A mortar shell hit the compound of the Chinese Embassy in Syria’s capital Damascus, damaging the building and injuring a Syrian employee. It was the first time that the Chinese Embassy was hit since the Syrian conflict broke out 2-and-a-half years ago.

Diplomatic sources have said that Tunisian Ambassador Mahmoud Khmer returned to Cairo on Tuesday evening after a two-month vacation.

French President Francois Hollande gave his full backing to Mali leader Ibrahim Boubakar Keita, who left Paris abruptly Tuesday to tackle growing violence with Tuareg tribes in the north of the country. Keita had been expected to stay here until Thursday and meet parliamentary and other government officials but the …