How Syria policy stalled under the ‘analyst in chief’
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – (This version of the story was refiled to clarify the size of National Security Council staff in paragraph 12 for the record, after the story originally published on October 9 was updated on October 28 and refiled on December 19,…
Iraqi Kurds, Yazidis fight Islamic State for strategic town of Sinjar
MOUNT SINJAR, Iraq (Reuters) – Kurdish and Yazidi fighters battled to take the strategic northern Iraqi town of Sinjar back from Islamic State on Sunday after breaking a months-long siege of the mountain above it.
Essebsi declares win in Tunisia election, rival contests
TUNIS (Reuters) – Veteran politician Beji Caid Essebsi declared victory in Sunday’s presidential run-off vote, seen as the last step in Tunisia’s shift to full democracy four years after an uprising ousted autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali.
Syria says Israeli drone downed in Quneitra
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syria said on Sunday that an Israeli drone had been brought down in the province of Quneitra near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
Invoking Allah, driver slams car into pedestrians in eastern France
PARIS (Reuters) – French police arrested a man on Sunday evening after he deliberately mowed down a dozen pedestrians in the eastern city of Dijon, badly injuring two of them and shouting “Allahu Akbar” (“God is the greatest”), authorities said.
Obama says Sony hack not an act of war
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama moved to prevent U.S. anger at North Korea from spiraling out of control on Sunday by saying the massive hacking of Sony Pictures was not an act of war but instead was cyber-vandalism.
South Africa’s Zuma says in ‘perfect’ health after post-election fatigue
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South African President Jacob Zuma said he was in “perfect” condition after recovering from a bout of fatigue that left him hospitalized in June, playing down reports of health problems.
Jordan hangs 11 after eight-year death penalty freeze
AMMAN (Reuters) – Jordan executed 11 citizens on Sunday, ending an eight-year moratorium on capital punishment, judicial sources said.
U.S.-led forces launch 13 air strikes in Iraq, three in Syria
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S.-led forces attacked Islamic State targets on Sunday with 13 air strikes in Iraq and three in Syria, using fighter, bomber and other aircraft, the U.S. military said.
Libya’s official government targets rival forces trying to seize ports
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – Military planes loyal to Libya’s recognized government attacked on Sunday an opposing force that is seeking to seize the country’s two biggest oil ports, officials said.
