AT LEAST SEVEN DEAD IN SUICIDE ATTACK AT AFGHANISTAN MINISTRY: OFFICIALS

KABUL : A suicide bomber blew himself up in front of a government ministry in Kabul on Sunday as workers were leaving their offices, killing at least seven people and wounding more than 15, officials said, in the latest deadly attack to rock the country. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion outside the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, which was the second time in as many months that its compound has been struck. It follows a series of attacks in the eastern city of Jalalabad in recent weeks that have killed dozens of people. Most of those assaults were claimed by the Islamic State group. Civilians and security forces were among the seven dead in Sunday’s attack, a police spokesman said.

Jaguar escapes enclosure at zoo, mauls six animals

A jaguar escaped from its enclosure at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans on Saturday and killed six animals before it was captured, forcing the zoo to close for the day. The male jaguar’s escape was reported when the zoo was still closed to the public, according to the zoo. The large cat, named Valerio, mauled four alpaca, an emu and a fox in nearby habitats before it was sedated by the zoo’s veterinary team less than an hour later. No people were injured, the zoo said. REUTERS

Saudi woman arrested for hugging singer on stage

RIYADH : A woman in Saudi Arabia was arrested after running on to a stage to hug a male singer during a concert. Singer Majid al-mohandis was performing in the western city of Taif on Friday when the woman darted to the stage, the BBC reported. The police arrested her and referred her to the public prosecution to face charges under the law criminalising harassment. Police said she is being held at the Al-taif Foundation for Women’s Care. AGENCIES

Myanmar: At least 15 dead in jade mine landslide

YANGON : At least 15 people have been killed and dozens injured in a landslide at an old jade mine in northern Myanmar, state media reported on Sunday, as rains complicate the search for more victims. The accident is the latest to strike the multibillion dollar industry centred in Kachin state, the source of most of the world’s jade. The poorly regulated and murky business is fuelled by demand in China.

UK minister quits over lewd messages to barmaids

LONDON: A British minister said on Sunday he had resigned and was “deeply ashamed” after being exposed sending an avalanche of lewd social media messages to a couple of barmaids. Small business minister Andrew Griffiths, formerly Prime Minister Theresa May’s chief of staff, said he had stepped down on Friday, as the Sunday Mirror newspaper published details of his chats with the two women. One of the barmaids said he sent her more than 2,000 messages in three weeks.