French special forces on Monday rescued a Dutch national kidnapped nearly four years ago in northern Mali by AQIM extremists in an operation that killed a number of suspected militants, officials said. France’s defence ministry said Dutch hostage Sjaak Rijke, kidnapped in Timbuktu in November 2011, was freed during “military …

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins an eight-day visit to France, Germany and Canada on Thursday in a bid to further his agenda to boost Indian manufacturing, ensure his country’s energy security and increase foreign investment. The focus of the prime minister’s three days in France will be a fighter …

Nigerian soldiers have sacked Islamist fighters belonging to Boko Haram from Alagarno, a town in Damboa local government area. Alagarno was one of the insurgent group’s strongholds. A senior military source said the routed insurgents were fleeing, adding that he believed their leader, Abubakar Shekau, was among those now on …