World News: Calls for more Pakistan aid as UK doubles contribution

BRITAIN, America and other countries have announced dramatic increases in their aid to flood-devastated Pakistan amid mounting criticism of the international community's response to the disaster.

The UK Government is doubling its contribution, with an extra 33 million on top of the 31.3m already pledged.

The USA is also increasing its aid by 38.4m, bringing its total contribution to 96.1m.

The United Nations said it had raised nearly half the 295m wanted for initial relief but the response remained slow.

Pakistani officials say 20m people have been affected by the disaster, with tens of thousands of villages under water.

During an emergency meeting of the United Nations' General Assembly last night to boost the foreign aid commitment, secretary general Ban Ki-moon said the floods were like "a slow-motion tsunami" that presented an ongoing crisis.

UK International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell told the assembly it was "unacceptable" that the international community had not done more and urged other donors to step up their efforts.

100 gypsies expelled by France

France has expelled nearly 100 gypsies to their native Romania under a controversial policicy backed by conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy, left.

Mr Sarkozy has linked gypsies to crime, calling their camps sources of trafficking, exploitation of children and prostitution.

Seal product ban slammed

Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper condemned the European Union for blocking imported seal products and said Canada would seek a review of the ban at the World Trade Organisation.

Conservative Mr Harper said the ban discriminated against Canadian sealers.

Croc's snap call for Gillard

A CROCODILE that picked the winner of the World Cup has predicted Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard will win tomorrow's elections.

The saltwater croc named Dirty Harry made his choice when he snatched a chicken carcass dangling beneath a caricature of Gillard. Opposition leader Tony Abbott's chicken was left hanging.

Analysts say the elections could be the closest contest since 1961 when a single seat decided who governed.

Arms dealer to be extradited

An appeal court in Thailand today agreed to extradite suspected Russian arms smuggler Viktor Bout to the United States. Dubbed The Merchant of Death, Bout, 43, allegedly supplied weapons that fuelled civil wars in South America, the Middle East and Africa.

New Orleans recovery 'five years away'

US: Five years after Hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans, the city's mayor says its recovery, slowed by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, will take at least another five years.

Mitch Landrieu said the effects of Katrina and the oil spill had brought the area "to its knees".

New Zealand: Volunteers were racing against time today to save 15 pilot whales stranded on an isolated beach after rescuers reported 58 had already died.