HYDERABAD / AFP The southern Indian state of Telangana has declared a “high alert” for polio after an active strain of the virus was found in samples of sewage water in the state capital. RajeshwarTiwari, Telangana’s top health official, said on Wednesday that a vaccination drive will be launched next week after tests revealed the Type-2 polio virus in ...

  Tripoli / AFP Forces allied with Libya’s unity government said on Wednesday they had repelled a counter-attack by the IS group in the extremists’ coastal stronghold of Sirte. IS extremists hit positions controlled by fighters loyal to Libya’s UN-backed Government of National Accord west of the city with tank, mortar and sniper fire on Tuesday, according to a statement ...

  Washington / AFP In February, the richest world powers pledged more than $11 billion to help frontline states in the Middle East cope with the Syrian refugee crisis. But four months later, less than a quarter of the headline sum has been turned over and five million people are still at risk in an unstable region. Countries like Lebanon, ...