HOLLYWOOD actor and director Mel Gibson has been charged with drinkdriving after being arrested in California.

The Oscar-winner was stopped while speeding on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, early on Friday, a police spokesman said.

Gibson reportedly failed a breath test. He was charged on suspicion of driving under the influence and freed on bail.

A sheriff 's department spokesman confirmed Gibson's arrest.

New deadline for Iran on uranium enrichment

THE five permanent members of the UN Security Council have agreed on a draft resolution giving Iran until 31 August to suspend uranium enrichment.

The draft was circulated to all 15 members of the Council and could be voted on as early as tomorrow.

The US envoy to the UN, John Bolton, said the Council would consider sanctions if Iran missed the deadline.

But Russian envoy Vitaly Churkin stressed that the draft resolution did not contain the threat of sanctions.

Mr Churkin said it would encourage Iran to resume dialogue.

The draft does not mention sanctions but is a clear signal to Iran that it is facing its last best chance to gain international approval for its nuclear ambitions.

Two Baghdad mosques sprayed with gunfire

GUNMEN have opened fire on two Sunni mosques in western Baghdad, according to police.

Armed men in two cars sprayed gunfire at the Muhammad Rassulluallah mosque shattering windows and damaging walls.

An hour later gunmen stormed the nearby Ashra al-Mubashara mosque, fleeing when police arrived, say officials.

Earlier, the US military confirmed three of their marines died in clashes with insurgents on Thursday in the western province of Anbar.

The US military said they died in clashes in what is a known Sunnidominated troublespot.

California death toll is blamed on heatwave

THE heatwave that has been baking California since mid-July is being blamed for more than 130 deaths across the state, the authorities have said.

Many of the deaths have been in the Central Valley, where temperatures have reached 46C (115F) in some areas.

Among the worst-hit is Fresno, where the local mortuary is struggling to deal with dozens of bodies.

The heat has also hit the agriculture sector, killing 25,000 cattle and 700,000 poultry, farmers said.