France launches first strikes on ISIL in Iraq

Two fighter jets took part in US-led operation that destroyed logistics depot held by rebels, President Hollande says

Hollande says the French military operations against ISIL will continue in coming days [Reuters]

France has carried out its first air strikes in Iraq against positions of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, joining a US-led operation to defeat the rebel group. In a statement issued on Friday, French President Francois Hollande said the strike destroyed a logistics depot held by ISIL.It said that at least two Rafale fighter jets were involved in the operation in northeastern Iraq, and that the target was "entirely destroyed".

Scotland's Pro-Independence Campaign Making Headway

A new opinion poll published on Sunday gave Scotland's pro-independence campaigners a narrow lead for the first time, just 11 days before a referendum will be held on separating from Britain.

The YouGov/Sunday Times poll gave the "Yes" camp 51 percent support compared to the "No" camp's 49 percent, excluding undecided voters.Although the two-point lead is within the margin of error, the findings dramatically up the stakes ahead of the vote on September 18, handing momentum to First Minister Alex Salmond's Scottish National Party (SNP).

The Sunday Times also reported that Queen Elizabeth II feels "a great deal of concern" over the independence vote and has asked for daily updates.Britain's main parties, including Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives, are now expected to reveal a plan for handing more powers to Scots in a bid to keep the 300-year-old union together.

EU delays newly adopted Russia sanctions

New sanctions, which target Russian oil companies for Moscow's involvement in Ukraine, are pushed back a few days

"EU stands ready to review agreed sanctions in whole or in part," European Council President Rompuy says [AFP]

The EU has agreed on new sanctions against Russia over its involvement in the war in Ukraine, but delayed enforcing them to leave time to assess whether the recent ceasefire is holding. "Depending on the situation on the ground, the EU stands ready to review the agreed sanctions in whole or in part," said Herman Van Rompuy, the president of the European Council, in a statement, after a last-minute meeting of ambassadors of EU member states in Brussels.

NATO summit to highlight unity against Russia

Leaders of alliance hold talks with Ukraine president in UK, as NATO chief warns of biggest threat since Cold War.

Last updated: 04 Sep 2014 10:58

Rasmussen, right, warned Russian intervention in Ukraine is the most serious security threat since Cold War [EPA]
NATO leaders are holding a summit in the UK in a bid to show unity against Russia over the conflict in Ukraine, after France suspended delivery of a warship to Moscow despite a surprise peace plan put forward by the Kremlin.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko held talks with US President Barack Obama and other Western leaders on Thursday on the conflict with pro-Russia rebels in Ukraine ahead of the start of a NATO summit.

NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen has warned that Russian intervention in Ukraine is the most serious security threat since the Cold War, one which the 28 member-states ignore at their peril.

US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron vowed to stand together in support of Ukraine against Russia in a joint statement in the Times newspaper on Thursday.

"Russia has ripped up the rulebook with its illegal, self-declared annexation of Crimea and its troops on Ukrainian soil threatening and undermining a sovereign nation state," the two leaders wrote in an op-ed piece.