57 killed as ISIS Suicide Bomber strikes at Kabul Election Centre
An Islamic State suicide bomber killed at least 57 people including women and children and wounded 112 outside a voter registration centre in the Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday in the latest attack on election preparations. The assaults underscore growing concerns about security in the lead-up to legislative elections scheduled for October 20, which are seen as a test-run for next year’s presidential poll. “It happened at the entrance gate of the centre. It was a suicide attack,” Dawood Amin, Kabul police chief, told AFP. Both the health and interior ministries confirmed the latest toll for the attack, which was claimed by the Islamic State group via its propaganda arm Amaq.
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Karnataka Election 2018: Congress names NA Harris, Siddaramaiah in the second list
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who earlier announced to contest the election from Chamundeshwari seat, will be contesting from Badami constituency as well. Siddaramaiah replaced Dr Devraj Patil, whose name was earlier announced to fight from the Badami constituency. The party has also fielded KP Chandrakala in place of HS Chandra Mouli, the alleged lawyer of Mehul Choksi, from Madikeri. Reacting to Siddaramaiah contesting from two seats, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said, “Siddaramaiah is contesting election from the two constituencies (Chamundeshwari and Badami) under directions by Party’s High Command.” Karnataka will go to polls on May 12 and the counting of votes will take place on May 15.
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Death for child-rapists: DCW chief Swati Maliwal ends 9-day fast
Swati Maliwal, chairperson of Delhi Commission for Women, ended her 9-day fast at Rajghat, New Delhi on Sunday after President Ram Nath Kovind approved death penalty for those convicted of raping children below 12 years. Calling it a "historic win", she said, "I was fighting alone but then I was supported by people across the country. I congratulate everyone on this victory." Maliwal went on an indefinite hunger strike after the ghastly Kathua gangrape-and-murder case sparked a nationwide outcry and appeals for stricter punishments for rapists.
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Sushma Swaraj meets Chinese Foreign Minister discusses Indo-China ties
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Saturday discussed a host of bilateral issues and ways to step up the pace of high-level interactions to improve the relationship. This was their first meeting after Wang was elevated as state councillor in March 2018 which makes him the top diplomat of the country in the Chinese hierarchy. He also continues to be the foreign minister. Swaraj arrived in Beijing on Saturday on a four-day visit to take part in the foreign ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
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Maharashtra: 16 Naxalites killed in Gadchiroli district
Sixteen Naxalites, including two senior members, were killed in an encounter with police in Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra on Sunday, media reported the police as saying. “Combing operations are still on,” Inspector General of Police Sharad Shelar told media correspondent. He told the media that two district-level “commanders” of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) were among those killed in the encounter. “This is the first time that two divisional committee members have been killed in one operation,” said Deputy Inspector General of Police (Gadchiroli range) Ankush Shinde.
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