U.S. ‘stuck to its guns’ on Iran prisoner swap: freed detainee’s brother
(Reuters) – Iranian authorities “continued to manipulate” Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian until the moment he was released with four other Americans in a prisoner swap over the weekend, his brother said on Monday.
Iran boosts oil output, foreign firms keen to seal deals
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran ordered a sharp increase in oil output on Monday to take immediate advantage of the lifting of international sanctions, and some foreign firms raced to snap up deals as Tehran emerges from years of international isolation.
Australian police respond to reports of shooting at Sydney police station
SYDNEY (Reuters) – A police operation was underway at a police station in a suburb in the west of Sydney, Australia’s largest city, emergency services said on Tuesday, with domestic media reporting at least one person had been shot.
Iraq searching for three U.S. citizens reportedly abducted
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Security forces in Baghdad were hunting for three U.S. citizens who Iraqi lawmakers said on Monday had been kidnapped, which, if confirmed, would make them the first Americans abducted in the country since U.S. troops withdrew in 20…
More aid reaches besieged Syrian towns: U.N., Red Cross
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A third round of aid was delivered to besieged Syrian towns on Monday, although armed groups postponed one humanitarian team’s access saying they needed more time to make security arrangements, the United Nations said in a joint stat…
Jail to jihad: Indonesian prisons a breeding ground for militancy
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Afif was an inmate in a high-security Indonesian jail when he transformed from aspiring radical Islamist to soldier for Islamic State, ready to sacrifice his life for a group based thousands of miles away in the Middle East.
Iraqi Sunni lawmakers to boycott government session over sectarian violence
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi Sunni lawmakers and ministers decided to boycott Tuesday’s parliament and government sessions to protest violence targeting their community in a town east of Baghdad, the independent al-Sumaria TV channel reported on Monday.A …
Al Qaeda names fighters behind attack on Burkina capital
OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) – Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) on Monday identified three fighters it says were responsible for attacks in Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou over the weekend that killed 29 people.
Nigerian minister says $6.8 billion of public funds stolen in seven years
ABUJA (Reuters) – Fifty-five people who were government ministers, state governors, public officials, bankers and businessmen stole 1.34 trillion naira ($6.8 billion) from Nigeria’s public purse over a seven-year period, the information minister said o…
Invites to Syria talks on hold, agreement on opposition needed: U.N.
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations said on Monday it would not issue invitations to peace talks between Syria’s government and opposition set to begin on Jan. 25 until major powers pushing the peace process reach agreement on which rebel rep…
