Following are the top stories at 2000 hours

FGN61 LANKA-LDALL BLASTS 7 Lankan suicide bombers involved in Easter blasts; 24 arrested as toll rises to 290

Colombo: Seven suicide bombers believed to be members of an Islamist extremist group carried out a series of devastating blasts that tore through churches and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, killing 290 people in the country's worst terror attack, authorities said on Monday.

FGN51 US-SANCTIONS-2NDLD INDIA Trump decides not to grant waiver to India, 7 others importing Iranian oil

Washington: In a move that could have implications on India's energy security, US President Donald Trump on Monday decided not to grant sanctions exemptions to any oil customers of Iran, further squeezing Tehran's top export commodity. By Lalit K Jha

FGN54 LANKA-BLASTS-LD INDIANS 8 Indians killed in Easter blasts in Sri Lanka

Colombo: At least eight Indians are among the dead after a string of devastating suicide blasts struck churches and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka, killing 290 people on Easter Sunday, officials said on Monday.

FGN53 US-POMPEO-IRAN US will accelerate its pressure campaign on Iran until its leaders change their behaviour: Pompeo

Washington: The US will dramatically accelerate its pressure campaign on the Iranian regime until its leaders change their destructive behaviour, respect the rights of their people, and return to the negotiating table, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Monday. By Lalit K Jha

FGN52 UN-LANKA-BLASTS UN leaders strongly condemn Easter Sunday blasts in Sri Lanka

United Nations: The UN leadership strongly condemned the string of attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday that killed 290 people and injured more than 500 others, with the chief of the world body Antonio Guterres saying he was "outraged" by the devastating blastS. By Yoshita Singh

FGN48 LANKA-BLASTS-CHURCH-MONKS Lankan Buddhist monks visit bombed church; say 'we don't have any anger' against other religions

Colombo: A small group of monks in saffron robes visited the bombed St Anthony's Church here on Monday and said they dont have any anger or ill will towards anyone of any other religion in the Buddhist-majority nation.

FGN45 LANKA-BLASTS-COMPENSATION Sri Lanka announces compensation for bomb blast victims

Colombo: The Sri Lankan government on Monday announced that it will compensate the victims of the ghastly bomb blasts that hit churches and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka, killing over 290 people and injuring over 500 others during Easter celebrations, according to a media report.

FGN43 LANKA-BLASTS-BOMBER-FAMILY Wife, sister of Shangri La Hotel bomber killed in separate suicide blast: Lanka police

Colombo: The wife and sister of the suicide bomber at the Shangri La Hotel in Sri Lanka were also killed in a separate suicide blast after a bomber blew himself up causing the concrete floor of a two-storey building to crash on them in a suburb in northern Colombo, police told a court here on Monday.

FGN57 JAPAN-GHOSN-5THLD CHARGE Ghosn hit with fresh charge in Japan, files for bail

Tokyo: Japanese authorities on Monday hit Carlos Ghosn with a fresh charge of aggravated breach of trust, the fourth indictment against the former Nissan boss who promptly filed for bail. (AFP)

FGN44 PHILIPPINES-QUAKE-TOLL Five dead as buildings collapse in Philippine quake: Official

Manila: Five people were killed when at least two buildings collapsed as a strong earthquake rocked the northern Philippines, a local official said. (AFP)

CHINA-INDIA-LD GOKHALE India, China should be sensitive to each other’s concerns, Gokhale tells Chinese foreign minister

Beijing: Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale on Monday held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi here and reviewed the progress of bilateral ties post Wuhan summit, emphasising that both countries should be sensitive to each other's concerns. By K J M Varma MRJ