WOMAN LYNCHED BY MOB FOR BURNING KORAN

A 27-year old Afghan woman was beaten, kicked and burned to death in public in the Afghan capital Kabul after she was caught setting fire to a copy of the Koran.

Video footage shows the woman, identified only by her first name as Farkhunda, being lynched by a large group of men near the Shah-e Don Shamshira shrine and mosque in the centre of Kabul.

At least four people were said to have been arrested in connection with the killing.

TOLL FROM KURDISH NEW YEAR ATTACKS REACHES 45

The death toll from attacks on Kurdish new year celebrations in Syria has risen to 45, including five children, a monitor has said, accusing the Isil of responsibility.

“There are now 45 dead from last night’s attacks in Hasakeh, as most of those who were in critical condition passed away,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said yesterday, after reporting 33 killed on Friday night.

POPEWARNSOFCORRUPTION IN MAFIA’S HEARTLAND

The Pope travelled deep into mafia territory yesterday, using an official visit to Naples to warn residents of the dangers of corrupt officials and organised crime.

In keeping with his reputation as a champion of the downtrodden and forgotten, Pope Francis addressed tens of thousands of people in the crime-ridden neighbourhood of Scampia.

“Corruption stinks, corrupt society stinks,” he told residents, adding that “we all have the potential to be corrupt and to slip into criminality”.

AUSTRALIA’S BLUEPRINT TO SAVE GREAT BARRIER REEF

Australia has released its longterm blueprint to save the Great Barrier Reef. The 35-year plan includes a complete ban on dumping material brought up by dredging and sets targets to improve water quality and marine life populations.

Greg Hunt, the environment minister, promised a 50 per cent reduction in nitrogen levels by 2018 and an 80 per cent fall by 2025. He added that pesticide levels must drop by 60 per cent by 2018 and that turtle and dolphin populations must be stabilised.

HEALTH OF SINGAPORE’S FOUNDING FATHER WORSENS

The health of Singapore’s founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, has worsened, the government said yesterday as the 91-yearold struggled with severe pneumonia.

Mr Lee has been in Singapore General Hospital since February 5 and was being aided by mechanical ventilation, a form of life support.