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The authorities in Saudi Arabia have arrested two human rights activists so far this year, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International say.

Essam Koshak and Ahmed al-Musheikhis were summoned for questioning by police in Mecca and Qatif last week.

Officials have not disclosed the reasons for the detentions. But HRW said they «fit a pattern of ongoing repression» against peaceful advocates and dissidents, at least 25 of whom have been convicted since 2011.

Many have been handed sentences as long as 10 or 15 years after being found guilty of charges including «breaking allegiance with the ruler», «sowing discord», «inciting public opinion», «setting up an unlicensed organisation», and violating the cybercrime law.

Mr Koshak was detained after being summoned for interrogation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Mecca on 8 January. The 45-year-old was not allowed to appoint a lawyer and was being questioned about his Twitter account, which he mainly used to tweet about human rights issues, according to Amnesty.

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A man has shot dead at least five people and wounded four others in Iran in an apparent act of revenge.

The 26 year old opened fire at two houses in the central city of Arak.

The Isna news agency cited a local prosecutor as saying the man was a murder suspect on bail and that he first targeted the family of a police officer who had arrested him last year. The man then went to the home of the person he was accused of murdering and shot his parents, the prosecutor added.

The shooter is still believed to be on the run. But his brother, who allegedly accompanied him on the rampage, has reportedly been arrested.

Earlier, state television also reported that two families had been attacked but that the shooter was a prisoner convicted on drugs charges who was on leave. It was not immediately possible to clarify the contradiction.

Gun violence of this kind is rare in Iran, where civilians are only allowed to own hunting rifles.

US President-elect Donald Trump has reacted furiously to allegations that Russia has compromising material on him, saying Moscow has «never tried to use leverage on me».

Mr Trump condemned US intelligence agencies for allowing «fake news» to «leak» into the public, asking: «Are we living in Nazi Germany?»

The claims say his election campaign communicated with Moscow and also contain suggestions of prostitute use. Russia also angrily denied the claims. Dmitry Peskov, President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, said the allegations were «pulp fiction» and a «clear attempt to damage relations».

In a series of tweets, Mr Trump said: «Russia has never tried to use leverage over me. I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH RUSSIA – NO DEALS, NO LOANS, NO NOTHING! «I win an election easily, a great «movement» is verified, and crooked opponents try to belittle our victory with FAKE NEWS. A sorry state! «Intelligence agencies should never have allowed this fake news to «leak» into the public. One last shot at me. Are we living in Nazi Germany?» Mr Trump is due to hold his first news conference as president-elect later on Wednesday.

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At least 22 people have been killed and 70 wounded in twin bombings near the Afghan parliament in Kabul, officials say.

The attack took place during rush hour, as staff were leaving the parliament complex. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the bombings.

Most of the victims are said to be civilians, including parliament employees. Reports speak of a suicide bomber and a car bomb.

Waheed Majroh, an Afghan health ministry official, said wounded people were taken to Istiqlal and Emergency hospitals. Initial reports suggest the attack is the bloodiest to strike Kabul for several months.

An injured parliament security guard named as Zabi told AFP: «The first explosion happened outside the parliament… a number of innocent workers were killed and wounded. It was caused by a suicide bomber on foot.»

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The US military has launched 103 miniature swarming drones from a fighter jet during a test in California.

Three F/A-18 Super Hornets were used to release the Perdix drones last October. The drones, which have a wingspan of 12in (30cm), operate autonomously and share a distributed brain.

A military analyst said the devices, able to dodge air defence systems, were likely to be used for surveillance.

Video footage of the test was published online by the Department of Defence. «Perdix are not pre-programmed synchronised individuals, they are a collective organism, sharing one distributed brain for decision-making and adapting to each other like swarms in nature,» said William Roper, director of the Strategic Capabilities Office. «Because every Perdix communicates and collaborates with every other Perdix, the swarm has no leader and can gracefully adapt to drones entering or exiting the team.»

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