President Obama has said that US forces are hitting the so called Islamic State group harder than ever, but he admitted the battle remained difficult and progress needed to come faster. Speaking at the Pentagon, Mr. Obama said the US had killed a number of the group's leaders. From Washington, Gary O'Donoghue has more details. He listed a whole bunch of IS leaders that the US says it's killed in the yard last few months, people like Abu Sayyaf who controlled the oil production for Islamic State. They also claimed to have killed the IS's second in command as well. And what he's saying is to those leadership figures, you are gonna be next. And they are also, as we know, putting special forces on the ground in northern Syria and into Iraq as we described the other day by the Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, we want to let people know that there won't know who's coming in the window at night.
The US Army sergeant who was held captive by the Taliban for nearly 5 years after walking away from his military base in Afghanistan is to face a Court Martial. Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl will face charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. From Washington, here is Jane O'Bryan. Bowe Bergdahl was captured by the Taliban hours after he left his post at an army base in eastern Afghanistan in 2009. His disappearance triggered a massive manhunt which it's claimed put other soldiers' lives at risk. 5 years later, Bergdahl was released in exchange for 5 prisoners the US had been holding at Guantanamo Bay. The White House held him as a hero. But he was soon after charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. The decision to Court Martial here means he could now face life in prison if found guilty.
The government of Colombia and FARC rebels have announced that they reached agreement on one of the most sensitive issues in the 3-year peace talks taking place in Havana. Negotiators from both sides said they made a deal on reparations and justice for victims for the country's half a century of armed conflict.
The American comedian Bill Cosby, accused by more than 40 women of sexual assault, has filed a lawsuit claiming that several of them lied about him for financial gain. Peter Bolts reports from Los Angeles. According to the lawsuit, Bill Cosby'accusers set out to cause damage to his reputation and to gain money. It contends that the women defamed Cosby's honorable legacy and reputation by accusing him of sexual misconduct. It was according to his lawyer, and an intentional bit to 'assassinate' his character for financial gain. The comedian says he neither drugs nor sexually assaulted the defendants. Dozens of women have come forward in recent years to accuse Cosby of sexual assault. He has repeatedly denied the allegations. You are listen to the world news from the BBC.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen has put back the start of the planned ceasefire to noon local time on Tuesday. The Saudi state news agency said coalition commanders reserve the right to respond to any breach of the truce. The ceasefire is due to last for 7 days to coincide with peace talks at a secrete location in Switzerland.
The EU has launched formal negotiations with Serbia on possible EU membership. The Serbian prime minister Aleksandar Vucic described the beginning of the talks in Brussel as important. I would like to congratulate all of the citizens of Serbia for this great success. This is an important and great day for us. We're now writing the pages of our history. We do not have to have dreams anymore about the EU. All we need to do now is work hard. And it is quiet certain that if we're committed and work hard, it is sure that eventually we will be part of the great family of European nations. The EU also embarked on a new stage in Turkey's long drawn-out membership talks. The move had been agreed in November when Turkey promised to reduce of the flow of many Syrian refugees crossing into Europe.
United Nations Refugee Agency has said that two people in Somalia including a staff member have been shot dead by unknown gunmen. It's said Amina Noor Mohamed and her driver were attacked while traveling through the capital Mogadishu. She had been working in the city for the last four years.
Aviation officials in the US say all small drones and model aircraft in the country must be registered under a government's date base. Drone pilots have to pay 5 dollars to obtain a unique license number. The authorities promise to bring in regulation in response to concerns over privacy and security. Firefighters in California have complained that drones were impeding operations against wide fires. BBC news.