Evacuation of Damascus militants delayed after rebel leader killed
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A U.N.-brokered deal to evacuate more than 2,000 Islamic State fighters and other militants from rebel-held suburbs of Damascus on Saturday has been delayed after the killing of an insurgent leader, an organization that monitors the …
Guinea’s Conde names mining executive as new prime minister
CONAKRY (Reuters) – Guinea President Alpha Conde named mining executive Mamady Youla as prime minister on Saturday as part of a strategy to revive the West African nation’s ailing economy, the government announced.
Israeli forces say shoot dead two Palestinian assailants
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli security forces said they shot dead two Palestinian assailants on Saturday in separate incidents in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, as 12 weeks of heightened violence showed no sign of abating.
Over 100,000 flee flooding in Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay
ASUNCION/BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – More than 100,000 people have had to evacuate from their homes in the bordering areas of Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina due to severe flooding in the wake of heavy summer rains brought on by El Niño, authorities said on Saturday.
Iraqi troops close in on Islamic State redoubt in Ramadi
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi troops have pushed deeper into the heart of the last remaining district held by Islamic State in the city of Ramadi, despite being slowed by bombs and booby traps, army spokesmen said on Saturday.
Austrian police say European capitals have been warned of possible attack
VIENNA (Reuters) – Vienna police said on Saturday a “friendly” intelligence service had warned European capitals of the possibility of a shooting or bomb attack before New Year, prompting police across the continent to increase security measures.
Islamic State ‘gets tougher’ in face of air strikes: audio message
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – A new message purporting to come from the leader of Islamic State said air strikes by Russia and a U.S.-led coalition had failed to weaken the group.
Behind the scenes, Pakistan’s military helped revive talks with India
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – The quiet involvement of Pakistan’s powerful military in its foreign policy this year paved the way for reviving a stalled dialogue with India, officials said, a thaw leading to the first visit to Pakistan by an Indian premier in almost 12 years. 
U.N. Syria mediator aims to convene peace talks on January 25
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations said on Saturday it aims to bring together Syria’s warring parties on Jan. 25 in Geneva to begin talks to try to end nearly five years of civil war.
U.S.-backed alliance captures key dam from Islamic State: alliance spokesman
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A U.S-backed alliance of Syrian Kurds and Arab rebel groups, backed by U.S. coalition planes, captured a dam on Saturday from Islamic State, cutting a main supply route of the militants across the Euphrates, an alliance spokesman sai…
