NORTH KOREA: A mass rally in Pyonyang today protested against a United Nations resolution condemning its human rights record.

Thousands rallied in Kim Il Sung Square carrying banners condemning the vote.

North Korea has denounced the UN resolution, which urges the security council to refer the issue to the International Criminal Court.

LIBYA: An air strike hit the last functioning commercial airport in Tripoli for a second day running today.

An armed group loyal to dissident Genera Khalifa Haftar claimed responsibility for the attack.

It claims the airport had been used for military strikes by the rebel government based in Tripoli.

YEMEN: Troops freed eight hostages today from a group of al-Qaida militants.

All seven kidnappers died in the dawn rescue operation, according to an official with Yemen's Supreme Security Committee.

One member of the security forces was lightly wounded in the raid.

NEPAL: The government signed an agreement with an Indian company today to build a £610 million hydroelectric plant to boost supplies in the Himalayan nation and export power to India.

The project will begin producing electricity in 2020, with around 78 per cent of its output exported to India and Nepal receiving 22 per cent free of charge.

BRAZIL: State-owned oil company Petrobras said today that it had been subpoenaed by the US Securities and Exchange Commission asking for documents tied to the investigation of corruption allegations.

Authorities allege that top Petrobras executives operated a kickback scheme on contracts involving several billion pounds.

EGYPT: At least 13 people were killed today when a seven-story building collapsed in the Cairo suburb of Matariya.

Eight residents of the building were also injured when it collapsed.

Rescue teams are still searching for other survivors trapped under the rubble and several surrounding buildings have been evacuated.

GREECE: A freighter carrying hundreds of migrants was drifting in high winds off Crete today.

Greece has launched a rescue mission with five ships to save an estimated 500 to 700 people aboard the stricken 250-foot cargo freighter, which suffered engine failure 30 nautical miles south-east of the island.