UN Security Council opens urgent talks on Gaza

UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council opened urgent talks on the escalating violence in Gaza to consider ways of stepping up ceasefire efforts.

The 15-member Council met as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was holding talks with leaders in the region amid a spike in violence that left more than 100 Palestinians dead in a single day.

“We have to know from the secretary-general the result of his efforts, his travels and whether there is any hope of moving forward to a ceasefire,” said French Ambassador Gerard Araud as he headed into the meeting.

Obama hosts Ramzan dinner at White House

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama saluted Muslim Americans on Thursday for their contributions in helping build the United States as business entrepreneurs, technology innovators and pioneers in medicine.

Obama spoke at a White House dinner he hosted to celebrate the Islamic holy month of Ramzan. The meal, or iftar, breaks the day of fasting when Muslim families and communities eat together after sunset.

Vladimir Putin to visit Iran for nuclear talks: report

President Vladimir Putin is to visit Iran in August to try and restart talks on Tehran's controversial nuclear programme, Russia's Kommersant daily reported today.

Putin's visit is planned for mid-August, shortly after Iran's new president Hassan Rowhani formally takes office on August 3, Kommersant reported, citing sources in the Kremlin and the Iranian foreign ministry. It will be Putin's first trip to Iran since 2007.

Tight security after French riots sparked by veil row

France's interior minister said Sunday security forces would remain in place "as long as necessary" after a second night of violence in the Paris suburbs sparked when police stopped a woman for wearing a veil.

Manuel Valls told French radio he would keep in place "a significant police presence until a lasting calm is restored" in and around the satellite town of Trappes, south-west of Paris.

Six of a family killed in Okara road mishap

At least six members of a family, including women and minor children were killed in a road accident here in Okara late on Sunday night.

According to details, the accident took place at Okara bypass where a speedy private car carrying six people of a family got out of control due to slipperiness caused by rain and rammed into a trailer parked by roadside.

As a result of accident the six occupants of the car including Khalid Hussain, his wife Kalsoom, mother, sister and two minor children died on the spot.

Six of a family killed in Okara road mishap

At least six members of a family, including women and minor children were killed in a road accident here in Okara late on Sunday night.

According to details, the accident took place at Okara bypass where a speedy private car carrying six people of a family got out of control due to slipperiness caused by rain and rammed into a trailer parked by roadside.

As a result of accident the six occupants of the car including Khalid Hussain, his wife Kalsoom, mother, sister and two minor children died on the spot.

'Ex-British minister may attend Rouhani's inauguration

Former British foreign secretary Jack Straw may attend Hassan Rouhani's inauguration ceremony, an advisor to the Iranian president-elect has said.

"It is possible that Mr. Straw, who previously showed an interest to travel to Iran, would be invited to the incoming (inauguration) ceremony" of Rouhani, reported Xinhua citing Morteza Bank as saying Thursday.

Earlier this month, Straw told the BBC that he was "more hopeful " about the incoming president to help resolve the country's nuclear issue.

'Ex-British minister may attend Rouhani's inauguration

Former British foreign secretary Jack Straw may attend Hassan Rouhani's inauguration ceremony, an advisor to the Iranian president-elect has said.

"It is possible that Mr. Straw, who previously showed an interest to travel to Iran, would be invited to the incoming (inauguration) ceremony" of Rouhani, reported Xinhua citing Morteza Bank as saying Thursday.

Earlier this month, Straw told the BBC that he was "more hopeful " about the incoming president to help resolve the country's nuclear issue.

Couple sentenced to nine months for racially abusing Sikh taxi driver

Melbourne: A couple has been sentenced by an Australian court to nine months in jail for a racial attack in which a Sikh taxi driver's turban was ripped off.

Angeline Kim Sollitt, 44, and Michael John Arbouin, 40, were handed down the nine-month prison-term for the "unprovoked" and "malicious" attack on taxi driver Jagroop Singh, 'NTNews' reported.

"The turban is the crowning glory of the Sikhs. For Sikhs, the head and the turban are sacred, they must not be touched or insulted in any way," Judge Stephen Southwood said.

Seventeen killed in stampede at boxing match in Indonesia

JAKARTA: Seventeen people were killed in a stadium stampede after spectators rioted to protest a local boxer's loss in a championship match in eastern Indonesia, officials said Monday.

Youth and Sports Minister Roy Suryo said the victims — 11 of them women — were trampled to death as about 1,500 spectators scrambled out the overcrowded stadium to escape the riot that broke out just before midnight Sunday.

Kota Lama Sport Stadium has a capacity of 500 to 600, he said.

Malaysian opposition figures charged with sedition

A Malaysian court on Wednesday charged four people with sedition as part of what critics have decried as a crackdown on accusations that the government cheated to win recent elections.PKR vice-president Tian Chua (C) and student activist Safwan Anang (R) arrive at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur on May 29, 2013.

Syrian opposition split as peace moves forge ahead

International efforts to end the conflict in Syria accelerate on Monday with key talks in Brussels and Paris, amid a push for a new peace conference despite growing divisions within the Syrian opposition.

US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet his Russian and French counterparts in Paris to advance an initiative for an international conference on ending the more than two-year conflict.

N.Korea warns foreigners to quit South

SEOUL : North Korea intensified threats of an imminent conflict against the United States and the South on Tuesday, warning foreigners to evacuate South Korea to avoid being dragged into a "merciless, sacred, retaliatory war".

The North's latest antagonistic message belied an atmosphere free of anxiety in the South Korean capital, where the city centre was bustling with traffic and offices operated normally.

US says it could launch pre-emptive strike on North Korea: Congressman

Washington: The United States has right to launch a pre-emptive military strike against North Korea if there was "solid evidence" that Pyongyang planned to attack the US or South Korea, an influential lawmaker said today.

"If we have good reason to believe there's going to be an attack, I believe we have the right to take pre-emptive action," Peter King, the Republican Congressman from New York, told the CNN.

"I don't think we have to wait until Americans are killed or wounded or injured in any way," King said.

NAB objects to Sharif brothers’ candidacy over Hudaibiya Mills case

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Thursday objected to the candidature of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif in the upcoming general elections over alleged scam of Hudaibiya Paper Mills, a senior NAB official told Dawn.Com.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Punjab president and the former chief minister, along with his brother PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, are accused in the Rs3,486 million loan default case.

They have been accused of accumulating money and assets beyond their declared means of income by misusing authority. The case was filed with the Attock NAB Court on March 27, 2000.

Stop UK aid to Pakistan unless taxes increase, urge MPs

The UK government should withhold extra aid to Pakistan unless it does more to gather taxes from its wealthier citizens, a group of MPs has said .

The International Development Committee said British taxpayers should not be paying for health and education in Pakistan while rich Pakistanis were paying little tax.

Six boys electrocuted, 22 others injured

Jaipur: Six boys on Tuesday were electrocuted and 22 others received burn injuries when a bus in which they were travelling came in contact with a live wire in Churu district.

"The victims, members of a marriage party, were on their way to a village in Sardarshahar town for a marriage when the incident occurred near Lodsar village," SP Churu Omprakash said.