Indian Sub-continent

ISLAMABAD, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Monday's twin explosions in a police station in Pakistan's Swat district of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province rose to 17 on Tuesday, with at least 70 others injured, health and police officials said.

Confirming the casualties, KP Health Secretary Mahmood Aslam Wazir told Xinhua that the death toll increased after several injured succumbed to their injuries and more bodies were recovered from the debris of the police station building that collapsed following the powerful blasts.

New Delhi, Apr 24 (PTI) The coordination committee of all district court bar associations of Delhi said on Monday the issue of same-sex marriage being heard by the Supreme Court should instead be decided the legislature.

The apex court is hearing a clutch of petitions seeking legal sanction for marriage between homosexual couples.

In a resolution, the committee said the social ramifications of the ongoing proceedings before the SC are colossal and have the potential for an unintended impact on the social fabric.

United Nations, Apr 24 (PTI) India’s population is expected to reach 1.425 billion by end of this month, dethroning China as the world’s most populous nation, the UN said on Monday.

According to the forecast based on the latest United Nations estimates and projections of the global population, China's population could drop below one billion before the end of the century while India’s population is expected to continue growing for several decades.

Peshawar, Apr 24 (PTI) At least 10 people, including eight policemen, were killed and over 20 injured in a "suicide attack" at a police station in Pakistan's restive northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, authorities said.

The blast took place at the Kabal police station in Swat Valley.

The police station premises also has the Counter Terrorism Department and a mosque.

New Delhi, Apr 24 (PTI) The National Commission for Minorities on Monday sought a detailed report from Arunachal Pradesh chief secretary over the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee's contention that a historical site associated with Guru Nanak Dev in Mechuka has been converted into a Buddhist temple.

New Delhi, Apr 24 (PTI) A meeting of top opposition leaders of around 19 parties for forging a joint front against the BJP will be held after the Karnataka assembly elections, Congress sources said on Monday.

The leaders were to meet up by the end of April earlier. Sources said the meeting has been delayed because of the May 10 Karnataka assembly elections.

Prayagraj/Allahabad (UP), Apr 24 (PTI) Prayagraj deputy chief medical officer Dr Sunil Singh was found hanging from a ceiling fan of a hotel room here on Monday, police said. The 51-year-old was found hanging in a room of Hotel Vitthal, situated next to the Coffee House in the Civil Lines area here.

Ahmedabad, Apr 24 (PTI) The Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) will challenge before the Gujarat High Court the recent acquittal of all 67 accused in the 2002 Naroda Gam riot case by a special court, sources said. .

Patna, Apr 24 (PTI) The Patna High Court on Monday stayed the proceedings before a trial court here against former Congress president Rahul Gandhi in connection with his alleged slanderous remarks against those having "Modi" surname.

Justice Sandeep Kumar stayed the proceedings while hearing a petition of Gandhi, who has contended that since he has already been convicted in a similar case by a Gujarat court, he cannot be put on trial for the same offence again.

Dhaka, Apr 24 (PTI) Veteran politician Mohammed Shahabuddin was sworn in as the 22nd president of Bangladesh on Monday at a state ceremony attended by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her cabinet colleagues.

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury administered the oath to 73-year-old Shahabuddin at the historic Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban. Besides premier Hasina and family members of the new president, politicians, Supreme Court judges, and senior civil and military officials attended the event.