Taliban appoint military chief as the new leader settles in
By KATHY GANNON The Taliban have appointed a new military chief as the insurgents try to gain more ground in Afghanistan rather than talk peace under a new leadership, Taliban…
War and unrest
IS buried thousands in 72 mass graves, AP finds
By LORI HINNANT and DESMOND BUTLER Surrounded by smoke and flames, the sound of gunshots echoing around him, the young man crouched in the creek for hours, listening to the…
Permanent cease-fire taking effect in Colombia under accord
By JOSHUA GOODMAN A permanent cease-fire took effect in Colombia on Monday, a major step in bringing an end to 52 years of bloody combat between the government and the…
US, Russia renew push for elusive agreement on Syria
By MATTHEW LEE and JAMEY KEATEN The United States and Russia on Friday renewed efforts to secure a military and humanitarian cooperation agreement for war-torn Syria after months of hesitation,…
IS struggles to retain grip as it loses ground in Iraq
By BALINT SZLANKO As the Islamic State group loses ground in Iraq, the militants are showing strains in their rule over areas they still control, growing more brutal, killing deserters…
Sheriff: 5 slain in Alabama massacre included pregnant woman
By JEFF MARTIN The five people slain in a massacre at a south Alabama home included a woman who was five months pregnant, Mobile County authorities said. The suspect, Derrick…
Iraq executes 36 men convicted in Islamic State massacre
By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA Iraq on Sunday executed 36 men convicted of taking part in the Islamic State group’s massacre of hundreds of soldiers in 2014, officials said. The men were…
Young suicide bomber attacks Turkey wedding party; 51 dead
By CINAR KIPER An Islamic State group suicide bomber as young as 12 years old attacked an outdoor Kurdish wedding party in southeastern Turkey, killing at least 51 people and…