Arabs in Israel decry racial discrimination

Palestinian citizens of Israel are blocked from living in Jewish communities for lacking 'Zionist vision'.

Haifa, Israel - As a Palestinian citizen of Israel, 21-year-old Shadan Jabareen says she has experienced institutionalised discrimination since she was a child. In 1994, her parents wanted to get away from the constant noise and the overcrowded Umm al-Fahm and move to a Jewish-Israeli community.

Air France pilots call off two-week strike

The walkout, costing the airline $25m a day, started over contracts offered to pilots joining low-cost unit.

The Air France strike has grounded flights to worldwide destinations for two weeks [AFP]

Air France pilots have ended a two-week strike that paralysed the country's flagship airline, and was triggered by a dispute over new contracts relating to a new low-cost operation.

Buddhist monk to fight 'jihad threat'

Wirathu told the crowd in Colombo that the patience of Buddhists is seen as a weakness [AFP]

Colombo - A Buddhist cleric accused of inciting violence against Muslims in Myanmar says he is joining forces with a group in Sri Lanka to fight what he says is the "serious threat from jihadist groups".
Ashin Wirathu, the leader of Myanmar's 969 group, told hundreds of monks in the Sri Lankan capital on Sunday that his group would support the Bodu Bala Sena group in its "struggle to protect Buddhism in Asia".
Muslim groups had protested against Wirathu's entry into Sri Lanka, saying his visit would only cause further divisions. His group has been accused of inciting violence against the minority Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

French far-right wins first Senate seats

Marine Le Pen said her party's ideas are "increasingly becoming adopted" by the French [REUTERS]

The far-right National Front party has won its first ever seats in France's Senate as president Francois Hollande's Socialist party lost its majority in the upper house of parliament.