Breaking news: Fire engulfs Dubai tower before New Year celebrations

The fire started on the 20th floor of the building and only affected the outside structure [AP]

A huge fire engulfed a Dubai skyscraper on Thursday just hours before New Year's celebrations were to be held in the city. UAE's Civil Defence officials said there were no casualties.

The massive blaze quickly shot up the 63-story Address Hotel in the downtown area of the Gulf metropolis, covering nearly the entire structure and sending hundreds of people fleeing for safety.

The founder of one of Mexico's most violent cartels was found tortured to death

The body of the founder of one of Mexico's most violent drug cartels, La Familia Michoacana, has been discovered on a motorway with signs of torture. Carlos Rosales Mendoza's body was found with three others near a motorway in the western state of Morelia, after he was shot dead.

Rosales Mendoza founded the cartel, infamous for its extreme violence. He was one of the world's most wanted criminals, featuring on the US Drug Enforcement Agency's most wanted list. La Familia's violent hit men were said to believe they had a "divine right" to kill and dismember their enemies.

There are disturbing and detailed allegations in the new criminal case against Bill Cosby

On Wednesday, Bill Cosby was charged with aggravated indecent assault, a first-degree felony.

The charge relates to a sexual assault alleged to have happened more than a decade ago. The 78-year-old comedian previously admitted under oath that he had sexual contact with the woman, as part of the lawsuit she filed claiming that Cosby drugged her and forced himself on her at his home near Philadelphia in 2004.

The woman, former Temple University employee Andrea Constand, reported the alleged assault in 2005.

Skeletal remains found in a shallow grave in Soweto confirmed as that of a girl who went missing three years ago

South African police on December 17, uncovered a human skull and bones buried in a shallow grave in the backyard of a house in Phiri, Soweto where a missing University of Johannesburg student Palesa Madiba was last seen alive. A police officer at the Moroka police station said he received a call in the early hours of that day about a buried body in the house. There, they found a grave in the house and bricks that was laid on top of the body.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un cries at funeral of trusted aide

 

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un showed rare public emotion as he openly cried at the funeral of his most trusted aide, Kim Yang-Gon. Kim touched the face of his late comrade and confidant during his state funeral today, describing him as a 'close comrade-in-arms whom nobody can replace'.

Breaking News: Bill Cosby Booked on Sexual Assault Charge, Bail Set at $1 Million

Bill Cosby has been booked on a sexual assault charge in suburban Philadelphia, marking the start of criminal proceedings and another milestone in his fall from grace after dozens of women have come forward to accuse the 78-year-old entertainer of drugging and raping them.

Cosby pleaded not guilty to three counts of aggravated indecent assault at a brief arraignment, where bail was set at $1 million. After his booking, Cosby was released after arranging for a wire transfer of his bail money earlier in the day.

A haggard-looking Cosby arrived at the tiny courthouse in Elkins Park, Pa., around 2:30 p.m. ET. He shook his head “no” when pressed by reporters for comment as he walked into the building, led on either side by attorneys. He carried a cane and a leather satchel and wore a gray flecked hooded sweater and black sweatpants.

Best Of 2015: 15 Things That Took Internet By Storm And Went Viral!

These are some of the things that went viral on the Internet in 2015. Twitter

Twenty-fourteen was all about Kim Kardashian "Breaking the Internet" with her nude cover on Paper Magazine, it was all about the Ice Bucket Challenge and all about Alex from Target. Though last year had some great moments on the web, we must honor the fact that 2015 was even a better year for the Internet! Without further ado, here are the top 15 things that went viral this year and took the World Wide Web by storm! Did we leave anything out? Sound off in the comments below.  

Rich Kids of Instagram share photos of their extravagant gifts, decorated mansions and tropical winter vacations

Along with the warmth of family and friends, holiday vacations often conjure up painful memories of flight delays, freezing temperatures and more than one baby crying in economy class. 

But alas, these are never problems for the Rich Kids of Instagram, who spent their December sunbathing on yachts, jetting off in private planes and showing off their new Christmas toys. 

Zach Rothman, son of wealthy Californian restaurateurs Harold and Wendi Rothman, skipped the airport chaos entirely and made use of his private jet, flying to Las Vegas with fellow passengers Patron and, of course, Dom Perignon. 

DJ LED 2016 Hot naija mixes @djled_abuja @forever_recordz

the the hottest mix this year just press play and go gaga because of the money oooo, or wait duro and go from Lagos to Chicago lets go party party happy new year from dj led and 3m360

Giant flying saucer filmed hovering over town before vanishing sparks heated debate among sky watchers

Footage of a UFO moving slowly across the sky before suddenly vanishing has sparked a debate on social media.

The flying saucer was spotted above the mountains near the city of El Alto, in the north-west Bolivian department of La Paz.

The footage shows the circular-shaped object, which disappears and reappears among the clouds, high above a rural neighbourhood on the outskirts of the country's second largest city.

The flying saucer was spotted disappearing and reappearing above the mountains near the city of El Alto

The video was uploaded onto a UFO-spotting platform, which is dedicated to providing evidence of extra-terrestrial life on planet earth.

Since then the video has been shared on similar websites worldwide, as well as being reported by international media outlets who have debated whether it is genuine.Mexican newspaper Excelsior for example reported that sceptics believe the footage was a montage fabricated with a digital editing programme to get more traffic for the website.

Since appearing online many YouTube users have commented on the clip, but most appear confused as to what the flying object may be.

Brown Ideye in Paternity mess (White woman exposes married footballer Ideye Brown, claims he's the father of her two kids )

Was minding my business on instagram when I stumbled on these posts from a white lady named Alex on instagram. The lady who lives in Ukraine (did he ever play there?) has a son and a daughter, who appear to be mixed race, and she claims Nigerian Super Eagles player, Ideye Brown is the father of her two kids. Thing is, Ideye is married with two kids.

English Premier League Surprise team Leicester City give free beer to fans as 'thank you' for successful year

Leicester City owners decided to surprise fans with free beer before their clash with Man City tonight at the King Power Stadium. The club has been the surprise package this season, staying top of the table and have a genuine shot of winning the title this season.   

Looters target flood victims' homes: Thieves steal from properties submerged in dirty water as Storm Frank threatens 6in more rain and an ancient bridge collapses in Yorkshire

Thieves have provoked a furious reaction from police after they looted flooded homes while the properties were submerged in dirty water.

The deluged houses were targeted in the early hours of yesterday in York, which was submerged by the River Foss at the time.

One home in the North Yorkshire city was burgled after the back door was forced, while at a second tools were taken from a shed.

On the beat: North Yorkshire Police officers patrol the streets today after cases of looting in York in the aftermath of the floods

Following the floods: People clear up on Huntington Road in York today. There is no suggestion they are connected to looting on the road

It came as a huge clear-up got under way as falling river levels and repairs to industrial water pumps saw many flooded streets drained of filthy water.

North Yorkshire Police Acting Superintendent Mark Grange said: ‘It is extremely disappointing to see victims of the floods being targeted in this way.

‘It is impossible to comprehend why anyone would want to bring further suffering to those who are already in a very vulnerable situation.’

Video of man who picks up sleeping cat to CLEAN his shoes divides internet as it provokes anger but also 11,000 likes on Instagram

Footage of a man using a sleeping cat to clean his dirty shoes has sparked debate online between those who liked the clip and those who were outraged.

The video was captured in Kazakhstan and shows the unidentified man using the resting feline as a brush to clean his shoes.

The cat, which appears quite dazed as it is picked up, is brushed backwards and forwards over the man's shoes, as his friends laugh in the background.

The cat appears quite dazed as it is picked up and then used as a brush to clean the man's shoes

The man then changes feet so that the cat is used on the other shoe, before he puts it back down on the ground and allows it to run off.

The video was posted to the internet where it quickly received more than 11,000 likes on Instagram.The controversial nature of the footage provoked a lot of criticism among other internet users, however.

In fact, many people expressed their sad feelings for the cat despite the high number of approving votes.

Teenagers run over and killed by truck after lying in middle of road to get SELFIE

Tragedy: The boys bodies are covered up by police

These graphic images show the horrifying scene after two teenagers were run over by a truck and killed after lying down on the road while trying to get a SELFIE.

The pair were part of the group of five young men who had taken a hired car to travel on a trip from Alanya to Antalya, on the south-west coast of Turkey.

The survivors said they had stopped by the airport's perimeter fence on their way back to look at the planes, and then all five of them decided to lay on the road to take a selfie with one of the planes in the background as it came into land.