Permawar: A South African hostage who was hours from being released for a $200,000 ransom was the other hostage killed in last week’s raid to free an American freelance photographer in Yemen. The family of Pierre Korkie, a teacher, had collected $200,000 to pay the ransom. But he was killed by his captors along with the American Luke Somers.

Defense Secy. Chuck Hagel said that despite the Yemen debacle, there is no need to re-evaluate American policy on handling hostage situations.

At least eleven people were killed in the attempt by American Special Forces to free Somers. The dead included a local al Qaeda leader as well as a woman and a 10-year-old boy. Somers, 33, and Korkie, 54, were shot by their captors as the raid unfolded, according to American authorities.

>Syria claims that Israeli jets carried out air strikes inside Syria near Damascus. Israel has not confirmed and it’s not public what the targets may have been.

Nation: A huge fire swept through an apartment building under construction in downtown Los Angeles early this morning, leading to the closure of two major freeways. Nearly 250 firefighters were called, but the building appears to be a total loss.

>Rolling Stone magazine has updated its online apology for a faulty article on gang rape at the University of Virginia. The initial apology appeared to blame the woman who said she was raped. The update says, “These mistakes are on Rolling Stone, not on Jackie.”

Fact From Fiction: At least 50 staffers and contributors quit The New Republic magazine this past week in a standoff with the new owner, causing the cancellation of the Dec. 15 issue. Owner Chris Hughes, 31, a Facebook millionaire, is a fan of the trendy “disruption” style of leadership and that’s what he got. Two editors quit and the backbone of the operation left with them. Hughes had announced a cutback in print issues and a move toward becoming “a vertically integrated digital media company.” Just by coincidence, a similar scenario is playing out on the HBO series “The Newsroom.” Virtue might win on television, but it’s less certain in real life.

The Sports Page: What this country needs is a college football champion. The College Football playoff committee has chosen its four-team bracket to play for what is billed as the first undisputed championship of college football. On New Year’s day No. 1 Alabama is scheduled to play No. 4 Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl, and No. 2 Oregon is up against No. 3 Florida State in the Rose Bowl. The winners will play for the national title on Jan. 12. Senior “student athletes” may or may not graduate sometime during the months after the big game.

The Royals: Katharine, the captivating Duchess of Cambridge who has the admiration of millions and the focus of attention everywhere she goes, arrived in New York City for a three-day visit yesterday. The expectant Katharine was cheered by a waving crowd at New York’s Carlyle Hotel. The Duchess was accompanied by a balding 30-something man who is second in line to the throne of England.

-30-