Egypt begins security operation against 'terrorists' - army CAIRO, February 9 (Reuters): Egypt on Friday launched a major security operation involving the army and police against "terrorist and criminal elements and organisations" across the country, the army spokesman said. The army spokesman said the operation covers areas in Sinai, the Delta and the Western Desert and it follows a three-month deadline set by President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi to crush a years-long Islamist insurgency. "The law enforcement forces began this morning implementing the comprehensive confrontation against the terrorist and criminal elements and organisations in northern and central Sinai," an army spokesman said in a televised statement. The army spokesman said the operation will involve operational and training manoeuvres to tighten state control on the country's crossing points with neighbouring countries, and urged full cooperation with the law enforcement forces involved in the operation. Residents reported hearing extensive air activities above the Suez Canal city of Ismailia, which is close to the area of operations in northern and central Sinai. Security forces have for years battled an Islamic State insurgency in North Sinai that has killed hundreds of soldiers and police. The militants have expanded their targets to include civilians over the last year or so. France calls for opening of humanitarian corridors in Syria PARIS, February 9 (Reuters): France wants air strikes in Syria to end and calls for the opening of humanitarian corridors as soon as possible, the French defence minister said on Friday. "We are very preoccupied and are monitoring the situation on the ground very carefully. The air strikes need to end," Florence Parly said on France Inter radio, giving no further details. "Civilians are the targets, in Idlib and in the east of Damascus. This fighting is absolutely unacceptable," she added. The Syrian civil war, now entering its eighth year, has killed hundreds of thousands of people and driven more than 11 million from their homes, while drawing in regional countries and global powers supporting client factions on the ground. The U.S.-led coalition and its local allies in Syria struck pro-government forces with deadly air and artillery fire to repel "an unprovoked attack" near the Euphrates, the coalition said on Thursday. The incident underscores the potential for further conflict in Syria's oil-rich east, where the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias holds swathes of land after its offensive against Islamic State. Tokyo school's plan over Armani uniforms criticised Tokyo, February 9 (IANS): A public elementary school in Tokyo is facing criticism over its plan to adopt uniforms designed by Italian luxury fashion house Giorgio Armani. According to local media reports, the Taimei Elementary School, located in the upscale Ginza district, wants to introduce uniforms that cost more than 80,000 yen ($730) each, the BBC reported on Saturday. Parents complained that it was unaffordable. The plan was even brought up in Parliament on Thursday. The school sent a letter to parents last November in which the principal explained that the school was changing its uniform to better reflect its status as a "landmark" in Ginza, according to the Huffington Post Japan. The move triggered five cases of complaints from parents. "I was surprised and wondered why such luxury uniforms have been picked for a public elementary school," a woman told the Huffington Post. Although school uniforms are not strictly compulsory in public schools in Japan, most students choose to wear them. The move also received widespread criticism online, the BBC reported. "I heard that school uniforms were originally invented so kids from different income families wouldn't face discrimination," a Twitter user posted. "Children are not aware of famous brands... Are you saying a child wearing Armani will be better developed than a child who doesn't wear it?" another user asked.
