ISLAMABAD (AP) — The International Monetary Fund said Sunday it reached a preliminary agreement with Pakistan for a $6 billion bailout over the next three years to finance sweeping economic reforms.

Pakistan and the international lender reached a “staff level agreement” subject to approval by the IMF management and the executive board, IMF envoy Ernesto Ramirez Rigo said in a statement.

Lucknow, May 12 (PTI) Over 54 per cent polling was reported till 6 pm in 14 Lok Sabha constituencies of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, an official said...

"In Azamgarh, a presiding officer was removed following complaints by SP workers, and a report has been sought from the district magistrate," state Chief Electoral Officer L Venkateshwarlu said.

The officer said there were complaints about electronic voting machines (EVMs) and VVPAT devices, and the machines were replaced.

OTTAWA, May 12 (Xinhua): Two Canadian women who were jailed in self-declared republic Somaliland for two months after being accused of drinking alcohol arrived in Toronto on Sunday morning, according to CBC.

The two women were arrested in the city of Hargeisa after being accused of consuming alcohol, which is illegal in Somaliland, a breakaway region in northern Somalia.

According to their lawyer, the pair signed confessions "under duress," hoping to avoid being detained. They were sentenced to two and a half months in jail and 40 lashes.

MOSCOW, May 13. /TASS/. The process to identify the remains of 41 people killed in the crash of Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft may take nearly a month, a medical source told TASS on Monday.

"At the moment, the procedure of taking DNA samples from the relatives of all those killed has been completed. The process to analyze the samples is beginning. The procedure will take nearly a month," the source said.

WELLINGTON, May 13 (Xinhua): New Zealand dairy company Fonterra has sold its ice cream company Tip Top for 380 million New Zealand dollars to British dairy giant Froneri.

Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell confirmed the sale, saying it was a bittersweet moment for Fonterra. "Fonterra received a number of quality bids for Tip Top, we have secured a good price for our farmers and unit holders," Hurrell said.

It is understood that Fonterra had signed an agreement with the new owner to supply milk which ensured Fonterra farmers would continue to contribute to Tip Top.

UNITED NATIONS, May 12 (APP): The United Nations Sunday condemned the terrorists attack targeting a five-star hotel in the port city of Gwadar.

“We deplore all such attacks and reiterate that there can be no justification for terrorist acts,” Farhan Haq, UN deputy spokesman, said in a statement.

Three heavily-armed militants on Saturday stormed the Pearl Continental (PC) Hotel in Gwadar and opened random firing, killing a guard, before all the attackers were killed by the security forces.

New Delhi, May 12 (PTI) The Election Commission on Sunday appointed 2008 batch IAS officer Mukta Arya as the new District Magistrate and District Election Officer for Bankura in West Bengal, removing Uma Shankar from the post.

The transfer followed complaints against DM-cum-DEO Shankar after a clash between TMC and BJP workers on Sunday.

Arya has been asked to join her new assignment immediately, as per an order of the Election Commission.

"The new officer should join before commencement of scrutiny tomorrow," the EC order said.

MOSCOW, May 13. /TASS/: Police have detained a teenager, who has threatened a teacher at a school with a knife in Kazan, the capital of the Tatarstan Republic, the Interior Ministry told TASS on Monday.

"A pupil from one of the classes came to gymnasium number 7 and started threatening a teacher with a knife. Police were called at the scene. The officers quickly arrived at the site and detained the boy," the ministry’s press service said.

Colombo, May 13 (PTI) The Sri Lankan government Monday blocked social media following rising tensions between the minority Muslims and majority Sinhalese in the wake of the Easter Sunday bombings which killed nearly 260 people.

The blockade comes a day after Sri Lankan police imposed curfew in the country's western coastal town of Chilaw where a mob attacked a mosque and some shops owned by Muslims in a dispute that started on a Facebook post by a Muslim shop owner.

Kanpur: Head-on collision between truck and Bolero caused death of two and six seriously injured near Afsaria village under Sikandra Police station here on Monday morning. Speeding truck collided with the Bolero stuffed with the people returning from a marriage party. The collision was so fierce as the jeep's body flew into the air. 

This accident halted the traffic on the road. On reaching the spot the police anyhow managed to clear the jam after a little later. 

ULAN BATOR, May 12 (Xinhua): A heavy snowstorm had swept through southern Mongolian province of Umnugovi since Saturday, killing at least four people, the provincial government said on Sunday evening.

"Rescuers of the province's emergency management department have found alive 37 of the 41 herders who lost in the snowstorm. Unfortunately, remaining four people, including two members of a family from Tsogttsetsii soum of the province froze to death during the snowstorm on Saturday night," the provincial government said in a statement.

Hyderabad, May 13 (PTI) Young leg-spinner Rahul Chahar earned lavish praise from none other than the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who termed him a "fabulous" talent, an opinion echoed by team's chief coach Mahela Jayawardene.

Chahar bowled an astounding 13 dot balls finishing with superb figures of 1 for 14 in 4 overs, bringing Mumbai Indians back in the match.