World news

UN says over 850,000 Somalis desperately need food

More than 850,000 people in Somalia are in desperate need of food and "in crisis and emergency conditions," the director of UN humanitarian operations said today. John Ging, who just returned from a three-day visit to Somalia, said another two million Somalis are considered to be "food insecure."

Ukraine violence spills out of control, 21 killed and scores injured

Kiev: At least 16 people have been killed in fierce clashes in Kiev between protesters and riot police, the bloodiest outburst of violence in nearly three months of demonstrations. Four protesters were killed during the police assault on the opposition's main protest encampment on Kiev's iconic I

Earth marks close encounter with enormous asteroid

An asteroid estimated to be the size of three football fields whizzed close to Earth on Monday, roughly a year after one exploded over Russia and injured 1,200 people. Slooh Space Camera tracked the approach of the asteroid as it raced past the planet at about 27,000 mph (43,000 kmph), starting a

Indonesia volcano erupts; 3 killed, 100K evacuated

Indonesia: An explosive volcanic eruption on Indonesia's most populous island blasted ash and debris 18 kilometers into the air, killing three people while forcing authorities to evacuate more than 100,000 and close seven airports. The overnight eruption of Java island's Mount Kelud could be hear

UK school bans skirts for girls

London:  A school in the UK has banned girls from wearing skirts as teachers believe hemlines had risen to a level that was both "impractical" and "immodest". Governors at Diss High School in Norfolk have agreed that a trouser-only uniform will be adopted from September, based on the recommendati

Indian gets 15 weeks in jail for Singapore riot, first to be sentenced in the case

An Indian national, part of 25 compatriots charged with involvement in Singapore's worst riot in 40 years, today became the first person to be sentenced in the case - receiving 15 weeks in jail by a court here. 32-year-old Chinnappa Vijayaragunatha Poopathi, a construction worker, had pleaded guilty

Australian wildfires destroy at least 20 homes

Melbourne:  At least 20 homes have been razed in the worst fire conditions Australia has seen since a deadly 2009 inferno which killed 173 people, with flames threatening the country's second-largest city, officials said on Monday. Hot, dry winds and soaring temperatures fanned scores of major bl

2014 Sochi Winter Olympics sees spectacular start

8 February 2014 Ceremony opens with the Russian alphabet projected on the stadium floor Fireworks are seen over the Olympic park during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi on Friday. — AP Music, dance and plenty of Russian bravado unleashed the ultimate achievement o

Syria: Deal struck to evacuate civilians from Homs

BEIRUT: The Syrian government reached an agreement with the United Nations on Thursday to secure the evacuation of hundreds of trapped civilians from besieged parts of the central city of Homs, according to Syria's state-run TV. The TV did not give further details but quoted Homs Governor Talal B

Libya has destroyed its chemical weapons, foreign minister says

(Photo used for instructional purpose only) TRIPOLI: Libya has completely destroyed the chemical arsenal it inherited from Muammar Gaddafi, 10 years after the now slain dictator signed the Chemical Weapons Convention, foreign minister Mohamed Abdelaziz announced on Tuesday. The completion of t

World facing cancer 'tidal wave'

The globe is facing a "tidal wave" of cancer, and restrictions on alcohol and sugar need to be considered, say World Health Organization scientists. It predicts the number of cancer cases will reach 24 million a year by 2035, but half could be prevented. The WHO said there was now a "real need"

Cargo ship sinks off Yemen killing 12 Indian sailors

ADEN: A cargo ship sank off the coast of Yemenkilling 12 Indian sailors onboard, Yemen interior ministry said on Saturday. The ship, which was carrying car tyres and car parts, ran aground on Thursday night but the incident did not come to the attention of Yemeni security until 10 hours later, it

Hundreds evacuated from besieged Syria district

Dubai: Aid agencies in Syria have evacuated hundreds of people from the rebel-held Damascus suburb of Yarmouk in a rare moment of coordination between the government and rebel forces, as military continued its offensive on rebel-held areas of Aleppo, killing 13 people on Saturday. Granting reli

Mother, 8 children killed in US house fire

CHICAGO: A 35-year-old mother and her eight young children were killed when a fire gutted their wooden frame home in the US state of Kentucky, officials said today. Two people — the children's father, Chad J Watson, 36, and an 11-year-old child — survived. Both were taken via air ambulance to a h

Egypt army backs Sisi's presidential bid: State media

CAIRO: Egypt's military on Monday backed a presidential bid by its commander Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, state media reported. Sisi, who will resign from the army to stand for office, is tipped to easily win a presidential election due to be held by mid-A

Bakery fined after customer bites into rusty SCREW inside her bread roll

A bakery has been fined more than £10,000 after a woman found a SCREW inside her lunchtime bread roll. The female customer was seconds from biting into the white roll when she noticed the rusty object in the bread. She had purchased the £1.20 pack of buns from Budgens supermarket in Waddington

World's smelliest man: Iranian defeats Indian

Tehran:  He loves rotten meat, especially porcupine and fills his smoking pipe with animal excreta instead of tobacco! Living in a remote village of Dejgah in southern Iran, Amou Haji, 80, has another unique feat to his credit. He has not bathed for last 60 years and hates water, said a report

Airports in Japan striving to become friendlier to Muslims

TOKYO: International airports in Japan are striving to become friendlier to Muslims amid a steep increase in visitors from the Islamic world following the Japanese government's relaxation of regulations for issuing visas. An increase in private prayer rooms for Muslims, who pray five times a day,