News In Brief

Fire at Japan hospital kills 10
Afp, Tokyo

A fire that ripped through a hospital in Japan as patients slept killed 10 elderly people yesterday and prompted government demands for safety reviews across the country.
The blaze, which broke out in the middle of the night, left a further five people injured, police said, with the fire and disaster management agency saying four of them were in a serious condition. All of those who died were between the ages of 70 and 89, police said.

Israeli settler beaten to death in West Bank
Afp, Brosh

Suspected Palestinian militants bludgeoned to death a settler yesterday in the third killing of Israelis in the West Bank within as many weeks, police said, prompting calls to suspend peace talks.
The attack was followed by calls from rightwing Israeli MPs for the suspension of low profile peace talks between the two sides and of the expected release of more Palestinian prisoners.

Miss Universe apologises to India
Afp, New Delhi

Organisers of Miss Universe extended their "deepest apologies" to India over a photo shoot at the Taj Mahal that triggered a police case and accusations that she disrespected the famed monument to love.
Olivia Culpo visited the Islamic mausoleum on Sunday during a 10-day tour of India. During her time at the World Heritage site, she posed for cameras with branded shoe for promotion which is banned at the site.

Pakistan says Indian shelling kills one
Afp, Muzaffarabad

Indian troops fired mortars across the disputed border in Kashmir yesterday, killing a child and wounding three other people, Pakistani officials said.The latest incident came almost two weeks after the prime ministers of the two countries pledged to restore calm on their disputed border in Kashmir, at a meeting in New York.