CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — Several of those killed or wounded in the shooting rampage at two New Zealand mosques on Friday were from the Middle East or South Asia, according to initial reports from several governments.

The live-streamed attack by an immigrant-hating white nationalist killed at least 49 people as they gathered for weekly prayers in Christchurch. Another 48 people suffered gunshot wounds in the attacks.

Beijing, Mar 15; PTI/GANASHAKTI: China's population above 60 years has touched 420 million and that of children over six years to 100 million, putting heavy pressure on nursing services and day care centres, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday.

After implementing the decades-old 'one-child policy', the world's most populous country China is facing demographic crisis with rapidly ageing population. It permitted to have the second child in 2016.

16 Mar 2019; DW: US carmaker Ford will shed 5,000 workers in Germany, it announced on Friday.

Ford hopes to save at least $500 million (€441 million) with the measures, according to a letter from executives to employees.

"This is part of a restructuring operation for Ford in Europe that was already announced in January with the goal of getting back being a profitable business," a spokesman said.

New Delhi, Mar 15 (PTI) The Supreme Court Friday agreed to hear the plea of 21 opposition leaders, led by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, seeking that VVPAT slips of at least 50 per cent of voting machines in each assembly constituency be checked randomly in the Lok Sabha elections.

The leaders from six national and 15 regional parties, claiming to represent 70-75 per cent of the population, have also sought the setting aside of the Election Commission of India (EC) guideline on random verification of one assembly seat.

New Delhi, Mar 15 (PTI) State-run telecom firm BSNL said Friday the pending February salaries of its 1.76 lakh employees have been cleared.

The company also announced the launch of various schemes to increase its market share and revenue.

The Indian envoy in New Zealand has said that nine persons from India have gone missing after an Australian based terrorist opened indiscriminate gunfire at two mosques in Christchurch on Friday, killing 49 people and injuring several others.

New Delhi, Mar 15 (PTI) AAP workers led by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, sat on a protest outside the Election Commission on Friday, alleging "politically motivated and illegal" raids were being conducted on a call centre hired by the party to make people aware that their names had been deleted from voters' lists.

After sitting for over three hours outside the Election Commission in protest, Sisodia and Lok Sabha candidates Atishi and Raghav Chadha were called by the Election Commission to hold a joint meeting with police officials.

Srinagar, Mar 16 (PTI) Former IAS officer Shah Faesal will launch his political outfit 'Jammu and Kashmir People's Movement' at a function in Rajbagh area of the city on Sunday.

He said the function will be held at Gindun Ground in Rajbagh.

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — Turkey’s president says authorities are investigating the movements and possible contacts in Turkey of the man suspected of attacking two mosques in New Zealand.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan also demanded that New Zealand ensure that the perpetrators of the attack be punished.

State broadcaster TRT says the suspect, Brenton Tarrant, visited Turkey twice in 2016 — on March 17-20 and Sept. 13 to Oct. 25. The station has released a security camera image of him arriving at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport.

Gangtok Mar 15 (PTI) The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) on Friday called off its nascent alliance with the BJP and decided to contest all assembly seats and the lone Lok Sabha seat in Sikkim.

"The SKM will field candidates on all 32 assembly seats and lone Lok Sabha seat in Sikkim," the SKM spokesperson Sonam Bhutia said.

16 Mar 2019; DW: The European Union, Canada and the United States slapped new sanctions on a number of Russian individuals and entities on Friday for their involvement in a naval standoff in the Kerch Strait in November 2018.

Kolkata, Mar 15; PTI/GANASHAKTI:  The Election Commission (EC) on Friday deployed seven companies of central para-military forces in as many districts of West Bengal, ahead of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections beginning April 11.

Three more companies will also move in by late this evening for their deployment in South 24-Parganas district and Kolkata, Additional Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Basu said.

The seven companies have been deployed in the districts of North Dinajpur, Malda, Murshidabad, Birbhum, East Midnapore, West Midnapore and North 24-Parganas.