Fidel Castro writes Maradona to quell death rumors: Venezuela TV
CARACAS (Reuters) – Fidel Castro has sent a letter to his friend and Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona, a Venezuelan-based TV network said on Monday, adding that the missive quashed rumors that the former Cuban leader might have died.
Israel shuts Muslim groups over Jerusalem shrine tensions
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel shut down three local Islamist groups on Monday, accusing them of stoking tensions at a contested shrine in occupied East Jerusalem that has seen increased visits by Jews.
Nigeria’s military says 150 killed in Boko Haram clashes in Baga
ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigeria’s military said on Monday that at least 150 people had been killed in clashes with Islamists in the northeastern town of Baga, giving a rare official death toll a few weeks before presidential elections in which security is a …
Kerry holds security talks in Pakistan after school massacre
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry held talks in Pakistan on Monday during a visit intended to press the government to do more to crack down on militant groups after last month’s massacre of 134 children by Taliban gunmen.
Greek anti-bailout party Syriza holds 4.5 point lead before vote: poll
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece’s anti-bailout Syriza party held a steady lead over Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’ conservative party ahead of a Jan. 25 snap election, a poll showed on Monday.
Divers retrieve AirAsia ‘black box’, explosion theory questioned
PANGKALAN BUN, Indonesia/JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesian navy divers retrieved the black box flight data recorder from the wreck of an AirAsia passenger jet on Monday, a major step towards unraveling the cause of the crash that killed all 162 people on …
Pope heads to Sri Lanka at rare moment of island harmony
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Pope Francis arrives in Sri Lanka on Tuesday for a visit expected to add to a new harmonious atmosphere in the Buddhist-majority nation that last week elected a government promising increased respect for long-suffering religious min…
Merkel says Islam ‘belongs to Germany’ ahead of Dresden rally
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday Islam “belongs to Germany”, in a clear repudiation of anti-immigration protesters gathering in Dresden and other cities.
Egyptian activist once fired up by Arab Spring abandons politics ahead of polls
ZAGAZIG, Egypt (Reuters) – When protests erupted in Cairo in 2011, liberal activist Hassan El-Erian quickly mobilized demonstrations in his hometown of Zagazig, risking arrest, or worse, to push for democracy. 
Ukraine’s Yanukovich wanted for embezzlement: Interpol
KIEV (Reuters) – Interpol has put ousted Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich and two members of his former government on the international wanted list at the behest of Ukraine, according to a notice on its website on Monday.
