Britain’s GCHQ spy agency deploys armed guards for first time
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s GCHQ eavesdropping agency has for the first time deployed armed police guards in front of its headquarters outside London, a spokeswoman said on Monday, citing the heightened risk of an attack by militants.
Iran denies that Khamenei replied to Obama letter on Islamic State
ANKARA (Reuters) – Iran has denied a Wall Street Journal report that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei recently responded to a letter sent in October by U.S. President Barack Obama suggesting cooperation with Iran in fighting Islamic State in Iraq …
Funding scandals hurt Britain’s Cameron more than rival Labour, poll shows
LONDON (Reuters) – Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservatives have been the most hurt by a string of unflattering disclosures about how and by whom Britain’s political parties are funded, a poll showed on Monday, less than three months before a close…
Nigeria says its forces recapture towns from Boko Haram
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) – Nigerian troops backed by air strikes recaptured the northeastern towns of Monguno and Marte from Islamist Boko Haram insurgents on Monday, the military said in a statement.
U.N. rights chief backs delay for Sri Lanka war crimes report
GENEVA (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s bid to postpone publication of a United Nations report into alleged war crimes has won the backing of U.N. human rights chief Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, according to a letter seen by Reuters on Monday.
Forces loyal to president seize parts of Yemen’s economic hub
ADEN (Reuters) – Forces loyal to Yemen’s president said they seized strategic buildings in the southern city of Aden on Monday after a five-hour battle, escalating a civil conflict that threatens to split the country in two.
Indonesia wants to stop women going abroad as maids after abuse-media
BANGKOK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Indonesia wants to stop women going abroad as domestic workers to preserve the country’s “dignity” after the high-profile case of an Indonesian maid abused and treated like a slave in Hong Kong, local media report…
Taiwan appoints military official as new China affairs chief
TAIPEI (Reuters) – A military official and former deputy minister of foreign affairs was named on Monday as the head of Taiwan’s China policy-making body. The previous chief announced his resignation last week.
Heavy shelling hits Ukraine town where rebels reject ceasefire
VUHLEHIRSK, Ukraine (Reuters) – A government-held town in east Ukraine sandwiched between two rebel-controlled areas came under heavy shelling on Monday, a day after the start of a ceasefire that Russian-backed separatists say does not apply there.
Gunmen stage deadly raid on Mali army post; U.N. peacekeepers hurt in blast
BAMAKO (Reuters) – Gunmen killed two Malian soldiers in an attack on an army post 460 km (300 miles) from the capital Bamako and four U.N. peacekeepers were wounded in an explosion deeper into the restive desert northeast over the weekend.
