News Wrap: Egyptian assessment doesn’t call Russian jet crash terror attack

JUDY WOODRUFF:

President Obama today insisted coalition forces are hitting back at Islamic State militants harder than ever. As a result, he said, the group also known as ISIL has lost key leaders and control of large swathes of Iraqi and Syrian territories. The president outlined the progress after meeting at the Pentagon with his national security advisers.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:

Every day, we destroy as well more of ISIL's forces, their fighting positions, bunkers, and staging areas, their heavy weapons, bomb-making factories, compounds and training camps.

In many places, ISIL has lost its freedom of maneuver, because they know, if they mass their forces, we will wipe them out.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

The president also called on allies in the Middle East to step up their contributions to the fight.

Late today, Saudi Arabia announced that it is forming a 34-state Islamic military coalition to combat terrorism. It includes Arab countries like Egypt and Qatar and Islamic countries like Turkey and Pakistan.

GWEN IFILL:

Investigators in Egypt say October's crash of a Russian passenger jet can't be called terrorism yet. That's in direct conflict with Russian, American and British statements that a bomb was probably to blame. A group linked to the Islamic State had claimed responsibility for the Sinai crash that killed all 224 people on board. Egypt's assessment is a preliminary finding. Their investigation is ongoing.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

In Argentina, at least 43 police officers died today when their bus careened off a bridge, plunging 65 feet into a ravine. The crash occurred near Salta, roughly 1,000 miles north of Buenos Aires. Rescue crews pulled victims from the overturned bus, which was carrying around 60 people. Investigators believe the accident was caused by a ruptured tire.

GWEN IFILL:

Up to 750,000 people have evacuated the Central Philippines as a powerful typhoon made landfall. The storm slammed into a tiny village on the northern tip of Samar Island today, packing wind gusts up to 115 miles per hour. Authorities warned the heavy rain could trigger storm surges, landslides, and coastal flooding of up to 13 feet. There were no — there was no immediate word of casualties.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

Official results out today showed France's Conservative Party held off a challenge by the far-right National Front in the second round of regional elections. The Conservatives, led by former President Nicolas Sarkozy, captured 40 percent of Sunday's votes. Current President Francois Hollande's Socialist Party won nearly 29 percent, and the National Front took 27 percent.

Sarkozy warned the far-right's strong showing in the first round of votes should have everyone on guard.

PRESIDENT FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, France (through interpreter):

This mobilization for our candidates in the second round should under no circumstances allow us to forget the warnings which were sent to all political leaders, us included, during the first round of those regional elections.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

While the National front garnered its largest number of votes in any election, it still failed to win a single region in the polls. Last night, its leader, Marine Le Pen, downplayed the loss.

MARINE LE PEN, National Front Leader (through interpreter):

The National Front will be the main force of opposition in the regional councils in France, an opposition which will be constructive, but demanding, because we are free of any associations, an imaginative opposition, because we are free of any interest groups.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

The anti-immigration National Front Party had recently seen a rise in popularity in the wake of last month's deadly Paris attacks.

GWEN IFILL:

In Saudi Arabia, at least 20 women won seats on local councils following the ultra-conservative kingdom's first election open to female candidates and voters; 2,100 seats were up for grabs in Saturday's vote, but Saudi women are still banned from driving or making important decisions without the approval of a male relative.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

Back in this country, Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl will face charges of desertion and endangering his fellow troops in a court-martial. Bergdahl walked off his post in Eastern Afghanistan in 2009. He was held captive by the Taliban for five years before being traded for five of the group's leaders in Guantanamo Bay. He now faces the possibility of life in prison.

GWEN IFILL:

A Baltimore jury today began deliberating the fate of the first police officer to stand trial in the death of Freddie Gray. Officer William Porter was in the police van where Gray sustained his fatal neck injury.

In closing arguments, prosecutors argued Porter should have properly secured Gray in the vehicle. But his defense said there is no evidence Porter's actions caused Gray's death.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

Shrimp peeled by enslaved migrant workers and children in Thailand have made their way to all 50 states. An Associated Press investigation found the seafood for sale at major retailers like Wal-Mart and Whole Foods, and on the menu at Red Lobster and Olive Garden. The laborers were often held against their will in unsanitary conditions and paid little to no wages. Many of the American businesses are now condemning the labor abuse and vowing to investigate.

GWEN IFILL:

Most recreational drones will soon be required to register with the Federal Aviation Administration. The agency announced that today, just in time for the holiday gift-giving season. Remote-controlled aircraft weighing between half-a-pound and 55 pounds can be registered on the FAA's Web site beginning December 21st. That will help authorities track down an owner if a drone collides with another aircraft or ventures too close to an airport.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

Stocks closed higher on Wall Street today, boosted in part by strong gains in the oil industry. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 103 points to close at 17368. The Nasdaq rose nearly 19 points,