| Hard News
40 killed Christmas attacks in Nigeria: A series of attacks on churches in Nigeria during ChristmasDay services killed at least 40 people, witnesses said Sunday,with local authorities blaming the carnage on Islamist militantgroup Boko Haram. http://bit.ly/rWiIUv
Christmas day bombings were designed to cause religious wars in Nigeria': An Islamic group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has said that the Christmas day bombings by the Boko Haram sect were calculated move to ignite religious war between Christians and Muslims in the whole country.
U.S. to help Nigeria hunt down terrorists who bombed churches on Christmas Day :
"We have been in contact with Nigerian officials about what appear to be terrorist acts and pledge to assist them in bringing those responsible to justice," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said in a statement.
MP among 20 killed in Afghan suicide blast: A suicide bomber killed at least 20 people, including a member of parliament, and wounded 50 in Afghanistan's northern city of Taloqan on Sunday, police said, the latest in a series of attacks in a once-peaceful region.
Afghan soldier kills three US troops: An Afghan soldier has opened fire on American troops, killing at least three of them and injuring five others in western Afghanistan, Press TV reports.
Afghan 'soldier' opens fire on Nato troops: Unconfirmed reports said the gunman died and several alliance soldiers were wounded in Saturday's attack . A Nato statement said there were no fatalities among alliance soldiers in the shooting at an outpost in Bala Boluk district.
Nato Occupation Force Soldier Killed in E Afghanistan: A Nato soldier was killed during firefight with insurgents in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, Isaf said.
Karzai Does Not Trust Security Forces, Former Spy Chief Says: He said if the President trusts the security forces, why can't he travel between the Presidential Palace and the Parliament? "You [Karzai] have problems with Afghanistan's allies, and your political allies are also leaving you day by day.
Ex-Army major from Chicago gets 5 years for taking bribes from defense contractors: A Chicago man who is a former major in the Army National Guard has been sentenced to five years in prison for taking kickbacks from military defense contractors while deployed in Afghanistan.
India to Invest $7.8 Billion on Afghan Mine: A consortium of seven Indian steel companies led by Steel Authorities of India (SAIL) bagged the development rights to invest on blocks B, C and D at Bamya's Hajigak iron deposit.
17 Taliban killed in Kurram and Khyber agencies: Security forces on Sunday pounded terrorists' hideouts near Afghan border in Kurram and Khyber agencies killing 17
U.S. Prepares for a Curtailed Relationship With Pakistan:
The United States will be forced to restrict drone strikes, limit the number of its spies and soldiers on the ground and spend more to transport supplies through Pakistan to allied troops in Afghanistan, American and Pakistani officials said. United States aid to Pakistan will also be reduced sharply, they said.
Pakistan Imran Khan rally draws tens of thousands: The BBC's Aleem Maqbool, at the rally, says there were posters, banners and T-shirts espousing hope - clearly reminiscent of the sentiment that carried President Barack Obama to office in the US.
13 dead in Homs as observers head to Syria: "We face a real threat of genocide and crimes against humanity in Homs, whose residents are calling for help and warning of the imminent danger they face if the Arab League does not immediately send its observers there," the Syrian National Council said in statement.
Christians: Homs 'a city gone mad': Rami, who lives with his wife in Homs, said armed men are now visible "everywhere" in the city. "It's very dangerous," he added.
Head of monitors in Syria says access good so far: The head of the Arab League's monitoring mission seeking an end to violent repression in Syria said on Monday he met several government officials who have been cooperative and said access had been unfettered "so far".
From Tripoli to Damascus: Arab wild geese take wing: Libya's former rebels are urging Syrians to follow their revolutionary path. Hundreds of mercenaries, some of them former terrorists, are ready to take up arms again to help overthrow President Assad.
Seven people have been killed in a suicide attack in Baghdad.: A senior police source said authorities believed insurgents were targeting the ministry because of the announcement of the arrest warrant for Sunni Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi.
Iraqi Shiite militia 'ready to lay down arms': Qais al-Khazali, leader of Asaib Ahel al-Haq or League of the Righteous, said the departure of American forces a week ago meant violent "resistance" was no longer required.
Iraqi Vice-President Tariq al-Hashemi speaks to Al Jazeera : Tariq al-Hashemi, the Iraqi vice-president who has been named by the government as being involved in deadly violence in the country, has said that he will not face courts in Baghdad, alleging that they are not credible or transparent.
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Iraq's Sadrists call to dissolve parliament:
Followers of Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr also want new elections amid political crisis and fresh violence in Baghdad.
Seven die in Yemen army clashes with Qaeda suspects: Ongoing battles between Al-Qaeda suspects and Yemen's army near the restive southern city of Zinjibar killed five soldiers and two Al-Qaeda suspects, military and medical sources said on Monday.
US Rewards Loyal Puppet:
Yemen Leader May Visit the United States for "Medical Treatment" : The Obama administration is considering a request by the embattled president of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, to come to the United States for medical treatment after he relinquishes power, a senior administration official said here on Sunday evening.
4 Killed as Israeli Jets, Sub Strike in Sudan: Israeli fighter jets, helicopters and possibly a submarine were involved in multiple attacks on targets in Sudan last week, according to local news outlets.
Sudan Rebel Leader Khalil Ibrahim killed in North Kordofan: "The armed forces raided the town, besieged the rebel group and were able to kill a number of them, among them Khalil Ibrahim."
Libyan fighters clash with ex-regime loyalists in former Gadhafi stronghold, 2 killed: - A resident of a city in western Libya says at least two people were killed after gunmen ransacked a home in search of a regime figure once loyal to Moammar Gadhafi.
Al-Qaida figures said infiltrating Libya: -- Several senior al-Qaida figures have made their way to Libya, raising fears North Africa could become a new mujahedin center
Qatar to overthrow Saudi regime: The Saudi Arabian monarchy will be overthrown by Qatar very soon, a leaked confidential conversation by Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Al Thani has revealed.
Iran Defense Minister: Israeli strike would be a suicide mission: Brigadier General Vahidi says 'Zionist regime is completely isolated,' threatens deadly strikes from Iran, should Israel attack.
Lieberman: Israeli-Palestinian peace will not be achieved within the next decade: FM says Israel must talk about how to manage the conflict and not how to solve it, maintains Israel need not apologize to European states for calling them 'irrelevant.' http://bit.ly/sgUnf3
The media consensus on Israel is collapsing: Across the political spectrum, once-taboo criticism is now common
Egypt's Islamists won almost 90% of parliamentary seats, state media says: The leading Islamist Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) won 40 out of 60 seats in the runoff for the second round of the three-stage elections, according to both the party and the official Al-Ahram newspaper. The ultra-conservative Salafi Al-Nur party won 13 seats.
Haitian migrants found dead off Cuban coast:
At least 38 migrants, including 17 women, reportedly found dead after boat sinks off the Cuban coast.
WikiLeaks' Assange may face espionage charge in US: JULIAN Assange may face espionage charges in the US after prosecutors in the case of Private Bradley Manning revealed evidence of the WikiLeaks boss' alleged role in stealing secret military documents.
China's yuan hits all-time high versus dollar: Currency expected to appreciate further next year as China ignores US pressure to devalue its currency.
Another face of the U.S. recession: homeless children:
As her mother sat in a homeless shelter in downtown Miami, talking about her economic struggles and loss of faith in the U.S. political system, 3-year-old Aeisha Touray blurted out what sounded like a new slogan for the Occupy Wall Street protest movement.
"Let us be peace and joy"
Tom Feeley
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