ISIS 'emir' killed in raid, says Russia

MOSCOW • Russia's FSB security service said yesterday that it had killed an "emir" of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militant group in a raid in the volatile North Caucasus.

It said that "among the neutralised bandits was the head of the Caucasus region's branch of the Islamic State, Rustam Aselderov, and four of his close associates". Aselderov, 35, was said to have been involved in blasts in Volgograd city that killed 34 in 2013. The FSB also linked him to twin car blasts in Dagestan in 2012 that killed 14 and injured at least 120.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

French court rejects genocide appeal

BOBIGNY (France) • A French court has upheld a 25-year sentence handed to a former Rwandan intelligence agent jailed in France's first trial over the African country's 1994 genocide.

Pascal Simbikangwa, 56, was found guilty of genocide and complicity in crimes against humanity in a 2014 trial that marked a turning point in France's approach to genocide suspects living on its soil. The former presidential guard member launched an appeal in October, prompting a six-week trial.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Fatal tourist attack in Aussie outback

SYDNEY • A man has been charged with murder after a French tourist was stabbed in the neck in an unprovoked attack in the Australian outback, police said. The French national - named in local media as 33-year-old Philippe Jegouzo - and his wife were at a rest stop on Stuart Highway last Wednesday when the incident happened.

The alleged attacker, reportedly from Melbourne, stabbed Mr Jegouzo, who died at the scene, before fleeing in a vehicle. Police said he was arrested last Thursday.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE