In brief: Dozens of civilians killed in attack

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria – In attacks and reprisals between an Islamic militant group and vigilantes, at least 25 civilians were killed in northeast Nigeria, a vigilante group said Sunday.

It was the first attack with major fatalities reported since dozens of students were killed earlier this month in attacks blamed on militant group Boko Haram.

No proof of spying, New Zealand claims

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – New Zealand’s acting defense force chief said today there is no evidence the military unlawfully spied on a journalist in Afghanistan who was freelancing for McClatchy Newspapers.

The statement came in response to a report in the Sunday Star-Times newspaper that the military collected phone metadata to spy on journalist Jon Stephenson, a New Zealander.

Also today, Minister of Defense Jonathan Coleman acknowledged a confidential order that lists investigative journalists alongside spies and terrorists as potential threats to the military.

Castro: ‘Slander’ over case of seized arms

HAVANA – Fidel Castro says foes of Cuba have tried to manipulate the case of armaments seized at the Panama Canal on a boat bound for North Korea.

The retired leader wrote in a Friday letter that allegations Cuba was trying to defy U.N. sanctions against the Asian nation amount to “slander against our revolution.”

Drone strike kills 5, Pakistan asserts

PESHAWAR, Pakistan – Pakistani intelligence officials say a suspected U.S. drone strike has killed five people in the tribal region near the Afghan border.