Clashes leave 75 dead in northern Yemen:
At least 75 people have been killed in fighting between troops and Houth fighters in northern Yemen, military and tribal sources say, amid concern over the ceasefire violations. The casualties included 28 troops, according to military sources, while tribal officials added that Houthi fighters lost 40 men in heavy clashes on Saturday
Russian long-range warplanes drop 1,500 bombs on ISIS targets in Syria:
The crews of Tu-22 (Blinder) and Tu-160 (Blackjack) strategic bombers took off from airfields in Russia and spent 16 hours in the air to fulfill their combat tasks in Syria
Putin: Russia ready to use "more military means" in Syria if need be: agencies:
The Russian armed forces have not employed all their capability in Syria and may use "more military means" there if necessary, Russian news agencies quoted President Vladimir Putin as saying Saturday.
US Air Force Begins Withdrawing F-15 Fighter Jets From Turkey:
Twelve U.S. Air Force F-15 fighters sent to Incirlik airbase only last month to guard Turkish airspace and hit ISIS targets in Syria were suddenly flown back Wednesday to their home base in Britain, U.S. European Command announced.
UN endorses Syria peace plan in rare show of agreement:
The resolution gives a UN blessing to a plan negotiated previously in Vienna that calls for a ceasefire, talks between the Syrian government and opposition, and a roughly two-year timeline to create a unity government and hold elections.
Syria opposition skeptical over UN-backed peace plan:
A U.N.-backed roadmap to end the Syrian war was met with skepticism Saturday by members of the country's fractured opposition who insist President Bashar Assad must go to achieve peace. The plan was described as unrealistic by the Istanbul-based National Coalition, the main Syrian opposition grouping.
New Kurd-Arab alliance wants to join Syria talks:
Empowered by an effective fighting force on the ground, a newly-formed Kurdish-Arab alliance in Syria is working to position itself as a player in any future peace negotiations with Damascus. The SDC's speedy rise to prominence comes from its links to the Syrian Democratic Forces, a coalition of Kurdish and Arab fighters battling extremists in northeast Syria.
Turkey dismisses any Syria plan with Assad in place:
Turkey's prime minister has dismissed any attempt at ending the Syrian war that does not include the removal of the country's President Bashar al-Assad. Ahmet Davutoglu's comments come a day after the UN Security Council agreed on a draft text for a peace process to end the conflict.
Russia wants to maintain ties with Turkish people, Turkish leadership 'not eternal' - Putin:
Russia has no intention of damaging relations with the people of Turkey, President Vladimir Putin was quoted as saying on Saturday, while making clear that Moscow's ties with Ankara will not improve under the current Turkish leadership.
We don't take Putin statements seriously: Turkish PM:
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said the Turkish government "does not take seriously" Vladimir Putin's recent harsh statements, so he will not respond to the Russian president's "undiplomatic and insulting" remarks in the same manner.
Russia Forces a U.S. Shift in Northern Syria:
Moscow's assertive stance since a Turkish fighter downed a Russian Su-24 in late November has started to affect Washington and Ankara's air operations over Syria.
Assad makes surprise Christmas visit to Damascus church (PHOTOS):
A Christmas choir had a surprise visitor overnight after Bashar Assad made an appearance at a church in the Syrian capital of Damascus where rehearsals were taking place.
Air strike that killed Iraqi soldiers appears to have been by U.S. plane: Carter:
Carter said he spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi by phone on Saturday to express his condolences over the deaths. He said it appeared a U.S. aircraft had carried out the air strike.
Iraqi official gives Turkish troops deadline to leave country:
Turkey has 48 hours to withdraw its forces from Iraq. That's what Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said in a United Nations news conference on Friday. Al-Jaafari said the Iraqi government was surprised and angry to discover that Turkish forces were within its borders earlier this month.
Obama to Erdogan: Withdraw Turkish troops from Iraq:
In a telephone call on Friday, Obama "urged President Erdogan to take additional steps to deescalate tensions with Iraq, including by continuing to withdraw Turkish military forces." He also "reinforced the need for Turkey to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq," the White House said.
Turkey backs down, will move troops from northern Iraqi province:
Turkey has acknowledged a "miscommunication" with Iraq over its deployment of troops to the Bashiqa military base in northern Iraq, Turkey's foreign ministry said on Saturday.
Turkey says 69 Kurdish militants killed in southeastern offensive:
Sixty-nine Kurdish insurgents and two Turkish soldiers have been killed in four days of fighting across southeast Turkey as security forces ramp up operations against the militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), security sources and the military said on Saturday.
Erdogan meets Hamas leader Meshaal in Istanbul: sources:
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan met with Khaled Meshaal, leader of Palestinian militant group Hamas, on Saturday in Istanbul, Turkish presidential sources said, a day after Israel and Turkey said they were close to patching up five-year political rift.
In public relations exercise:
ISIS threatens Saudi Arabia over Islamic coalition:
ISIS threatened to attack Saudi Arabia for "colluding with crusaders" after the oil-rich kingdom said it had established a 34-state Islamic military coalition to target the militants.
German-made submarine heads to Israel for delivery:
The company unveiled the submarine in April 2013, however more work was needed to ensure the vessel was fully operational. Rahav is the fifth submarine of its class to be delivered to the Israeli Navy, The Times of Israel reports.
'I am a passionate Zionist,' declares Boris Johnson:
In the heat of a debate about Gaza this week, London Mayor Boris Johnson declared himself "a Zionist" on morning radio, before distancing himself from Israel's actions, which he called "disproportionate".
At least 14 killed in clashes in Libya's Ajdabiya:
At least 14 people have been killed and 25 wounded during clashes in eastern Libya between armed groups loyal to official government and Islamist groups, two medical sources said on Saturday.
Ethiopia: 75 protesters killed by security forces, claims Human Rights Watch:
At least 75 people have been killed during weeks of protests in Ethiopia. That's according to Human Rights Watch (HRW), which says soldiers and police have been firing on demonstrators. Students have been venting their anger over government proposals to take over take over territory in the Oromia region.
Nigerian Troops, Boko Haram Clash in Army Chief's Village:
Boko Haram gunmen launched a dawn raid today on the hometown of Nigeria's army chief, triggering a fierce gunbattle with troops, residents of a nearby village to which people fled the clashes said.
Islamic State group says its West Africa branch has killed, injured 1,000 people in 2 months:
Based in Nigeria, Boko Haram has expanded its attacks into Cameroon, Niger and Chad, countries contributing to a regional force to wipe out the extremists. The IS graphic says its West African branch has staged 67 suicide attacks and fired more than 120 rockets.
Has life changed for Tunisia after the revolution?:
Many Tunisians wonder if it was all for nothing. Has the country that became a model for the Arab Spring failed to deliver on the promise of real change?
Burundi rejects African peacekeeping force:
President's spokesman says government will not allow 5,000-strong African Union peacekeeping force to enter country.
Rwandan president Paul Kagame could rule until 2034 after voters lift limits:
More than 98% from 21 out of 30 districts, representing 70% of registered voters, voted to lift term limits for Kagame, Mbanda Kalisa said on Friday. Kagame's supporters celebrated the announcement in the capital, Kigali.
Afghan men march to demand reinstatement of woman governor:
An Afghan civil society leader says hundreds of men marched through a central provincial capital to call for the reinstatement of their woman governor, who was reappointed last week.
China accuses US of 'military provocation' after it flew bombers over disputed territory:
CHINA has accused the US of raising tensions and committing a "serious military provocation" by flying B-52 bombers over disputed territory in the South China Sea.
MH17: Australia Say Russia Not To Blame, Evidence Tampered With:
"initial information that the aircraft was shot down by a [Buk] surface to air missile" did not meet the Australian or international standard of evidence.
IMF recognizes Ukraine's contested $3bn debt to Russia as sovereign:
The executive board of the International Monetary Fund has recognized Ukraine's $3 billion debt to Russia as official and sovereign - a status Kiev has been attempting to contest. Russia is to sue Ukraine if it fails to pay by the December 20 deadline.
Surge in Children, Families at the U.S. Border May Be the 'New Normal':
More than 10,000 undocumented children have been stopped in just the last two months, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Obama Administration Fights To Withhold Over 2,000 Photos Of Alleged U.S. Torture and Abuse:
Such censorship is more likely to be an effort to manage domestic public opinion than it is extreme foreign elements. If Obama can do this on detainees, the next president can use the same power in countless other areas.
Budget Bill Allows New Privacy-Invading Surveillance in the Name of Cybersecurity:
The legislation the House passed on Friday morning is a thinly disguised surveillance bill that would give companies pathways they don't need to share user data related to cyberthreats with the government - while allowing the government to use that information for any purpose, with almost no privacy protections.
FBI files: Military questioned Pete Seeger's wartime loyalty:
In a security investigation triggered by a wartime letter he wrote denouncing a proposal to deport all Japanese-Americans, the Army intercepted Seeger's mail to his fiancee, scoured his school records, talked to his father, interviewed an ex-landlord and questioned his pal Woody Guthrie, according to FBI files obtained by The Associated Press.
Record 346 inmates die, dozens of guards fired in Florida prisons:
The United States has a prison crisis of epic proportions. With just five percent of the world population, but 25 percent of the world's prisoners, the United States has, far and away, the highest incarceration rate, the largest number of prisoners, and the largest percentage of citizens with a criminal record of any country in the world.
Bernie Sanders sues DNC for $600,000 a day over removal of data access:
Campaign says party committee is 'holding hostage' crucial voter information in retaliation for what the Clinton campaign calls Sanders officials' 'theft' of data
Clinton, Rubio, Cruz Receive Foreign Policy Advice From Same Consulting Firm:
The bipartisan firm was founded in 2013 by former senior officials from the State Department, Department of Defense, and Central Intelligence Agency, and quickly had more than a dozen clients, primarily defense contractors, according to Defense News.
