Malian, international forces launch operation against Islamists
BAMAKO (Reuters) – French, U.N. and Malian forces on Thursday launched a joint operation against Islamists across northern Mali a day after a suicide attack killed two Chadian peacekeepers in the desert zone.
India looks to China, Iran for onions to cool political heat
MUMBAI (Reuters) – India has become so desperate for fresh stocks of the onions it uses in spicy curries that it is turning to regional rival China and sanctions-hit Iran for supplies, and there is even talk of airlifts to ease soaring prices.
Syrian army seizes Damascus suburb from rebels: state TV
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian forces seized a suburb of Damascus on Thursday from rebels fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad in a push that has shored up government control of the capital’s outskirts, state television reported.
Student group gets nod for Irish Prism challenge
VIENNA/DUBLIN (Reuters) – An Austrian student group fighting for online privacy in Europe got the go-ahead for a legal challenge in Ireland’s High Court over the transfer of personal data to a U.S. spy agency.
Video of Russian in Syria demands swap for detained Saudi
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A video message purporting to show a Russian man abducted in Syria set a deadline of five days for the release of a detained Saudi national in exchange for the Russian’s freedom.
Israel, Saudis speaking same language on Iran – Livni
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia and Israel are united in their opposition to Iran, but they cannot cooperate as long the Palestinian conflict continues, Israel’s chief peace negotiator said on Thursday.
Zuma hits raw African nerve with Malawi roads gaffe
Lilongwe (Reuters) – South Africa tried to patch up relations with Malawi on Thursday after a gaffe by President Jacob Zuma about the state of its roads that reinforced stereotypes of awful African infrastructure and South African arrogance.
Primark pays out again to Bangladesh factory victims
DHAKA (Reuters) – Clothing chain Primark laid out plans on Thursday to pay more compensation for the Rana Plaza factory disaster in Bangladesh as victims and their families demanded other western brands follow suit.
Four killed in Sunni-Alawite clashes in Lebanon’s Tripoli
TRIPOLI, Lebanon (Reuters) – Four people have been killed in fighting in Lebanon’s northern city of Tripoli between Sunni Muslim gunmen who oppose Bashar al-Assad and Alawites loyal to the Syrian president, security and medical sources said on Thursday…
Bahraini court temporarily releases Shi’ite opposition leader
MANAMA (Reuters) – A senior Bahraini opposition politician was temporarily freed on Thursday by the court trying him on charges that include inciting terrorism, in a surprise conciliatory ruling in the U.S.-allied Gulf Arab state.
