Syrian rebels build an army with Turkish help, face challenges
A “National Army” being set up by Syrian rebels with Turkey’s help could become a long-term obstacle to President Bashar al-Assad’s recovery of the northwest – if they can end factional rivalries that have long blighted the opposition.
Afghan Taliban delegation visits Uzbekistan to talk security, power lines
A delegation from the Afghan Taliban met officials in Uzbekistan during a five-day trip to the country last week to discuss issues including transport and power lines and peace in Afghanistan, the movement’s political office said.
Colombia’s Cano Limon pipeline halted by bomb attack
Colombia’s state-run oil company Ecopetrol SA has halted pumping on its Cano Limon-Covenas pipeline because of a bomb attack, the company said on Saturday.
Suspected Seattle airplane thief was adventurer, bakery owner
The airline worker who stole an empty airplane from a Seattle airport on a flight that ended in his death once ran a bakery with his wife and enjoyed the benefits that came with his job to travel the world, social media posts showed.
Off-the-grid dream becomes nightmare in New Mexico compound
One of the leading members of a group prosecutors accused of abusing children at a New Mexico compound struggled with his plan to live off the grid after he underestimated a harsh mountain desert climate and settled on the wrong plot of land.
Mali to vote in run-off election with president Keita favorite to win
Malians vote on Sunday in a run-off election and President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita is favorite to beat Soumaila Cisse even though ethnic and militant violence has surged during his tenure.
Australia’s prime minister to face internal dissent as parliament resumes
Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will this week be forced to confront internal divisions as the government convenes for the first time since it suffered a series of electoral defeats that threatens its prospect for re-election.
Nobel prize winning author V.S. Naipaul dies aged 85: BBC
Trinidad-born British author V.S. Naipaul, who won the Nobel Prize for literature in 2001, has died at his home in London aged 85, the BBC reported on Saturday.
Jordan says four people killed in police raid on house sheltering militants
Jordan said on Saturday four people were killed during a police raid on a house sheltering militants suspected of being behind a bomb attack on a police van a day earlier.
Russia downs drone near its Syria air base: TASS
Russia’s military said it had shot down a drone that came close to its Syrian air base at Hmeimim on Saturday and was launched from the Idlib “de-escalation” zone controlled by what Moscow calls “illegal military groups”, TASS agency reported.
