Howdy (she said in her best Minnie Pearl imitation ), here’s your Monday evening news.

International Developments

❖ “A Syrian helicopter comes down in the capital Damascus, state television reports, with rebels claiming they shot it down.

❖ “Robert Fisk: The Syrian army would like to appear squeaky clean . It isn’t: ‘Our own beloved Free Syria Army has actually advertised its own murders on YouTube.’”

❖ French President Francois Hollande said “France will recognize a provisional Syrian government . . . urging Syria’s fractured political opposition to establish one as soon as possible.” He added that Syria’s use of chemical weapons would be “a legitimate justification for military intervention, even without a United Nations Security Council resolution.”

❖ Two of Libya’s “most revered Sufi shrines” were demolished in broad daylight by religious extremists, perhaps with help from security personnel. Libya’s congress held an emergency session yesterday about the destruction. Libya’s Interior Minister resigned after Congress criticized his handling of the situation.

❖ New attacks in Iraq today killed three, including an Iraqi general.

❖ A Taliban attack during a party in Helmand province of Afghanistan resulted in 17 people beheaded, including two women, who were apparently dancers. A while later, the Taliban “overran an Afghan army post in the same province . . . , killing 10 troopers.”

❖ “ Immigration officials in the Bahamas say 152 illegal migrants from Haiti have been detained after their boat ran aground in bad weather” near Mangrove Cay, Andros Island.

❖ “ Women in Togo have been urged to abstain from sex for a week from Monday to push their demand for reform.” They want President Faure Gnassingbe, whose family has ruled for more than 4 decades, to step down. Said one woman, “It’s a

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