World news
China, Taiwan brace for impact of Typhoon Soulik as flood toll exceeds 200

Beijing: China and Taiwan braced on Friday for the impact of Typhoon Soulik as the toll of dead and missing from torrential rain across a broad swathe of China climbed beyond 200. Soulik is expected to hit northern Taiwan later in the day, before crossing the narrow Taiwan Strait and slamming
Doctors develop $260 test-tube baby system
The price is just 10 to 15 per cent of the current cost of Western-style IVF London: Belgian doctors have developed a low-cost version of test-tube baby technology for use in developing countries, where sophisticated Western systems are unaffordable for most couples. The researchers said on Monday
Cairo clash kills 54, divides nation deeper into crisis

[caption id="attachment_38543" align="aligncenter" width="580"] An Egyptian flag stained with blood flutters over members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi as they protest outside Raba El-Adwyia mosque in Cairo on Monday following clashes in front o
Two dead in Asiana air crash

[caption id="attachment_38459" align="aligncenter" width="625"] This aerial photo shows the wreckage of the Asiana Flight 214 airplane after it crashed at the San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, Saturday, July 6, 2013. AP[/caption] An Asiana Airlines Boeing 777 with 307 people o
92-year-old Iraqi weds woman seven decades junior

Iraq/July 05 A 92-year-old Iraqi farmer married a woman 70 years his junior in a village north of Baghdad, he said today, voicing happiness at getting hitched alongside two teenage grandchildren who also tied the knot. Musali Mohammed al-Mujamaie married 22-year-old Muna Mukhlif al-Juburi yester
First Australian Muslim Minister racially abused for taking oath on Quran

Hours after Ed Husic became Australia's first ever Muslim minister, he was flooded with online racial abuse for taking oath of office on the Quran. 43-year-old Husic, was appointed as parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and parliamentary secretary for broadband yesterday. Hus
Five dead in Egypt as protests call for Morsi to go

CAIRO (AFP): Five people died as protesters flooded Egypt's streets calling for Islamist President Mohamed Morsi to step down, in massive demonstrations reminiscent of the 2011 revolt which ultimately paved the way to his leadership. "It is the biggest protest in Egypt's history," a military sour
Daughter says Nelson Mandela 'still there', raps media 'vultures'

Pretoria: Former South African President Nelson Mandela is still clinging to life, his eldest daughter Makaziwe said on Thursday, but she criticised foreign media "vultures" for violating his privacy as he lay critically ill in hospital. Makaziwe's outburst came as anxiety increased over the
Brazil protests ramp up, with 800,000 in streets

RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP): Hundreds of thousands of people rallied across Brazil on Thursday, as a protest movement over the quality of public services and the high cost of staging the World Cup gathered steam. The mounting pressure on the government of President Dilma Rousseff in the fa
Moderate Hassan Rouhani has 51% in Iran election with 32 million votes counted

DUBAI: Moderate cleric Hassan Rouhani had 51 per cent of votes in the Iranian presidential election after a count of 32 million votes, state television said on Saturday. If the result remains the same when all the votes are counted, Rouhani will win the election outright and avoid a second-ro
US confirms use of chemical weapons in Syria, to increase military support to rebels

WASHINGTON/BEIRUT: President Barack Obama has authorized sending US weapons to Syrian rebels for the first time, a US official said on Thursday after the White House said it has proof that the Syrian government had used chemical weapons against opposition forces fighting to overthrow President B
World’s oldest man dies aged 116

The world’s oldest person and the oldest man ever to have lived has died on Wednesday of natural causes aged 116 years. Japan’s Jiroemon Kimura, who was born in 1897, died in hospital early Wednesday morning, Kyodo News cited the local government as saying. Kimura was recognised by Guinness Worl
World’s largest desal plant 75% complete

The Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) announced yesterday that the world's largest desalination project in Ras Al-Khair is 75 percent complete and will start production in the third quarter of this year. The capacity of the plant is over one million cubic meters of desalinated water and 2,
North Korea and South Korea agree to hold talks on ties

Seoul: North and South Korea agreed in principle today to hold their first official talks for years, signalling a possible breakthrough in cross-border ties after months of escalated military tensions. A surprise offer from Pyongyang proposed discussions on a range of commercial and humanitar
Dubai cares for Ethiopian children

[caption id="attachment_36109" align="aligncenter" width="600"] students and parents assemble outside a school to welcome the dubai Cares delegation in ethiopia. — KT photos by Muaz Shabandri[/caption] Each year, more and more children are facing the risk of dropping out of school in Ethiopia. Fa
Nawaz Sharif sworn in as Pakistan Prime Minister

Nawaz Sharif sworn in as Pakistan Prime Minister, calls for end to drone strikes Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, formally elected by parliament on Wednesday, again called for an end to US drone strikes aimed at militants which many view as a breach of Pakistan's sovereignty. Ous
Two dead, more missing as torrential rains lash central Europe

VIENNA: Two people have perished and at least seven more were missing on Sunday as torrential rains lashed central Europe, triggering floods and landslides and disrupting transport. Austria and Germany sent in army units to help with rescue efforts after rains reached record levels in some ar
Mother and child among 5 killed in Oklahoma tornadoes

Tornadoes killed at least five people and wreaked massive damage late Friday in Oklahoma [caption id="attachment_35782" align="aligncenter" width="475"] This aerial photo shows damage in the Rolling Meadow Estates neighborhood on Friday, May 31, 2013 in Broken Arrow, Okla. after a tornado passed