An attack on a Shia family living near Baghdad has left at least 16 people dead.
They were killed after militants bombed two adjacent houses belonging to brothers from a Shia family in Latifiya. At least five women and six children are believed to be among the dead. Violence has surged across Iraq in recent months, reaching its highest level since 2008. More than 800 people were killed in August alone, with Baghdad province worst affected. Gunmen opened fire on 16 members of the same family overnight before blowing up the two homes, medical and police officials say.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned America and its allies against taking one-sided action in Syria. He said any military strikes without UN approval would be "an aggression". 
US President Barack Obama earlier called for punitive action in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack. Putin said Russia did not rule out supporting a UN Security Council resolution authorizing force, if it was proved "beyond doubt" that the Syrian government used chemical weapons. Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee agreed on a draft resolution backing the use of US military force. The measure, to be voted on next week, sets a time limit of 60 days on any operation. According to the draft resolution, the operation would be restricted to a "limited and tailored use of the United States Armed Forces against Syria", and ban the use of any ground forces.
President Barack Obama has said the credibility of the US Congress and the international community is on the line over their response to Syria's alleged use of chemical weapons.
Mr Obama, who was speaking in Sweden, is trying to build support in the US for military action against Syria. Congress will vote next week on whether to support the proposed action. Mr Obama said the world should stick to its own red line against the use of "abhorrent" chemical weapons. The French parliament is currently debating military action but will not vote on it. Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said earlier that there was no point in asking MPs to vote on something that might not take place. The UK parliament voted last month against taking part in any strikes
The sixth meeting of the finance ministries from the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation ( SAARC) countries kicked off in Sri Lanka today. 
Finance Ministries from Nepal, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives and Afghanistan jointly inaugurated the two day meeting in Colombo.
The meeting is expected to seek ways for promoting long term financial capital investment in the South Asia. Similarly, the meeting shall finalise the draft related to investment promotion and security. The Nepali delegation is led by Finance Minister Shankar Prasad Koirala and also includes finance secretary Shanta Raj Subedi. The seventh summit of the SAARC financial ministers will be held in Nepal in 2014.
US President Barack Obama said he has not yet decided on a plan for retaliatory action against Syria 
But he said he had concluded Syrian government forces were behind a recent chemical weapons attack near Damascus. Speaking on US television, Obama said the use of chemical weapons affected US national interests and that sending a "shot across the bows" could have a positive impact on Syria's war.
His comments follow a day of behind-the-scenes wrangling at the UN. The UK had been pushing for permanent members of the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution which would have authorized measures to protect civilians in Syria. But Syrian ally Russia refused to agree to the resolution and the meeting produced no end to the diplomatic stalemate which has long characterised the UN position on Syria.
Russia is sending an anti-submarine ship and a missile cruiser to the eastern Mediterranean. The ships are being sent to strengthen the navy's presence in the area because of the "well-known situation" there.
But he said he had concluded Syrian government forces were behind a recent chemical weapons attack near Damascus. Speaking on US television, Obama said the use of chemical weapons affected US national interests and that sending a "shot across the bows" could have a positive impact on Syria's war.
His comments follow a day of behind-the-scenes wrangling at the UN. The UK had been pushing for permanent members of the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution which would have authorized measures to protect civilians in Syria. But Syrian ally Russia refused to agree to the resolution and the meeting produced no end to the diplomatic stalemate which has long characterised the UN position on Syria.
Russia is sending an anti-submarine ship and a missile cruiser to the eastern Mediterranean. The ships are being sent to strengthen the navy's presence in the area because of the "well-known situation" there.
At least 13 Colombian soldiers died in an ambush by Farc left-wing rebels in the east of the country. 
A statement by the Colombian army said that after a terrorist action by the Farc, two non-commissioned officers and 11 soldiers were killed and another one injured. Last month, 15 soldiers were killed by the rebel group in the same region. Even though Farc rebels and the government are holding peace talks in Cuba, both sides are continuing to target each other militarily.
On Friday the Farc announced a "pause" in the talks and the government later withdrew its team of negotiators.
A statement by the Colombian army said that after a terrorist action by the Farc, two non-commissioned officers and 11 soldiers were killed and another one injured. Last month, 15 soldiers were killed by the rebel group in the same region. Even though Farc rebels and the government are holding peace talks in Cuba, both sides are continuing to target each other militarily.
On Friday the Farc announced a "pause" in the talks and the government later withdrew its team of negotiators.
All five men wanted over the gang rape of a 22-year-old photo journalist in the Indian city of Mumbai on Thursday have been arrested
The last suspect was arrested in the capital, Delhi, on Sunday, and is being brought back to Mumbai, police said. The woman was attacked at an abandoned textile mill in the centre of the city, where she was on a photo assignment with a male colleague at the time. The case has renewed public outrage over sexual violence in India.
A 19-year-old unemployed man from south Mumbai was first arrested on Friday, and police made another two arrests on Saturday. The female victim, who is in hospital with multiple injuries, has said she is anxious to return to work after the attack.
The last suspect was arrested in the capital, Delhi, on Sunday, and is being brought back to Mumbai, police said. The woman was attacked at an abandoned textile mill in the centre of the city, where she was on a photo assignment with a male colleague at the time. The case has renewed public outrage over sexual violence in India.
A 19-year-old unemployed man from south Mumbai was first arrested on Friday, and police made another two arrests on Saturday. The female victim, who is in hospital with multiple injuries, has said she is anxious to return to work after the attack.
The eurozone has emerged from recession after a record 18 months of economic contraction. The bloc's GDP grew by 0.3% in the second quarter of 2013, slightly ahead of forecasts, the Eurostat agency said.
The growth was widely expected after the German economy rose 0.7% between April and June. However, the overall figure masks the mixed economic fortunes among the countries that make up the 17-country eurozone area. Germany and France both posted stronger-than-expected growth, expanding 0.7% and 0.5% respectively. Portugal, among the smallest and the weakest eurozone economies, showed the fastest growth, at 1.1%.The figures reaffirm Germany's position as the powerhouse behind the eurozone.
The growth was widely expected after the German economy rose 0.7% between April and June. However, the overall figure masks the mixed economic fortunes among the countries that make up the 17-country eurozone area. Germany and France both posted stronger-than-expected growth, expanding 0.7% and 0.5% respectively. Portugal, among the smallest and the weakest eurozone economies, showed the fastest growth, at 1.1%.The figures reaffirm Germany's position as the powerhouse behind the eurozone.
Israel has released 26 Palestinian prisoners on the eve of renewed Middle East peace negotiations. Buses carrying the inmates, most of whom were held for attacks on Israeli citizens, left Ayalon prison in the centre of the country late on Tuesday.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas greeted the 11 Palestinian prisoners sent to Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, while jubilant crowds met the other 15 in the Gaza Strip. Israelis and Palestinians are set to relaunch talks in Jerusalem on Wednesday, following a preparatory round two weeks ago in Washington. The prisoner release is part of an agreement to restart the talks after a five-year freeze. The 26 inmates are the first of a total of 104 that Israel has promised to free within a year.
Pakistan has marked 67th Independence day today. On the occassion, the embassy of Pakistan for Nepal organized various programs in Kathmandu as well. On the occasion, Pakistani Ambassador Arshad Saaud Khosa hoisted the national flag. Similarly, ambassador read out the greeting sent by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and prime minister May Mohammad Nawaz Sarif. Citizens of Pakistan residing in Nepal were present during the function. Pakistan has been celebrating national independence day since 14th August 1947.
Australia's Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and opposition leader Tony Abbott have sparred over the economy and immigration in the first televised debate of the election campaign.
The candidates faced an hour of questioning from a panel of journalists in the capital, Canberra. Current opinion polls put Mr Abbott's Liberal-National coalition in the lead for the 7 September election. But Labor has narrowed its lead since Mr Rudd returned to office in June. Sunday's debate was the first of three such possible meetings before polling day. The two leaders have been touring the country since campaigning began on 5 August.
The candidates faced an hour of questioning from a panel of journalists in the capital, Canberra. Current opinion polls put Mr Abbott's Liberal-National coalition in the lead for the 7 September election. But Labor has narrowed its lead since Mr Rudd returned to office in June. Sunday's debate was the first of three such possible meetings before polling day. The two leaders have been touring the country since campaigning began on 5 August.
At least 22 people in Afghanistan were killed and farmland was damaged when flash floods hit a plain near the capital. Normally arid Afghanistan can get heavy rain in its summer and more than 60 people were killed early this month in flooding east of the capital, Kabul.
The latest floods followed hours of torrential rain and hail, with the Shomali plain, just to the north of Kabul, particularly hard hit. Six of the dead were children, police said. Several people were injured and about a dozen homes were washed away. Many irrigation canals and wells, as well as orchards and fields were damaged. Some of the victims were visiting relatives for the Eid al-Fitr holiday.
The latest floods followed hours of torrential rain and hail, with the Shomali plain, just to the north of Kabul, particularly hard hit. Six of the dead were children, police said. Several people were injured and about a dozen homes were washed away. Many irrigation canals and wells, as well as orchards and fields were damaged. Some of the victims were visiting relatives for the Eid al-Fitr holiday.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has called an election for 7 September, six weeks after defeating former PM Julia Gillard in a Labor party vote.
The date was announced after he visited the governor-general, a formality preceding an election announcement. The head of the centre-left party faces stiff competition from conservative opposition leader Tony Abbott, who is favourite to win. The economy, asylum seekers and climate change are among the key issues.
Rudd returned to lead Australia's government three years after he was toppled in a similar Labor leadership contest by Gillard. Since taking office on 26 June, Rudd has changed several key policy positions and opinion polls suggest his party is narrowing the conservative opposition's lead.
The United States has temporarily closed 21 embassies and consulates in mostly Muslim countries. Several European states have shut embassies in Yemen over fears al-Qaeda was planning to launch attacks.
The US closed its facilites on Sunday, after saying it had information that al-Qaeda and its allies may increase efforts to attack Western interests this month. The closures came as Interpol issued a global security alert after hundreds of militants were set free in prison breaks linked to the al-Qaeda terror network, and suicide bombers killed nine near the Indian consulate in the Afghan city of Jalalabad.
Britain, Germany, France and the Netherlands said they would close their embassies in Yemen on Sunday and Monday for similiar security reasons. The US has also issued a global travel alert to warn its citizens of potential "terrorist attacks".
A fight broke out in Taiwan's parliament ahead of a vote on a referendum on a nuclear plant.
Several Taiwanese lawmakers exchanged punches and threw cups and bottles of water at each other. The parliament is set to vote on whether to hold a referendum on completing construction of the plant, which is located close to Taipei. Nuclear power is controversial in Taiwan, where safety fears remain in the wake of Japan's Fukushima disaster.
The nuclear plant, also known as Nuke 4, would be the island's fourth. It has been in construction for more than 10 years, and is near completion. However, Taiwan's opposition Democratic Progressive Party is against the plant, citing safety fears. More than 200,000 people took part in anti-nuclear protests in March. Taiwan frequently experiences earthquakes.
A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck central Taiwan in March, injuring at least 20 people. Taiwan's parliament has experienced brawls in the past. In June, lawmakers clashed over capital gains tax.
US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden left the Moscow airport where he has been staying since June after being granted temporary asylum.
Snowden's lawyer said he had left after receiving the papers he needed to enter Russian territory from Sheremetyevo Airport's transit zone. The US has charged Snowden with leaking details of its electronic surveillance programs. Russia's decision is likely to further strain its ties with the US.
Snowden arrived in Moscow on 23 June from Hong Kong, after making his revelations. The affair has caused diplomatic ructions around the world, upsetting the United States' close allies and traditional enemies. Despite a heavy presence of journalists, his departure was apparently not spotted by media. His lawyer said Snowden's location is not being made public for security reasons, since he is the most pursued man on the planet. The whistleblowing organisation Wikileaks, which has been helping him since he made his revelations, said in a tweet that he had been given asylum. The document, which resembles a Russian ID card and features a fingerprint, shows an issue date of 31 July and expiry date of 31 July 2014.
Snowden's lawyer said he had left after receiving the papers he needed to enter Russian territory from Sheremetyevo Airport's transit zone. The US has charged Snowden with leaking details of its electronic surveillance programs. Russia's decision is likely to further strain its ties with the US.
Snowden arrived in Moscow on 23 June from Hong Kong, after making his revelations. The affair has caused diplomatic ructions around the world, upsetting the United States' close allies and traditional enemies. Despite a heavy presence of journalists, his departure was apparently not spotted by media. His lawyer said Snowden's location is not being made public for security reasons, since he is the most pursued man on the planet. The whistleblowing organisation Wikileaks, which has been helping him since he made his revelations, said in a tweet that he had been given asylum. The document, which resembles a Russian ID card and features a fingerprint, shows an issue date of 31 July and expiry date of 31 July 2014.
