The leader of Saudi Arabia, King Salman, held rare talks with Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal, the firsttime in four years the Saudi monarchy acknowledged talks with the Palestinian group.

Mr Meshaal, who was on pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, "praised the positive stance of the kingdom's leadership towards the Palestinian cause", Saudi Arabia's SPA state news agency reported.

The Hamas chief currently lives in exile in Qatar, after he left his previous base in Damascus, when Hamas decided to support rebels against Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

The US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, briefed the 15 member Security Council on a draft resolution, diplomats said under conditions of anonymity.

Close to one thousand people gathered in Budapest on Tuesday to protest against an anti-migrant fence, currently being built by Hungary, along its border with Serbia. The fence is aimed at preventing increasing numbers of migrants, most of whom are refugees, from entering Hungary from the south. Around 80,000 migrants and refugees have reached the country so far this year.

Iran and six world powers reached a deal on Tuesday, with an agreement that concluded over a decade of negotiation over the nation's nuclear programme.

At least eight police officers were injured during the annual Orange Order march by protestants in Belfast, after loyalists were stopped from passing a Catholic estate.

PSNI officers were pelted with bottles and other missiles, in response to which a water cannon and plastic bullets were deployed.

The joint report compiled by the Office of the UN High commissioner for human Rights (OHCHR) and UN Assistance mission for Iraq (UNAMI) noted that the situation facing civilians remained dire.

Israel has released a Palestinian Islamic leader following a deal that saw him end a 56 day hunger strike, reports Reuters.

Khader Adnan’s hunger strike had sparked fears that his death could unravel the truce between Gaza and Israel leading to further violence.