Indian Sub-continent

NEW DELHI, Apr 17 (NNN-PTI) – India’s COVID-19 tally rose to 43,042,097 today, as 1,150 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours across the country, showed the federal health ministry’s latest data.

Besides, four deaths due to the pandemic since yesterday morning, took the death toll to 521,751.

There are still 11,558 active COVID-19 cases in the country, with a rise of 192 active cases during the past 24 hours. This was the fourth consecutive day, after a gap of 78 days, when the number of active cases rose in the country.

ISLAMABAD, April 17 (Reuters) - Pakistan said on Sunday said incidents of its security forces being targeted in cross-border attacks from Afghanistan had risen significantly, and called on Taliban authorities to act against militants, a day after purported air strikes by Pakistan.

The incident has increased already simmering tensions between the neighbours.

ISLAMABAD, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Raja Pervaiz Ashraf took oath on Saturday as the 22nd speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly, or the lower house of the country's parliament.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, who chaired the National Assembly session, administered the oath of office to Ashraf, a former prime minister of Pakistan and prominent lawmaker of the Pakistan Peoples Party, the National Assembly said in a tweet.

The newly-elected speaker was the lone contender for the speaker's position as no other candidate had submitted nomination papers against him.

NEW DELHI (AP) — Police in India’s capital have arrested 14 people after communal violence broke out during a Hindu religious procession, leaving several injured, local media reported Sunday.

The suspects were arrested on charges of rioting and criminal conspiracy, among others, following the incident on Saturday night, said senior police officer Usha Rangnani, according to the Press Trust of India news agency.

At least nine people, including eight police officers, were injured and were being treated in hospitals, Rangnani said.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lankans protesting for days near the president’s office criticized a lack of progress in finding those responsible for the deaths of more than 260 people in Islamic State-inspired bombings on Easter Sunday three years ago, piling pressure on the government already embroiled in a deep economic crisis.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan fired off a sharp warning Sunday to Afghanistan’s hard-line religious rulers to stop sheltering homegrown Pakistani Taliban militants who have staged increasingly deadly attacks against the country’s military.

The warning followed Afghan reports that Pakistani aircraft late Friday carried out bombing raids in Afghanistan’s eastern Khost and Kunar provinces, killing civilians.

Kolhapur, Apr 16 (PTI) In a boost for the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) combine in Maharashtra, Congress on Saturday won the byelection to the Kolhapur North Assembly constituency, retaining the seat by defeating the BJP by over 19,000 votes.

Congress is a prominent member of the MVA coalition along with the NCP and Shiv Sena.

Congress-MVA candidate Jayashri Jadhav bagged 97,332 votes while the BJP's Satyajeet Kadam polled 78,025 votes.

Kanpur: Actor Varun Dhawan recently left his fandom rejoiced after officially announcing his next film, 'Bawaal' opposite Janhvi Kapoor.

The Student of the Year star is shooting here. His photos and videos were leaked on social media.

Riding a Royal Enfield, he can be seen taking over the streets of the city in the videos and photos circulating over the internet.

Donning a blue shirt that is matched with formal trousers, Varun Dhawan rides his bike as the camera pans towards him.

ISLAMABAD, April 16 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammad Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud Saturday agreed to work together to further augment and diversify their bilateral ties in all spheres, in particular trade, investment and employment generation opportunities.

NEW DELHI, April 16 (Reuters) - Clashes broke out during a Hindu religious procession in the Indian capital New Delhi on Saturday, injuring several people, including policemen, police said, days after similar religious violence in three states.

Eyewitnesses told Reuters that the violence erupted between Muslims and Hindus during the procession in Jahangirpuri, a suburb of New Delhi. Police said they were still investigating.