Ausa (Maha), Apr 9 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday stepped up his attack on the Congress, saying had its leaders acted wisely, Pakistan would not have been created.

Addressing a poll rally here, Modi also appeared to be treading sensitive ground, by asking first-time voters to dedicate their vote to those who carried out the air strike in Balakot.

"Can your first vote be dedicated to those who carried out the air strike," Modi said, appealing to first-time voters.

Jammu, Apr 8 (PTI) A 15-year-old girl was allegedly gang raped after being kidnapped by a driver-conductor duo in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Monday.

The main accused in the case was arrested and further investigation is on, a police official said.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has named a sitting Supreme Court justice to head New Zealand’s top level investigation into the actions of security agencies and other issues related to the mosque shootings last month.

The Royal Commission of Inquiry will look into the gunman’s activities before the attack, including how he obtained a gun license in New Zealand and purchased weapons and ammunition, and his use of social media and possible connections with others in New Zealand or overseas.

NEW YORK, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The Committee of 100 (C100), a prominent Chinese American organization, on Sunday condemned the growing racial profiling against Chinese Americans in the United States.

The C100 members are compelled to stand up and speak out against the "increasingly common" racial profiling in the country, where "Chinese Americans are being targeted as potential traitors, spies, and agents of foreign influence," said a statement issued by the organization.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is quieting critics who questioned whether he could recapture the energy of his upstart 2016 campaign, surpassing his rivals in early fundraising and establishing himself as an indisputable front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Less than two months into his second White House bid , no other declared candidate in the crowded Democratic field currently has amassed so many advantages: a $28 million war chest, a loyal and enthusiastic voter base and a set of clearly defined policy objectives.

ISTANBUL, April 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President Mike Pence's suggestion that Turkey would need to leave NATO if it buys Russian S-400 air defense system is no more than a bluff, but Washington would economically pressure Ankara to drop the deal, analysts told Xinhua.

"Pence's remark is just a big bluff," said Hasan Koni, an analyst on international relations with Istanbul Culture University. He drew attention to NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg's divergent view on the issue.

7 Apr 2019; AFP: The main challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel's elections on Sunday condemned the premier's deeply controversial pledge to annex West Bank settlements, calling it an "irresponsible" bid for votes.

Netanyahu said late Saturday he planned to apply sovereignty over at least parts of the occupied West Bank, a move that could prove the death knell for the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

ISLAMABAD, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs here on Sunday summoned Indian deputy high commissioner and warned India over its alleged plans to carry out some military action against Pakistan in the coming days, an official said.

Spokesperson of the ministry Mohammad Faisal told local Urdu TV Channel Dawn News that the foreign ministry handed a demarche to the deputy high commissioner to convey Islamabad's protest and objections.

AMMAN, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Li Chengwen, ambassador for China-Arab States Cooperation Forum Affairs of China's Foreign Ministry, refuted on Sunday the criticism that China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) will create so-called "debt trap" for some participating countries.

"China is trying to find mechanisms to avoid the 'debt trap,'" Li said during a session on the second day of the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa 2019 held in the Dead Sea area of Jordan.

AMMAN, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Participants in the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) 2019 concluded on Sunday, calling on stakeholders to increase collaboration on social, economic and climate issues to address regional challenges.

"Building new platforms of collaboration is about providing space for people to think through the economic and social model, the environment and humanitarian emergencies in a multistakeholder way," said Mirek Dusek, head of MENA region of the World Economic Forum.

JAKARTA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad have inked a joint letter of refusal to the European Union over its plan to bar crude palm oil (CPO) from being used in raw materials for bio-fuel, a senior minister disclosed here on Monday.

7 Apr 2019; AFP: Turkey on Sunday condemned what it called Benjamin Netanyahu's "irresponsible" remarks after the Israeli leader said he planned to annex settlements in the occupied West Bank if he wins upcoming elections.

"West Bank is Palestinian territory occupied by Israel in violation of int’l law," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Twitter.