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…
North Korea nuclear test paves way for rare party congress
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s recent nuclear weapon test was designed to boost his domestic legitimacy ahead of a rare ruling party conference in May that could formalize market-based economic experiments in the isolated country, …
British lawmakers debate banning Trump after Muslim comments
LONDON (Reuters) – British lawmakers on Monday debated a petition to ban U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump from Britain over remarks on Muslims, but while describing his comments as “crazy” and “offensive”, most said the ban would go …
Desertions deplete Afghan forces, adding to security worries
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan/KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan Lieutenant Amanullah said he was ready to fight to the death to stop the Taliban making gains across the south of the country, where insurgents have already overrun a series of districts in their tradition…
Seven killed in violence across Turkey’s mainly Kurdish southeast
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) – Seven people, including two civilians, were killed in Turkey’s mainly Kurdish southeast, security sources said on Monday, as the death toll from operations launched by security forces last month climbs into the hundreds.
Geagea reshapes Lebanese politics, backs rival Aoun
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanese Christian politician Samir Geagea backed his rival Michel Aoun for the presidency on Monday, reshaping Lebanese politics in an apparent break with his Saudi-backed allies that aligns him with a civil war era enemy supported …
