China blocks India’s UN request:

Subcontinent

China has blocked a request from India to add the head of the Pakistani militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad to a UN sanctions blacklist, UN diplomats said Friday.

India accuses Masood Azhar of involvement in an attack on the Pathankot air base in the northern state of Punjab in January.

Chinese Ambassador Liu Jieyi said that the request to add the militant leader to the UN Al-Qaeda/Islamic State sanctions list did not meet certain requirements, but did not elaborate.

“Any listing would have to meet the necessary requirements,” said Liu. “It is the responsibility of all members of the council to make sure that these requirements are followed.” UN diplomats said the request would be discussed by the sanctions committee on April 20 and that China would then provide an update on its decision to oppose the request. (AFP)

Rains kill 24 in Pakistan:

At least 24 people were killed and 17 injured after heavy rain across northwest Pakistan caused the roofs of dozens of homes to collapse, officials said Sunday.

About 40 houses were reported destroyed in different areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a provincial disaster management agency spokesman told AFP.

The deaths came during rain that started Saturday night. “The death toll from heavy rains has now risen to 24,” the spokesman said, adding reports were still awaited from several remote areas.

Poorly-built homes, particularly in rural areas, are most susceptible to collapse during heavy spring rain. (AFP)

Sri Lanka detains 14 foreigners:

Sri Lanka has detained 14 foreigners after seizing 110 kilograms of heroin worth $7.5 million from an Iranian fishing trawler in the country’s biggest drug bust for nearly three years, police said Sunday.