| Iraq seeks more coalition trainers for local police Posted: 23 Jan 2016 04:18 PM PST  ABOARD A US MILITARY AIRCRAFT (AP) — Senior U.S. defense and military officials say that Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is asking the coalition for more police training, particularly for Sunnis who will have to secure Ramadi and other towns once Islamic State militants are ousted.
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| 'Russian raids' kill civilians ahead of Syria talks Posted: 23 Jan 2016 03:14 PM PST  Suspected Russian raids killed 33 civilians in war-ravaged eastern Syria on Saturday, amid reports US forces are building up an air base to bolster their fight against jihadists further north. Meanwhile, senior diplomats scrambled to resolve the key question of who will represent Syria's opposition at crucial talks next week aimed at ending the nearly-five year war. In eastern Syria, the 33 civilians were killed in air strikes suspected to have been carried out by Russian warplanes on a jihadist-held village.
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| U.S. says prepared for military solution against Islamic State in Syria Posted: 23 Jan 2016 02:08 PM PST  By David Dolan and Asli Kandemir ISTANBUL (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said on Saturday that the United States and Turkey were prepared for a military solution against Islamic State in Syria should the Syrian government and rebels fail to reach a political settlement. The latest round of Syria peace talks are planned to begin on Monday in Geneva but were at risk of being delayed partly because of a dispute over who will comprise the opposition delegation. Syrian armed rebel groups said on Saturday they held the Syrian government and Russia responsible for any failure of peace talks to end the country's civil war, even before negotiations were due to start.
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| Baghdad wants support with police training: US official Posted: 23 Jan 2016 02:07 PM PST  Aboard a US military aircraft (AFP) - Baghdad wants the coalition engaged in the fight against the Islamic State group to train Iraqi police officers, a senior US official said Saturday.
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| Norway temporarily suspends return of migrants from Russia Posted: 23 Jan 2016 01:59 PM PST  Norway on Saturday announced it was temporarily suspending its controversial return of migrants from Arctic Russia, following a request from Moscow. "The Russian foreign affairs minister was in contact yesterday (Friday) with the Norwegian authorities on the subject of the return of asylum seekers via Storskog," the foreign ministry said in a statement, referring to the Storskog border crossing, 400 kilometres (about 250 miles) north of the Arctic Circle. "Until further notice, there will not be any more returns via Storskog.
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| French president heads to India for Republic Day visit Posted: 23 Jan 2016 01:37 PM PST  French President Francois Hollande arrives in India on Sunday hoping to seal a drawn-out defence deal between the two countries as well as hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on global security. Hollande will be chief guest at India's Republic Day parade on Tuesday as part of his three-day visit, after accepting an invitation that is viewed as one of the biggest honours New Delhi can bestow on a foreign leader. The invitation is a sign of deepening diplomatic and business ties between the two countries, and comes after US President Barack Obama was given the honour at last year's parade.
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| The Latest: Migrants in Calais board ship amid protest Posted: 23 Jan 2016 11:25 AM PST  SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) — The latest developments in Europe's immigration crisis (all times local):
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| Slam dunk video by Florida cop: Can positive images of police change minds? Posted: 23 Jan 2016 10:40 AM PST There's a moment of uncertainty when Gainesville, Fla., police officer Bobby White, on an excessive noise call, grabs a basketball from a black teenager, dash cam rolling. Watching a cop in over 30 pounds of police gear make himself vulnerable in front of a group of kids was another one of a growing number of impromptu – and filmed – moments of American police officers doing exactly the right thing. Recommended: Can you pass the written police officer exam? |
| U.S., allies conduct 24 strikes against Islamic State: U.S. military Posted: 23 Jan 2016 10:28 AM PST  The United States and its allies targeted Islamic State in Iraq with 20 strikes on Friday, and also hit the militant group with four air strikes in Syria, the U.S. military said on Saturday. Six of the strikes in Iraq were near Ramadi, hitting three Islamic State tactical units and an IS building. One of the strikes in Syria hit an IS headquarters in Washiyah, the military said.
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| Exclusive: Saudi-Iranian proxy war over Syria spreads to Davos Posted: 23 Jan 2016 10:19 AM PST  By Paul Taylor DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Senior Saudi and Iranian figures clashed behind closed doors at a private meeting convened by the World Economic Forum in Davos this week to try to promote peace in Syria, participants said. The barbed exchange between Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif at an invitation-only meeting on Wednesday underlined the hostility between the two Gulf rivals, who are waging proxy wars in Syria, Yemen and Iraq. Riyadh broke off diplomatic relations and cut off trade and transport ties with Tehran two weeks ago after protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Iran.
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| Tumultuous 1st year for Saudi King Salman's 'decisive' reign Posted: 23 Jan 2016 09:23 AM PST  RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Within hours of ascending to the Saudi throne, King Salman announced sweeping changes that would recast the kingdom's line of succession, and rework its security and economic decision-making processes. It marked the start of what would be a tumultuous year for King Salman, who completes one year as monarch on Saturday.
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| US forces setting up airbase in northeast Syria: sources Posted: 23 Jan 2016 06:16 AM PST  US special forces and experts are setting up an airbase in northeast Syria as part of the battle against the Islamic State group, Syrian military and security sources said Saturday. A Syrian military source said nearly 100 "American experts," alongside forces from the anti-IS Kurdish People's Protection Units had widened the landing strip and refurbished some infrastructure. The Pentagon did not confirm the reports but said the US military had not taken control of any airfield in Syria.
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| Turkish PM Davutoglu says Turkey respects Iraq's territorial integrity Posted: 23 Jan 2016 05:33 AM PST  ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Saturday the Turkish military was in Iraq to ward off Islamic State, reiterating that Ankara respects Iraqi territorial unity. At a news conference following a meeting with U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden, Davutoglu said only the legitimate Syrian opposition should be involved with negotiations over Syria. Davutoglu thanked Biden for visiting Cyprus, adding that the United States will have an important role in Cyprus peace talks. (Reporting by Asli Kandemir, writing by Dasha Afanasieva, editing by Larry King)
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| Kerry meets Gulf Arabs in Riyadh on Syria, Iran nuclear deal Posted: 23 Jan 2016 02:49 AM PST  By David Brunnstrom RIYADH (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met Gulf Arab countries in Saudi Arabia on Saturday for talks aimed at pushing the Syrian peace process forward and calming their concern about the international agreement over Iran's nuclear program. Kerry began a stop in Riyadh by meeting with representatives of the six nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
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| Australia seeks regional terrorism cooperation after Jakarta attack Posted: 23 Jan 2016 12:30 AM PST  By Amy Sawitta Lefevre BANGKOK (Reuters) - Australia is seeking regional cooperation to fight the "menace" of violent extremism that will be with the region for some time, the country's justice minister said on Saturday. A deadly Jan. 14 attack in Jakarta that killed eight people and an August bombing in Bangkok that ripped through a popular shrine killing 20 people, most of them foreign tourists, have injected new urgency for regional counter-terrorism efforts. "The region is subject to the same threats as the globe is and that is there is a malignant organization that has established itself in the Middle East, ISIL, and they continue to export terror around the globe," Australian Justice Minister Michael Keenan told Reuters in Bangkok during a visit with his Thai counterparts to discuss security issues.
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| U.S. military says decisive action needed against Islamic State in Libya Posted: 23 Jan 2016 12:07 AM PST By Phil Stewart PARIS (Reuters) - The top U.S. military officer said on Friday urgent and decisive military action was needed to halt the spread of Islamic State in Libya, warning the jihadist group wanted to use the country as a regional base. Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, avoided detailing any recommendations he might make in Washington. "You want to take decisive military action to check ISIL's expansion and at the same time you want to do it in such a way that's supportive of a long-term political process," Dunford, using an acronym for Islamic State, told a small group of reporters. |
| Pentagon chief says Turkey could do more in fight against Islamic State Posted: 22 Jan 2016 11:27 PM PST Turkey could do more in the fight against Islamic State militants, U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter said on Friday. "Turkey is a longtime friend of ours. "But the reality is it shares a big border with Iraq and Syria, which border has been porous to foreign fighters going in both directions and I think the Turks could do more," Carter added. |
| Security, immigration, guns top US 2016 debate Posted: 22 Jan 2016 07:29 PM PST  From immigration to the thorny issue of gun control, from America's flimsy economic recovery to the fight against jihadists, White House rivals are clashing on multiple fronts as they woo voters. Most Republicans also denounced Obama's landmark nuclear deal with Iran.
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| Clinton faces challenge in Iowa caucus reminiscent of 2008 Posted: 22 Jan 2016 05:14 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — Recall this 2008 storyline: Hillary Clinton enters the presidential campaign as the Democratic front-runner, runs into an inspirational candidate who generates big crowds and enthusiasm. And she winds up in a dogfight in Iowa.
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