Asia

Kashmir University scientists develop hybrid tomato that grow in winter
11Sep By Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

Kashmir University scientists develop hybrid tomato that grow in winter

The students and scientists of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology (SKUAST) in India’s Jammu and Kashmir are in the process of experimenting with imported tomato seed varieties to develop a hybrid that will grow during the winter months as local varieties are not cold-resistant and do not grow during winters in the valley."Our professor wanted us to make our own hybrid of different fruits and vegetables. Germplasm was ordered from the United States, Bulgaria, Peru, Germany, and Poland. We already had some local material that we had been experimenting with for a while, so we brought the two together to see what we could create," said Dr Rizwan Rashid, assistant professor and scientist at SKUAST."We hope that our experiments will soon produce good results ...
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Imported seed varieties to soar tomato production in India’s Kashmir
9Sep By Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, USA

Imported seed varieties to soar tomato production in India’s Kashmir

With an aim to boost the production of tomatoes in the Kashmir valley, scientists of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology (SKUAST) have imported seeds from different countries."Currently, 122 varieties of tomatoes brought from the USA, Germany Poland, Peru, Bulgaria and different states of India also are available in the high-tech Polly houses of the university where scientists are doing different experiments in the shape of exchange the plasma for better results," said Dr Rizwan Rashid, Assistant Professor-cum scientist at SKUAST.Rashid said that these tomato plants are different from the local varieties and are growing fast with a large number of other crops. He further said that they get funding from the Centre's Indian Council of Agricultural Research and...
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Illegal activities of Nepal PM’s IT consultant get government amnesty: Report
6Sep By Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

Illegal activities of Nepal PM’s IT consultant get government amnesty: Report

A recent report has revealed that Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's IT consultant, Asgar Ali has been involved in “illegal business” ranging from collecting information illegally to hacking news portals.A report by news portal Kharbarhub.com, citing security sources, said, "Ali's company has used the same server and the same IP from the PM's office to banks and other organizations while grabbing most of the IT contracts of the government.”The report further stated that most of Ali's companies are involved in the contract of more than Rs 20 billion besides involvement in illegal transactions with alien forces, mainly China, to capture the digital domain."Ali, most likely, has some connection with the Chinese and the controversial Huawei Company," the source was quoted as saying.The repor...
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Nepal relies on India for life-saving Remdesivir drug
6Sep By Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

Nepal relies on India for life-saving Remdesivir drug

In order to fight the coronavirus pandemic, Nepal has been relying on India for the supply of life-saving Remdesivir drug, which is being used for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Though the drug does not cure the virus, it has played a crucial role in treating patients at the critical medical stage.In Kathmandu, Sapana's (name changed) father is admitted to a private hospital and undergoing treatment at intensive care unit (ICU), as he was confirmed to have contracted the virus. She asked her chemist, who had contacts in India, to order Remdesivir as it was not available in Nepal."As my chemist had contacts in India, he was able to bring it to Nepal. Now, my father is doing well and is out of danger. If the medicine was not available in India, his condition would have become worrisome,...
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India-Nepal review implementation of projects in Oversight Mechanism meeting
5Sep By Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

India-Nepal review implementation of projects in Oversight Mechanism meeting

In the eighth round of Oversight Mechanism meeting, India and Nepal discussed and reviewed the implementation of India-assisted projects in the last one year.A release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal said: "The Eighth Meeting of Nepal-India Oversight Mechanism was held in Kathmandu through Video Conferencing under the co-chairmanship of Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi and Ambassador of India to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra. The meeting made a thorough review of the implementation of the projects under bilateral cooperation.”During the meeting, the release said, discussions were held on the status of implementation of the ongoing projects under Nepal-India bilateral cooperation covering terai roads, crossborder railways, Arun-III hydropower project, petroleum products pipeline...
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COVID-19 has prompted stimulus measures, but Southeast Asian governments may be missing the chance to go green: Experts
4Sep By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, Singapore, USA, World

COVID-19 has prompted stimulus measures, but Southeast Asian governments may be missing the chance to go green: Experts

Governments around the world are injecting money into their respective economies amid the pandemic. In Southeast Asia though, analysis shows little of those funds are being earmarked for green projects. BANGKOK: Earlier this month, a group of diplomats, politicians and journalists gathered at the Dutch Embassy in Bangkok to discuss an issue of global importance - how to manage a green recovery from COVID-19. This year was meant to be a critical year, they argued, for tackling climate change, where big decisions would be made and transformative policies imagined to avoid future calamity. Instead, they noted that major climate conferences had been postponed and a crisis of potentially staggering magnitude had drifted back to being tomorrow’s problem. The event, hosted by the em...
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Nepali company gains expertise while working with Indian firm on railway project
2Sep By Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

Nepali company gains expertise while working with Indian firm on railway project

A Nepal-based company has said that working with Indian company Ircon on Janakpur-Jaynagar railway project has increased their expertise and knowledge in the sector and this experience has made the company more confident to carry out further works in Nepal.“India has the world’s largest railway connection and Ircon looks after these links. While working with them we have become confident that we can carry out further railway construction works in our nation,” said Raman Mahato, Director, Raman Construction.Raman Construction has been given the responsibility to complete the work of embankment and cutting, blanketing work for laying new railway line, construction of major and minor bridges, and any other incidental/ancillary works required in connection to the completion of the work.“Previo...
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Government revives floriculture center in Srinagar destroyed in 2014 floods
31Aug By Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

Government revives floriculture center in Srinagar destroyed in 2014 floods

A floriculture center in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar that got damaged due to floods which had hit the region in 2014 has been revived with the help of substantial steps taken by the Indian government.“Nursery is the backbone for the landscaping work because all the initial plant material is prepared here. Because of the floods, several kinds of bulbs, ornamental bushes etc were destroyed. After the floods, the government took substantial steps to build this nursery again. We are also improving the quality of the soil by doing the maneuvering process,” Imran Ahmad, Assistant Floriculture Officer Gardens and Parks said.“Before 2014 floods, people use to visit the center to buy flowers and saplings. The earth filling is now been done. The carnations would be planted too,” Farooq Ahmad, an Em...
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Nepal still banks on Indians to revive its tourism sector
31Aug By Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

Nepal still banks on Indians to revive its tourism sector

According to Nepal Tourism Board officials, despite the COVID-19 induced economic slowdown, Nepal is expecting to host about 2 lakh foreign tourists in the ongoing fiscal year 2020-21, that is set to end in mid-July 2021, of which majority will be Indians.This statement comes even after ties between India and Nepal have strained over the Himalayan nation's controversial map incorporating the Indian territories of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura, tourists from India continue to be the mainstay for Nepal's tourism industry."We still have 10 months of this fiscal year and flights may not resume before September. We have estimated that over 200,000 tourists will visit Nepal during this period. We have also finalized our policy and programmes that mentions the target," Deepak Mahat, a membe...
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Retired Brigadier Shuja Hassan Appointed as CEO of Pakistan Steel Mills
31Aug By Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

Retired Brigadier Shuja Hassan Appointed as CEO of Pakistan Steel Mills

Pakistan’s federal government in a notification has appointed retired Brigadier Shuja Hassan as the Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM).According to the notification, Retired Brigadier Shuja Hassan has been appointed for one year and the appointment is subject to termination by both the parties on one month's notice.The qualification of the priority candidate is MSc (Hons) War Studies 2002, MSc (Hons) Defence and Strategic Studies2006. The experience of the candidate includes Experience in Army only Internal Posting Transfer in GHQ Corps HQ and Brigade HQ and Regimental Units.The government’s Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) “disposed off” plan appears to be in the doldrums after recent seemingly strong observations of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.The Ministry of Industries an...
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