Indian Sub-continent

KABUL, April 30 (Reuters) - A bomb blast in a passenger van in Kabul on Saturday killed at least one person, officials said, in the second explosion in the Afghan capital in two days, as security concerns rise on the eve of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr.

"One woman was killed and three more injured," Khalid Zadran, a spokesman for Kabul's commander, told Reuters.

A day earlier, an explosion killed more than 50 worshippers after Friday prayers at a Kabul mosque amid a spate of mosque attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. 

New Delhi, Apr 30 (PTI) Gen Manoj Pande took charge as the 29th Chief of the Army Staff on Saturday after incumbent Gen MM Naravane retired from service.

Gen Pande, who was serving as the vice chief, became the first officer from the Corps of Engineers to helm the force.

Before taking charge as vice chief of the Army on February 1, Gen Pande was heading the Eastern Army Command, tasked with guarding the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh sectors.

Dibrugarh (Assam), Apr 30 (PTI) An ambulance service for sick and injured cows was inaugurated in Assam's Dibrugarh district.

The service, to be run by Gopal Gaushala, was inaugurated by Dibrugarh Deputy Commissioner Biswajit Pegu on Friday.

The 'gaushala' or chow shelter had also set up a hospital for cows here in 2020.

Mumbai, Apr 30 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday accused the BJP of conspiring to divide Hindus in the state.

Thackeray made the comments during his online address to Shiv Sena's district chiefs from Konkan region, and from western and north Maharashtra, according to the points shared by the party from his speech.

Without naming the BJP, Thackeray alleged that it was trying to paint Maharashtra as "anti-Hindu" as it allegedly did in the cases of West Bengal and Kerala - both non-BJP ruled states.

Kanpur: The weather reports said that there has been no rain in the district since February.

In the previous years, usually, the pre-monsoon activities began with a surge in heat. Light rain at an interval of a few days brought a feeling of relief.

The month of March was considered the hottest in the last 121 years.

Now the month of April has also been untouched by monsoon activities.

Kanpur: This city has unique example of ecclesiastical decency.Tatmill chowk, in the heart of the city, presents a spectacle of a Hanuman temple and a mosque that share a common entry door.

Aarti and azaan take place with the cooperation of the two communities.

When the state government issued orders for the removal of loudspeakers from mosques, the orders were followed here with mutual understanding.

Devotees who came to offer namaaz say it is a good move and that they have no problems with it.

COLOMBO, Apr 29 (NNN-XINHUA) – Domestic debt in the form of government securities and development bonds will not be restructured, as restructuring external debt is a top priority for Sri Lanka, said the central bank governor yesterday.

Addressing a meeting of the Committee of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, central bank governor, Nandalal Weerasinghe, also provided an update on the progress made during the recent discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A powerful explosion ripped through a mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Friday, killing at least 10 people and wounding 20, a Taliban spokesman said.

Hundreds of worshippers had gathered for prayers on the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramdan and the Khalifa Aga Gul Jan Mosque was packed, said local residents, fearing the casualty toll could rise further.

New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI) The current geopolitical situation necessitates the Indian Air Force to prepare for "intense and small duration" operations as well as "short swift wars and long-drawn" standoffs akin to the situation in eastern Ladakh, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari said on Thursday.

Chennai, Apr 28 (PTI) The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday passed a Bill to establish a Siddha Medical University in the state, of which Chief Minister M K Stalin will be Chancellor.

In his capacity as Chancellor of the varsity, the Chief Minister will appoint the Vice Chancellor from a list of three names shortlisted by the search committee. Health and Family Welfare Minister will be the Pro-Chancellor, as per the Tamil Nadu Siddha Medical University Act, 2022.