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Rogue One’ brings new hope to Star Wars story with gritty battles, killer droids

14 December 2016

ide Don’t take this stand-alone business too seriously. The folks who made “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” didn’t. This second entry in the Disney Empire’s conquest of George Lucas’ space opera does indeed have a mostly new cast of characters — at least one […]

As Aleppo falls, Trump faces test on posture toward Russia

14 December 2016

WASHINGTON (AP) — Aleppo’s fall to Syrian government forces is shaping up as the first major test of President-elect Donald Trump’s desire to cooperate with Russia, whose military support has proven pivotal in Syria’s civil war. The death and destruction in the city is only […]

US Halts Weapons Sales to Saudis Over Growing Body Count in Yemen Conflict

14 December 2016

A rapidly-increasing civilian death toll resulting from Saudi Arabia’s military campaign in Yemen has prompted the White House to halt the sale of weapons to Riyadh. Washington announced that instead it will shift focus to improving target practice in the kingdom and training the Saudi […]

Here’s what Aleppo looked like before the shelling began

14 December 2016

Syria’s northern city of Aleppo was once a thriving commercial hub with a proud history dating back millennia. Since the Syrian civil war began in 2011, much of the city has been devastated by intense shelling and airstrikes. As government forces work to wrest back […]

Islamic State turned Mosul into city of terror and darkness

14 December 2016

An Iraqi woman comforts a grieving relative at a collection point for displaced citizens of Mosul in this Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016 photo in the Mosul district of Gogjali, Iraq. Residents fleeing the fighting in Mosul say that two years of rule by the Islamic […]

US Kills 3 Top IS Leaders in Syria

14 December 2016

FILE – An Islamic State flag flies over the customs office of Syria’s Jarablus border gate as seen from the Turkish town of Karkamis, in Gaziantep province, Turkey, Aug. 1, 2015. Three IS leaders were killed in a December 4 airstrike in Raqqa, IS’ de […]

Battle of Aleppo ends after years of bloodshed with rebel withdrawal

14 December 2016

Rebel resistance in the Syrian city of Aleppo ended on Tuesday after years of fighting and months of bitter siege and bombardment that culminated in a bloody retreat, as insurgents agreed to withdraw in a ceasefire. The battle of Aleppo, one of the worst of […]

Rebels: Aleppo Evacuation Deal Reached With Syrian Regime

14 December 2016

UNITED NATIONS — Rebel fighters and the Syrian government have reached an agreement to allow the evacuation of civilians and opposition fighters from eastern Aleppo, as Russia says the Assad regime has ended its offensive against the city. A spokesman for the Nour el-Din el-Zinki rebel […]

To deny Russian involvement in the election is to deny fact, says Sen. Reed

14 December 2016

JUDY WOODRUFF: And two developments in election recounts today. A federal judge refused to order one in Pennsylvania, as Green Party candidate Jill Stein wanted. And a new tally ended in Wisconsin, with little change. Donald Trump won both states. Among those voicing concern about […]

Aoun to Patterson: Army carries out preemptive operations against terrorism

14 December 2016

President Michel Aoun met on Tuesday afternoon at Baabda Palace with US Assistant Secretary of State for Middle East Affairs, Anne Patterson, in the presence of US Ambassador to Lebanon, Elizabeth Richard and members of the accompanying delegation. Aoun thanked Patterson for her visit and […]

Hariri meets Patterson

14 December 2016

Prime Minister-designate, Saad Hariri, met on Tuesday noon at the “Center House” with US Assistant Secretary of State for Middle East Affairs, Anne Patterson with talks featuring high on the latest political developments in Lebanon, as well as the situation in the region.

Mariani : «Ceux qui combattent le terrorisme devraient se féliciter de la reprise d’Alep»

13 December 2016

Proche de François Fillon, le député des Français de l’étranger va se rendre en Syrie le mois prochain. Une nouvelle rencontre avec Bachar el-Assad est en train d’être organisée. La reprise d’Alep par les troupes de Bachar el-Assad est saluée, mardi, par Thierry Mariani. Le […]