Breaking News! According to latest reports, at least 47 people have been killed so far in the heavy shelling by the Syrian forces. The Syrian Army used heavy tanks, machine guns, rockets and helicopters to bomb the rebels. As per the UN estimates, over 18,000 people have been killed in the civil war in Syria in the last 17 months.

News Desk: The South American countries rallied behind Ecuador on its decision to grant asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Foreign ministers of the 12-member bloc participated in an emergency meeting and endorsed Ecuador's decision. Assange has taken refuge inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

Breaking News! Rejecting the plagiarism charges against him, the Time Magazine and CNN have reinstated senior journalist Fareed Zakaria and said that he made an "unintentional error". The decision was taken after a review of the plagiarism charges made against Zakaria. He was suspended last week.

Breaking News! The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has suspended Syria during its crucial summit in Mecca this morning. The OIC took strong exceptions to the bloodbath in Syria and held President Bashar al-Assad responsible for the mess.

Breaking News! In a clear snub to Britain, the US and Sweden, Ecuador has granted asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on humanitarian grounds. Assange had taken refuse in Ecuador's London Embassy two months ago after a British court allowed his extradition to Sweden. However, the UK authorities have maintained that they would arrest Assange once he steps out of the Ecuadorian Embassy.

Breaking News! The Pakistan Air Force thwarted a major terror attack at the Kamra Air Force base in Northwest Pakistan, by killing all seven terrorists, who had carried out the onslaught. Two Air Force personnel were reportedly killed and several others injured in the attack. The incident occurred at around 2 AM.

News Desk: A powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 magnitude struck in the sea of Okhotsk off the east Russian coast. The tremor was also felt in the Japanese capital Tokyo.

Breaking News! Over 300 people have been killed and over 3,000 got injured, as a powerful earthquake rattled Northwest Iran today. The number of casualties could go up further.

News Desk: The US magazine Time’s editor Fareed Zakaria, who is the television host on CNN, has been suspended for using several paragraphs by another writer for his column in Time's August 20 issue.

News Desk: James Holmes, the man suspected of gunning down 12 people at a screening of the new Batman movie on last July 20, is said to be mentally ill. The defense lawyer sought more time to assess his health.