Pollution Threatens 'Survival of Human Societies'

Pollution has been linked to nine million deaths worldwide in 2015, a report in The Lancet has found. Almost all of these deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries, where pollution could account for up to a quarter of deaths.

Superstitions about vampires are having unfortunate consequences in Malawi. Rumours and fears about blood sucking attacks are causing panic in certain areas of the country.

Iraqi government forces have seized a large swathe of disputed territory from Kurdish fighters, including the vital oil fields around the city of Kirkuk. It comes three weeks after Iraqi Kurds organised an independence referendum. Baghdad has described the referendum as "illegal", but says dialogue is still possible.