News International: 30 July

1) Ruling Party tastes defeat in Japan: Japanese voters showed distrust in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the recently concluded elections. Several of Abe's most influential supporters crashed to defeat in the elections for half the seats in Japan's upper house. It was one of the worst losses suffered by Abe's Liberal Democratic Party in the past 52 years.

2) Film Director Ingmar Bergman Dies: Swedish director Ingmar Bergman died at the age of 89. He has been regarded as one of the great masters of modern cinema.

3) Brown meets Bush: US President George Bush and British PM Gordon Brown had a brief meeting at Camp David on Sunday. Brown described the US as Britain's most important ally.

4) Tour de France: Alberto Contador won the doping-scarred Tour de France on Sunday. Contador not only became the youngest champion in 10 years, but also became the first Spaniard to win the crown in 12 years.

5) Taliban extends Deadline for Korean Hostages: According to the latest reports, The Taliban in Afghanistan has extended the deadline for executing 22 South Korean hostages for another two days until Wednesday. Now the ball is in the court of the Afghan government to facilitate the talks with the Taliban guerrillas.