Asia Archives - Page 75 of 97

’36 Sarpanchs, 768 Panchs elected unopposed’: J&K State Election Commissioner

30Nov

By Joe RodriguezNo Comments

Asia

’36 Sarpanchs, 768 Panchs elected unopposed’: J&K State Election Commissioner

Jammu and Kashmir’s State Election Commissioner, KK Sharma has said that 36 Sarpanchs and 768 Panchs have been elected unopposed, mostly in Kashmir Valley.“368 Panch constituencies will go for by-elections tomorrow in J&K in which a total of 852 candidates are in the fray including 635 males and 217 females,” he said.None of the candidates in DDC has won unopposed, he said, when asked during a press conference in Jammu.Regarding Sarpanch by-polls being held in the first phase (November 28), he said: “279 candidates are contesting for 94 Sarpanch constituencies. Out of 279, there are 203 male and female 76.”He said that 57 lakh voters will participate in Panchayat elections in eight phases whereas 7 lakh voters will participate in the first phase of elections and around 2001 polling sta...

29Nov

By Joe RodriguezNo Comments

Asia, World

J&K: Snowfall unlocks Kashmir tourism

After witnessing a slump for more than seven months due to outbreak of Covid-19 in Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, there is a ray of hope for the valley’s ailing tourism sector as the fresh snowfall in higher reaches is attracting tourists once again.Gulmarg in Baramulla district, which recorded almost two feet of snowfall, has come to life as tourists have started thronging this popular ski-resort. On November 15, as many as 574 tourists arrived at the Srinagar International Airport from different cities, mostly Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai to spend their ongoing Diwali vacations here, officials said.As per J&K Tourism department officials, November 15’s tourist arrivals are the “highest single-day visitor arrivals to the Valley registered during the last seven ...

J&K launches relief drive for 1.45 lakh workers to tide over COVID crisis

29Nov

By Joe RodriguezNo Comments

Asia

J&K launches relief drive for 1.45 lakh workers to tide over COVID crisis

The Jammu and Kashmir government has registered 2.4 lakh building and other construction workers so that they can be provided social benefits amid the covid-19 pandemic.According to government sources, on the direction of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Rs 70 crore was disbursed among the registered workers as welfare measures in October this year.Besides, rules have been formulated and processes have been sped up under his direction and marriage assistance scheme has also been approved for the registered labourers.“The registered workers shall be eligible for marriage assistance of Rs 25,000 for his or her marriage and the marriage of his/her dependent daughter,” sources said.Around 1.45 lakh workers will be eligible to receive the benefits. The transport workers who have migrated to the...

Despite growing tensions, China buying computer chips from Taiwan firms

27Nov

By Walter ParezNo Comments

Asia, China, Market, World

Despite growing tensions, China buying computer chips from Taiwan firms

Despite growing tensions between Taiwan and China, Chinese technology companies have increased orders for computer chips or semiconductors made in Taiwan.According to media reports, Taiwan has reported a six per cent jump in export from July through September this year.Alicia Garcia Herrero, chief Asia-Pacific economist with the French investment bank Natixis said, “They (Chinese firms) know they’re not yet able to produce at least the highest-end semiconductors needed for 5G.”She added that Taiwan makes top-level semiconductors and is unlikely to give up as a leader in the field. Taiwan factories produce some of the world’s top computer chips. But during the past four years, it has pushed companies to depend less on the Chinese market.The two countries have been locked in a political disp...

Bangladeshis form human chain to protest against terrorism by Pakistan on 26/11 anniversary

27Nov

By Joe RodriguezNo Comments

Asia, USA

Bangladeshis form human chain to protest against terrorism by Pakistan on 26/11 anniversary

On the 12th anniversary of 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, an anti-terrorism organisation in Bangladesh on Thursday formed a human chain in protest against Pakistan’s role in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and the 2004 grenade attack in Dhaka.Participants in the human chain programme said terrorism would never be accepted on the soil of Bangladesh, adding that terrorism had no religion. Thousands of people participated in the human chain event in an effort to build a terrorism-free Bangladesh and protect human rights in the country.On November 26, 2008, ten terrorists trained by the Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) carried out a series of coordinated attacks against multiple targets in Mumbai including the Taj Mahal hotel, the Oberoi hotel, the Leopold Cafe, the Nariman ...

India, Nepal discuss boundary issue as Indian foreign secretary meets top leadership

26Nov

By Joe RodriguezNo Comments

Asia

India, Nepal discuss boundary issue as Indian foreign secretary meets top leadership

As Indian foreign secretary Harsh Shringla met Nepal’s top leadership on Thursday, both the countries discussed ways to handle the boundary issue, which had recently worsened bilateral ties, and bolster cooperation in key areas such as connectivity and infrastructure.On the first day of his two-day visit to Nepal, Shringla met Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali and foreign secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal.Ties between the two nations took a hit when Nepal issued a new political map in May that laid claim to the Kalapani region, which is controlled by India, after New Delhi opened a new road to the strategic Lipulekh region. India rejected the map but said it was open to discussing the matter through appropriate mechanisms.Sources familiar with developments sai...

7000 PIA employees to be laid off: Pak aviation minister

25Nov

By Joe RodriguezNo Comments

Asia, USA, World

7000 PIA employees to be laid off: Pak aviation minister

Pakistan’s Federal aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan on Tuesday announced that as many as 7,000 employees of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will be laid off voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS).As per media reports, Sarwar said while PIA requires only 7000 employees to operate, it employs over 14,000 currently due to the politically influenced recruitments in the past by ruling parties.He further said that out of 14,000 employees currently working, half of the staff will be let go through VSS. “They will be given compensation,” he added.This comes despite the Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) criticism of the Imran Khan government last week over its plan to sack thousands of employees of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Steel Mills and Railways and termed the decision ille...

Covid-19 lockdown: 221 people stranded in Pakistan return to India

25Nov

By Joe RodriguezNo Comments

Asia

Covid-19 lockdown: 221 people stranded in Pakistan return to India

A total of 221 people, who were stranded in Pakistan for almost eight months due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown returned to India on Monday."Out of the total passengers, 135 are NORI (No Obligation to Return to India) visa holders, 11 are Pakistan nationals and 75 Indians. These people were stranded due to the lockdown," an officer at the Attari border said.He added that a medical team from a local hospital would conduct COVID-19 test of all the people arriving in India.A returnee, who had gone to Pakistan to attend the last rights of her mother, said that she was unable to return home because of the lockdown."I had gone to Pakistan because my mother had passed away, but due to the lockdown, we could not return home. With great difficulty, after eight months, I have come back home," H...

Pi Jam launches programme to bring affordable digital education in J&K

24Nov

By Joe RodriguezNo Comments

Asia

Pi Jam launches programme to bring affordable digital education in J&K

The Pi Jam Foundation, a not-for-profit, award winning organization that aims to integrate affordable technology with education for school students, celebrated the launch of its program in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.Pi Jam has been tirelessly working in the field of digital education and literacy, even in remote areas and low-income schools to make the present generation future-ready and technologically competent.In Kashmir particularly, the role of organizations like Pi Jam becomes even more important as it lags behind other states of India in the fields of computer education and digital skills.The launch event was attended by more than 300 participants across Zoom and FB Live, with the diverse audience including academicians, lawyers, student scholars, IT professiona...

Stanford University enlists Kashmiri among top scientists

24Nov

By Joe RodriguezNo Comments

Asia, Singapore, USA

Stanford University enlists Kashmiri among top scientists

Bringing laurels to Kashmir, a young scientist, Dr Ahsanulhaq Qurashi has been enlisted in the top two percent scientists of 2020 by Stanford University.The list has been compiled on the basis of “multiple citation indicators and their composite across scientific disciplines.”Hailing from Karnah area of Kupwara district in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Qurashi was listed in energy discipline. His major research work is based on developing new materials for clean energy generation and storage, environment, and biomedical applications.Dr Qurashi completed his PhD in Nanotechnology, in 2008, from Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, South Korea and later completed his two-year post-doctoral fellowship from Toyama University, Toyama, Japan. He joined as an Assistant Profe...

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