’600 killed in South Sudan’

The violence erupted Thursday in Jonglei state and the UN mission to South Sudan reported the death toll, said UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq.

South Sudan became independent from Sudan on July 5 to much international fanfare, but diplomats have expressed mounting concerns about stability in the country and tensions with the Khartoum government.

A UN team has been sent to Jonglei state and the head of the UN mission to South Sudan, Hilde Johnson, has appealed for restraint.

Iraqi forces end gunmen’s siege, 45 killed in attack

BAGHDAD: The death toll from an attack on the Iraqi provincial council headquarters in Tikrit rose to 45 on Tuesday and Iraqi security forces ended a siege by gunmen in the building, a health official said.

Jasim al-Dulaimi, head of the health operations centre in Salahuddin province, said three provincial council members and seven insurgents were among the dead.

Sri Lanka accidental blast kills 25: military

COLOMBO: Three trucks carrying explosives blew up inside a police compound in eastern Sri Lanka on Friday, killing at least 25 people in what the military called an accident.

The blast occurred in Karayinadaru, about 50 km from the eastern port of Batticaloa and in an ethnically mixed area controlled by the Tamil Tiger separatists until 2007.

“The final death toll figure is 25 including 16 police officers and nine civilians including two Chinese nationals,” military spokesman Major-General Ubaya Medawela said.

Earlier, he had given a death toll of 60 killed, saying most were police officers. He did not elaborate on why the death toll had been reduced by more than half.

At least 52 were wounded, with three dying in hospital, P. Murugananda, director at Batticaloa General Hospital, told Reuters by telephone.

Two Chinese employees of a Chinese

Landslides complicate flood relief efforts

TORI BAND: Landslides have worsened Pakistan’s grim flood death toll, cutting off roads and hampering aid efforts as critics of the absent and unpopular president liken the disaster to Hurricane Katrina.

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Landslides complicate flood relief efforts

Six killed in separate firing incidents in Karachi

KARACHI: Six people have been shot dead and several others injured in separate incidents of firing in different areas of Orangi and Korangi towns, Geo News reported on Wednesday.

According to police sources, the injured and dead were shifted to a hospital.

The death toll from firing and other violent incidents across the city during the past three days has mounted to 71.

Asian families struggle to support children, parents

SINGAPORE: More Asian families are struggling under the pressure of simultaneously supporting their children and ageing parents, a study released Wednesday said.

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Asian families struggle to support children, parents

Monsoon rains to continue across country

ISLAMABAD: Scattered thunderstorm and rain with moderate to heavy falls is expected at isolated places over Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northeast Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir during next 48 hours, said met office reports.

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Monsoon rains to continue across country

Flash flood: 79 died, over 142 injured in Punjab

LAHORE: The death toll due to rain-flood related incidents Wednesday swelled to 79 while over 142 people received injuries in flood hit areas in Punjab.

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Flash flood: 79 died, over 142 injured in Punjab

Troops kill 7 protesters in Indian-held Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Indian troops fired live ammunition and tear gas into crowds of anti-India protesters Monday as tens of thousands of people demonstrated across Indian-held Kashmir, police said.

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Troops kill 7 protesters in Indian-held Kashmir

Inception outclasses Schmucks at box office

LOS ANGELES: Inception is still kicking at the box office.

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Inception outclasses Schmucks at box office

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