Saturday

Belgian Jew stabbed

Because they are Jews, four yeshiva students in an Antwerp suburb, all under 18, were assaulted toward 11 pm Thursday night by a gang of 10 to 15, reports La Libre Belgique. Three ran away but the slowest among them was stabbed in the back. Though hospitalized in critical condition, he is expected to make a full recovery.

Antwerp police have opened an investigation.

French soldier killed in IC

A French soldier in the UN peacekeeping force mobilized in Ivory Coast was mortally wounded on Friday by rebel Ivorian forces. He is the third French soldier serving in opération Licorne to die from hostile fire since the force was put in place last year.

French authorities say the incident occurred north of Yamoussoukro when a soldier in the Ivory Coast National Armed Forces (FANCI) opened fire for no apparent reason on a French military vehicle, wounding one if the vehicle's opponents in the back. Other FANCI soldiers immediately seized the shooter. Authorities describe this as an isolated event.

Both Ivorian and French authorities have opened investigations into the matter. The soldier's identity has not been released pending notification of his family.