Briefly

PAKISTAN

14 killed, 6 injured in pre-monsoon rains

At least 14 people were killed and six others injured in rain-related accidents in different areas of Pakistan during the last 24 hours, officials said on Monday. Deputy Commissioner of Narowal district of the eastern Punjab province Muhammad Ashraf told Xinhua that six people lost their lives due to lightning in the district during the thunderstorm on Sunday night. Three people, a mother and her two children, were killed when the roof of their house collapsed on Sunday night in the Shahzad town area in the suburbs of the capital Islamabad, local rescue teams said. The Pakistan Meteorological Department had predicted the start of pre-monsoon rains in the country from Sunday, which is expected to continue till June 30.

GUATEMALA

Front-runners to face runoff in election

The two front-runners in Guatemala's presidential elections will face a runoff vote, the electoral commission said Monday, with neither able to secure the 50 percent minimum share to win the first round. With nearly 90 percent of votes counted, Guatemala's electoral commission said the results were "practically definitive". Center-left candidate Sandra Torres, who won 15.12 percent of votes counted, was less than 3 percent ahead of Bernardo Arevalo, on 12.20 percent. About 57 percent of the 9.4 million eligible voters turned out to cast their ballots. The runoff election is expected to be held on Aug 20.

ISRAEL

Hollywood producer testifies in PM trial

Hollywood producer and tycoon Arnon Milchan testified against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his corruption trial on Sunday, saying he used to send lavish gifts to Netanyahu and his wife. Testifying from the English seaside city of Brighton, near where Milchan is based, the 78-year-old said the gifts he routinely sent included expensive cigars, pink champagne, jewels, shirts and coats, and code names were used for them. The quantities of goods "went larger and larger" following requests from the couple, although it was Milchan who initiated the practice of sending the luxurious goods. Milchan's testimony, which is expected to last several days, was transmitted through a video conference to the courtroom in Jerusalem.

JAPAN

Man carrying knife sparks panic on train

Passengers evacuated a train in a central subway station in Tokyo after a man was seen carrying a knife on Sunday, local media reported. Three were injured during the rush to get off the train. At around 4:15 pm, police received a call reporting a person wielding a knife in a train compartment at Shinjuku station on the JR Yamanote line, local fire and police departments said. The man, who was subsequently taken into custody at a police station, claimed to be a cook who had just finished work and was heading home, according to multiple local media outlets.

SWEDEN

1 killed, 9 injured in roller coaster crash

One person was killed and nine injured, including children, in a roller coaster accident at the Grona Lund amusement park in the Swedish capital on Sunday, representatives of the park said. Eyewitnesses said the park's Jetline roller coaster had partly derailed during a ride, sending people crashing to the ground. Ambulances, fire trucks and a helicopter were seen arriving shortly after the accident, and police launched an investigation. Police said the nine injured were being treated in hospital, and that three had severe injuries.

Agencies - Xinhua