1. US Ready to Send Advisers, Helicopters to Help Retake Iraq City
The United States is prepared to deploy advisers and attack helicopters if requested by Iraq to help it “finish the job” of retaking the city of Ramadi from ISIS, US Defense Secretary Ash Carter says.
2. Syrian Opposition Seeks to Close Ranks as Army Gains on Ground
Syria’s fragmented opposition and rebel groups sought common ground ahead of planned negotiations to end the conflict that has devastated the country and draws forces from the Cold War and Middle East rivals into ever deeper combat operations.
3. Afghanistan Sought Pak Help to Revive Stalled Peace Talks with Taliban
The Afghan foreign minister urged Pakistan at a conference in Islamabad to help revive peace talks between his government and the Taliban, but news of a major Taliban attack in Afghanistan dims hopes of dialogue.
4. Inquiry Launched Into US Envoy’s Comments on Thai Royal Insult Law
The Thai police launched an inquiry into criticism by the US ambassador of a royal insult law, just a day after the junta rapped Britain’s envoy for his remarks on the freedom of assembly.
5. US Senate Democrats Propose ‘Tsar’ to Fight Islamic State
US Senate Democrats unveiled a plan to defeat the Islamic State abroad and enhance security at home with intensified air strikes, sanctions to deter bank transactions and a new “tsar” to take charge of the effort.
6. Chicago Mayor Apologises, Protesters Demand His Resignation
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, under heavy criticism for his handling of the fatal police shooting of a black teen, gave an emotional apology but angry crowds close city streets to demand his resignation.
7. With New Climate Draft, a Deal Creeps Closer in Paris
After a week and half, talks produced slimmer but still-troubled version of the climate deal, with negotiators from 195 countries divided over how far to go in curbing global temperature rises – and how to pay for it.
8. Muslim Proposal Prompts Calls to Ban Trump From UK, Israel
Israeli politicians and more than 250,000 Britons urged their governments to bar Donald Trump from their countries after the Republican presidential front-runner said Muslims should be denied entry into the US.
9. California Shooters Discussed Martyrdom Before Meeting: FBI
The couple who massacred 14 people at a California holiday party discussed jihad and martyrdom online a year before they met in person, but there is no evidence Islamic militants arranged their marriage to facilitate an attack, FBI Director James Comey says.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)