South Africa

Trial resumes: Pistorius ‘not mentally ill’ 

Psychiatric reports say Oscar Pistorius can be held responsible for shooting his girlfriend.

Middle East

Jihadists declare caliphate in Iraq, Syria

Ruthless jihadists spearheading a Sunni militant offensive in Iraq have declared an “Islamic caliphate” and ordered Muslims worldwide to pledge allegiance to their chief, in a spectacular bid to extend their authority.

India

Go to Mars on a budget: India’s rocket launch ‘cheaper than Hollywood space film’

India’s prime minister Narendra Modi has applauded his nation’s low-cost space program, saying the rocket that launched four foreign satellites into orbit cost less to make than the Hollywood film Gravity.

UK

Pippa Middleton ‘felt publicly bullied’

The Duchess of Cambridge’s sister Pippa Middleton has given her first ever TV interview to American journalist Matt Lauer.

Ministry of silly walks ‘not that funny’, says Cleese

John Cleese is relieved he doesn’t have to do Silly Walks in the upcoming Monty Python reunion show because he doesn’t think it’s very funny

Russia

Rare Roman coin found in Russia

A Roman coin dating back to the fourth century AD has been found at an excavation site in the Russian city of Veliky Novgorod, northwest of Moscow.