Africa
Mali Islamists capture new town amid French intervention
Islamist fighters in Mali have seized a town in government-controlled territory amid a military intervention by France. Though French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian insisted his country’s campaign was “developing favourably”, he said Diabaly, 400km (250 miles) from the capital, Bamako, was taken in a counter-attack today. He said Islamists had retreated in the east but conceded French forces were facing a “difficult” situation against well-armed rebels in western areas. France has called a meeting of the UN Security Council for today.
Second French soldier ‘dies after Somalia raid’
Islamist rebels in Somalia say a second French soldier has died of his wounds after a failed hostage rescue attempt. An al-Shabab statement said the commando had died of gunshot wounds and that his body was in their possession. The soldiers tried to rescue intelligence agent Dennis Allex on Friday. Al-Shabab said it will soon reveal its decision about Mr Allex’s fate. French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said he has evidence suggesting both commandos and Mr Allex died during the operation, and that he fears the Islamist group will stage a “macabre” display of their bodies.
Egyptian court orders Mubarak retrial following appeal
A court in Egypt has ordered a retrial for ex-President Hosni Mubarak after accepting an appeal against his life sentence over the deaths of protesters. Mubarak, 84, was overthrown in 2011 after mass protests, and jailed in June. About 850 people were killed in a crackdown by security forces. The ex-leader, who remains in custody, will also be retried on corruption charges for which he was acquitted. No specific reason was given for yesterday’s rulings, but legal experts said procedural issues with the original trials were a factor.
Asia
Chinese media angered by polluted cities
Chinese media have reacted strongly to dangerous levels of pollution recorded in many northern cities in recent days. Over the weekend, air pollution in Beijing soared past levels considered hazardous by the World Health Organisation. The official People’s Daily said the smog was a “suffocating siege” which had to be urgently addressed, while state-run China Daily said the country had to learn to balance development with quality of life, and tabloid Global Times said China was risking serious long-term environmental damage.
India to respond ‘aggressively to Kashmir attacks’
India’s army chief has directed his commanders to respond “aggressively” to any firing by Pakistani forces in the disputed region of Kashmir. General Bikram Singh said India had the right to retaliate at the “time and place of its choice” for an 8 January clash in which two Indian soldiers died. Two Pakistani soldiers were also killed in gunfire last week and there were fresh exchanges at the weekend. Both countries claim Kashmir and have fought two wars over the territory. Both sides deny provoking last week’s clashes in which the body of one Indian soldier, according to the Indian army, was beheaded.
Middle East
Israel evicts tent protesters at West Bank E1 settlement
Israeli police have evicted Palestinian and international activists from an area of the West Bank where Israel is planning fresh settlement building. Israeli police said there had been no casualties, while Palestinian activists tweeted that six people had been injured and taken to hospital. The protesters had put up around 20 tents in the area called E1, between Jerusalem and the Jewish settlement of Maale Adumim. Palestinians fear building in E1 would threaten the viability of a future Palestinian state. They say construction there would cut off East Jerusalem, claimed by Palestinians for their capital, from the rest of a potential state in the West Bank. Israel had promised not to build in E1 until the Palestinians succeeded in having their UN status upgraded to “non-member observer state”. Israeli approval for “preliminary zoning and planning work” in E1 came the following day.
Syria conflict causing ‘staggering’ humanitarian crisis, says aid agency
The International Rescue Committee is calling upon the international community to take the Syrian civil war more seriously, saying the Middle East faces a “staggering” humanitarian crisis, with more than 60,000 Syrians dead as a result of the conflict and 600,000 more having fled the country. Additionally, the US-based organisation says there is an “horrific” level of rape and sexual violence occurring in the conflict, with many refugees identifying such violence as the reason they fled the country. Activists said at least 13 people were killed in an air strike on a Damascus suburb over the weekend, with eight children among them and several more people trapped under rubble.
Europe
David Cameron ‘confident’ of getting EU changes
British Prime Minister David Cameron has said he is confident of getting the changes he wants in the UK’s relationship with Europe, and hinted that a referendum would follow. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said he wanted a “fresh settlement” with Europe and would then seek “consent” from Britons. He declined to commit explicitly to a referendum, but said consent would be sought in a “straightforward way”. Mr Cameron is expected to reveal his plans in greater detail, including a probable referendum after the next election, in a long-awaited speech on Europe next week. The issue of the UK’s future in Europe has fraught relations between Mr Cameron and his party in the British Parliament, as well as prompting recent calls from Germany and the USA for the UK to stay in the European Union.
Shots fired at Greek ruling party HQ in Athens
Shots have been fired at the Athens headquarters of Greece’s ruling New Democracy party, but nobody was hurt. No party officials were there when the attack happened early today. A government spokesman said left-wing anarchist groups were suspected, with three of the party’s offices attacked in recent days and small bombs placed at journalists’ homes. The spate of attacks comes after police recently raided a large squat, arresting many anarchists and confiscating petrol bombs.
Mass rally against gay marriage in Paris
Hundreds of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Paris over plans to give gay couples in France the right to marry and adopt children. Three big marches converged on the Champs de Mars, a large park next to the Eiffel Tower. France’s Socialist government is planning to change the law this year, but the demonstrators – who have the backing of the Catholic Church and the right-wing opposition – argue it would undermine an essential building block of society. The organisers claimed there were 800,000 people on the march, though police said the figure was closer to 340,000.
North America
New York State declares influenza emergency
Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York State, has declared a public health emergency due to the severity of this year’s ‘flu season. The order makes vaccinations more accessible and allows pharmacists to administer vaccines to children. Almost 20,000 cases of ‘flu have been reported in New York state so far this season – more than four times the number of cases last winter.
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