Gallantry awards for Peshawar school victims

Islamabad: Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday recommended conferring gallantry awards posthumously on those killed in the Peshawar carnage to pay homage to the 150 departed souls. "The PM advised the President of Pakistan to approve conferment of Sitara-e-Shujaat (Posthumous) and Tamgha-e- Shujaat (Posthumous) on the martyred teachers and students and staff of Army Public School, respectively". PTI

North Korea warns US of nuke threat
Geneva: North Korea on Tuesday warned that it had the capability to launch a preemptive nuclear strike against the US, "if necessary", following joint US-South Korea military drills earlier this week. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su Yong said, "Now the DPRK  has the capability to deter the US and conduct a preemptive strike as well, if necessary". AFP

20 killed as bus falls off cliff in China 
Beijing: At least 20 members of an opera troupe were on Tuesday killed and 13 others injured when their speeding bus fell off a cliff in central China as they were on their way to stage a performance. The bus carrying 33 staff members of a privately-owned opera troupe from Xingyang City. PTI