Rebel Shelling of Damascus Kills 2 Women:
The SANA news agency says rebel groups based in the eastern suburb of Damascus known as Ghouta shelled several areas there on Wednesday, including a college that specializes in religious and Arabic studies.
Islamic State in Syria beheads alleged Russian spy:
The group release video showing man sitting in an orange jumpsuit and giving details of his apparent recruitment by Russian intelligence services
Russia-Syria military exercises prepare for Idlib battle: security source:
Russian and Syrian forces have been holding joint training exercises in Syria's Latakia province for the past fortnight to prepare for fighting in neighboring rebel-held Idlib, a security source said Wednesday.
NATO allies act to strengthen Turkey's air defenses:
NATO allies plan to send patrol aircraft and missiles to strengthen Ankara's air defenses on its border with Syria, officials said on Tuesday, following Turkey's shooting-down of a Russian bomber.
Map, images from Russian military show main routes of ISIS oil smuggling to Turkey:
"In total, in their illegal oil smuggling business, terrorists are using at least 8,500 trucks to transport up to 200,000 tons of oil every day."
Free Syrian Army to Sputnik: We Have Proof of Turkey's Oil Deals With Daesh:
Major-General Hosam Al-Awak has confirmed to Sputnik Arabic that the Free Syrian Army (FSA) has photos of the oil deals and contracts signed by a Turkish party to buy oil from Daesh (also known as ISIL/ISIS) terror organization, which controls large areas in Syria and Iraq.
Turkey won't retaliate against Russia's sanctions:
"Turkey in this regard retains its nobility. We are not using the same language as them... We are expecting them to change their language," Erdogan said, accusing Moscow of reacting to the incident in an "emotional" way.
EU bows to Turkey's threat on refugees says Erdogan advisor:
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's advisor Burhan Kuzu commented on the migrant deal between the EU and turkey, saying on his twitter account on Wednesday that the EU finally bowed to Turkey's threat to open its borders to refugees by deciding to provide Turkey with financial support for the migrant crisis.
Three killed in clashes under curfew in Turkey's southeast:
Three Kurdish militants were killed on Wednesday in a Turkish southeastern district under curfew since a prominent Kurdish lawyer was shot dead over the weekend, the provincial governor's office said on Wednesday.
15 ISIS elements killed in aerial bombardment north of Tikrit:
"The army aviation carried out air strikes that targeted a gathering of elements of the ISIS in Makhoul Mountains north of Tikrit, resulting in the killing of 15 elements of the organization."
Iraq: Coalition warplanes kill 10 ISIS militants southwest of Kirkuk:
"This evening, warplanes of the international coalition bombed gatherings for the ISIS in the districts of al-Rashad and al-Riyad as well as the outskirts of Hawija District (55 km southwest of Kirkuk), resulting in the death of ten ISIS elements."
Joint Chiefs chairman: 'We have not contained' ISIS :
The United States has "not contained" the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the nation's top military officer said Tuesday, contradicting President Obama's remarks last month about the terror group.
New U.S. force for Iraq to number around 100: U.S. military:
A new force of special operations troops being deployed by the United States to Iraq will likely number around 100, U.S. Army Colonel Steve Warren said on Wednesday.
Iraqi Shi'ite militias pledge to fight U.S. forces if deployed:
Powerful Iraqi Shi'ite Muslim armed groups on Tuesday pledged to fight any U.S. forces deployed in the country after the United States said it was sending an elite special unit to help combat Islamic State.
Iraqi PM, militias reject any foreign ground troops:
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Tuesday his country did not need foreign ground troops, after the United States said it was sending an elite special unit to help combat ISIS.
Iraqis think the U.S. is in cahoots with the Islamic State:
Iraqi fighters say they have all seen the videos purportedly showing U.S. helicopters airdropping weapons to the militants, and many claim they have friends and relatives who have witnessed similar instances of collusion.
Leaders urge restraint after assassination in Iraq's Kirkuk:
Political leaders in Kirkuk Wednesday urged restraint and unity after the assassination of a top Sunni Arab politician in the northern Iraqi city sparked fears of a flare-up.
Human cost of Iraq crisis is 'devastating,' UN deputy relief chief warns:
According to the UN, nearly 10 million people in Iraq are now in need of some form of humanitarian assistance and close to 3.2 million people are internally displaced since January 2014.
In Yemen, 180 killed in Houthi push for Saudi territory:
About 180 Houthi rebels died in a major push on the Yemeni-Saudi Arabian border yesterday to try to capture territory inside the kingdom.
7 Members of Yemeni Family Killed in Saudi Airstrike:
Three children and four women from the same family were killed on Tuesday after Saudi fighter jets heavily pounded their home in Marran area in Hidan district, Yemen's Saba Net news agency reported.
Al Qaeda militants take over two south Yemen towns, residents say:
Al Qaeda fighters retook on Wednesday two southern Yemeni towns they briefly occupied four years ago, residents and local fighters said, exploiting a collapse of central authority in Yemen which is in the throes of an eight-month war.
13 Palestinians shot in clashes after house demolition in Shufat camp: -
Israeli forces shot and injured 13 Palestinians in the Shufat refugee camp on Wednesday during clashes which broke out after the demolition of the home of camp resident Ibrahim al-Akkari, who carried out a deadly attack in Jerusalem last year.
Israeli soldier tells lawmakers: "I killed for you, with these hands," -
Video
Cameroon army kills 100 Boko Haram fighters, frees 900 hostages: Ministry:
Cameroon troops killed around 100 members of Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamist group and freed 900 hostages in a three-day operation in the far north of the country, the defence ministry said Wednesday.
At least four killed in twin suicide attacks in north Cameroon:
At least four people were killed in twin suicide attacks in the far north of Cameroon, an area that has been repeatedly targeted by Boko Haram militants from neighbouring Nigeria, security sources and state media said on Wednesday.
Five killed in Burundi grenade blasts, battles: government:
Battles in Burundi have killed at least five people, with bodies found dumped on the street and insurgents hurling grenades into bars, local officials and witnesses said Wednesday.
UN Experts: Up to 3,000 Islamic State Fighters in Libya:
The Islamic State group has between 2,000 and 3,000 fighters in Libya and has demonstrated its intention to control more territory in the strategically located North African country - but it is only one player among multiple warring factions, United Nations experts said in a report Tuesday.
Russia warns against NATO expansion:
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned on Wednesday that the continuing expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to the east would lead to retaliatory measures from Russia while U.S. played down Moscow's fears. Peskov made his statement after NATO military alliance on Wednesday invited Montenegro to join its ranks.
State Department 'troubled' by Moscow's move against Soros groups:
The U.S. State Department says it is "troubled" by Russia's decision to ban two of liberal billionaire George Soros' pro-democracy charities and label the organizations a threat to national security.
France shuts down three 'radical' mosques in wake of Paris attacks:
France's Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said Wednesday that police had arrested 232 people and shut down three mosques under emergency laws passed in the wake of last month's Paris terrorist attacks.
France watchdog slams round-ups of migrants from Calais 'Jungle':
France's prisons watchdog condemned the government on Wednesday for locking up migrants in a bid to clear the notorious camp known as "the Jungle" near Calais.
Merkel: We will have to return people to Afghanistan:
This year alone, more than 140,000 Afghans have fled insecurity and the Taliban's resurgence. The majority of them have ended up in Germany. In Berlin, Ashraf Ghani and Angela Merkel vowed to stem the flow of migrants.
Refugee camps are the "cities of tomorrow", says humanitarian-aid expert:
"These are the cities of tomorrow," said Kleinschmidt of Europe's rapidly expanding refugee camps. "The average stay today in a camp is 17 years. That's a generation." "In the Middle East, we were building camps: storage facilities for people. But the refugees were building a city," he told Dezeen.
Jeremy Corbyn: Syria air strikes are 'another ill-fated twist in never-ending war on terror':
Labour leader dismisses David Cameron's 'bomb first, talk later' approach, describing air strikes as 'reckless, half-baked intervention'
Syria Airstrikes: David Cameron Refuses To Apologise For Branding Anti-War MPs 'Terrorist Sympathisers':
David Cameron repeatedly refused to apologise today for branding MPs opposed to launching airstrikes against Isis in Syria "terrorist sympathisers", as the Commons prepared to authorise military action.
Apologise: MPs Line Up To Attack PM :
Angry MPs Line Up To Attack PM Over 'Terrorist Sympathisers' Remark David Cameron was repeatedly asked to say sorry in the Commons for calling MPs who oppose airstrikes in Syria 'terrorist sympathisers'
I'll defy my party leader, and vote against Syria airstrikes:
David Cameron's case was too heavy on emotion, and too reliant on the help of 70,000 'moderates'. He clearly hasn't learned the lessons of Libya
Why does Hilary Benn want to bomb Syria, the most bombed country on the planet?:
There is no humanitarian solution which can be achieved by more bombing of Syria, or by further stoking up the civil war.
Former Isis hostage says airstrikes on Syria are a trap:
French journalist Nicolas Hénin, who was held by Mohammed Emwazi, begs international community not to bomb Islamic State
Saudi ambassador attacks Corbyn over ISIS funding 'insult':
Saudi Araba's ambassador to the UK has attacked Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for suggesting the kingdom supports Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL). Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz al Saud described comments made by Corbyn as "distortion" and "an insult" to the Saudi Arabian government.
Man held at Guantánamo for 13 years a case of mistaken identity, say officials:
A man who has spent 13 years in the US prison camp at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, was arrested partly in a case of mistaken identity, US officials conceded on Tuesday.
FBI can access 'the most intimate details of our lives' without a warrant:
The lifting of an 11-year-old gag-order this week has confirmed that federal investigators have compelled Internet companies to cough up their customers' browsing history, online records and other personal information without ever applying for a warrant.
More domestic terrorism -
12 people killed in shooting at San Bernardino social services facility:
Investigators were searching the building and have yet to clear it. Police said there were reports of one to three shooters involved, and they were described to be wearing ski masks.
Watch for U.S. recession, zero interest rates in China next year, Citi says:
The outlook for the global economy next year is darkening, with a U.S. recession and China becoming the first major emerging market to slash interest rates to zero both potential scenarios, according to Citi.
Billionaire Bonanza: The Forbes 400 and the Rest of Us:
Wealthiest 20 people own more wealth than half the American population
Bump For Trump As Carson Fades In Republican Race:
On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton widens her lead over Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont to 60 - 30 percent, compared to 53 - 35 percent in a November 4 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley has 2 percent, with 6 percent undecided.
Berkeley Passes Strict Laws For Homeless:
Despite heated opposition from homeless advocates, the Berkeley city council voted Tuesday night in favor of a strict set of laws that will ban people from taking up more than 2 square feet of space on sidewalks.
