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State-sanctioned Shia militias launched an assault on the Islamic State group west of the Iraqi city of Mosul on Saturday but reiterated that they would not enter the Sunni majority city. Jaafar al-Husseini, a spokesperson for the Hezbollah Brigades, said they launched an offensive Saturday along with other large militias toward the town of Tel Afar, which had a Shia majority before it fell to IS in 2014.  Iranian forces are advising the fighters and Iraqi aircraft are providing airstrikes, he said. Iraq launched a massive operation to retake militant-held Mosul, its second largest city, last week. The involvement of the Shia militias has raised concerns the battle could aggravate sectarian divisions. The Mosul offensive involves more than 25,000 soldiers, Federal Police, Kurdish fighters, Sunni tribesmen and the Shia militias, which operate under an umbrella organization known as the Popular Mobilization Units. Many of the militias were originally formed after the 2003 US-led inv...

Two cases of bird flu have been confirmed in poultry farms in northwest and central China, with no humans found infected so far, the Ministry of Agriculture said Saturday. The cases -- one in Jinchang, Gansu Province, and the other in Xiaogan, Hubei Province -- were confirmed as avian influenza H5N6 after being detected a few days ago, the ministry said in a statement. "The epidemic situation has been well controlled," the statement said, adding that local authorities have killed hundreds of thousands of fowl to prevent the spread of the disease. The world's first human H5N6 infection was reported in May 2014 in southwest China's Sichuan Province. But there has been no evidence of human-to-human transmission.

Widows of Hope Africa director, Elizabeth Banda was speaking in Lilongwe during the training session of widows based in the area of Chinsapo in Lilongwe. “As widows, you can venture into business and live a successful life without begging, I know you are experiencing some problems but its time to go on with life,” said Banda. Banda said her organisation will ensure that most widows are turned into successful business ladies. “It’s possible, you can live a happy life just work hard and remain focussed,” said Banda. The Widows of Hope Africa has also been donating various items to widows. Banda said after the training, her organisation is condering giving start up capital to the widows to start small scale businesses. “We are appealing to well-wishers to assist us in bailing out these widows,” said Banda. Banda said :. “What happens is that after the death of the husband most widows find it difficult to live the normal life.” She said, the Women’s Hope Africa exist to assis...