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Turkish air strikes kill 23 ISIL militants; Report; The Turkish General Staff said its warplanes “neutralized” 23 ISIL militants in air strikes in the al-Bab city of Aleppo province in northern Syria between 10:05 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 7.

12 killed in shelling of government-held Aleppo; Syria’s state news agency is reporting that 12 people have been killed by rebel shelling of government-controlled parts of Aleppo city.

Turkish soldier killed in northern Syria: Turkish military did admit that one soldier was killed near Al-Bab, a town currently held by ISIS, but contested by not only Turkey-backed forces like the Free Syrian Army, but also by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian Army

Russian military adviser killed in ‘opposition’ shelling in Aleppo – MoD: “Colonel Ruslan Galitsky has died in the hospital from severe wounds. Russian military doctors had been fighting for his life for a few days. The serviceman was wounded during shelling of a residential neighborhood in western Aleppo

Syrian Army on brink of Victory, Jihadis surrendering across Aleppo: Reports from Aleppo confirm collapse of Jihadi resistance and mass surrender of Jihadi fighters to Syrian Arab Army. Surrendered Jihadi fighters being bused in green buses to an undisclosed destination.

RT crew first to reach liberated area of Aleppo’s Old City (EXCLUSIVE VIDEO) RT’s Lizzie Phelan and her crew were the first journalists to visit the neighborhoods just captured by the government.

Syrians leaving east Aleppo in bus loads: UN: Bus loads of civilians continue to arrive in government-controlled areas of the city and leave for other sites or to lodge with family members, the U.N. official said by email.

Aleppo : Old City taken by Syrian army in major advance, rebels call for truce: The Syrian army seized control of the whole of Aleppo's Old City overnight on Tuesday, government news sources reported, as rebels proposed a truce and Turkey pushed for fresh talks.

Barack Obama condemn Syria and Russia and call for immediate ceasefire; Joint statement from six Western powers asks Russia and Iran to use their influence’on Syrian government to secure cessation in hostilities, as rebels also make rare plea for truce

Kremlin says possible deal to let rebels leave Aleppo still on agenda; The Kremlin said on Wednesday that a potential U.S.-Russia deal to allow Syrian rebels to safely leave Aleppo was still on the agenda, but that no talks were planned between the two countries for now.

Syria: Israeli rockets hit near Damascus military base; A Syrian military source said Israeli rockets hit around the Mezzeh military airport near the Syrian capital Damascus at around 3am today. The source said the ground-to-ground rockets caused a fire but no injuries.

Dozens killed in west Iraq air strike, MPs and medics say; Air strikes on Wednesday killed dozens of people, including many women and children, in an Islamic State-held town near Iraq's western border with Syria, two parliamentarians and local hospital sources said.

Bomb attacks kill 17 in Iraq; Seventeen people have been killed and fifty seven injured in a wave of bomb attacks. These attacks were carried out in northern Sabi al-Bor area and the southeast suburb of Nahrawan.

Iraqi troops withdraw as ISIS attacks leave deaths in Mosul: Iraqi army troops withdrew Wednesday from the districts of Wehda and Sumer due to deadly counter-attacks by Islamic State militants, hours after the forces stormed the two eastern Mosul districts, Anadolu Agency reported.

How Iran closed the Mosul 'horseshoe' and changed Iraq war: The original campaign strategy called for Iraqi forces to close in around Mosul in a horseshoe formation, blocking three fronts but leaving open the fourth - to the west of the city leading to Islamic State territory in neighboring Syria.

US Army to send 1700 paratroops to Iraq early in 2017; The 82nd Airborne’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team, stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, will deploy to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to take part in Operation Inherent Resolve, according to an Army press release.

Yemen; Dozens killed, injured from Saudi-paid mercenaries in Alab Asir: Dozens of Saudi-paid aggression mercenaries were killed and wounded in their failed attempt to advance to Alab crossing in Asir province.

Yemen being "slowly starved to death" - Oxfam; The charity warned that the conflict in the country has left the population “at risk of catastrophic hunger” with food stocks set to run out by April

UN watchdog: Iran shipped excess heavy water to comply with nuclear deal; Iran has exported enough nuclear-grade heavy water to bring stocks back under the limit agreed in last year's accords

Report: Dozens Killed, Vanished as Kenya Fights Extremists; At least 81 extremism suspects have been killed illegally or forced to disappear by Kenyan police in the country's coastal region after a series of attacks, a human rights organization said Wednesday

Eastern Libyan forces foil rival faction's advance on oil ports: officials: Eastern Libyan forces said they thwarted an attempted advance on some of Libya's major oil ports on Wednesday, hitting a rival faction with air strikes and capturing some of its commanders.

Tensions high in Tripoli after fighting ends in cease-fire ; shaky cease-fire was agreed upon by the warring factions turned the streets into yet another war zone in an attempt at a power grab for control of Tripoli and in essence Libya itself

At Least 38 Taliban Killed in Afghan Military Offensive; At least 38 Taliban fighters were killed in the last 24 hours in an offensive by Afghan forces in the troubled southern province of Helmand, a part of Afghanistan where insurgents have wrested greater control of the territory.

Child Marriages on the Rise in Afghan Province; “When you get married, you can’t go to school, can’t play with your friends and you have to forget all your own wishes,” she said. “Especially when you become a mother, then a world full of problems opens up to you and you suffer for the rest your life.”

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange releases statement he gave prosecutors: Assange plans to remain inside the Ecuadorean Embassy - even if the Swedish prosecutors announce he will not be charged - until there are assurances he will not face charges in the United States.

Mexico: 20 gunmen killed in shootouts in Veracruz; The state's joint security agency had previously announced that 14 presumed gang gunmen died in a shootout Monday in Veracruz, which is a smuggling corridor and a hotspot for drug cartel violence.

U.S.A. is not America!; America is the name of a whole continent. United States of America means that the United States belongs to America and NOT that America belongs to the United States.

Pentagon reportedly buried study exposing $125 billion in waste; Senior defense officials suppressed a study documenting $125 billion worth of administrative waste at the Pentagon out of fears that Congress would use its findings to cut the defense budget, the Washington Post reported late Monday.

After 8 Years of Expanding Presidential War Powers, Obama Insists They Are Limited; The 61-page report calls for trying terrorism suspects in civilian court and explains at length why no future president could legally torture detainees.

War On The Homeless: Cities All Over America Are Passing Laws Making It Illegal To Feed And Shelter Those In Need

Rate Of Hiring Declines At Fastest Pace Since 2013; Job openings in professional services, mining, manufacturing, information, food services and government all fell.

Donald Trump: 'We will stop racing to topple foreign regimes'; President-elect Donald Trump has laid out a US military policy that would avoid interventions in foreign conflicts and instead focus heavily on defeating Islamic State militancy.

Trump taps Terry Branstad as China ambassador, John F. Kelly as homeland security chief : Kelly, 66, retired earlier this year as the commander of U.S. Southern Command. He would be the third general named to a cabinet position by Trump

Foxconn is in talks over a new US investment: - Trump announced the agreement -- which he said would bring 50,000 jobs -- in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York, alongside SoftBank's flamboyant chief executive Masayoshi Son.

Trump sold his ENTIRE share portfolio in June : That closes the door on a number of conflict of interest claims that could have plagued the president-elect through his first term.

'Cancel It!' Trump says new Air Force One cost ridiculous: "I think Boeing is doing a little bit of a number. We want Boeing to make a lot of money, but not that much money." Earlier he had tweeted that the deal's costs were "out of control, more than $4 billion.

Will Trump Bring the Robot Apocalypse?; The future was supposed to bring prosperity and leisure to working people, not joblessness and misery. But that was before the money guys took over.

Trump aide Michael Flynn Jnr out after 'Pizzagate' tweets; One of Donald Trump's aides has lost his job after fanning a conspiracy theory that climaxed at the weekend in gunfire at a pizzeria.

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Airstrikes kill 34 in Syria: Pro-rebel monitor; At least 34 people were killed on Sunday by intensified airstrikes on rebel-held areas in Syria's northern province of Idlib, a monitor group reported.

Militant Shelling Kills Civilians in Syria’s Nubl, Zahra; Dozens of Syrian civilians were killed and injured in rocket attacks carried out by Takfiri militants for a third successive day in the towns of Nubl and Zahra near Aleppo as the Syrian army is making huge gains on the ground in northwestern Aleppo province.

2 Russian paramedics killed, 1 gravely injured in militant attack on hospital in Aleppo – MoD; One Russian medic was killed immediately at the Russian military mobile hospital set up in western Aleppo, and another died later in a hospital after succumbing to her injuries, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Syria "rebels" rule out withdrawal from Aleppo: SYRIAN rebels overnight ruled out a pullout from east Aleppo despite sweeping government advances, after Moscow announced it would hold talks with Washington on their withdrawal from the city.

Rebels defiant as Syrian army nears Aleppo's Old City; Western and regional states backing the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad appear unwilling or unable to do anything to prevent a major defeat for those fighting to topple the Syrian leader

UN to vote on Aleppo ceasefire; It urges all parties to the conflict in Syria to “immediately cease any attacks in the city of Aleppo to allow urgent humanitarian needs to be addressed” for a period of seven days that could be extended, the sources added.

More militants surrender to Syrian Army in rural Damascus; Some 450 rebel fighters and outlaws from the city of Al-Kiswah and neighboring towns in southern Damascus have just turned themselves in to the Syrian Army, thus ending years-long fight against government forces.

U.S. Congress is trying to send anti-aircraft missiles to Syria’s jihadist-infested rebellion; For the first time in the Pentagon’s legislative blueprint, the United States government will be permitted to sell Man Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) to Syrian opposition units that have been vetted by the intelligence community.

Fearing abandonment by Trump, CIA-backed rebels in Syria mull alternatives; Among the options, are a closer alliance with better-armed al-Qaeda and other extremist groups, receipt of more sophisticated weaponry from Sunni states in the Persian Gulf region opposed to a U.S. pullback

EU’s Syria Plan B sees Assad staying, Brussels paying for it – Times: The EU is reportedly planning to offer Damascus financial aid in exchange for allowing rebel forces stay in power in some regions of Syria. Brussels is no longer insisting on the retirement of Syrian President Bashar Assad, according to the Times.

Airstrike kills, wounds 22 ISIS militants near Kirkuk; “The airs strike resulted in the killing of eight ISIS members and wounding of 14 others,” the media outlet added.

ISIS executes 11 persons near Kirkuk, including whole family; Today, ISIS executed four youths from al-Baghaliya village, in Hawija district, for collaborating with security forces, the source told Alsumaria News.

West Mosul shelled as Iraq steps up fight against Islamic State: Western-backed Iraqi forces have begun shelling parts of west Mosul, residents said, in preparation for a new front against Islamic State seven weeks into a difficult campaign to drive the militants from the city.

Iraq denies Daesh leader Baghdadi was killed; A senior Iraqi security source inside the country’s Nineveh province dismissed reports that the leader of Daesh, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, was dead, according to Russian news agency Sputnik.

Defense Secretary says US, partners need to stay in Iraq: The American military, along with its international partners, will need to remain in Iraq even after the expected defeat of the Islamic State group, outgoing Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Saturday.

Iran seeks more cooperation with Saudi Arabia; " Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman says the Islamic Republic and its regional rival Saudi Arabia can and should cooperate to resolve regional crises.

Saudi jets attack Pakistani boat off Yemen, kill six sailors; The Saudi jets targeted a boat carrying 12 Pakistani sailors off Mukha coast in the Yemeni province of Ta’izz on Sunday, Yemen’s Saba news agency said.

Saudi aggression air strikes kill woman, wound 2 daughters in Baqi; A woman was killed and two daughters were wounded when a Saudi aggression air strikes launched five Strikes on al-Mhjar area in Baqim district of Saada province overnight, a security official told Saba on Monday.

Boris Johnson says 'we do not think the threshold has been crossed' by Saudi Arabia's bombing of Yemen: Boris Johnson has insisted a “threshold has not been crossed” by Saudi Arabia in its bombardment of Yemen.

Israel government nears deal that could 'legalise' settler homes; International community considers all Jewish settlements on occupied land to be illegal, whether authorised by Israel or not. Homes located in Israel-approved settlements were built on Palestinian land

Central African Republic: Civilians Killed During Clashes: Serious fighting in the Central African Republic in late November 2016 between two Seleka groups left at least 14 civilians dead and 76 wounded, Human Rights Watch said today.

Libyan forces claim control of ISIL stronghold of Sirte; Hundreds of loyalist troops and unknown number of ISIL fighters killed as pro-government forces seize coastal city.

With fall of Sirte, IS down but not out in Libya; The fall of Sirte to pro-government forces is a significant setback for the Islamic State group in Libya, but will not spell the end of the jihadists in the strife-torn country, experts say.

Relations between US and UN strained over Afghanistan war reports; US military is increasingly trying to control public information about conflict, nearly leading to ban on UN staff from Kabul base.

Trump’s Taiwan phone call was long planned, say people who were involved: Donald Trump’s protocol-breaking telephone call with Taiwan’s leader was an intentionally provocative move that establishes the incoming president as a break with the past.

Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-Wen ‘initiated’ phone call with Donald Trump; It was Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen who initiated the unprecedented phone conversation with United States president-elect Donald Trump, following weeks of intense lobbying from Taipei, the island’s presidential spokesman told the South China Morning Post.

Ukraine: Five police killed in friendly-fire shoot-out; The overnight shoot-out between two sets of police began when each side believed the other to be criminals. It happened near Kiev and has been described as a "heartbreaking tragedy".

‘I rigged parliament votes for President Poroshenko’ – fugitive Ukrainian MP; The money used to buy votes had been embezzled from the state coffers and even includes funds provided to Ukraine by the International Money Fund, Aleksandr Onishchenko said in a Skype interview to Russian TV.

Propaganda alert; The US military now sees Russia as its biggest threat; : Russia's increasing military activities around the world have unsettled top US military officials, who say they are reshaping their budget plans to better address what they now consider to be the most pressing threat to US security.

Austria far-right candidate Norbert Hofer defeated in presidential poll; Mr Van der Bellen, 72, won with about 53% of the votes - a projection, as postal ballots are still being counted.

Italy referendum: 'Period of uncertainty' predicted after Matteo Renzi's defeat – live; Prime minister confirms he will resign following heavy referendum defeat, and Austria elects left-leaning president over Norbert Hofer

Italian banks tumble as investors eye contagion risk; Shares in Italy's beleaguered banks tumbled by up to 6% as investors took fright at the decisive 'no' vote in the country's constitutional referendum.

French PM Valls running for president: French Prime Minister Manuel Valls on Monday threw his hat in the ring to succeed Francois Hollande in next year's presidential election. "I am a candidate for the presidency of the Republic," he said.

Greece must reform or leave eurozone, says German minister: Wolfgang Schäuble rules out debt relief for Greece before meeting of eurozone’s finance ministers

Muslim cleric is in US court fighting against deportation; Imam Mohammad Qatanani is the leader of the Islamic Center of Passaic County. A judge ruled against immigration authorities' attempt to have him deported eight years ago. Federal officials say he didn't disclose being convicted in Israel for being a member of Hamas

What's the future of US for-profit immigrant detention?; The president-elect has been widely criticised for his anti-immigrant positions and has vowed to bulk up border, immigration and police authorities - possibly preventing for-profit detention centres from closing.

Standing Rock: Army denies Dakota pipeline permit; Victory for Native Americans and climate activists who had been protesting against the $3.8bn project.

US Congress overwhelmingly backs $619 billion Pentagon budget; By an overwhelming 375-34 vote, the US House of Representatives last Friday passed a $619 billion Pentagon budget that ensures the growth of war and militarism under an incoming Trump administration

VA may have infected 600 veterans with HIV and Hepatitis: Nearly 600 veterans could have been infected with HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C at a Veterans Affairs facility in Tomah, Wis. because a dentist didn’t properly clean his instruments.

Proposed 'Anti-Semitism Awareness Act' is an Unconstitutional Mess: Bob Casey (D-PA) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) have introduced the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act which is meant to "to ensure the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has the necessary statutory tools at their disposal to investigate anti-Jewish incidents" on college campuses.

New York Governor blacklists BDS businesses: "This state will not stand for the politics of discrimination... and we will continue to demonstrate our unwavering support for the people of Israel in the fight for freedom, liberty and democracy."

Dow jumps to record high; The Dow Jones industrial average gained around 100 points to hit a new record high, with Goldman Sachs contributing the most gains. The S&P 500 advanced 0.69 percent, with energy rising more than 1 percent to lead advancers.

Trump hasn't taken office yet, but he's probably already had an impact on your finances; The bulls are running now, but economists say the honeymoon could end as soon as the president-elect outlines specifics.

Trump visits Carrier factory in Indiana to begin ‘thank you tour' – video : The US president-elect visited air-conditioner maker factory on Thursday to celebrate election win and for keeping 1,000 jobs there from moving to Mexico.

Trump's Carrier speech 'absolutely chilling,' economic analyst says; President-elect Donald Trump's speech about his deal to keep Carrier jobs in the United States was "absolutely the worst speech," economic policy analyst Jimmy Pethokoukis told CNBC on Thursday.

Trump Is Going After Another Company for Sending Jobs Overseas: In a tweet sent late Friday, Trump went after Rexnord over its plans to move a plant from Indianapolis to Mexico. “Rexnord of Indiana is moving to Mexico and rather viciously firing all of its 300 workers,” the tweet read. “This is happening all over our country. No more!”

Trump to Nominate Ben Carson as Housing, Urban Development Secretary: In the statement, Trump said he was "thrilled" to nominate Carson, who dropped out of the campaign race in March after a string of disappointing primary finishes on Super Tuesday.

Federal Judge Orders Michigan Recount To Start Today At Noon As Stein Vows New Lawsuit In PA; After both Trump and Stein, among others, filed lawsuits last Friday in Michigan, it seems that U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith has cleared the path for a recount this morning

 

The Coming War on China By John Pilger
	The greatest build-up of American-led military forces since the Second World War is well under way. - Continue

Will Vietnam Embrace China After Trump Got Elected? By Andre Vltchek
	People are demanding the re-introduction of essential socialist principles. - Continue

Was 11/8 a New 9/11? By Tom Engelhardt
	Forget Vladimir Putin and his rickety petro-state: the most dangerous nation on the planet will now be ours. - Continue

Hands off the Iran Deal By Eric S. Margolis
	Republicans in Congress clearly choose Israel’s demands over jobs for tens of thousands of US workers. - Continue

Why Everything You’ve Read About Syria and Iraq Could be Wrong By Patrick Cockburn
	Journalists and public alike should regard all information about Syria and Iraq with reasoned scepticism. - Continue

7 Reasons that the Corporate Media Is Pro-War By WashingtonsBlog
	The government has exerted tremendous pressure on the media to report things a certain way. - Continue

The 'Washington Post' 'Blacklist' Story Is Shameful and Disgusting By Matt Taibbi
	"Those who do not spew the official line will be increasingly demonized". - Continue

A Bare-Knuckle Fight Over Recounts By Joe Lauria
	Democrats are trying to stop Donald Trump’s inauguration by claiming Russian interference in the election and Trump is now challenging the recounts. - Continue

Trump’s Appointments - What Do They Mean? By Paul Craig Roberts
	You can bet your life that Israel is lobbying hard for the neocons. - Continue

The Year Globalism Burst By Pål Steigan
	The multi-national corporations conquers the world, shattering nations and peoples under its mighty wheels like a juggernaut. - Continue

Rafael Correa's Moving Farewell to Fidel Video
	'Fidel will continue to live in the faces of the children who go to school, in the sick whose lives are saved.' - Continue

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At least 37 pro-Turkey rebels killed by Syrian Democratic Forces north Aleppo: The pro-Turkey rebel fighters were killed during clashes with the Syrian Democratic Forces in the northern countryside of Aleppo.

Turkey airstrike kills US and German citizens: Syrian Kurdish group; A Turkish airstrike in Syria has killed two militants - one from the United States and one from Germany - from a group allied with the main Kurdish militia in the country, according to a statement from a local Syrian military council on Thursday.

Israeli Jets Fire Missiles near Damascus: Syrian Army: Israeli jets fired two missiles on an area west of the Syrian capital of Damascus Wednesday morning, causing no casualties in an attack mounted from Lebanese airspace, the Syrian army said Wednesday.

Russia says no intention of stopping Aleppo air raids: Foreign minister vows to clear Syrian city of "terrorists" while working with Turkey for increased humanitarian access.

Russia proposes safe corridors for Aleppo: Russia has indicated it is ready to discuss opening four safe corridors to the besieged, rebel-held east of the Syrian city of Aleppo, the UN says. Humanitarian adviser Jan Egeland said they might be used to supply food and medicine to the 250,000 people there.

Russians talk with Syrian rebels as eastern Aleppo runs out of food: Russian officials and rebel groups are holding talks in Turkey on the fate of eastern Aleppo as food reserves in the enclave dwindle to zero, opposition and diplomatic sources said on Thursday.

Moscow & Syrian opposition in secret talks to stop Aleppo fighting – FT; Leaders of the Syrian opposition are now holding negotiations with Russian representatives to end the fighting in Aleppo, the Financial Times has reported, citing four anonymous Syrian opposition figures. The US is allegedly not aware of the talks.

Albright, Hadley urge U.S. to weigh using more force in Syria: The United States should prepare to use greater military power and covert action in Syria to help forge a political settlement to end the country's civil war, according to a bipartisan report to be released on Wednesday.

Heavy rains kill 32 ISIS as Hashd prepare to storm Tal Abta: A security source said heavy rains caused tens of landmines planted by the extremist group northwest of Tal Afar to explode, also submerging militants barracks. Rains also led to the explosion of a landmines cache, killing 32 militants.

3 civilians killed as ISIS mortar shells Mosul district: Iraqi forces and popular militias had liberated the district two days ago, but ISIS has been used to shell areas it lost to the forces, causing civilian deaths on some occasions.

Iraqi forces recapture more areas from IS in Mosul as UN warns of humanitarian crisis : Report; - Iraqi security forces on Wednesday fought Islamic State (IS) militants in the city of Mosul and liberated another district in the city, while a UN humanitarian organization warned of the humanitarian situation in eastern Mosul.

Iraq: 4,000 soldiers, Peshmerga killed by Daesh in Mosul: Daesh has claimed that it has killed close to 4,000 Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), Shia militias and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters during the ongoing operations in and around Mosul, now in its seventh week.

Sunni tribesmen battling Islamic State demand federalism in Iraq; As mortar bombs landed ever closer, Sunni tribal fighters preparing to attack Islamic State seemed more preoccupied by the failures of Iraq's political class than the militants trying to kill them.

Jailed Islamic State suspects recall path to jihad in Iraq; ; The 20-year-old sits with his ankles shackled in a security compound in the city of Erbil, which is fighting alongside Baghdad to drive Islamic State from its stronghold in Mosul and nearby towns.

Islamic State tells supporters to quit messaging apps for fear of U.S. bombs; Islamic state has told its members to stop using internet-based communication apps like WhatsApp and Telegram on smartphones, suspecting they are being used by the U.S.-led coalition to track and kill its commanders.

New U.S. Troops Arrive in Yemen while Saudis Kill 13 more Civilians ; More American military forces have arrived in Yemen’s port city of Aden to join the contingent of U.S. troops allegedly fighting al-Qaeda militants in the country’s south.

UN envoy meets Yemen's Hadi in new peace bid; Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, who flew in from Riyadh, held several hours of talks with Hadi at the hilltop Al-Maashiq palace, where several members of his government are also staying, before leaving Aden, the official said.

President congratulates nation on independence day: Calls on int'l community to bear responsibility to end Saudi aggression against Yemen

Turkey not to recognize Houthi government in Yemen: On Monday, the Houthis and allied forces of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh announced from capital Sanaa -- which they captured in 2014 -- the formation of a "national salvation" government.

Oil back above $50 as Opec agrees supply cut; Deal to axe 1.2m b/d marks policy reversal for Saudi Arabia

The real link between Israel’s forest fires and muezzin bill; Israeli legislation ostensibly intended to tackle noise pollution from Muslim houses of worship has, paradoxically, served chiefly to provoke a cacophony of indignation across much of the Middle East.

Palestinian voices are being censored and silenced. We cannot let this happen.: This is a disgraceful attack on freedom of expression, a clear case of censorship, and a deliberate attempt to silence Palestinian voices.

At least 8 killed in Libya clashes: Rival militias have clashed in neighborhoods across the Libyan capital of Tripoli, and the state-run Lana news agency says at least eight militiamen have been killed, Associated Press reported.

UN: 'Ethnic cleansing under way' in South Sudan; Fighting between government and rebels has seen deliberate starvation, gang rape, and the burning of villages.

Taliban pledge protection for Afghan gas pipeline; The Taliban,said it was now directing its fighters to provide support for major government projects like the $3 billion Mes Aynak copper mine near the capital city and the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-India-Pakistan natural gas pipeline.

Putin assures Russia is ready to cooperate with new US administration: "It is important to normalize and start developing bilateral relations on an equal and mutually beneficial basis," Putin stressed.

Moscow urges broad anti-terrorist coalition without ‘double standards’; Russia’s new foreign policy concept states intensifying contradictions but stresses little probability of a large-scale war, including a nuclear conflict.

Kremlin to Consider Granting Citizenship to Ex-US Treasury Assistant Secretary; The Kremlin is ready to consider the issue of granting the Russian citizenship to Paul Craig Roberts, former US Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy, if he were to file a corresponding application, Kremlin spokesman said Tuesday.

European Union unveils funding boost in defence action plan: The European Commission said the plan aimed to boost spending on assets like drones and helicopters. The plan comes as US President-elect Donald Trump threatens to scale down the US security commitment to Nato.

Juncker Orders Europe: Don’t hold any more referendums as voters will choose to LEAVE: errified Mr Juncker admitted he knows European’s have a “lack of love” for the Brussels club.

German intelligence officer 'arrested over Islamist plot' raising fears the spy agency has been infilitrated: The suspect attempted to pass on "sensitive information about the BfV (Germany's domestic security agency), which could lead to a threat to the office", an official told the newspaper.

German intel agency gets €150mn to crack encryption of WhatsApp, other messaging services – reports ; “About half a billion euros will be invested in technical developments now and in the coming years,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday.

UN panel: WikiLeaks' Assange a victim of arbitrary detention; The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found that Britain had not presented enough new information to merit a new examination. The panel made the decision at a meeting last week, the U.N. human rights office said Wednesday.

‘He led a humble life’: Fidel Castro’s biographer on the legacy of a revolutionary – video : Castro was an “excessively respectful” intellectual who succeeded in bringing Latin America onto the international stage

Barrett Brown leaves prison: Brown is stuck paying $890,250 in restitution for a computer crime he had neither the skillset nor the inclination to carry out himself.

This Is What A Professional Disinformation Campaign Looks Like: Coinciding with Mr Brown's release from prison WikiLeaks is publishing a searchable index of the HBGary emails. For those who missed it five years ago, the story behind the leak is fascinating

U.S. House passes intelligence bill aimed at thwarting Russia's 'influence over people & govts' ; The 93-page HR 6393, passed by the House in a 390-30 vote on Wednesday, calls for setting up a new, interagency panel to suppress Russia's alleged attempts to "exert covert influence over peoples and governments,"

State Senator Wants to Charge Protesters as ‘Economic Terrorists’;The proposed bill would penalize protesters who engage in “unlawful disruption of transportation and commerce,” and if passed, those found in violation of the law could face punishment of up to five years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

FBI to gain expanded hacking powers as Senate effort to block fails; U.S. judges will be able to issue search warrants that give the FBI the authority to remotely access computers in any jurisdiction, potentially even overseas.

Boston Police Department plans to buy $1.4m social media spying tool: Department plans to buy a $1.4 million social media surveillance tool capable of building out complex associational profiles of users, tracking posts by location, performing ‘sentiment’ analysis, and much, much more.

California Voters Approve Gun Control Measure: Proposition 63 will require most individuals to pass background checks and obtain Department of Justice authorization to purchase ammunition.

Senate Intel Dems press Obama to declassify more of Russian hacking probe: “We believe there is additional information concerning the Russian Government and the U.S. election that should be declassified and released to the public,"

Cornel West on Donald Trump: This is What Neo-Fascism Looks Like : President-elect Donald Trump has announced a handful of new cabinet picks with deep ties to Wall Street

CIA director John Brennan warns Donald Trump not to end Iran deal ; John Brennan, the CIA director, has warned Donald Trump that scrapping the Iranian nuclear deal would be the "height of folly" and could lead to an arms race in the Middle East.

Trump should embrace ‘dual conciliation’ abroad; Trump appears ready to break away from Washington’s anti-Russia consensus, but he remains a prisoner of the anti-Iran consensus.

Donald Trump Says He Will Leave His Business ‘in Total': Mr. Trump, in a series of Twitter posts wrote that “Legal documents are being crafted which take me completely out of business operations. The Presidency is a far more important task!”

Trump reaches deal with Carrier to stop factory jobs from moving to Mexico: Air conditioning company Carrier Corp. says it has reached a deal with President-elect Donald Trump to keep nearly 1,000 jobs in Indiana.

FBI and NSA Poised to Gain New Surveillance Powers Under Trump An “already over-powerful surveillance state” is about to “be let loose on the American people,”

Trump nominates Rep. Tom Price for HHS secretary: "He is exceptionally qualified to shepherd our commitment to repeal and replace Obamacare and bring affordable and accessible healthcare to every American. I am proud to nominate him as Secretary of Health and Human Services."

Trump picks for Treasury and Commerce : Trump said Wednesday he intends to name Steven Mnuchin as his Treasury secretary, adding a Wall Street veteran to his administration. Trump also intends to nominate billionaire Wilbur Ross as secretary of Commerce.

Watch Trump's picks for Treasury and Commerce explain their plans: Treasury secretary pick Steve Mnuchin and Commerce secretary pick Wilbur Ross discuss tax reform, economic growth and trade in an exclusive interview with CNBC

Trump chooses Chao for Transportation: Trump selected another veteran Republican, Elaine Chao, a former labor secretary and the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, to lead the Department of Transportation.

Donald Trump is assembling the richest administration in modern American history; Many of the Trump appointees were born wealthy, attended elite schools and went on to amass even larger fortunes as adults

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28 killed in Aleppo battle: UN alarm as 16,000 civilians flee advance: Overnight, at least 18 people were killed in government air strikes on the remaining rebel-held areas, including 12 in the Shaar district near the new northern frontline, according to a UK-based monitoring group.

Breakthrough in Aleppo saves 80,000 civilians – Russian military : “The most important thing is that over 80,000 Syrians, including tens of thousands of children, have been freed. Many of them at long last were able to get water, food, medical assistance at humanitarian centers deployed by Russia.

Putin Orders Mobile Hospitals Sent To Aleppo, As Thousands Flee : Earlier the same day, United Nations humanitarian chief Stephen O’Brien warned of the "deeply alarming and chilling situation" in Aleppo.

Must watch; Thousands flee Aleppo fighting: Video - Aleppo residents express gratitude to reporter as Syrian troops liberate large part of Aleppo

Kerry making ‘unbelievable effort’ to save Syrian rebels from Trump, Russia confirms: The Kremlin has confirmed, substantiating a report that Kerry wants to seal a deal with Moscow before Donald Trump assumes the US presidency in January.

US: Air strikes killing dozens of Syrian troops legal: Russia said 62 Syrian soldiers were killed and at least 100 more wounded. The attack was the first known direct strike by the US-led coalition on forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Turkey entered invaded Syria to end al-Assad’s rule: President Erdogan: We preached patience but could not endure in the end and had to enter Syria together with the Free Syrian Army [FSA],” Erdogan said at the first Inter-Parliamentary Jerusalem Platform Symposium in Istanbul.

29 PKK troops killed in SE Turkey operations: Ten PKK militants were "neutralized" Tuesday in ongoing anti-terror operations in Turkey’s southeastern province of Sirnak, the local governorate announced.

One village guard killed in PKK clashes in Turkey’s southeast; A village guard was killed and two others were wounded in clashes with outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir late on Nov. 28, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

Residents of 60 villages near Dohuk migrate due to Turkish attacks: “The residents of these villages are suffering difficult humanitarian situation, and their displacement negatively affected economic and agricultural situation in the area,” Naheli added.

Mosul: Some 1,000 Islamic State militants killed in offensive: Iraqi special forces battling to clear Islamic State from eastern Mosul have killed nearly 1,000 militants, a top commander says, but fighting has slowed as coalition troops face a mobile enemy hidden among thousands of civilians in the city.

Iraq: US-led raid kills 14 civilians, 10 terrorists in Mosul; “Ten militants were killed in the strike, which also caused a chain of explosions that killed 14 civilians nearby,” he said.

Mosul: 'IS ignored pleas for starving children'; It is an image of horror. Two thin bodies lying on a mattress, skin wrapped around bones, knee joints protruding, ribs clearly and cruelly visible.

Iraqi politician warns of sectarian violence in Mosul: Iraq is at risk of partition and the worst sectarian bloodletting since the 2003 US-led invasion, if Shia paramilitary units get involved in the fight against ISIL for Mosul, a senior Iraqi politician warned.

Yemen's Houthi rebels 'form new government'; The Houthis and their allies from former president Ali Abdullah Saleh’s General People's Congress party announced the line-up of the 42-member body, which will be headed by former governor of Aden Abdel Aziz bin Habtoor.

US: Suspend Saudi Arms Sales; The United States should immediately halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia following numerous unlawful coalition attacks in Yemen, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to President Barack Obama.

WikiLeaks Drops Yemen Files, Unmasks Washington's Bloody Role; Whistleblowing organization Wikileaks on Friday dropped yet another batch of files, this time detailing evidence of the United States arming, training and financing Yemeni forces in the build up to the current war.

Israeli Attorney General orders probe of German submarine deal : In what may pose a significant legal threat to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit on Thursday asked State Attorney Shai Nitzan to examine a major arms acquisition from Germany.

Palestinian President Abbas re-elected as Fatah leader: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was re-elected leader of his Fatah party Tuesday during the movement's first congress in seven years, a Fatah spokesman said.

Under U.S. plan, Afghans may get Black Hawks to replace Russian aircraft: The U.S. military wants to replace Afghanistan's well-worn fleet of Russian helicopters with American-made aircraft, according to a new budget proposal, a decision aimed at reducing the Afghan air force's decades-long reliance on Russian equipment.

Amnesty warns over extrajudicial killings after deadly Uganda clashes; A regional police spokesman, Mansur Suwed, told Reuters on Monday at least 46 members of the king's guards died in the fighting, which also left 16 police officers dead."

South Sudan: Juba Agrees to UN Force Deployment; South Sudan has agreed to deploy a regional force after fighting in the capital Juba threatened to plunge the country into a civil war. President Kiir initially opposed the deployment as a breach of national sovereignty.

Philippines: 49 Maute members killed in ongoing Butig purge; As many as 49 members of the Maute group are now killed in the offensive to retake parts of Butig, Lanao del Sur that the radical group has occupied since Thursday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said.said.

Roadside bomb hits Philippine president's security team ahead of visit: A roadside bomb in the southern Philippines on Tuesday wounded seven members of the president's security team, a day ahead of his planned visit to an area gripped by intense fighting between Islamist militants and government troops.

Russia looks forward to Duterte visit; firearms deal eyed – DND; President Duterte may visit Russia next spring with agriculture, arms supply, labor and regional security cooperation as the possible areas of cooperation between the two countries.

The New Red Scare: Reviving the art of threat inflation: “It doesn’t take much to leave a trail of bread crumbs to whichever government you want to blame for an attack,”

Tony Blair faces new charges in Parliament for ‘misleading’ UK over Iraq ; A cross-party group has tabled a new motion against Tony Blair, on the basis of facts revealed in the Chilcot report, that could see him stripped of his place on the Privy Council

Islamic State retreat reveals terror plots against Europe; A trove of information has already been found and the capture of the Iraqi city of Mosul is expected to deliver more on the plans, finances and members of Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (Isil).

WikiLeaks releases more than 500k US diplomatic cables from 1979; WikiLeaks has released more than half a million US diplomatic cables from 1979, covering numerous incidents such as the Iranian revolution, the siege of Mecca, and Saddam Hussein becoming president of Iraq.

Trump vows to end U.S.-Cuba 'deal' unless Havana makes better one; "If Cuba is unwilling to make a better deal for the Cuban people, the Cuban/American people and the U.S. as a whole, I will terminate deal," Trump said.

Somali "refugee" in attack on Ohio State university: An attack on Monday at Ohio State University was being investigated as a possible act of terrorism after a student, reportedly an 18-year-old Somali refugee, injured nine people, first with a car and then with a butcher's knife.

Suspect Identified in Ohio State Attack as Abdul Razak Ali Artan: "America! Stop interfering with other countries, especially Muslim Ummah [community]. We are not weak. We are not weak, remember that," the post said.

Arrests of Journalists at Standing Rock Test the Boundaries of the First Amendment: A Denver-based journalist, was shot in the abdomen last Sunday by a rubber bullet as he reported from North Dakota on a clash between demonstrators and police that would end with 26 protesters sent to hospitals and 300 requiring other medical treatment.

Obama’s Use of Unreliable Gang Databases for Deportations Could Be a Model for Trump: California Senate President Pro Tem Kevin De León called Trump’s plan “catastrophic” and vowed that the state would “aggressively avail ourselves of any and all tools” to protect the rights of undocumented residents.

Trump Calls for Revoking Flag Burners’ Citizenship; Trump proposed that Americans who protest government policies by burning the flag could lose their citizenship — meaning, among other things, their right to vote in future elections — as punishment.

NYT Columnist: FBI Director, Putin Installed Trump President of the US: Krugman is implying that Trump is a crazy conspiracy theorist, while sharing the unhinged theory that the FBI is collaborating with the Russian government. Naturally,

Clinton, Trump Latest 2016 Election Results: Popular Vote Tally Has President-Elect Way Behind Democrat: Clinton garnered 48.2 percent of the popular vote, while Trump earned just 46.5 percent, good for a 1.7 point margin

Board of Canvassers certifies Trump victory in Michigan; The Michigan Board of Canvassers, with a 4-0 vote, certified the state's election results Monday, showing Republican Donald Trump won the presidential race in the state by a 10,704-vote margin over Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Wisconsin to start presidential recount on Thursday: The US state of Wisconsin is preparing to start a full recount of presidential election votes following a request by Green Party candidate Jill Stein.

Trump claims 'millions voted illegally' but offers no evidence; Donald Trump has continued his criticism of Hillary Clinton’s support for election recounts in three states, claiming he won the popular vote “if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally”.

Rep. Tom Price is Trump's pick for Health and Human Services Dept.: "Chairman Price, a renowned physician, has earned a reputation for being a tireless problem solver and the go-to expert on healthcare policy, making him the ideal choice to serve in this capacity,” Trump said Tuesday.

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126 ISIS militants killed in security operations Sunday: Military, police and anti-terrorism forces have so far killed 126 Islamic State militants during operations on Sunday to liberate the city of Mosul from the extremist group, military media and commanders said.

Over 50 ISIS militants killed, 32 taken captive as Iraqi forces step up Mosul operations: “The Daesh terrorist group has suffered heavy losses in manpower and equipment under heavy bombardment by our forces over the past two days,” The Iraqi General Command said in a statement,

IS mortars kill 16 Iraqi civilians in Mosul: Iraqi military and hospital officials say mortar rounds fired by Islamic State militants have killed 16 civilians in neighborhoods already retaken by troops.

Despite Sunni objections, Iraq's parliament adopts law legalizing Shiite militias; Iraq's parliament on Saturday voted to fully legalize state-sanctioned Shiite militias long accused of abuses against minority Sunnis, adopting a legislation that promoted them to a government force

U.S.-Led Airstrikes Kill 6 Civilians in Northern Syria, War Monitor Says: A United States-led coalition airstrike on a funeral in an Islamic State-held village in north Syria killed six civilian mourners

Israeli military kills 4 ISIS militants in Syria after ambush: Israeli aircraft struck a machine gun-mounted vehicle inside Syria Sunday, killing four militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) inside after they had opened fire on a military patrol on the Israeli side of the Golan Heights

Syria says largest rebel area in Aleppo retaken; Syrian state media said government forces Saturday captured the largest rebel-held district of Aleppo, in what would be a major breakthrough in its offensive to retake the entire second city.

Aleppo advance displaces thousands; Kurdish-led forces operating autonomously of the rebels and the government meanwhile seized the Bustan al-Basha neighborhood, allowing thousands of civilians to flee the decimated district to the predominantly Kurdish Sheikh Maqsoud, in the city’s north

N. Syria: Kurdish-led forces blow up four Turkish tanks; A Syrian Arab-Kurdish coalition allied to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said the Turkish army airstrikes and shelling had changed the course of their battle against the Islamic State (IS) since last week.

Media silent as U.S. house passes resolution for Syrian no-fly zone: News Analysis - Hillary Clinton’s loss was a shock to the purveyors of U.S. military hegemony, who saw in her an easier path to keep the Syria conflict going.

50 killed in Yemen fighting: At least 50 Houthi rebels were killed in clashes and Saudi-led airstrikes in north-western Yemen on Saturday, according to the Yemeni army.

Saudi border military base under fire of Yemen's Ansarullah ballistic missile: Yemen's Ansarullah fighters said late on Saturday that they fired a ballistic missile deep into Saudi border city of Khamis Mushait, targeting Allamuza military base.

WikiLeaks Releases Files Allegedly Showing US 'Arming and Funding' Yemeni Forces: US government provided 'most of the bombs' for civil war.

WikiLeaks reveals US plan to give $147mn in military hardware to Yemen : A Department of Defense powerpoint presentation, which is revealed in the dump, lays out a detailed plan for equipping the Yemeni government with arms through the US Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program."

'We should burn down Arab villages - this is war!'; Israeli arrested for Facebook post calling to burn down Arab villages.

Uganda says 55 police, tribal insurgents killed in clashes; The police, who announced the death toll on Twitter, said the clashes took place in the Rwenzori region, where there has been unrest since a disputed presidential election in February that was won by veteran leader Yoweri Museveni.

Militia attack kills 34 civilians in DR Congo : “The provisional toll is 34 civilians killed,” said local official Joy Bokele, referring to an attack by a Nande ethnicity militia on the Hutu village of Luhanga, AFP reported.

8 loyalist troops killed in Libya's Sirte: In Libya, at least 8 members of pro-government forces were killed during a fresh fight against Islamic State group in Sirte.

At least 8 killed in Mogadishu car bomb attack: Medical sources however say the death toll could be as high as 30 even though it has not been officially confirmed. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Five IS fighters killed in Afghanistan: Five Islamic State (IS) fighters, including two Pakistanis, were killed in a clash with Afghan security forces in the Pacheeragam district of eastern Nangarhar province on Saturday.

4 militants, 2 Pakistani soldiers killed in attack on mosque; A small group of militants armed with guns and suicide jackets attacked a mosque at an army facility in northwest Pakistan on Saturday, triggering a shootout in which four insurgents and two soldiers were killed, the military and officials said.

Washington Post Promotes Website That Accuses 200 Publications of Being Russian Propaganda Plants: A shady website that claims “Russia is Manipulating US Opinion Through Online Propaganda” has compiled a blacklist of websites its anonymous authors accuse of pushing fake news and Russian propaganda.

Germany planning to 'massively' limit privacy rights; Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere is planning a major limitation of privacy rights in Germany, say data protection groups. Germans will no longer have the right to know what data about them is being collected.

UK: Sweeping UK spy bill dubbed 'snoopers' charter' becomes law: Parliament has passed a contentious new snooping law that gives authorities — from police and spies to food regulators, fire officials and tax inspectors — powers to look at the internet browsing records of everyone in the country.

Fillon scores huge win in French conservative primaries: Francois Fillon, a socially conservative free-marketeer, won France’s center-right presidential primaries Sunday, setting up a likely showdown next year with far-right leader Marine Le Pen that the pollsters expect him to win

With a cry of 'Viva Fidel!', Cubans begin mourning for Castro: Flag-waving Cuban students broke into a mass chant of "I am Fidel" to salute Fidel Castro as nine days of mourning began

‘He led a humble life’: Fidel Castro’s biographer on the legacy of a revolutionary – video

Donald Trump calls Fidel Castro 'brutal dictator': Trump said that while Cuba remained "a totalitarian island, it is my hope that today marks a move away from the horrors endured for too long

Clinton Campaign Backs Jill Stein's Election Recount Effort: Lawyer: Hillary Clinton's campaign intends to back the statewide election recount effort in the battleground state of Wisconsin spearheaded by third-party candidate Jill Stein.

Donald Trump Seethes at Jill Stein's Recount Effort: “The Green Party scam to fill up their coffers by asking for impossible recounts is now being joined by the badly defeated & demoralized Dems,” the President-elect wrote

Priebus says Clinton, Trump teams 'cut a deal': Donald Trump's incoming chief of staff suggests Hillary Clinton is backing away from a deal worked out between the two presidential campaigns on how the loser would concede to the winner.

Electoral voters 'deluged' with death threats in multiple states: Clinton supporters have been sending threatening emails to the state’s 16 electors, trying to get them to change their allegiance to their candidate.

Anti Trump media: Trump has a plan for government workers. They’re not going to like it.: Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress are drawing up plans to take on the government bureaucracy they have long railed against, by eroding job protections and grinding down benefits that federal workers have received for a generation.

More Than Half Of New Yorkers Are One Paycheck Away From Homelessness: Without these savings, families who face emergencies could be at risk of eviction, foreclosure, damaged credit, and even homelessness.

Trump’s newest security aide wants to stir up discontent in Iran: Signaling a U-turn toward Iran, President-elect Donald Trump Friday brought a scholar onto his team who wants to stir up discontent in Iran, and who says she is joining a team of “grownups” on national security issues.

'Trump will cleanse America': California mosques sent letters threatening genocide against Muslims

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Islamic State claims suicide truck bomb that killed about 100 in Iraq: A suicide truck bomb killed about 100 people, most of them Iranian Shi'ite pilgrims, at a petrol station in the city of Hilla 100 km (62 miles) south of Baghdad on Thursday, police and medical sources said.

Iraqi police kill 50 ISIS fighters, arrest 32 south of Mosul; A statement by the police service said operations have also resulted into the destruction of four barracks, adding that efforts continue to comb the villages recaptured over the past few days

20 militants, 5 personnel dead in Anbar operations; Twenty militants from the Islamic State and five security and army personnel died on Friday when Iraqi forces forestalled an attack by the Islamist group at the outskirts of Rutbah, Anbar.

ISIS takes 250 police personnel to Syria, execute slacking members; ISIS kidnapped 250 police agents from the towns of Annah, Qaem and Rawa and transported them to Syria in vehicles run by the group, according to Nazem al-Jugheifi, intelligence commander

2 US Service Members Killed in Syria, Iraq; One service member, embedded with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in northern Syria, died from injuries caused by a blast from an improvised explosive device, military officials said.

Bombs knock out 2 hospitals in northern Syria: Activists: Airstrikes and rockets in northern Syria knocked out two medical centers dedicated to women Friday and killed at least 12, including two people in one of the health facilities, according to opposition activists, a charity group and a hospital manager.

Syria: Rebel group supplied with anti-air missiles; A Syrian rebel group has paraded a cache of shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles, the first evidence of the weapons being supplied to opposition forces after an expected relaxing of US restrictions.

Iran ‘expects’ Iraq’s Shia militias to fight in Syria; A senior Iranian military commander has said that he expects the Shia-dominated Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) to fight in support of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad after Mosul has been retaken from Daesh.

Syria government set “red line”; A deadly Syrian airstrike against Turkish soldiers served as a message by Damascus to Ankara that it will not allow rebels taking part in the Ankara-led Operation Euphrates Shield to take the key town of Al-Bab, according to a pro-government daily.

Erdogan, Putin discuss Syria as Turkish-backed rebels push to al-Bab; The killing of the Turkish soldiers on Thursday - the first anniversary of Turkey's downing of a Russian jet over Syria - raised fears of an escalation in an already complex battlefield.

Sinai checkpoint car bomb kills 11 : Eight Egyptian soldiers have been killed in a car bomb attack on a checkpoint in the country's North Sinai region, an army spokesperson said. Three attackers were killed, and the remainder fled after the Thursday evening assault, he said.

Yemen: Coalition raids kill seven Houthi militias; A raid launched by the coalition forces targeting the rebels’ military bases in the Serwah region in the west of the Marib province region has killed seven Houthi militias and those belonging to Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Palestinian Teen killed by Israeli Occupation Forces After Alleged Stabbing Attempt: A 16-year-old Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli occupation forces at a roadblock in occupied East Jerusalem on Friday after he allegedly tried to stab one of them

Iran warns of retaliation if U.S. breaches nuclear deal: Extending U.S. sanctions on Iran for 10 years would breach the Iranian nuclear agreement, Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei said on Wednesday, warning that Tehran would retaliate if the sanctions are approved.

Nigerian security forces allegedly killed 150 pro-Biafra protesters; Amnesty International on Thursday accused Nigeria's security forces of killing at least 150 pro-Biafra protesters and injuring hundreds since August 2015.

Afghanistan: 5 killed, 27 injured in triple bombing: The Islamic State group appears to be intensifying attacks against the government and civilians as Afghan forces, backed by NATO air strikes, step up operations against them in Nangarhar.

French prosecutor says 4 friends plotted imminent attack: Four long-time friends in their 30s, were planning a terror attack in France as early as next week on orders from an ISIS group member in Iraq or Syria, Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said Friday.

Turkey threatens EU with new refugee surge; Erdogan threatens to open land borders and allow refugees to cross into Europe if talks on EU membership bid are frozen.

Brexit: Tony Blair says EU exit can be stopped: Tony Blair says Britain's exit from the European Union can be stopped if voters decide the pain of leaving the world's biggest trading bloc outweighs the benefits of leaving.

Spain issues arrest warrant for Ukraine oligarch: Spanish police have announced an international arrest warrant against a powerful Ukrainian oligarch, identified by media Friday as controversial gas magnate Dmytro Firtash.

Colombia signs historic peace deal with Farc; The Colombian government and leftist Farc rebels have signed a revised peace agreement to end more than 50 years of conflict, despite continued objections by many who rejected the original deal in an October referendum.

Wave of Mexico violence reveals hidden graves, severed heads: Soldiers and police fanned out Friday across the southern Mexican state of Guerrero, chasing a wounded gang leader and trying to quell a wave of violence that included the discovery of hidden graves holding dozens of bodies

Richest 10% Control 89% of World's Wealth: The world has reached outrageous levels of inequality, and it's only expected to get worse. .

Black Friday madness: Two people are killed outside a Macy's and a Walmart while customers fight over everything from TVs to towels

Electoral College Must Not Elect Donald Trump Unless He Sells His Business; The former ethics lawyers for president Barack Obama and George W Bush have asked the electoral college to not appoint Donald Trump as the next president due to his potential conflicts of interest.

Trump's tax plan: massive cuts for the 1% will usher 'era of dynastic wealth': More than eight million low-income and single-parent families will face sharp tax increases under Donald Trump exacerbating income inequality, experts warn

How Donald Trump's Tax Repatriation Plan Will Create Jobs: Trump’s pre-election economic plans included a special one-off tax holiday allowing U.S. firms to repatriate funds held overseas with only a 10% payment, versus the current 35% rate.

Trump’s big infrastructure plan? It’s a trap: Trump’s plan is not really an infrastructure plan. It’s a tax-cut plan for utility-industry and construction-sector investors, and a massive corporate welfare plan for contractors.

Trump Taps Fox News Analyst K.T. McFarland for National Security Post: President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Kathleen Troia "K.T." McFarland, a former government official and current Fox News analyst, as a deputy national security adviser