Hindu extremists attacked six village churches in eastern India during Christmas celebrations, leaving one person dead, officials said today.

A £1m (€1.4m) appeal was launched today to help some of the most vulnerable people hit by severe flooding in India, Bangladesh and Nepal.

The United Nation’s first all-female peacekeeping force – made up of 105 Indian policewomen – is set to deploy to the troubled west African country of Liberia, an official said today.