US-led strikes kill 28 jihadists in Syria AFP, Beirut

At least 28 Islamic State group jihadists were killed Monday in coordinated strikes by the US-led coalition and allied fighters in eastern Syria's Deir Ezzor province, a monitoring group said. IS, which once controlled swathes of Syria and Iraq, has been pounded by multiple offensives and today controls less than three percent of Syria's territory.

Israeli strike kills 2 militants in Gaza AFP, Gaza City

An Israeli strike yesterday killed two militants of the Gaza Strip's ruling Hamas movement after shots were fired at soldiers, Gazan and Israeli officials said. Palestinian sources said that the Israeli attack was in the north of the strip but they said it was a drone strike, while the Israeli statement said that it was tank fire.

Largest ever wildfire rages on in California AFP, Clearlake Oaks

Two fires mercilessly roaring through northern California have grown so rapidly that they are now the largest ever to ravage the state, authorities said. Collectively dubbed the Mendocino Complex, the wildfires have burned through 283,800 acres and are just 30 percent contained, according to state fire authority CalFire.

N Korea frees S Korean detainee AFP, Seoul

North Korea yesterday released a South Korean who was arrested after crossing the border last month, Seoul's unification ministry said, welcoming the "humanitarian” gesture. The North told the South Monday of its decision to release the man, who was detained for crossing into the country on July 22, the ministry said in a statement