BOATS carrying about 200 Rohingya Muslims who were evacuating ahead of a storm have capsized off western Myanmar, killing all but one person, UN officials have said.

Armed groups have ended a nearly two-week siege of Libya’s foreign and justice ministries in the capital after reaching a deal with the government, the Libyan justice minister has said. 

Pakistan’s Nawaz Sharif has declared victory in the country’s general elections as preliminary results showed a clear lead for his party, making it almost certain that he will become prime minister for a third time.

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis yesterday proclaimed as saints some 800 Italians killed in the 15th century for refusing to convert to Islam, and said many Christians were still being persecuted for their faith.

Sudan accused South Sudan of having supported rebels who launched a major assault two weeks ago, warning this could derail recent oil and security agreements between the African neighbours, state media said on Saturday.

Facebook and other social networking sites can actually send you mad, according to scientists in Israel.

Almost 260 000 people, half of them young children, died of hunger during the last famine in Somalia, according to a UN report that admits the world body should have done more to prevent the tragedy.

Government forces and militia members loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have stormed the coastal village of al-Baida, killing between 50 and 100 people including women and children, Syrian opposition activists say.

JOHANNESBURG — South African mine unions may obtain double-digit wage hikes this year that companies can ill afford, gold producer Harmony Gold said yesterday, as it posted a third-quarter loss caused by production shortfalls following labour unrest.

More than 500 bodies have been recovered from the Bangladesh garment-factory building that collapsed last week, authorities said after arresting an engineer who warned the building was unsafe but is accused of helping the owner add three illegal floors to the structure.

A new video which shows South African President Jacob Zuma and officials