[World] Mali: Timbuktu Locals Saved Some of City's Ancient Manuscripts from Islamists

Mali: Timbuktu Locals Saved Some of City's Ancient Manuscripts from Islamists
http://world.time.com/2013/01/28/mali-timbuktu-locals-saved-some-of-their-citys-ancient-manuscripts-from-islamists/
The preservationists of Timbuktu's centuries-old artifacts have been holding their breath for weeks, waiting for the moment when the French military would seize back Mali's ancient northern capital from the Islamic militants who have occupied it for 10 months.

Deadly Rainstorms Ravage Eastern Australia
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/disasterhit-north-braces-for-worse-20130128-2dh61.html
SYDNEY - At least four people have died and thousands more have been displaced across Australia's east coast as punishing winds, torrential rains and powerful ocean swells inundated large swaths of the country's two most populous states.

As one queen lets go, another hangs on
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/as-one-queen-lets-go-another-hangs-on/article7935945/
The sudden abdication of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in favour of her son has raised questions about whether the British monarch will follow suit.

North Korean parents 'eating their own children' after being driven mad by ...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2269094/North-Korean-parents-eat-children-driven-mad-hunger-famine-hit-pariah-state.html
A starving man in North Korea has been executed after murdering his two children for food, reports from inside the secretive state claim.

France Says Syrian Rebels Need Aid to Fend Off 'Chaos'
http://www.sfgate.com/news/world/article/France-warns-extremists-could-prevail-in-Syria-4228350.php
PARIS - France's foreign minister warned countries supporting the Syrian opposition on Monday that unless they honored their pledges of aid, the control of Syria could fall to militant Islamist groups.

A flawed legal system helps juvenile rapist to evade death?
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/delhi-gangrape-juvenile-justice-board-likely-to-decide-on-bone-test-for-juvenile-accused-today/318067-3-244.html
First shocker--a heinous crime (gang-rape) being committed against a bright and promising women, which led to her death. Second shocker--our justice system will let one of the accused of the barbaric crime scot-free.

Yemeni Soldiers Killed by Car Bomb
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2013/Jan-28/204059-yemeni-troops-and-tanks-attack-al-qaeda-stronghold.ashx
SANAA, Yemenâ€"A car bomb exploded next to a military checkpoint in central Yemen, killing 11 soldiers, a Yemen security official said.

Iran Starts Grisly Crime Crackdown
http://www.skynews.com.au/world/article.aspx?id=840252
A man convicted of rape was publicly lashed in Sabzevar this month, as part of what human-rights groups say is a campaign to stem unrest.

Japan to boost military headcount amid China island row
http://www.timeslive.co.za/world/2013/01/27/japan-to-boost-military-headcount-amid-china-island-row
A Japan Coast Guard patrol ship (L) sprays water at a fishing boat (R) that is carrying Taiwanese activists on board while it heads for the disputed East China Sea islets called Senkaku in Japan, Diaoyu in China and Tiaoyutai in Taiwan, and a Taiwan Coast ...

12 bodies pulled from Mexico well
http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-85748-12-bodies-pulled-from-Mexico-well-after-band-kidnapped
MONTERREY: The fate of a Colombian-style music band missing in Mexico grew clearer and grimmer Monday after authorities pulled four of their bodies from a well and tried to identify eight more.

Chuck Hagel's colleague: So many Jews, so much disloyalty
http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/01/28/murdoch-apologizes-for-sunday-times-anti-netanyahu-cartoon-accused-of-being-anti-semitic/
As I have noted a couple times, Chuck Hagel has served as chairman for the Atlantic Council. His vice chairman is Chas Freeman. In a speech in Moscow on December, Freeman took to decrying the “fifth column” of disinformation agents in the United States ...