News brief: Big stories of the day

The parliamentary board of theBJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA)unanimously elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi as leader of NDA coalitionat a meeting in Parliament's Central Hall in New Delhion Saturday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Saturday a US decision to deploy 1,500 additional troops to the Middle East is a "threat to international peace," state media reported.

At the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Saturday, party presidentRahul Gandhi offered to resignin the wake ofhumiliating defeatat the hands of the BJP in Lok Sabha elections. The proposal was, however, rejected but not without drama.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan warned against the risk of conflict in the region, following a visit to Islamabad by Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif as tensions between Washington and Tehran escalated.