World News Briefs -- January 2, 2015

Top Story: AirAsia QZ8501: Search teams find more bodies at sea (BBC)

MIDDLE EAST

US-led coalition jets pound IS stronghold in Syria.

Iraqi general warns of military woes in fighting extremists.

Iraqi Kurds recapture key village from ISIL.

Sunni tribes: Baghdad handed over its military to Iran.

Lebanon army clashes with militants in Arsal.

Seven killed in clashes between Yemen's army and tribesmen: local officials.

Saudi Arabia executes 'drug smugglers'.

Israeli settlers stone U.S. diplomatic cars: police.

ASIA

Indian Coast Guard intercepts explosives-filled boat from Pakistan. India says Pakistani boat exploded off coast.

Pakistan, India swap lists of nuclear facilities, prisoners.

Report: Kim Jong-Un’s sister marries son of dictator’s right-hand man.

Rescuers discover 22 bodies from Malaysian AirAsia jet. Indonesian Navy vessel detects tail of crashed AirAsia plane: reports.

Afghanistan faces economic timebomb as NATO war ends.

Afghan authorities investigate army attack that killed 28 at wedding.

China sacks senior diplomat for alleged corruption.

Families of Shanghai victims grieve, seek answers.

Slaves endure 'a living hell' on remote South Korean islands.

AFRICA

Al-Shabab attack on military base in Somalia leaves seven dead.

Rebels in Congo face military action after missing arms deadline.

Dozens arrested in Gambia after military coup attempt. Gambian soldiers clamp down in capital after failed coup.

Kenya High Court suspends parts of new terror law.

Uganda: Rebel Gen. under house arrest.

Libya extinguishes fire at biggest oil terminal: officials.

Tunisia PM sees main threat from chaotic Libya.

Ebola outbreak will end in 2015 - UN's Anthony Banbury.

EUROPE

Ukraine reports first military death of 2015.

Ukrainian army, rebels trade blame amid warning of hard 2015.

Kerry seeks to shore up Russian cooperation.

Russians worried, defiant amid financial crisis.

Moscow-led trade bloc begins in troubled times.

Icelandic coast guard ship tows stranded migrant vessel toward Italian coast. Abandoned ship Ezadeen with 450 migrants on board being towed to Italy.

France sees fall in New Year's Eve car-burnings.

AMERICAS

H3N2 viruses fuel 'epidemic' levels of U.S. flu season deaths, CDC says.

US Congress allows terrorism protection to expire.

Brazil's Dilma Rousseff sworn in for a second term. Brazil's Rousseff vows to tackle graft, boost economy. Brazil's Rousseff vows budget cuts, anti-corruption push in second term.

Failure to stop Petrobras scandal could haunt Brazil's Rousseff.

Biden seeks to repair relations with Brazil.

Despite U.S. opposition, Venezuela assumes seat on U.N. Security Council.

Argentina and UK Falklands spat spiced up by Russian jets.

Mario Cuomo, former New York Governor, dies at 82.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Terror trial of Brit accused of plotting attack on UK and U.S. to consider documents seized from Bin Laden's Pakistan hideout.

Syrian journalists say Islamic State changed the rules in Aleppo.

Taliban vs IS vs al Qaeda: In competitive jihad, brand names matter (commentary).

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Oil hits new five-year low below $56 as supply glut persists.

Russia and Iraq supply most oil in decades amid 2015 glut.

Apple sued over 'shrinking' gadget storage.