Syria conflict: UN Deir al-Zour aid air-drop ‘off target’

 

The UN and its partners have delivered aid by land to more than 110,000 people under siege

The UN's first aid-drop over the Syrian city of Deir al-Zour, part of which is under siege by Islamic State militants, may have been off-target.

Wednesday's operation "faced technical difficulties" and "adjustments" were needed, the World Food Programme said.

It added that it would try again when possible to deliver aid to the 200,000 civilians who have

Somalia's al-Shabab killed '180 Kenyan troops' in el-Ade

The killed troops were part of an African Union force in Somalia

At least 180 Kenyan troopswere killed when al-Shabab attacked their base last month,Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has said. 

Migrant crisis: EU meeting seeks to heal growing rifts

More than 100,000 migrants have reached Europe so far this year  
Ministers from EU and Balkan nations are meeting in Brussels to try to heal rifts over migrants that have plunged common policy into chaos.

Austria, Serbia and Macedonia have taken their own steps to limit entry to migrants, angering Greece, which fears the controls will cause a bottleneck.

Afghan boy bags real Messi shirt - finally

Murtaza Ahmadi wearing his signed Lionel Messi Argentina shirt

The Afghan boy who became an online hit after wearing a homemade shirt bearing Lionel Messi's famous number 10 has finally received the real thing - from the Argentine footballer himself.

World's cheapest smartphone launched in India

Indian company Ringing Bells has launched a mobile phone that costs less than $4. Low-priced handsets are particularly popular in what is now the second-largest smartphone market globally.

Indian consumers are known to be price conscious, but at just 251 Indian rupees - around $3.60 or 3.30 euros - Ringing Bells's new device is a snip not just by

NATURE & ENVIRONMENT

The ivory trade - still fueling poaching 25 years after a global ban

The international ivory trade was banned in 1989 - so why has poaching again reached crisis levels in recent years? European sales of elephant tusks could be putting this iconic species in danger.

When the international ivory trade was banned in 1989, the African elephant's collision course with extinction seemed to have been averted. Populations began to bounce back after a decade of slaughter that more than halved their numbers worldwide.

Yet more than a quarter of a century on,

Climate

10 things you can do to protect the climate

With a new global agreement to guide governments toward climate protection, personal action is more important than ever. From riding your bike to shopping organic, here are some simple ways you can help save the climate. 

1. Use less energy
Most greenhouse gases are emitted by power plants, industry and traffic. By using energy efficiently, you can save fossil fuels and protect the climate. So switch lights and appliances off when you aren't using them, and make sure your buildings are well-insulated so you don't waste energy on heating and cooling

Syria

Syrian opposition supports two-week ceasefire

Syria's opposition has indicated that it is ready for a two-week truce in Syria. The UN hopes to implement the "cessation of hostilities" discussed by Russia and the US in a matter of days.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee (HNC) said it "views a temporary two-week truce as a chance to establish how serious the other side is in committing to the points of the agreement."

Champions League

Bayern Munich throw away two-goal lead and miss a famous win against Juventus

Goals from Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben weren't enough to stop Juventus from grabbing a draw in the Champions League round of 16 first leg. Yet Bayern still hold two away goals.

Juventus 2-2 Bayern Munich
(Dybala 63', Sturaro 76' - Müller 43', Robben 55')
Bayern Munich will be strong favorites to progress to the quarterfinals of the Champions League after

'Broomstick Robber' tries to extort millions from Bayern Munich

Bundesliga

A former bank robber has tried to extort millions worth of cash and diamonds from Bayern Munich football club. Known as the "Broomstick Robber" he has 17 counts of robbery to his name.

A man formerly known as the "Broomstick Robber" has been charged after allegedly trying to extort millions in cash and diamonds from Bayern.

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola: "The second leg will be just as difficult"

Champions League

Pep Guardiola says his side were outstanding in their 2-2 draw at Juventus in the Champions League. But the Catalan doesn't think things will get much easier in the second leg on March 16.

Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola says he was delighted with the team's overall performance despite throwing away a two-goal advantage to draw with Juventus.
Just five teams have beaten Juventus since their move to the Juventus Stadium in 2011 - Bayern are the only foreign side to win there in European competition. After Thomas Müller and Arjen Robben put the German team into the driving seat, it was shaping up to be a third away win in Turin for the Bavarians.

Champions League last 16: Manchester City finally get first leg win

Champions League

Manchester City finally get the first leg win they were looking for, taking control of their tie with Dynamo Kiev through three away goals. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid pass up an opportunity at a valuable away result.

Dynamo Kyiv 1-3 Manchester City
(Buyalskyy 59' - Agüero 15', Silva 40', Toure 89')
Though they have won two of the last for league titles in England, Manchester City have thirsted for Champions League glory. They made crucial steps to improving their European legacy on

Conflict

Ban Ki-moon in fresh bid to resolve Burundian crisis

Burundian President Nkurunziza has promised to release 2,000 people detained during months of unrest. But the opposition are skeptical of the pledge, made during a visit to the country by the UN's top diplomat.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday (23.02.2016) that Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza and opposition politicians had agreed to

 US Elections 2016

Donald Trump projected to win Republican Nevada caucus

In the latest contest to select the Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump has again emerged as the top contender after polls closed in Nevada. There were some complaints of irregularities at some polling centers.

Tuesday's caucus in Nevada has been called in favor of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, with the state's Republican party website declaring the contest fo

'Islamic State'

More than 800 Islamists leave Germany to join IS in Syria and Iraq

According to a newspaper report, more than 800 Islamists have left Germany to join jihadi groups such as the so-called "Islamic State" in Syria and Iraq. At least 60 percent were German citizens. 

German daily "Die Welt" reported on Tuesday that more than 800 Islamists have left Germany to join jihadi groups such as the so-called "Islamic State" (IS) in Syria and Iraq.
Around a third of Islamists who had joined up with

Refugees

Austria not waiting for a European solution

The EU continues to dither with its response to the refugee crisis, but Austria has decided not to wait any longer. The Balkan conference in Vienna was about making agreements on controlling the influx of refugees.

Wednesday's conference was called on short notice, an Austrian message to Greece and the European Union. Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz (above right) said if Greece refused to protect the EU's external borders and

Major insight into killer pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is at least four separate diseases each with a different cause and needing a different treatment, scientists have discovered.

The researchers say the knowledge will lead to new drugs targeting the Achilles' heel of each patients' cancer and that they have already seen some "exceptional" results.
Cancer charities said the findings were "incredibly exciting".
The analysis, published in the journal Nature, looked at 456 patients' cancer.

Oregon standoff: Ammon Bundy and 15 others plead not guilty

Ammon Bundy (centre), shown here in January, is the leader of the group

More than a dozen people have pleaded not guilty to charges related to an armed takeover of wildlife refuge in the US state of Oregon.

The group of armed militants held the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge for 41 days in protest over how the federal government regulates public lands.

Premier League Time Table up to Tue 1 march 2016

Sat 27 Feb 2016 - Premier League

• West Ham v Sunderland 12:45
• Leicester v Norwich 15:00
• Southampton v Chelsea 15:00

David Silva has scored four of his six Champions League goals away from home

Manchester City took command of their Champions League last-16 tie against Dynamo Kiev with an impressive first-leg win in Ukraine.

City will feel the result justified boss Manuel Pellegrini's decision to field a weakened side in the