Sanaa / AFP Saudi-led coalition warplanes launched fresh air strikes on Shiite rebels across Yemen on Wednesday after the alliance said it had intercepted two ballistic missiles fired at southern Saudi Arabia. The increased violence comes after UN-brokered peace talks in Kuwait between representatives of the government and Houthi insurgents ended without a breakthrough. A statement from the coalition …

  Baghdad / AFP A fire tore through the maternity ward of one of Baghdad’s largest hospitals on Wednesday, killing at least 11 premature babies, medical and security sources said. Health ministry spokesman Ahmed al-Rudeini said the blaze at the Yarmuk hospital in west Baghdad was started by an electrical fault just after midnight (2100 GMT Tuesday). “Twenty-nine women patients …

  Nusa Dua / AFP Charities that send financial aid to trouble spots sometimes have the funds “hijacked” by militant groups to carry out attacks, an international counter-terrorism meeting was warned on Wednesday. A report by Indonesian and Australian authorities detailed the risk faced by non-profit organisations. It also urged countries in the region to cooperate more closely to halt …