The shooting dead of a New York City mosque leader and a friend as they left afternoon prayers is being described as a hate crime by shocked members of the community.

An ex-fiance of socialite Tamara Ecclestone has denied that he tried to blackmail her for £200,000 (€231,310), telling a court their break-up 10 years ago had “destroyed” him.

Afghan police killed 12 Taliban militants in a southern gun battle today, while more than 30 suspected insurgents were detained as security forces fought back against a deadly spike in violence, officials said.

An overloaded passenger ferry capsized in southern Bangladesh today, killing at least 22 people and leaving about 80 others missing, an official and a witness said.

Suspected Taliban rebels riding motorbikes launched a night-time raid on a militia checkpoint in southern Helmand province, killing six Afghan soldiers, an official said today.

The suicide attackers who killed more than 3,000 people on September 11 are being hailed by a UK-based Islamist group as "The Magnificent 19".

THE sister of betrayed wife Rena Salmon broke down yesterday as she told the Old Bailey of their childhood.