Asia

Thailand studies Malacca bypass to link Indian and Pacific oceans
29Sep mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, Singapore

Thailand studies Malacca bypass to link Indian and Pacific oceans

With the Strait of Malacca becoming busier day by day, Thailand is looking of a way to construct a land passageway that would connect the Indian and Pacific Oceans, bypassing one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.The Strait of Malacca is a narrow sea lane between Malaysia and Singapore and is currently the shortest sea route linking the Asia-Pacific region with India and the Middle East. About a quarter of the world’s traded goods pass through it each year.“The Strait has become quite congested,” Transport Minister Saksiam Chidchob said in an interview.“Using an alternative route through Thailand would cut shipping time by more than two days, which is very valuable for businesses,” he said.Thailand plans to build two deep seaports on either side of the country’s southern coasts, and li...
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J&K villagers cultivate lemongrass to drive away monkeys, utilise barren land
26Sep mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

J&K villagers cultivate lemongrass to drive away monkeys, utilise barren land

Residents of Sirha village in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district who are used to grow maize, rice and wheat but often suffered losses due to the monkey menace, are cultivating lemongrass to utilise barren land and drive away monkeys.Set up under the centrally sponsored scheme 'Aroma Mission’, the initiative titled ‘Lemongrass Cultivation to Counter Monkey Menace’ was started under the flagship ‘Back to Village’ programme. Four to five farmers from village Sirha shifted to lemongrass cultivation."Earlier we had to go to Jammu for oil distillation and sale purposes but now as the machine has been set up here in this village, it saves the additional expenses. It adds to our profit. In one year, income goes up to Rs 60,000", said Tilakraj, 67, a farmer.However, now the farmers have demanded tw...
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New water filtration plants a boon in J&K’s Bumzoo
26Sep mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

New water filtration plants a boon in J&K’s Bumzoo

The initiatives introduced by the Indian government in the Bumzoo area of union territory Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district resulted in a new water filtration plant which comes equipped with the latest purification technology and provides clean drinking water to over 2 lakh people in the district.The new plant is capable of supplying over 4.5 million gallons (37.85 lakh litres) of filtered water to people of the district, according to Muhammad Hanif, executive engineer of the PH division."The new filter takes the raw water through a lot of processes. Ferric alum is added first, after which the clariflocculation process is carried out. The settled water is then taken through the rapid sand filtration plant. There it is filtered at the rate of roughly 4.8 cubic metre per hour. Finally, t...
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Nepal exports electricity worth a billion Nepali rupees to India in last fiscal
26Sep mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, USA

Nepal exports electricity worth a billion Nepali rupees to India in last fiscal

A report published by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has said that Nepal has exported electricity worth one billion Nepali rupees to India in the last fiscal year, 2019-20.“In 2076-77 (2019-20) fiscal year, Nepal was able to export electricity worth 95 crores 70 lakhs Nepali rupees to India as per a power deal signed by the two countries. Earlier, the Himalayan nation had set a target of selling nine crore units of electricity while it was able to send 10 crores and 70 lakh units last year”, the NEA report said.Prabal Adhikari, spokesperson at NEA, said: "Nepal exported a total of two crores and 96 lakh units of electricity to India between mid-September and November, which was the highest flow of electricity during the fiscal year of 2076-77. The least was recorded between mid-Apri...
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Thailand delays US$724m China submarine deal after public anger
25Sep mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, China

Thailand delays US$724m China submarine deal after public anger

Facing heat from the public, Thailand has delayed its controversial US$724 million purchase of two submarines from China as the kingdom's economy flatlines due to the coronavirus pandemic.Under a 2015 deal, Thailand was one of the first countries to buy Chinese naval hardware and finalised its purchase of three submarines in 2017, with the first one expected to be delivered in 2023.An order for two more for 22.5 billion baht (US$724 million) was approved in August by a parliamentary sub-committee - a move which drew public outrage as Thailand struggles with a freefalling economy.Angry citizens took to social media to criticise the deal, and the hashtag "People don't want submarines" trended on Twitter.Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri later announced that Prime Minister Prayut Chan...
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## Union Secretary clears 58 cases with investment of Rs 224.26 crore ##
24Sep mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

## Union Secretary clears 58 cases with investment of Rs 224.26 crore ##

In a meeting of Empowered Committee (EC), Dr Guruprasad Mohapatra, Union Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (Ministry of Commerce and Industry), cleared 58 cases for consideration of registration of manufacturing and service sector Units under Industrial Development Scheme-2017.The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Industries & Commerce, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi; Director Industries & Commerce, Jammu Anoo Malhotra; and Director Industries & Commerce, Kashmir Mehmood Shah through video conferencing from Jammu and Srinagar respectively.During the meeting, 36 cases from Jammu division and 25 cases from Kashmir division were placed before the Empowered Committee for consideration of registration under IDS-2017, of which, 35 cases from J...
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## J&K: Teams of 8 zones clash in Under 19 cricket tournament ##
24Sep mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

## J&K: Teams of 8 zones clash in Under 19 cricket tournament ##

The third day of inter-zonal district Level under 19 boys cricket tournament witnessed the clash of teams of eight zones at Sports Stadium Doda in Indian Union Territory Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda town.The tournament is being held with strict adherence to the coronavirus standard operating procedures and guidelines.In the four matches, Ghat zone thrashed Bhaderwah zone by 5 wickets, Doda zone thrashed Bhatyas by 10 wickets, Bhallesa zone thrashed Gundna zone by 47 runs, and Bhalla zone thrashed Thathri by 11 runs.Around 128 under-19 players drawn from different zones of Doda district are participating in the ongoing Cricket tournament organized by the Department of Youth Service and Sports under the overall supervision of DYSSO Doda, Jaffar Hussain Sheikh.The tournament is being organised as...
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## Jan Abhiyan: Dr Samoon attends ‘Jan Sunwai Muhim’ in J&K’s Bandipora ##
21Sep mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

## Jan Abhiyan: Dr Samoon attends ‘Jan Sunwai Muhim’ in J&K’s Bandipora ##

In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Principal Secretary School Education and Skill Development, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon who is also In-charge Secretary for Monitoring Developmental Works, Bandipora attended the ‘Jan Sunwai Muhim’ as part of the 21-day Jan Abhiyan Campaign.Dozens of delegations called on Dr Samoon during the Jan Sunwai campaign and apprised him about various issues and grievances. He listened to the people patiently and assured them that priority will be given to the redressal of their grievances.Dr Samoon said that timely disposal of public grievances has been the priority of present dispensation for which this outreach programme has been started.He said the Jan Abhiyan and Back to Village programme have been launched with the purpose to reach out to the people at ...
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## J&K LG lays e-foundation stone of Arun Jaitley Memorial Sports Complex ##
21Sep mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

## J&K LG lays e-foundation stone of Arun Jaitley Memorial Sports Complex ##

The Lieutenant Governor of union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha along with Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), and Union Minister of Youth and Sports Kiren Rijiju, jointly laid the e-foundation stone of Shri Arun Jaitley Memorial Sports Complex, in Hiranagar.The Rs 58.23 crore mega-sports complex, built under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP), is going to be spread over 33.75 acre of land and is expected to go a long way in accentuating the overall sports infrastructure in the Union Territory.This will be one of the best and state of art sports complex having multiple sports facilities of international/national standards in one place.Falling in close vicinity of National Highway 44, the project shall not only cater to the Hiranagar ar...
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## Kashmir’s Divisional Commissioner reviews revenue matters of South Kashmir ##
20Sep mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

## Kashmir’s Divisional Commissioner reviews revenue matters of South Kashmir ##

The Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, PK Pole, recently visited Anantnag to take a detailed review of revenue matters about South Kashmir.While chairing a meeting to discuss various issues and matters pertaining to the Revenue department of all four districts of south Kashmir including Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian, Pole urged the officers to remain accessible to people in their respective offices so that every day matters are redressed on the spot.He exhorted upon all the officers present in the meeting to make efforts for the successful accomplishment of governments’ newly launched initiative Back to Village programme (B2V3) and ‘Jan Abiyaan’.The meeting also discussed the progress of digitization of land records being carried ...
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