UK Labour launches campaign to stay in EU

London: The Labour party on Tuesday launched its campaign for Britain to remain in the European Union, saying that the Paris terror attacks showed the need to "stand shoulder to shoulder" with European partners. The Conservative government has promised an in-out referendum by the end of 2017, with recent polls showing the public split neck-and-neck on the issue despite all the main parties campaigning to stay in. AFP

Pak using terrorists as violent proxies: Afghanistan

United Nations: Hitting out at Pakistan for using terrorists as "violent proxies", Afghanistan has blamed Islamabad's "unnecessary anxiety" over its ties with India for a sharp spike in civilian and military casualties that made 2015 the bloodiest year since 2001. The Haqqani network is blamed for some of the deadliest attacks in Afghanistan, including the Indian embassy bombing and the attack on a Kabul hotel in 2008. PTI

Syria’s Qaida affiliate frees 16 Lebanese servicemen

Labweh: Al-Qaida's Syrian affiliate freed 16 Lebanese soldiers and police held for more than year in exchange for the release of prisoners and delivery of aid, authorities said. The 16 were among 30 Lebanese soldiers and police kidnapped in August 2014 when Al-Qaida affiliate Al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State group briefly overran the Lebanese border town of Arsal. AFP

India offers to modernise Lankan army

Colombo: India has offered technical and training assistance to Sri Lanka to modernise its military to tackle emerging security threats, including cyber attacks. Indian Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag, who is on a four-day visit to Sri Lanka, offered the assistance during a meeting he held with his Sri Lankan counterpart. PTI