NEW DELHI -- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said on Friday that it successfully completed the static test of a human-rated solid rocket booster (HS200) for the Gaganyaan spacecraft program.

The test was conducted at Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC) in Sriharikota, off the Bay of Bengal coast located in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. (India-Rocket Booster-Test)

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KATHMANDU -- Local elections were held on Friday in Nepal largely peacefully, despite clashes and tension at some polling stations.

More than 17 million voters were eligible to cast their votes in the polls held to elect 35,221 representatives to 753 local units from some 145,000 candidates. (Nepal-Local Elections)

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KABUL -- At least three worshippers were wounded when an explosion ripped through a mosque in Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Friday, the capital police confirmed.

The blast occurred at a mosque in Police District 5 when worshippers were holding Friday prayers at midday, Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran wrote on social media. (Afghanistan-Mosque-Blast)

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COLOMBO -- Sri Lanka will continue promoting friendly cooperation with China, newly appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Friday.

During a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong, Wickremesinghe thanked China for extending assistance to Sri Lanka during the difficult times, saying that the new Sri Lankan government will promote the Belt and Road construction, and accelerate the development of the Colombo Port City, Hambantota Port and other major cooperation projects. (Sri Lanka-China-Cooperation)