[World] In India, a Hindu nationalist rebuilds image with Muslim votes (+video)

In India, a Hindu nationalist rebuilds image with Muslim votes (+video)
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-South-Central/2012/1220/In-India-a-Hindu-nationalist-rebuilds-image-with-Muslim-votes-video
The Hindu nationalist leader of the western state of Gujarat, known for his alleged role in the 2002 riots in which 1,000 Muslims were killed, won his fourth consecutive term as chief minister in a landslide on Thursday.

UNSC Approves Africa-led Military Intervention In Mali
http://www.rttnews.com/2027519/unsc-approves-africa-led-military-intervention-in-mali.aspx?type=msgn&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=sitemap
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday unanimously approved a French-drafted resolution authorizing an African-led military mission in Mali to recapture its northern regions being controlled by Islamist rebels since April.

Turmoil in Egypt makes some pine for army's steady hand
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/turmoil-in-egypt-makes-some-pine-for-armys-steady-hand/article6612905/
Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi will succeed this weekend in pushing through a contentious new constitution drafted by his Muslim Brotherhood backers, but the political turmoil that has polarized Egypt is far from over.

S. Korea Set for Growth as Park Pledges to Spend
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ibyGYnqdXgKs0uKW7eNFtfc5NeaA?docId=CNG.ad61d1d729c81d6b5cffdec180a6f743.c01
South Korea may get a growth boost next year as incoming president Park Geun Hye abandons fiscal restraint and increases spending on welfare.

India expands strategic ties with Asean
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-expands-strategic-ties-with-Asean/articleshow/17700279.cms
NEW DELHI: Armed with a substantive free-trade agreement, India and the 10-nation Asean took ties to the next level, creating a strategic partnership at a time when Chinese assertiveness has unsettled many in the region.

State Dept for more funds; vows reforms
http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-80521-State-Dept-for-more-funds;-vows-reforms-
WASHINGTON: The U.S. State Department will seek billions of dollars in new funds and revamp security procedures around the globe in response to criticism by an independent investigation of the September 11 attack on the U.S.

David Cameron visits troops in Afghanistan amid tight security
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/20/david-cameron-afghanistan-tight-security
The British prime minister, David Cameron, flew into Afghanistan on Thursday for a Christmas visit to troops serving there, days after announcing that thousands of them would head home in 2013.

Indian police chief damned for suggesting chilli powder to foil rapists
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/20/indian-police-chilli-powder-rape
A senior Indian policeman has provoked fury after advising women to avoid rape by not travelling after dark and carrying chilli powder to throw at potential attackers.

Julian Assange: WikiLeaks to release 1 million new documents
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/dec/20/julian-assange-wikileaks-speech
(CNN) -- WikiLeaks is preparing to release more than a million documents next year, the controversial website's founder said Thursday.

The last place on Earth, and a lucky few ready for lift-off
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/9759377/Mayan-apocalypse-The-only-place-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world-is-a-sleepy-French-village.html
Apocalypse now - or at 10.11pm to be precise. If the legend is true and the sleepy southern French town of Bugarach is the only place standing after the apocalypse, the Earth will be populated by 150 policemen, some on horseback, 250 frustrated journalists ...

New Syria Rebel Chief Describes Clandestine Life
http://rt.com/news/syria-opposition-russian-target-424/
The new Syrian rebel chief said he's been moving between safe houses since taking up command, even changing quarters twice in one night when he feared regime spies.

China cracks down on 'Doomsday cult'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-20796658
Read a version of this story in Arabic. (CNN) -- Members of a fringe Christian group in China have been rounded up for spreading rumors of an impending apocalypse, pegged to the Mayan calendar.

Media's new model: Come for the monkeys, stay for the news
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-business/medias-new-model-come-for-the-monkeys-stay-for-the-news/article6611666/
When a shearling-clad macaque named Darwin turned up lonely and confused in the parking lot of a suburban Toronto Ikea store almost two weeks ago, even an ape could have known the story would travel as quickly as a monkey-borne virus.

French president says Algeria suffered under 'brutal' colonialism
http://www.euronews.com/2012/12/20/hollande-s-france-algeria-friendship-drive/
French President Francois Hollande said Thursday that Algeria suffered under the "profoundly unjust and brutal system" of colonialism, but he stopped short of apologizing for French rule of the North African state.

Fears Syria is turning into sectarian conflict
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9759273/Fears-Syria-is-turning-into-sectarian-conflict.html
A United Nations human rights report said on Thursday that the Syrian rebellion has pitted the Sunni majority opposition against government forces that are more widely supported by the country's religious and ethnic minorities: "As battles between ...