Patties sell like 'hot cakes' to online shoppers

With the holiday season in full swing, Indians are flocking to the online marketplace in droves. But there's one unusual item flying off the virtual shelves: Online retailers say cow dung patties are selling like hot cakes.

Forces sweep up in Ramadi after landmark victory

Iraq declared the city of Ramadi liberated from the Islamic State group on Monday and raised the national flag over its government complex after clinching a landmark victory against the jihadists.

Train transporting sulfuric acid derails

A freight train carrying 200,000 liters of sulfuric acid has derailed in Australia, with a two-kilometre exclusion zone around the remote accident site in Queensland in place Monday.

Merkel takes center stage in Europe's year of crises

In a year of crises for Europe, from the Ukraine conflict to Greece's debt turmoil to the historic refugee influx, Germany's Angela Merkel emerged as the continent's de facto leader, drawing more praise and fire than ever.

Britain sends in more troops after floods

Britain's government said on Sunday it will send more troops to tackle "unprecedented" flooding in northern England which has forced hundreds to flee their homes, including in the historic tourist city of York.

Hundreds march in Corsica after violent anti-Arab protests

Hundreds of people marched in Corsica on Sunday after two days of violent anti-Arab riots, sidestepping a ban on demonstrations in a flashpoint neighborhood by taking their protests elsewhere in the capital.

Mourning families accuse officers of excessive force

The families of two black Chicagoans killed by police accused officers on Sunday of having used excessive force and Mayor Rahm Emanuel of having failed them, piling pressure on a city facing a US federal probe over possible racial bias in policing.

IS has departments of 'War Spoils', papers say

Islamic State has set up departments to handle "war spoils", including slaves, and the exploitation of natural resources such as oil, creating the trappings of government that enable it to manage large swaths of Syria and Iraq and other areas.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Comedians push racial boundaries

Race relations are still a touchy subject in South Africa, but edgy jokes in comedy clubs release bottled-up social tension and trigger gales of laughter from multiracial audiences.

Bail bond queen serves a controversial US industry

Michelle Esquenazi tosses her mane of flaming red curls, kicks her feet clad in 5-inch stilettos onto her desk and hollers for her assistant.

Evacuation of insurgents delayed

A UN-brokered deal to evacuate more than 2,000 Islamic State fighters and other militants from rebel-held suburbs of Damascus on Saturday has been delayed after the killing of an insurgent leader, an organization that monitors the Syrian civil conflict said.