GAO, Mali (Reuters) – Malian troops hunted house-to-house in Gao on Monday for Islamist insurgents whose surprise attack inside the northern town at the weekend posed a risk of France's forces becoming entangled in a messy guerrilla war in Mali. Sneaking across the Niger River under cover of darkness, the al Qaeda-allied rebels fought Malian and French troops on Sunday in the sandy streets of the ancient Saharan trading town, retaken from the Islamists two weeks ago. … No New Year celebrations for Tibetans in center of unrest
XIAHE, China (Reuters) – Tibetans in a northwest part of China which has been a focus of self-immolation protests against C hinese rule marked a low-key lunar New Year on Monday, with many saying celebrations were inappropriate while the burnings continued. At least 20 people have set themselves on fire in the region around Xiahe in Gansu province over the last year, according to exiles and rights groups. Xiahe is home to a large ethnically Tibetan population and also to the monastery at Labrang, one of the most important centers for Tibetan Buddhism. … MPs want no delay to government-backed pension changes
LONDON (Reuters) – Restrictions on a government-backed pension plan aimed at helping more Britons save for their retirement should be lifted as a matter of urgency, a parliamentary committee said in a report on Monday. The Work and Pensions Committee said removing the limitations on the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST), which cap the amount an employee can contribute to their pension pot each year and ban transferring existing pensions in and out of the scheme, should not be delayed until 2017. …
Kenya rebukes EU countries over election comments
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) -- Kenya’s foreign minister has rebuked European Union ambassadors over what the minister says appears to be an orchestrated attempt to influence Kenya’s presidential election.
Israel advances plan to build in Jewish settlement
JERUSALEM (AP) -- An Israeli official says the government has given final approval for construction of 90 new homes in a West Bank settlement, a move that could cause tensions with the U.S. ahead of President Barack Obama’s visit to the region.
Plane with Guinean delegation crashes in Liberia
MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) -- A plane carrying senior officials from Guinea to Liberia crashed near Liberia’s largest airport on Monday, killing Guinea’s army chief of staff, officials said.
Report: Brother says Pope's was considering resignation for months
BERLIN – The pope’s brother, Georg Ratzinger, says the pontiff had been advised by his doctor not to take any more transatlantic trips and had been considering stepping down for months.
Syrian army, rebels clash in Damascus
AMMAN (Reuters) – Troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fought rebels in Damascus for control of an area just east of the city center on Monday, moving tanks to defend their lines as their opponents als o struck targets elsewhere in the capital. Residents and activists said the army of President Bashar al-Assad sent armored reinforcements to Jobar, a Sunni Muslim district adjacent to the city's landmark Abbasid Square after rebels took over a loyalist position in the area, the third since fighters pushed into Jobar last week, they said. … Largest crocodile in captivity being mourned by Philippine town where it brought fame, money
MANILA, Philippines – A remote southern Philippine town has gone into mourning over the death of the world’s largest saltwater crocodile in captivity, even though it was blamed for the deaths of several people.
Pope to resign Feb. 28, says he's too infirm
VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday that he would resign on Feb. 28 because he was simply too infirm to carry on -- the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March. Benedict to resign, first pontiff since Middle Ages to quit
ROME (Reuters) – Pope Benedict, leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, said on Monday he will resign on Feb 28. because he no longer has the strength to fulfill the duties of his of fice, becoming the first pontiff since the Middle Ages to take such a step. The 85-year-old German-born Pope, hailed as a hero by conservative Catholics and viewed with suspicion by liberals, said he had noticed that his strength had deteriorated over recent months. … Vatican says pope resigning on Feb. 28, conclave expected mid-March
VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday that he would resign Feb. 28 -- the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March.
Tunisian party decides to stay in government for now
TUNIS (Reuters) – A party led by interim President Moncef Marzouki said on Monday it had “frozen” its withdrawal from Tunisia’s coalition government while talks continue on a political crisis sharpened by the killing of an opposition politician. Mohamed Abbou, secretary-general of the secular Congress for the Republic (CPR), told a news conference that the party, which had decided at the weekend to pull out of the government, would stay on for a week. “The party has decided to freeze the resignations of its ministers for a week for more discussions on a coalition government,” he said. …
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