Indian Sub-continent

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington appears set to become the first state to allow a burial alternative known as “natural organic reduction” — an accelerated decomposition process that turns bodies into soil within weeks.

The bill legalizing the process, sometimes referred to as “human composting,” has passed the Legislature and is headed to the desk of Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee.

COLOMBO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a string of explosions that rocked Sri Lanka on Sunday rose to 310 while over 500 were injured, the police said Tuesday.

Another minor explosion occurred in Kochchikade in the capital Colombo on Monday evening when the Bomb Disposal Squad was attempting to defuse an explosive device found in an abandoned vehicle, causing no injuries.

Police spokesperson Ruwan Gunasekara said so far 26 suspects have been arrested from across the country and search operations were ongoing to nab more suspects.

Kanpur: Addressing a public meeting at Halim College here on Monday, Nasimuddin Siddiqui said if the Muslims should unite the Bhartiya Janta Party would not be able  to win a seat at the Ward level. 

He was speaking in support of the party's candidate Sri Prakash Jaiswal contesting election from Kanpur seat. He cautioned the gathering about the SP-BSP alliance which had formed the govt previously with the support of the BJP. In such a case they would not bring any benefit to the Muslims. 

Exhorting the gathering he made it clear that this alliance was not reliable. 

22 Apr 2019; News.Lk: The Government Analyst’s Department has confirmed that the attack on the three churches and the hotels in Colombo had been carried out by suicide bombers.A total of eight explosions occurred across the country since last morning (21) in which 207 were killed and over 450 sustained injuries.

22 April 2019; News.Lk: INTERPOL is deploying a team tomorrow (23rd) to Sri Lanka to assist the national authorities investigating the series of bomb attacks at churches and hotels which left nearly 300 dead and some 500 injured.Checks are already being made against the Organization’s Stolen and Lost Travel Documents and nominal databases in order to identify potential investigative leads and international connections.

According to a report in Sri Lankan Daily Mirror news paper, the police today informed Colombo Chef Magistrate’s Court that the suicide bomber of the Shangri-La hotel had been identified as Insun Seelavan who owned a factory in Avissawella- Wellampitiya road.

Nine employees of the said factory were arrested by the Wellampitiya Police and were remanded till May 6 after being produced in the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court, reported Daily Mirror.

New Delhi, Apr 22 (PTI) The Supreme Court Monday refused to entertain a plea which alleged that people were being bribed on a massive scale for the Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said it was not inclined to hear the matter since the elections in the state were already over.

New Delhi, Apr 22 (PTI) The country's first Lokpal, the anti-corruption ombudsman, will work from a five-star luxury hotel in Delhi, officials said Monday.

The Lokpal chairperson, all of its eight members and support staff are being allocated space in the hotel premises, they said.

"The office of Lokpal will work from 'The Ashok' hotel in Chanakyapuri here," the officials said, adding that it would act as its temporary office.

President Ram Nath Kovind had on March 23 administered the oath of office to Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose as the chairperson of Lokpal.

Jaipur, Apr 22 (PTI) A Portuguese national died after his motorcycle was hit by a speeding bus in Rajasthan's Rajsamand district, police said Monday.

The incident took place on Sunday night near Barar village, they said.

Hitor Sada (30) was riding a bike when the bus driver lost control of the vehicle while taking a turn and hit the foreigner's vehicle, Labu Ram, in-charge, Bheem police station said.

New Delhi, Apr 22 (PTI) A lawyer made a sensational claim in the Supreme Court on Monday that there was a conspiracy a foot to make CJI Ranjan Gogoi resign by "framing him" in a false case of sexual harassment.