MIDDLE EAST

U.S. says airstrikes put Islamic State on defensive .

U.S.-led air strikes have hit 3,222 Islamic State targets: Pentagon .

2014 was deadliest year for Iraqi civilians since 2008, UN report finds .

Inspectors confident chlorine gas used in Syrian villages .

Syria overtakes Afghanistan as largest source of global refugees .

Deadly Lebanon storm blights Syrian refugees .

Yemen bomb blast kills dozens near Sanaa police academy . Dozens dead and injured after bomb explodes at Yemen police college.

Iran, six powers to hold nuclear talks on January 18: EU .

Iran must immunize itself against nuclear sanctions: Khamenei .

U.N. confirms Palestinians will be ICC member on April 1 .

Saudi Arabia condemns deadly attack on Paris satirical magazine .

ASIA

Several dead in violence across Afghanistan .

Sri Lanka's Mahinda Rajapaksa faces crucial poll .

Pakistan hangs two more men convicted of terror offences .

Afghanistan: Children among 9 killed in attacks .

Exclusive: Japan seeks to sell sub-hunting jet to UK as Abe pushes arms exports.

FBI: Sony hackers 'sloppy,' used North Korean servers .

AirAsia QZ8501: Tail of crashed plane found.

AFRICA

Boko Haram threatens Cameroon with violence in video .

Somalia's al-Shabab kills 'CIA and Ethiopian spies' .

African Union says military still weakening Somalia's al Shabaab .

LRA rebel Dominic Ongwen surrenders to US forces in CAR .

Congo leader pledges to help defeat Rwandan rebels: U.N. .

New fighting rocks South Sudan oil states .

Libya cut off from world by air as last foreign airline suspends flights .

Mali appeals for international intervention in Libya .

FBI questions U.S.-based Gambian civil society leader over coup plot .

Untested Ebola drugs begin trials in West Africa .

EUROPE

French police identify 3 suspects in attack that killed 12 . Police suspect two frenchmen of Algerian origin of Charlie Hebdo attack . Police hunt three Frenchmen after 12 killed in Paris attack.

Attackers at French newspaper seen as trained Islamist fighters . Videos show Paris gunmen were calm as they executed police officer, fled scene .

French police seek attackers as thousands attend vigil . Vigils held across Europe in support of Charlie Hebdo, press freedom .

Timeline: Major security incidents in France .

German groups say Paris attack shows Islamist threat .

EU foreign ministers to discuss terrorism after Paris attack .

Sweden raises security around artist Vilks after Paris attack . Danish newspaper boost security after Paris attack .

Three soldiers killed as Ukraine marks Orthodox Christmas .

Germany prepares for possible Greek exit from eurozone .

Deflation hits eurozone as energy prices fall.

Pre-election lead for Greece's Syriza narrowing: polls .

Pro-Russia group claims cyber-attack on German government websites .

AMERICAS

Obama calls French shooting 'cowardly evil attacks' .

FBI working with French law enforcement to investigate Paris attack.

U.S. denies Cuba resisting release of several prisoners on list . Cuba talks to go ahead despite slow release of dissidents, U.S. says .

US House votes to renew terrorism insurance program .

Canada pledges to accept 13,000 more refugees from Syria and Iraq .

Obama would veto Keystone bill, White House says .

DHS audit finds drone program ineffective at border security .

'Dangerously cold' temperatures and snow across US .

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Who are the Charlie Hebdo gunmen? Islamic fanatics claimed to be 'Al Qaeda in Yemen' after shooting 12 dead .

Islamic State fighter praises attack on Paris satirical magazine .

Islamic State has made al Qaeda largely irrelevant .

Boko Haram has become Africa's ISIS .

Saudi connection? Lawmakers up pressure on Obama to release secret 9/11 documents.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Brent crude oil price dips below $50 a barrel . Oil falls below $50 a barrel, Saudis offer discounts.

NYC grabs back top spot for global property investors .

Apple Watch launch expected in March, retail training set for mid-February .

Angry divorcée refuses $974M check from billionaire oil tycoon.