Afghanistan rejects grim U.S. intelligence forecast as baseless
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan on Monday rejected as baseless a U.S. intelligence forecast that the gains the United States and allies have made in the past three years will be significantly rolled back by 2017.
U.N. seeks access to Palestinians in Syria after 15 die of hunger
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The United Nations appealed on Monday for the Syrian army and rebel fighters to allow urgent aid to reach a Palestinian district of southern Damascus where it said 15 people have died of malnutrition in recent months.
U.S., Libyan forces capture Tunisian militant leader: media
TUNIS (Reuters) – U.S. and Libyan forces captured Saifallah Benahssine, the leader of Tunisia’s Islamist militant group Ansar al-Sharia, in the Libyan city of Misrata on Monday, Tunisia’s state news agency TAP said, citing a security source.
Bahrain jails five for 15 years for bomb attacks: agency
MANAMA (Reuters) – A Bahraini court sentenced five men to 15 years in prison for two attacks by homemade bombs – including one during last year’s Formula 1 race – the Gulf Arab state’s official BNA news agency said.
Former aide to retired Chinese security chief probed for graft
BEIJING (Reuters) – A former aide to retired Chinese security tsar Zhou Yongkang is being investigated for corruption, the government said, the latest move targeting people close to Zhou who is himself subject to a graft probe.
Thailand’s army moves to allay coup fears
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s powerful but politicized army sought to ease fears on Monday it might step in to resolve a festering political crisis, while anti-government protesters entrenched positions around Bangkok as they seek to disrupt a Februar…
Tunisian police arrest Islamists threatening New Year celebrations
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisian police arrested seven Salafists, or ultra-conservative Islamists, in the western town of Kasserine on Sunday, local radio reported, as authorities feared radical Islamists may be planning attacks during New Year celebrations….
Nigeria Islamists kill eight in bachelor party attack
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) – Suspected fighters from Islamist group Boko Haram opened fire on a bachelor party in northeast Nigeria, killing eight people and wounding several others, witnesses said on Sunday.
Iran and world powers resume expert level nuclear talks
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran resumed technical talks with world powers in Geneva on Monday, a vital step in implementing a nuclear deal signed last month which suspends key elements of Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for limited sanctions relief.
Al Jazeera says 3 journalists held in Egypt after hotel broadcast
CAIRO (Reuters) – Al Jazeera said Egyptian security forces arrested three of its journalists after the interior ministry accused the Qatar-based television channel of broadcasting illegally from a hotel suite together with a member of the Muslim Brothe…
