Indian-American is US envoy to Lanka, Maldives

Washington: President Barack Obama has nominated an Indian-American, a former official at its embassy in New Delhi, as the next US ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives. Obama announced the nomination of Atul Keshap, a career foreign service official, as the next US ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives along with Alaina Teplitz as the next ambassador to Nepal. PTI

Maldives jails ex-defence minister for 11 years
Male: A court in Maldives has sentenced a former defence minister to 11 years in prison for importing and possessing a firearm. A court in Male, the capital island of this Indian Ocean archipelago state, has passed the sentence against Mohamed Nazim. AP

25 injured in massive explosion in NYC building
New York: Two persons are still unaccounted for following a massive "gas-related" explosion that razed three buildings to the ground and left 25 injured, four of them critically, in New York City's Manhattan neighbourhood. PTI