Attack on Pakistan’s army headquarters raises fears about security of its nuclear weapons

ISLAMABAD — An audacious weekend assault by Islamic militants on Pakistan’s army headquarters is again raising fears of an insurgent attack on the country’s nuclear weapons installation.

Pakistani Taliban expanding their base as fourth attack in days kills 41 at crowded market

ISLAMABAD — Militants from the heart of Pakistan teamed up with Taliban insurgents from the remote Afghan border region to carry out the bold weekend assault on army headquarters, the army said Monday — an ominous development as the fourth major attack in just over a week killed 41 people at a northwestern market.

Drug trade, extortion financing Taliban-led insurgency in Afghanistan, Treasury official says

WASHINGTON — The Taliban are in much stronger financial shape than al-Qaida and rely on a wide range of criminal activities to pay for attacks on U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan, a senior Treasury Department official said Monday.

Preliminary charges filed against French physicist accused of al-Qaida ties

PARIS — A French investigating judge has filed preliminary charges against a physicist at the world’s largest atom smasher who is suspected of al-Qaida links, a judicial official said.

French physicist suspected of al-Qaida links questioned by investigating judge

PARIS — A French physicist working at the world’s largest atom smasher who is suspected of links to al-Qaida appeared Monday before a magistrate who will decide whether to file preliminary charges against him.

Law enforcement officials warn global crime gangs cooperate better than world’s police forces

SINGAPORE — Transnational crime syndicates are becoming stronger by exploiting technology, forging links with one another and taking advantage of insufficient coordination among the world’s police forces, officials at an Interpol conference said Monday.

Pakistan official says 41 killed in suicide car bombing on army vehicle in northwest market

Pakistan says 41 killed in market bombing

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — A suicide car bombing targeting Pakistani troops killed 41 people Monday, the fourth grisly militant attack in just over a week, as the Taliban pledged to mobilize fighters across the country for more strikes.

Philippine military suspects Irish priest kidnapped for ransom

MANILA, Philippines — An ailing 79-year-old Irish missionary dragged away at gunpoint from his southern Philippine residence was probably in the hands of Muslim militants looking for ransom, officials said Monday.

Emirates court convicts Lebanese-American on terrorism charges

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Using sweeping security codes passed after the Sept. 11 attacks, the United Arab Emirates’ highest court convicted an American citizen Monday on terrorism-related charges amid claims that torture was used to extract his confession.

Police: 29 killed, over 40 hurt after explosion rocks market in district next to Swat Valley

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Police say the death toll in a blast in Pakistan’s northwest Shangla district has reached 29.

Death toll hits 29 in NW Pakistan blast, more than 40 wounded

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Police say the death toll in a blast in Pakistan’s northwest Shangla district has reached 29.

Intelligence committee chair: More troops needed in Afghanistan to fight more potent Taliban

WASHINGTON — Saying the U.S. mission in Afghanistan is in “serious jeopardy,” the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee says more troops are needed to combat an increasingly potent Taliban.

Pakistan’s Taliban claim responsibility for weekend attack on army headquarters

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — The Pakistan Taliban claimed responsibility Monday for the weekend siege on army headquarters and vowed to activate militant cells across the country for more attacks as an explosion in a market killed at least 29 people.

Pakistan officials say explosion rocks market in district next to Swat Valley, 7 killed

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — An explosion rocked a northwest Pakistani district next to the troubled Swat Valley on Monday, killing at least seven people, officials said.

Pakistan police say explosion rocks market in district next to Swat Valley, casualties feared

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Pakistani police say an explosion has rocked a market in a northwest district next to the troubled Swat Valley.

Pakistani jets bomb tribal region once declared Taliban-free; army prepares new offensive

KHAR, Pakistan — Pakistani fighter jets bombed suspected militant hide-outs Monday in a tribal region where the military had previously declared victory over the Taliban, killing 13 alleged extremists a day after the end of a deadly siege of the army’s headquarters.

Police, troops search for Irish missionary kidnapped in southern Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine troops and police searched Monday for a 78-year-old Irish missionary after heavily armed men abducted him from the garden of his residence in the country’s volatile south.

Terror attacks reveal Taliban’s renewed strength ahead of planned Pakistani military offensive

ISLAMABAD — A week of terror strikes across Pakistan, capped by a stunning assault on army headquarters, show the Taliban have rebounded and appear determined to shake the nation’s resolve as the military plans for an offensive against the group’s stronghold on the Afghan border.

Senate intelligence committee chairwoman cautions Afghanistan mission is in ’serious jeopardy’

WASHINGTON — The U.S. mission in Afghanistan is in “serious jeopardy” and needs more troops to turn the tide against an increasingly potent Taliban insurgency, the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee said Sunday, putting her at odds with an influential Democratic colleague on military matters

Armed men kidnap Irish priest from convent in southern Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Heavily armed men barged into a Catholic convent and kidnapped a 78-year old Irish priest late Sunday in the volatile southern Philippines before spiriting him away in a motor boat, an official said.

UN chief in Afghanistan acknowledges fraud in presidential vote, denies aiding Karzai

KABUL — The top U.N. official in Afghanistan on Sunday acknowledged “widespread fraud” in the disputed presidential election and rejected allegations from a former deputy that he covered up cheating to smooth the path to victory for President Hamid Karzai.

19 killed in Iraq as deadly car blasts target government, police in western city

BAGHDAD — A spate of car bombings killed 19 people Sunday in Iraq’s western Anbar province, once a hotbed of insurgency that later become a showcase for restoring peace.

As Taliban grabs new territory, Afghan outlook grows bleak: AP correspondent’s 3-year report

KABUL — My closest Afghan friend held out his Taliban-era photo. A decade younger, he had a thick black beard that the oppressive regime forced men to grow.

At least 19 die, with scores hurt as bombings rock Iraq’s Anbar province, officials say

BAGHDAD — A series of bombings killed at least 19 people and wounded 60 Sunday in the western Iraqi city of Ramadi, said police and hospital officials, a worrying sign that violence may be on the rise in this former hotbed of the insurgency.

At least 19 killed, dozens injured as bombings rock Iraq’s Anbar province, officials say

BAGHDAD — A series of bombings killed at least 19 people and wounded 60 Sunday in the western Iraqi city of Ramadi, said police and hospital officials, a worrying sign that violence may be on the rise in this former hotbed of the insurgency.

Official: French physicist exchanged e-mails with contact in al-Qaida’s North African branch

PARIS — A French physicist arrested last week while working at the world’s largest atom smasher has acknowledged to investigators that he corresponded over the Internet with a contact in North Africa’s al-Qaida branch, a judicial official said Sunday.

Bloody, 22-hour siege at Pakistani army headquarters ends with 20 dead, 42 rescued

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan — Pakistani commandos freed dozens of hostages held by militants at the army’s own headquarters Sunday, ending a bloody, 22-hour drama that embarrassed the nation’s military as it plans a new offensive against al-Qaida and the Taliban.

Senate Armed Services Committee chairman says emphasis should be on training Afghan forces

WASHINGTON — The Democratic chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said Sunday a better strategy and a firm resolve to succeed in Afghanistan are more important than a rapid increase in U.S. troops there.

McCain says more US troops needed to battle Taliban, al-Qaida in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain says President Barack Obama will make a huge error if he does not substantially increase the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

At least 14 die, dozens hurt as series of bombings rock Anbar province, Iraq officials say

BAGHDAD — A series of bombings killed at least 14 people and wounded dozens more Sunday in the western Iraqi city of Ramadi, said police and hospital officials, a worrying sign that violence may be on the rise in this former hotbed of the insurgency.