Paris: A French Muslim singer who became an overnight star after dazzling judges on a TV talent show quit the contest Friday after coming under fire for past Facebook comments about terror attacks.

Amman: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday arrived in Jordan on the first leg of his four-nation regional trip that will also take him to a first-ever Indian prime ministerial visit to Palestine, besides the UAE and Oman in the Gulf.

Washington: The US federal government officially shut down on Friday for the second time in three weeks after a single senator, Rand Paul of Kentucky, held up a vote on a far-reaching budget deal that would have staved it off.

United Nations: The United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) has said violence had a devastating toll on children, who were being killed in ongoing conflicts or suicide attacks, or freezing to death as they fled active war zones.

Ramallah:  The Palestinian Presidency on Wednesday welcomed the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his visit to Palestine on February 10, the first ever prime ministerial visit from India here.

Havana: The 68-year-old son of Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro has died in Havana after taking his own life, according Cuban state media.