Briefly

UNITED STATES

Matt Whitaker named Trump's NATO envoy

Donald Trump said on Wednesday he has chosen former acting attorney general Matt Whitaker to serve as US ambassador to NATO, the bedrock Western alliance that the president-elect has expressed skepticism about for years. Whitaker is "a strong warrior and loyal Patriot" who "will ensure the United States' interests are advanced and defended" and "strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability", Trump said in a statement.

PAKISTAN

38 killed in attack on passenger vehicles

At least 38 people were killed and 20 others injured in firing on three passenger coaches in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province on Thursday, officials said. The incident happened in the tribal district of Kurram where the vehicles carrying Shiite Muslims were targeted, the official sources told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. The passengers were on the way to Parachinar area of the district, from the country's east Punjab Province when they were attacked, the sources added. The killed and injured included women and children, the sources said. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack and directed the arrest of the perpetrators of the attack at the earliest.

Xinhua - Agencies