Former U.S. President Barack Obama and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speak ahead of the state funeral services for former President Jimmy Carter at the National Cathedral on January 9, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Ricky Carioti/Pool via REUTERS

People embrace as they evacuate following powerful winds fueling devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area, at the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, U.S. January 8, 2025. REUTERS/David Swanson

Firefighters work to extinguish flames as the Eaton Fire burns in Pasadena, California, U.S. January 7, 2025. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

An Azerbaijan Airlines flight that crashed in Kazakhstan on Wednesday was downed by a Russian air defence system, four sources in Azerbaijan with knowledge of the investigation told Reuters.

Mourners pray beside the bodies during the funeral of Palestinian journalists from Al-Quds Al-Youm television channel who were killed in Israeli airstrikes, according to medics with the Gaza health authorities, in the central Gaza Strip, December 26, 2024. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed

The U.S. military says a U.S warship appears to have mistakenly fired on and hit a U.S. F-18 aircraft over the Red Sea in a case of friendly fire. The pilots ejected and were recovered safely, the military adds

The Pentagon says it actually has 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria, well above the 900 troops they have been saying. The Pentagon said these forces include a large contingent have been temporary forces supporting the counter-ISIS mission and unrelated the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

Mourners attend the funeral of Palestinian Ahmed Al-Louh, a video journalist for Al Jazeera TV, after he was killed in an Israeli strike on the civil emergency centre, at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, in the central Gaza Strip, December 16, 2024. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed

@reuters.com 2024: The world under water. Scientists have long predicted that an increase in the global temperature would create an increase in precipitation — although not evenly distributed — because a warmer atmosphere holds more water vapor. www.reuters.com/investigates...

Dec 15 (Reuters) - At least 15 Palestinians were killed and others injured in a strike on a shelter for the displaced in Gaza's Khan Younis, medics said on Sunday.

JERUSALEM, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Israel agreed on Sunday to double its population on the occupied Golan Heights while saying threats from Syria remained despite the moderate tone of rebel leaders who ousted President Bashar al-Assad a week ago.

Miranda’s Last Gift When our daughter died suddenly, she left us with grief, memories—and Ringo.

My memoir of my daughter, gift link renewed. www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...

Dec 12 (Reuters) - Israel killed 13 Palestinians in two airstrikes on Thursday that Gaza medics and Hamas said were part of a force protecting humanitarian aid trucks, but Israel's military said they were Hamas militants trying to hijack the shipment.

No Iranian drone 'mothership' off the United States launching drones, Pentagon says The Pentagon said on Wednesday that there was no evidence that drones that had been spotted over New Jersey were from a foreign entity or adversary and dismissed a claim by a U.S. lawmaker that they were being launched from an Iranian "mothership."

No Iranian drone 'mothership' off the United States, Pentagon says - www.reuters.com/world/us/no-...

The Pentagon says it has no evidence that the drones seen over New Jersey are from a foreign entity or adversary.

WASHINGTON, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Russia could launch another experimental hypersonic ballistic missile in Ukraine in coming days, but Washington does not consider the Oreshnik weapon a game changer in the war, a U.S. official said on Wednesday.

The top U.S. general for the Middle East was in Syria earlier today where he met U.S. forces and the Kurdish-led SDF.

JERUSALEM, Dec 10 (Reuters)-Israeli naval missile ships destroyed the Syrian military fleet in an operation on Monday night as part of a broad campaign to eliminate strategic threats to Israel, Defence Minister Katz said on Tuesday, during a visit to a naval base in Haifa.

A damaged picture of Syria's Bashar al-Assad lies on the floor inside Qamishli international airport, in Qamishli, Syria December 9, 2024. REUTERS/Orhan Qereman

EU must find billions for arms within a year, defence chief says Europe needs to find ways within the next year to fund hundreds of billions of euros in extra military spending to defend against any attack from Russia by the end of the decade, the European Union's new defence commissioner has said.

New EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius tells @liliebayer.bsky.social & me:

EU must find ways in next year to raise hundreds of billions in extra military spending to defend against any attack from Russia by end of decade.

Needs "big bang" of arms buying & finance

Faces "security pandemic"

President Assad is in Moscow and Russia has granted him and his family asylum, Russian agencies reported, citing a Kremlin source.

A child looks on from a vehicle at Masnaa Border Crossing, after Syrian rebels announced that they have ousted President Bashar al-Assad, Lebanon, December 8, 2024. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Dec 8 (Reuters) - Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said a decision on Sunday to have the Israeli military deploy forces in the U.N.-monitored buffer zone with Syria comes was taken to ensure the protection of all Israeli communities in the Golan Heights.

A man holds Syrian opposition flags as he celebrates after an end to President Bashar al-Assad's 24-year authoritarian rule, in Aleppo, Syria December 8, 2024. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri

Two senior Syrian officers say that Syrian president Bashar al Assad has left Damascus to unknown destination- Reuters

Syrian rebels say they have begun entering Damascus-Reuters.

The lightning rebel advance in Syria suggests that President Bashar al-Assad's government could fall within the next week, U.S. and other Western officials said on Saturday.

Exclusive: US defense secretary scraps South Korea trip after martial law attempt U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin no longer plans to travel to South Korea, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Thursday, following South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched attempt this week to impose martial law.

Exclusive: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin no longer plans to travel to South Korea, two US officials told Reuters on Thursday, following South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched attempt this week to impose martial law reut.rs/4fZUvMG

Dec 5 (Reuters) - Syrian rebels ousted pro-government forces from Hama on Thursday, bringing the insurgents a major new victory after a lightning advance across northern Syria and dealing a new blow to President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian and Iranian allies.

Pentagon chief strongly backs women in combat: 'It is 2024' U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Wednesday strongly backed women serving in the military during an impassioned speech at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, in an apparent dig at President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Pentagon, who has said he opposes women in combat roles.

Pentagon chief strongly backs women in combat: 'It is 2024' - www.reuters.com/world/us/pen...