ISIS launches Two Chemical Attacks in Northern Iraq

Islamic State fighters have launched two chemical attacks near the city of Kirkuk in northern Iraq, killing a three-year-old girl and wounding up to 600 people, Iraqi officials have said.

Security and hospital officials said the latest incident took place early on Saturday in the small town of Taza, which was also struck by a barrage of rockets carrying chemicals three days earlier.......Read More

WhatsApp just Unveiled Five New Features: Here’s What You Need to Know

WhatsApp have just unveiled FIVE new features and we can’t wait to try them.

The Facebook-owned messaging App released its latest update this week and if you have an iPhone, it can be updated straight from the App store now.

Don’t worry Android users, you won’t miss out either as the new features have also been launched on Google’s platform too......Read More

Thousands Told Not To Use Any Water After High Levels of Chlorine Found in Supply

Thousands of people in Derbyshire have been warned not to use water for anything after high levels of chlorine were found in the supply.

Severn Trent water has said it is investigating an issue at Castle Doningron reservoir in the county.

Residents who live in DE11, DE65 and DE73 have been told not use water for anything, including drinking and bathing.

It is thought around 3,560 properties could be affected.......Read More

White House Says UK's David Cameron Remains an Ally Despite Diplomatic Flap With US on Libya

The White House has praised British Prime Minister David Cameron as a "partner and ally", as the US seeks to extinguish a diplomatic flap involving comments made by President Barack Obama.

Comments made by Mr Obama on the UK's role in the 2011 Libya intervention have been widely interpreted as a rebuke to Mr Cameron.

The US President values deeply the special relationship between the United States and our allies in the UK White House spokesman Josh Earnest

The US President was also critical of former French leader Nicolas Sarkozy when discussing the two European allies' roles in Libya during an interview with The Atlantic magazine.

In the article, Mr Obama said Mr Cameron became "distracted" and Mr Sarkozy wanted to promote his country amid the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime..... Read More

Japan marks fifth anniversary of Fukushima nuclear disaster

Ceremonies have been held across Japan to mark five years since one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded spawned a monster tsunami, killing more than 18,000 people and sparking the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl.

Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other participants at a national ceremony in Tokyo bowed their heads as did many residents across the affected region at 2:46pm (local time) — the exact moment on March 11, 2011, the magnitude 9.0 quake struck under the Pacific Ocean.

Huge tsunami waves crashed onto the land in the hour after the quake. The nuclear power station in Fukushima was inundated with water, which led to meltdowns in three of its reactors.

"Whenever I go to affected areas, I feel that the disaster is ongoing," Mr Abe said at the memorial event, acknowledging the enormity of the task that remains even five years on..... Read More

UN adopts resolution to repatriate peacekeepers facing sexual abuse allegations

The United Nations Security Council has adopted a resolution that calls for the repatriation of peacekeeping units whose soldiers face allegations of sexual abuse.

The US-drafted resolution — the first by the Security Council to confront the rise in sex abuse claims against peacekeepers — was adopted by a vote of 14 in favour, with Egypt abstaining.

The UN has been badly shaken by a wave of allegations that its peacekeepers in the Central African Republic raped girls and exploited women.

A UN report released last week showed a hike in the number of allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation by peacekeepers in 10 missions, from 52 in 2014 to 69 last year..... Read More

Disability benefit change to affect half a million

More than half a million disabled people could lose out as a result of further changes over the next four years to welfare payments.

The formula the government uses to calculate the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for disabled people will change in January.

The government said 640,000 people could be affected by this by 2020.

It said it would save £1.2bn and ensure PIP was fairer, but disability charities criticised the move.

Recipients of PIP are assessed using a points system to determine what level of help they receive. Claimants can get between £21.80 and £139.75 per week..... Read More

Progressive rock legend Emerson dies

Keith Emerson, the co-founder and keyboardist of progressive rock group Emerson, Lake and Palmer, has died aged 71, according to his former bandmates.

"We regret to announce that Keith Emerson died last night at his home in Santa Monica, Los Angeles," read a statement on the band's Facebook page. Emerson was considered one of the top keyboard players of the prog rock era.

He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Santa Monica police confirmed to the BBC.

His death was being investigated as a suicide, police added.

A police spokesman said Emerson's body was found in the early hours of Friday morning by his girlfriend Mari Kawaguchi at their flat in the Californian city....Read More

Hinkley Point Nuclear Power Station Will Go Ahead, EDF Says

The £18bn Hinkley Point nuclear power plant will go ahead, EDF has told the BBC, amid uncertainty and delays over the final funding arrangements.

In a letter to staff, EDF's chief executive Jean-Bernard Levy said the project needed to secure more funding from the French government.

He said the financial context was "challenging" and said he was negotiating with the French state.

The UK government said it was "committed" to Hinkley. Earlier this month, EDF's finance director Thomas Piquemal quit because he feared the project could jeopardise EDF's financial position, according to reports.

And in February, Chris Bakken, the director of the project, said he was leaving to pursue other opportunities.... Read More

Three Paris Attackers 'Feature In IS Recruitment Files'

The names of three of the Paris attackers appear in files leaked from the Islamic State militant group, according to German media reports.

The three are believed to have carried out the worst attack, at the Bataclan theatre, where 90 people died.

The IS files, obtained by German, UK and Syrian opposition media, are said to identify thousands of jihadist recruits from at least 40 countries.

German officials have said the files can be assumed to be genuine.

Roughly 22,000 fighters are reportedly identified by the documents, with one file for each recruit listing a name, address and other information. However, many of the names given may be duplicates..... Read More

Japan Tsunami Remembered Five Years On

Japan is marking the fifth anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that left more than 18,000 dead or missing.

PM Shinzo Abe and Emperor Akihito are attending a memorial in Tokyo, and joined a moment of silence nationwide at the exact moment the quake hit.

The magnitude-9.0 quake struck offshore, creating a vast water surge that devastated the north-east coast......Read More

Corey Oates Injured In Brisbane Broncos NRL Win Over Warriors

An injury to stand-out Corey Oates soured Brisbane's 25-10 NRL win over a gutsy Warriors on Friday night at Lang Park.

Oates showed why he was considered a State of Origin chance this year with a stellar display before suffering a suspected dislocated shoulder in the 71st minute of the round two encounter.

The towering winger racked up 152 metres and crossed for a first-half try to put his hand up early for a Queensland call-up in front of 34,520 spectators.

But it remains to be seen if his Origin dream remains alive after trudging off late in the clash clutching his shoulder..... Read More

Six Women On Fen's Night Attacked By Man At Hungry Jack's In Sydney

Police are searching for a man who attacked a group of six women, knocking two unconscious, on a hen's night in Sydney's CBD.

The group were confronted by the man at Hungry Jack's near the entrance of Wynyard Train Station on George Street about 12:20am, police said.

A witness said staff attempted a citizen's arrest, but the man managed to escape.

Two women were taken to hospital and four others were treated at the scene.

One has been discharged so far, but the other remains in St Vincent's Hospital, police said....... Read More

Donald Trump Cancels Chicago Campaign Rally Over Security concerns

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has cancelled a campaign rally in Chicago after the event turned into a chaotic scene with clashes between thousands of supporters and protesters.

CNN estimated there were between 8,500 to 10,000 people in the Chicago arena when tensions erupted into chaos.

A Trump campaign staffer took the stage about half an hour after the rally was slated to begin and said it would be postponed for safety reasons. .... Read More

Bill Gates Says This is The Best Decision He Ever Made

The world's richest man can spend his money on anything, but he says he stays away from buying clothes or jewelry for himself.

"I do like to buy nice things for my wife," Bill Gates wrote on Reddit on Tuesday. After all, he said marrying her is the best decision of his life.

The billionaire, philanthropist and Microsoft (MSFT, Tech30) founder took an hour out of his day to host his fourth AMA -- a mix of very serious and sometimes silly questions........Read More

Maria Sharapova: Head questions Wada's stance on meldonium

Racquet manufacturer Head has questioned the decision to ban the use of meldonium, as they continue to stand by Maria Sharapova.

Sharapova tested positive for the drug which the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) added to their list of banned substances on 1 January.

Head wants Wada to scientifically prove why the drug should be banned....... Read More

These hyper-realistic photos are actually oil paintings

(CNN) - Water droplets slide down the faces of children as they stare directly at what you could easily believe is a camera.

In fact, they are all paintings by Lagos-born Nigerian artist Oresegun Olumide.

The hyperrealism created in the oil paintings makes his work seem so life like that it is hard to believe they aren't......Read More

Port Adelaide Coach Wants Shorter AFL Preseason As Richmond Cop Injury Overload

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has called on the AFL to shorten the league's preseason in the wake of Thursday night's injury-plagued clash with Richmond.

The Tigers lost four players to injuries in the match, just two weeks out from the season-opener against Carlton at the MCG.

And with no official title now riding on the round-robin competition which involves all 18 clubs playing three matches, Hinkley believes too many commitments are being placed on the clubs.

"Personally I believe three (games) is too many," he told SEN Radio........ Read More