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MOSCOW (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon voiced concern on Sunday over North Korea's launch of short-range missiles, urging Pyonyang to refrain from further launches and return to stalled nuclear talks with world powers. Ban, who spoke to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti during a visit to Moscow, called North Korea's launch of three short-range missiles from its east coast on Saturday a "provocative action". "We are very worried over North Korea's provocative action," he told RIA in comments translated into Russian. ...

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iranian authorities executed two men on Sunday convicted of working for Israeli and U.S. spy agencies, Iran's Fars news agency reported. Mohammad Heidari, accused of passing security-related information and secrets to Israeli Mossad agents in exchange for money, and Kourosh Ahmadi, accused of gathering information for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, were hanged at dawn, it said. The sentence for their execution was handed down by Tehran's Revolutionary Court and confirmed by the country's Supreme Court. ...

By Katharine Houreld and Syed Raza Hassan ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - An upmarket constituency of Pakistan's violence-plagued city of Karachi voted again under tight security on Sunday, a day after gunmen killed a senior politician from a reformist party in the district and a week after general elections. It was not immediately clear who killed Zara Shahid Hussain, a leading member of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) party of former cricket star Imran Khan. Imran blamed the killing on the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) party, which has a stranglehold on the city. ...

By Tabassum Zakaria and David Alexander WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Under pressure to fight sexual assault, the U.S. armed forces in recent years rolled out education programs about proper sexual conduct through methods like role playing and video games. The increase in education has nevertheless failed to prevent what the nation's top general called last week "a crisis" after the Pentagon reported a 37 percent jump in the estimated number of sexual assault cases in 2012. ...

MILAN (Reuters) - Qatar Holding and an Italian state-controlled investment fund are interested in investing in Italian fashion house Versace, Il Sole 24 Ore said on Saturday. The Qatar sovereign fund is "carefully looking at" Versace, the Italian daily said, citing financial sources. The paper cited market rumours as saying the fund was flanked by FSI, the Italian strategic investment fund owned by state financing company Cassa Depositi e Prestiti. In November, Qatar Holding signed a joint venture agreement with FSI to invest in Italian companies in sectors including food, fashion and luxury. ...

By Karen Brooks and Steve Gorman REUTERS - A single winning ticket for a record U.S. Powerball lottery jackpot worth $590.5 million was sold in Florida, organizers said late on Saturday, but there was no immediate word about who won or where in the state the ticket was bought. The winning numbers from Saturday night's drawing were: 10, 13, 14, 22 and 52, with a Powerball number of 11, and the odds of winning were put at one in 175 million. The grand prize, accumulated after two months of drawings, surpassed the previous record Powerball payoff of $587. ...

By Kate Holton LONDON (Reuters) - After months of speculation, Vodafone's Vittorio Colao will be under pressure next week to set out whether he may sell its prized stake in Verizon Wireless in what would be one of the biggest deals ever. Chief executive for five years, Colao has said only that he has an "open mind" on Vodafone's 45-percent stake in the U.S. operator, whose majority owner, Verizon Communications , is interested in buying out the British company's share. ...

REUTERS - Australia opening batsman David Warner will face a disciplinary hearing for his Twitter outburst against two senior Australian cricket journalists, the country's cricket board said on Sunday. The flamboyant left-handed batsman criticised News Limited journalists Robert Craddock and Malcolm Conn in an expletive-filled tirade, which grabbed headlines in Australia. The 26-year-old has been charged with breaking the code of behaviour which pertains to "unbecoming behaviour, regarding comments posted on his Twitter account," Cricket Australia said in a statement. ...

By Susan Cornwell WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When the Yemen-based branch of al Qaeda placed a bounty on her husband's head, Mary Feierstein learned of it from a friend who called and said, "You must be a mess!" U.S. Ambassador Gerald Feierstein was thousands of miles (km) away at the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, without his wife and family on what is called an "unaccompanied" posting. He is one of more than a thousand U.S. diplomats on such tours of duty in danger spots around the world, part of a trend that is changing the definition of being a diplomat. ...

By Li Hui and Maxim Duncan QIANTUN, China (Reuters) - Two years short of 70, Zhang Guosheng spends his days caring for an 81-year-old fellow villager - washing his clothes, bringing meals to his bed, and keeping him company - a routine he'll keep up until he himself needs the type of care he is now giving. "Living here is better than staying at home alone. We help each other and have a common language," said the spritely Zhang, an enthusiastic dancer. "We are very happy here. ...

By Satarupa Bhattacharjya and Ross Colvin NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The Congress party is debating holding a general election in November, six months ahead of schedule, senior party leaders said, reflecting an internal discussion over whether to pull the plug on the shaky ruling coalition or have it serve a full term. Officially, the Congress party says the government - which has been battered by a series of corruption scandals and now governs as a minority after two allies withdrew from the ruling coalition - will limp on until elections are due in May 2014. ...

By Ed Osmond LONDON (Reuters) - Paceman Tim Southee claimed three late wickets as New Zealand reduced England to 180 for six on a dramatic third day of the first test at Lord's on Saturday. A patient third-wicket partnership of 123 between Joe Root and Jonathan Trott looked to have put the home team in control but the Kiwis grabbed four wickets for 12 runs in the final session to give themselves a scent of victory. England, who earlier in the day bowled the tourists out for 207 in their first innings, lead by 205 runs with two days remaining. ...

By Julien Pretot PARIS (Reuters) - Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice while David Beckham produced an emotional Parc des Princes farewell as Ligue 1 champions Paris St Germain beat bottom club Stade Brest 3-1 on a memorable night on Saturday. Sweden striker Ibrahimovic took his league tally this season to 29 goals, a personal best. Former France forward Jean-Pierre Papin was the last player to hit 30 Ligue 1 goals in a season, for Olympique Marseille in 1989-90. ...

Los Angeles, May 19 (IANS) Pop singer Miley Cyrus has become the victim of swatting for the second time.

Chennai, May 19 (IANS) Choreographer-director Farah Khan is so impressed with the screen presence of Tamil actor Dhanush, who is making his Bollywood debut with Hindi romantic drama "Raanjhanaa", that she calls him "screen friendly".

Mumbai, May 19 (IANS) If given an opportunity, small screen actress Srishty Rode would love to play Anandi in popular show "Balika Vadhu".

New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) Indian mobile telephone companies have come a long way and no longer perceive lowering prices and increasing subscribers as tools for survival. To ensure their sustenance, telecom players in India are slowly hiking call rates and doing away with promotional offers.

Chennai, May 19 (IANS) Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president N. Srinivasan Sunday announced that all player-agents will henceforth be accredited in the IPL and ICC anti-corruption officials will be travelling with each team along with a security officer.

Islamabad, May 19 (IANS) The death toll in an avalanche in the Siachen glacier region last year has risen to 128, following the recovery of three more bodies, the Pakistani military said.

Islamabad, May 19 (IANS) A one-man inquiry tribunal comprising Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi of Lahore High Court may visit India to complete the judicial inquiry into the death of Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh, a media report said.

New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) Among things Indian that Bollywood actresses Vidya Balan and Sonam Kapoor flaunted at the ongoing 66th Cannes International Film Festival, their bespoke nose rings, the traditional 'nath', drew immense attention. Designers believe this could set a trend of sorts among youth.

Gaza, May 19 (IANS) Fouad Yahya, a resident of the Gaza Strip, had never expected that one day a fish will help treat his skin disease, a therapy that he learnt about via the internet.

New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) Libya's new government, formed in 2011 after four decades of Muammar Gaddafi's dictatorial rule, is keen to take India's help in the drafting of a constitution and economic rebuilding, the Libyan envoy here has said.

Mumbai, May 19 (IANS) Actor-director Sachin Pilgaonkar's forthcoming Marathi movie "Ekulti Ek", which marks his golden jubilee in showbiz, will be simultaneously premiered in five theatres in five cities in Maharashtra.

Islamabad, May 19 (IANS) A man was lynched to death and two others, including an alleged prostitute, were injured after they were caught in an "objectionable" condition in a house near the Pakistani capital, a media report said Sunday.

Los Angeles, May 19 (IANS) Actors Charlie Sheen apparently feels that it's a good idea to let his sons stay in the custody of Denise Richards, while their mother Brook Mueller is in rehab.