GAZA: Israel launched more air strikes in the Gaza Strip and Palestinians kept up rocket fire against southern Israel on Monday in a fourth day of hostilities in which 23 Palestinians have been killed.

Islamabad: A Pakistani court today directed police to take into protective custody a 19-year-old Hindu girl and her Muslim husband, amid allegations that she was abducted and forcibly converted to Islam.

Kandhar: Western forces shot dead 16 civilians including nine children in southern Kandahar province on Sunday, Afghan officials said, in a rampage that witnesses said was carried out by American soldiers who were laughing and appeared drunk.

WASHINGTON: Teachers, the world may not be your oyster, but it can certainly be your classroom. Distance education took a giant leap on Monday with the launch of TEDEd, a non-profit initiative that harnesses the talent of the world's best teachers and visualizers to take great lessons beyond the classroom to anyone with internet access. In other words, if you are a great teacher, you can take your best lessons or tutorials beyond your classroom and be viewed by millions of students.

TEHRAN: The European Union said on Tuesday that world powers have agreed to a new round of talks with Iran over its nuclear program, and Iran gave permission for inspectors to visit a site suspected of secret atomic work.

London, March 7: E-mails purported to be obtained by a hacker group Anonymous dispute White House version of  Osama bin Laden's final resting place, Daily Mail reported today.

Moscow: An attempt by Vladimir Putin’s foes to protest his presidential election victory by occupying a Moscow square ended Monday with riot police quickly dispersing and detaining hundreds of demonstrators—a stark reminder of the challenges faced by Russia’s opposition.

Beijing: China's third lunar probe, Chang'e-3, is expected to be launched next year and it will conduct moon landing and lunar explorations, a top space official has said. Different from the previous two orbiters, Chang'e-3 has "legs" to support the spacecraft in landing, Ye Peijian, chief commander of Chang'e-3 at China Academy of Space Technology, said.

Melbourne: Burqa-clad Muslim women in Australia's most populous state will have to remove face veils as part of new tough identity check laws in New South Wales (NSW). The revised laws, which will come into force from April 30, will empower Justice officials with authority to look under religious face-coverings.

Moscow: An attempt by Vladimir Putin's foes to protest his presidential election victory by occupying a Moscow square ended on Monday with riot police quickly dispersing and detaining hundreds of demonstrators - a stark reminder of the challenges faced by Russia's opposition.