Canadian authorities said today they had foiled plans for terrorist attacks in southern Ontario with the arrests of 17 people who were “inspired by al-Qaida".

An Ottawa man accused of taking part in a bomb plot in Britain sat impassively through hours of testimony in Canada that will determine whether he is released on bail.

Explosives experts defused a homemade time bomb just before it was set to go off today inside a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in the southern Pakistani city of Hyderabad, police said.

The Halal Food Authority says that Muslim celebrations are being hampered due to animal shortages caused by the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.