Offbeat | Tourists evacuated amid Iceland volcano concerns

Authorities have evacuated tourists from an area north of Iceland's largest glacier amid increased seismic activity around a volcano in the past few days. Iceland's Civil Protection Department says 300-500 people,

The Buzz: 17 NRL players get notices over banned supplements

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority began issuing notices yesterday to 17 current and former National Rugby League players from the Cronulla Sharks over the use of illegal supplements during the

Ballmer steps down from Microsoft board

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is stepping down from the company’s board, closing a chapter on 34 years with the software giant. Ballmer says he plans to devote more time to

111-year-old from Japan recognized as oldest man

A 111-year-old retired Japanese educator who enjoys poetry has been recognized as the world’s oldest living man. Sakari Momoi received a certificate from Guinness World Records yesterday. He succeeds Alexander

World briefs

CHINA A public bus in eastern China caught fire yesterday in what was likely arson, killing one person and injuring 19 others, a local state-run newspaper reported. TIBET Chinese authorities are

EBOLA | Liberian security forces seal slum to halt disease

Security forces deployed yesterday to enforce a quarantine around a slum in the Liberian capital, stepping up the government’s fight to stop the spread of Ebola and unnerving residents. Liberia has

ISIS EXTREMISM|US officials: Video shows American’s beheading 

A grisly video shows Islamic State militants beheading American journalist James Foley, U.S. officials said, in what the extremists called retribution for recent U.S. airstrikes in Iraq. The militants threatened

GAZA CRISIS | Israel, Palestinian militants trade fire after talks fail 

One of the Israeli airstrikes appeared to have targeted the home of Mohammed Deif, the Islamic militant group’s elusive military chief, who has escaped numerous Israeli assassination attempts in the

This Day in History: 1968 Russia brings winter to ‘Prague Spring’

The Soviet news agency, Tass, claims “assistance” was requested by members of the Czechoslovak Government and Communist party leaders to fight “counter-revolutionary forces”. But in a secret radio address, Czechoslovak President

Offbeat | Swedish politician gets pie thrown in face

Police say Sweden’s social affairs minister had a pie thrown in his face while campaigning for next month’s parliamentary election. The incident happened Monday in Goteborg, Sweden’s second largest city, where

Golf, private jets lure Chinese high-rollers to Australia

Echo Entertainment Group Ltd. is considering buying a golf course for a resort south of Brisbane, Chief Executive Officer Matt Bekier said in a phone interview, to entice Chinese gamblers

World briefs

CHINA An explosion in a coal mine in eastern China traps 27 workers underground, state media report. Twelve other miners were lifted out of the privately owned mine in Huainan

USA | Ferguson police use tear gas, stun grenades in clashes

Police fired stun grenades and tear gas at protesters in a St. Louis suburb rocked by violence after police shot and killed an unarmed black teen 10 days ago. Lines of

CYBERCRIME | Chinese hackers steal data for 4.5m patients from US hospital group

The attacks occurred in April and June, the Franklin, Tennessee-based company said Monday in a U.S. regulatory filing. The hacker group originated from China and bypassed the company’s security system,

this day in history: 1978 Two dead after El Al crew ambushed

The bus was taking staff of Israeli airline El Al on a stopover in London to the Europa Hotel in Mayfair when it was fired on. An air hostess and a

Offbeat | Ring, ring: London statues want to talk to you

Passers-by can swipe their smartphones on a tag or type in a web address to get an instant call from the characters depicted. Actors including Patrick Stewart and Downton Abbey’s

the buzz | South Africa: 8 killed in building collapse

South African officials say one person died and another seven are presumed dead from the collapse of a building under renovation. Luyanda Majija, a spokeswoman for emergency responders at the scene,

UN sees some progress in Iran nuclear probe

Iran is now answering questions about suspicions that it worked secretly on nuclear weapons, The U.N.’s chief nuclear inspector said yesterday, but he did not indicate whether he was happy

Robbers ambush Saudi prince’s convoy in Paris

Armed robbers ambushed a Saudi prince’s diplomatic convoy on its way to an airport commonly used for private jets, raiding a Mercedes for valuables then torching and abandoning the vehicle,

World briefs

CHINA Russian army helicopters have landed in northern China to take part in multinational anti-terrorism drills, underscoring continuing close ties between Beijing and Moscow despite tensions with the West over

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