspondents Report

  Analysis by Europe correspondent Philip Williams

  Posted August 30, 2015 12:09:01 | Updated August 31, 2015 10:04:51

  If we are led to feel more about the deaths of two American reporters than 50 Somali or Syrian or Afghan asylum seekers, surely we have lost something of our basic humanity, writes ABC foreign correspondent Philip Williams.

  Topics: death, community-and-society, information-and-communication, immigration, murder-and-manslaughter, crime, law-crime-and-justice, united-states, libyan-arab-jamahiriya, united-kingdom

• Teenage British girl pleads guilty to terrorism plot charges

  By Europe correspondent Philip Williams

  Posted August 26, 2015 21:06:46 | Updated August 26, 2015 22:41:42

  A 16-year-old girl who was arrested at the same time as a boy convicted over an alleged terrorism plot on Anzac Day in Melbourne pleads guilty to two terrorism charges in Britain.

  Topics: unrest-conflict-and-war, terrorism, united-kingdom

• 'Irrefutable' evidence men linked to Putin behind Litvinenko's death: inquiry

  By Europe correspondent Philip Williams, wires

  Posted August 01, 2015 14:35:20 | Updated August 01, 2015 16:19:26

  British police accuse Russia of being involved in the murder of Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko, after an inquiry into his mysterious death in 2006.

  Topics: law-crime-and-justice, international-law, community-and-society, world-politics, united-kingdom, russian-federation

• UK border security increased in bid to control Calais migrant crisis

  By Europe correspondent Philip Williams and wires

  Posted August 01, 2015 11:42:59

  New security measures targeting thousands of migrants trying to get into the UK from the French port of Calais are ordered by British prime minister David Cameron.

  Topics: immigration, community-and-society, united-kingdom, france

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