U.S.-backed SDF says attack on last Islamic State enclave has begun
The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) started an attack to capture Islamic State’s last remaining shred of territory in eastern Syria on Sunday and were exchanging fire with the jihadist militants, an SDF official said.
Macron’s party favors pensions boost for poorest amid protests
France should link pension rises for the poorest retirees with inflation again, the head of President Emmanuel Macron’s ruling party said on Sunday, as politicians seek a response to a wave of protests over high living costs.
Trump adviser: some time may pass before a third North Korea summit
U.S. President Donald Trump is open to a third summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un but some time may have to go by before this takes place, Trump’s national security adviser said on Sunday.
U.S.-backed forces in Syria say deadline for Islamic State surrender passed, attack to start
The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Sunday the deadline for Islamic State to surrender from its final enclave in eastern Syria was over, and that its frontline troops had received orders to attack.
President Bouteflika due to arrive in Algeria on Sunday amid protests
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was expected to land in Algeria on Sunday after leaving Geneva where he has spent two weeks in a Swiss hospital as mass protests have posed the biggest threat to his 20-year rule.
Popularity sky-high, Mexico’s president runs a one-man show
Three months into his presidency, Mexico’s Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has already spent more time facing the press corps than his predecessor did in his entire six-year term.
Venezuela enters fourth day of blackout as Maduro blames U.S. for power outage
Venezuelans woke up to a fourth day of an unprecedented nationwide blackout on Sunday, leaving residents concerned about the impacts of the lack of electricity on the South American country’s health, communications and transport systems.
Sudanese opposition leader’s daughter jailed over protests: party
The deputy head of Sudan’s opposition Umma Party was sentenced to a week in prison on Sunday for demonstrating against the president, a party official and a lawyer said, as activists protested against emergency laws imposed last month.
Ethiopian Airlines flight crashes, killing 157
An Ethiopian Airlines passenger jet bound for Nairobi crashed minutes after take-off on Sunday, killing all 157 people on board and raising questions about the safety of the Boeing 737 MAX 8, a new model that also crashed in Indonesia in October.
Abbas picks loyalist Shtayyeh as Palestinian prime minister
Economist Mohammed Shtayyeh, a member of the West Bank’s dominant Fatah party, was named Palestinian prime minister on Sunday in what the rival Hamas group that runs Gaza called a blow to unity efforts.
