On Monday a motorcycle assailant opened fire in front of a Jewish school in the French city of Toulouse, killing a rabbi, his two young sons, and a schoolgirl. The same gun was used in attacks on North Africans and Caribbeans last week around Toulouse, fueling suspicions that a serial killer is targeting French minorities.
Assad crackdowns
Hundreds of documents smuggled out of Syria by Abdel-MajidBarakat, head of information for the Syrian crisis management unit, show that Syrian leader Assad personally signs off security crackdown plans. Barakat is currently hiding in Turkey.
Nuclear visit
UN nuclear inspectors have been invited to visit North Korea for the first time in three years. The invitation comes three months after Kim Jong-un came to power following the death of his father, Kim Jong-il.
Afghan shootings
Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, the US soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan villagers in a pre-dawn shooting spree last week, is currently at the U.S. military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, pending trial. Afghans are infuriated that Bales will not face trial in Afghanistan.
Assange for Senate
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange plans to run for political office in Australia despite being under virtual house arrest in England and fighting extradition to Sweden over sex crime allegations.
Egyptian loan
The International Monetary Fund expects that it will conclude a $3.2 billion loan deal with Egypt in the next few months. Egypt requested the loan in January to boost its struggling economy after a year of unrest.
Russell runs nude
Jason Russell, film-maker and activist behind the viral sensation Kony2012, will escape charges after running naked through the streets of San Diego last week.
Russell’s family said the bizarre incident was the result of a mental breakdown brought on by a barrage of public attacks against him and his video.
Greek regime change
Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos resigned Monday after being elected to head the majority Socialist party as the country heads into early general elections. Venizelos took over from his predecessor, former Prime Minister George Papandreou, in a ceremony Monday afternoon.
Coal to China
Massive new stocks of Australian coal will be exported to China, India and Japan in a multi-billion dollar plan that is expected to create thousands of new jobs and kick-start the economy. The move contradicts the Gillard Government’s efforts to slow greenhouse gas emissions.
12 cops killed
Gunmen in Mexico have killed 12 policemen investigating drug crimes. 50,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence in Mexico since 2006. Pope Benedict is due to arrive in the country on Friday and is expected to comment on drug-related violence.
Anti-terror raids
Indonesian anti-terror police have shot dead five men suspected of planning robberies to fund terror attacks on the island of Bali.
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