An explosion hit the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul today, according to local media reports.

Heavy gunfire was followed after the explosion and according to media reports there were few reports of casualties.

The attack began in the evening when a large explosion occurred in front of the university on Darulaman Road. A number of gunmen then entered the university building and opened fire.

A probe ordered by the HRD ministry has revealed that Rohith Vemula was not a Dalit.

The findings, by judge AK Roopanwal, are in contradiction to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes's ruling that the research scholar who at the University of Hyderabad research scholar who committed suicide on 17 January, was a Dalit.

Hyderabad University Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao and Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, have been booked under the SC/ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act for abetting his suicide. The charges will not hold any ground if it is established that Vemula wasn't a Dalit.

A strong earthquake hit central Italy early on 24 August near the town of Norcia with Rieti being the epicentre.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey the magnitude of the quake was 6.2 and it struck the country at around 3.36 am (0136 GMT).

Tremors were felt at many places in the country including the capital city Rome, which is about 170 km from the epicentre. No casualties have been reported yet.

Late on 23 August, southern Thailand, already plagued by insurgency, was witness to a massive car bomb that exploded outside the premises of a hotel, resulting in the death of one person, and leaving several others injured, some critically.

According to AFP, the number of wounded is being estimated to be about 30. AFP has also reported that the junta military have 15 suspects are currently in military detention, according to junta claims.

Pattani, one of the three Muslim majority southern provinces of Thailand was struck by the terrorist attack shortly before midnight on Tuesday.

The US today refused to comment on the situation in Kashmir, in the grip of ceaseless violence for a-month-and-a-half, saying that matter has to be decided by the parties concerned.

Asked to comment on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks about atrocities in Pakistan's Balochistan, US Ambassador Richard Verma told The Quint. "I would let the Prime Minister's comment stand on its own," he said.

On the situation in Kashmir, he said,"About the increased tension in Kashmir in particular, it's our long-standing policy to leave the matter to be decided by the parties involved."