Russia says has thwarted IS attacks

 Russia's federal security service said Thursday it had thwarted a series of attacks by Islamic State militants in Moscow and the southern city of Samara, detaining six people.

S. Korea issues top bird flu alert

 South Korea today issued its top bird flu alert for the first time, giving officials extra powers to contain an outbreak that has already triggered the slaughter of more than 10 per cent of national poultry stocks.

Poorest countries falling further behind: UN

The planet's poorest countries are falling further behind the rest of the world and cannot catch up without more aid and favourable trade deals, a UN report said on Tuesday.

IS claims deadly Cairo church bombing

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility on Tuesday for a bomb attack on a Cairo church that killed 25 people, the first claim for one of the worst attacks on the Coptic Christian community in recent memory.

Brazil Senate approves 20-year spending freeze

Brazil's Senate approved on Tuesday a 20-year freeze on government spending billed as the centerpiece of austerity reforms aimed at restoring economic health to the troubled Latin American giant.

Egypt arrests four over deadly church blast

Egypt said Monday it had arrested four people suspected of involvement in a devastating bombing of a Cairo Coptic church, as grief-stricken mourners gathered for the funeral of the dead.

UN chief alarmed by reports of atrocities in Aleppo

UN chief Ban Ki-moon expressed alarm over reports of atrocities against civilians Monday, as the battle for Aleppo entered its final phase with Syrian government forces on the verge of retaking rebel-held areas of the city.

Bombing kills 23 near Cairo Coptic cathedral

A bomb blast tore through a church near Cairo’s Coptic cathedral during a service yesterday, killing 23 people in the deadliest attack in recent memory on Egypt’s Christian minority.

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