Afghan Police Kill 40 Taliban Fighters:
Afghan national police backed by the army have killed 40 Taliban militants during a series of operations carried out across the country over the past 24 hours, Interior Ministry said in a statement released on Monday.
Taliban leader says his followers will keep fighting if US-Afghan security deal is signed:
Mullah Mohammad Omar also called on his fighters to intensify their insurgent campaign against Afghan and NATO forces, and urged all Afghans to boycott next year's elections, including the vote to elect a successor to President Hamid Karzai.
31 killed in multiple attacks across Iraq:
Iraq's interior ministry has said that militants have launched an open war in Iraq and they want to push the Arab country into chaos.
Sadr: Terrorism rules Iraq:
The Shi'ite leader accused the country's prime minister, Nouri Al-Maliki, of being a failure, claiming that Iraq needs a "father-like ruler," instead of Maliki whom he expected would attempt to remain in power for a "third or perhaps fourth term... or even forever."
Car bomb kills dozens in rebel-held Syrian province:
The bombing carried out in Idlib province, where rebels hold vast swaths of territory - underscored the descent into chaos in several rebel-held areas, which have seen a recent spate of internal clashes, kidnappings and other attacks.
Key opposition group will not attend Geneva II talks:
A key group in the Syrian opposition National Coalition said Sunday it would not attend proposed peace talks in Geneva and would quit the Coalition if it participated, dealing a potential blow to international efforts to convene a meeting that has been pushed back multiple times.
West can't get Syrian opp to peace talks, blames Russia - Lavrov:
Russia's Foreign Minister has criticized the US for its inability to bring the Syrian opposition to the Geneva II peace conference and for trying to shift the responsibility for the currently stalled negotiations on Russia.
John Kerry now says Syria's Assad must go, situation 'urgent':
Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday that Syria President Bashar Assad has no future and must be removed from power - a somewhat confusing stance given the recent praise he gave the regime for cooperating with a Russia-forged chemical weapons deal.
Kerry calls for conference on Syria transition:
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and the U.N-Arab League envoy for Syria said Monday that an international conference to set up a Syrian transitional government must be organized urgently and held as soon as possible.
Robert Fisk: Lebanon has cause for shame in its treatment of Syrian refugees:
They are beaten in the immigration queues and cheated with exorbitant rents
Assad lambasts Hamas for deception:
Saying Hamas has "a history of treachery and treason," Assad added that he hopes someone will persuade the Islamist group to return as a resistance movement. The Syrian president said Hamas decided to give up the resistance to be part of the Muslim Brotherhood movement.
Iran ready to deal on nuclear programme at Geneva talks:
Tehran will agree to more transparency over uranium enrichment in exhange for lifting of embargos, say diplomats
US senators: Ease sanctions if Iran halts uranium enrichment:
In letter to Obama, 10 lawmakers say they support Geneva talks but seek tougher sanctions and credible military threat
Israel warns against easing sanctions on Iran:
An Israeli minister has warned against easing sanctions on Iran in return for it agreeing to suspend uranium enrichment, on the eve of talks on its nuclear programme in Geneva.
'Netanyahu is not bluffing on intention to strike Iran':
Ex-army official: PM "thinks it's the 1930s. The Iranians are the Germans, and history has a sense of humor with 6 million Jews in Israel."
Report: Iran, US to hold bilateral talks:
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday that Iran is to hold bilateral talks with members of Group 5+1, including the United States, on the sidelines of the nuclear talks in Geneva, scheduled for October 15-16, Iranian news agency IRNA reported Sunday.
Iranian Jews urge Obama to seize on Rohani overtures:
Tehran's Jewish community has urged US President Barack Obama to seize an "unrepeatable" opportunity to mend fences with Iran now that a reputed moderate holds the Islamic republic's presidency. The call was made in an open letter from the head of Tehran's Jewish community, Homayoun Sameyah Najaf Abady
Gaza chokes as Egypt's economic garotte tightens:
With the network of underground supply tunnels rapidly being shut down, prices have soared for Palestinians in the Strip
Radiation experts confirm polonium on Arafat clothing:
Swiss radiation experts have confirmed they found traces of polonium on clothing used by Yasser Arafat which "support the possibility" the veteran Palestinian leader was poisoned.
Former Israeli Navy commander questioned at London's Heathrow Airport:
Marom's questioning was reminiscent of past attempts in England to arrest and potentially bring to trial for alleged war crimes then-defense minister Ehud Barak and cancelled trips by Tzipi Livni because of her prior role as foreign minister.
Three Senegalese peacekeepers killed in Sudan's Darfur: -
Three peacekeepers from Senegal were killed and one injured in Sudan's Darfur region on Sunday when armed men attacked their convoy, the United Nations said.
Gunmen kill Libya air force officer in Benghazi:
A Libyan air force officer was killed and another security forces member badly wounded on Sunday in two separate attacks in the eastern city of Benghazi, an official said.
Alleged al Qaeda figure transferred to U.S. - official:
He was seized by a U.S. Army Delta Force squad on the streets of Tripoli on October 5 and whisked onto a Navy ship in the Mediterranean Sea where he was questioned by a team of interrogators.
Moscow riots after 'murder by migrant':
Police in Russia have arrested at least 400 people after a protest against a murder blamed on a migrant from the North Caucasus turned violent. Protesters stormed a shopping centre, smashing windows, and then overran a wholesale vegetable market searching for migrant workers. There were chants of "Russia for the Russians" and "White Power".
British intelligence services accused of monitoring privileged emails between lawyers and clients:
Allegation relates to eight Libyan nationals and comes in wake of Guardian's revelations about GCHQ and Tempora programme
Cyber-shield: Brazil announces govt system to block NSA snooping:
Brazil is creating an email system intended to shield the government from NSA spying. The country is set to vote on a cyber-security bill following revelations the US spy network had infiltrated the highest levels of Brazil's administration.
New York Times says UK tried to get it to hand over Snowden documents:
The editor of the New York Times, Jill Abramson, has confirmed that senior British officials attempted to persuade her to hand over secret documents leaked by the former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden.
$2 Billion NSA Spy Center is Going Up in Flames:
Technical glitches have sparked fiery explosions within the NSA's newest and largest data storage facility in Utah, destroying hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment, and delaying the facility's opening by one year.
Privacy Fears Grow as Cities Increase Surveillance:
The system underscores how technology has enabled the tracking of people in many aspects of life.
Police in Florida suburb make millions from drug sting operations, report finds:
Police in Florida have been luring big-money drug buyers to a small suburban town from across the United States and as far north as Canada, negotiating sales of cocaine in popular restaurants and then arresting the buyers and confiscating their cash and cars.
EU study on migrants rebuffs 'benefit tourism' claims:
In most of the EU countries studied the portion of EU migrants among welfare beneficiaries was below 5%.
US May Join 1933 Germany in Pantheon of Deadbeat Defaults:
Germany unilaterally ceased payments on long-term borrowings on May 6, 1933, three months after Adolf Hitler was installed as Chancellor. The default helped cement Hitler's power base following years of political instability as the Weimar Republic struggled with its crushing debts.
U.S. debt default? Asian policymakers ready $6 trillion forex safety net:
From South Korea to Pakistan, Asia's central banks are estimated to have amassed some $5.7 trillion in foreign exchange reserves excluding safe-haven Japan, much of it during the last five years of rapid money printing by the U.S. Federal Reserve.
Debt Ceiling: Why the U.S. Won't Lose Its AAA Rating:
If you're watching and waiting for the U.S. government to lose its gold-standard, AAA-rating, you can probably forget about it. The last two agencies that went so far to strip an AAA rating from the U.S. government found themselves subject to regulatory scrutiny.
Tax the rich? IMF report raises eyebrows:
Fund urges nations to go after the wealthy, big business to mitigate financial imbalances
U.S. Retailers' September Store Sales Miss Estimates:
The lower-than-projected sales signal consumers are still holding back spending amid higher taxes, uncertainty about the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the first government shutdown in 17 years, which took effect on Oct. 1.
Walmart customers riot when unable to use EBT cards:
Customers staged a disturbance, took unpaid for groceries and walked out of a Mississippi Walmart after they were unable to use their food stamp cards on Saturday.
