Indian Sub-continent

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Heavy rains have triggered flash floods and wreaked havoc across much of Pakistan since mid-June, leaving 903 dead and about 50,000 people homeless, the country’s disaster agency said Wednesday.

Thousands whose homes were swept away now live in tents, miles away from their inundated villages and towns, after being rescued by soldiers, local disaster workers and volunteers.

Kanpur: The neighbour killed a municipal sanitation worker by stabbing him with a knife when he protested against molestation in Govind Nagar Kachi Basti.

During the beating of the sweeper, the killers also pelted stones at the relatives who came to save him.

The police reached after the information and investigated. Sanjan (35), a resident of Govind Nagar Kachi Basti, was a sanitation worker in the Municipal Corporation.

Aug 23 (Reuters) - At least eight children were killed in floods that swept away houses in central and eastern Afghanistan this week, the United Nations' children's agency said on Tuesday, adding that more children were missing.

The United Nations is deploying response teams in eastern Afghanistan to provide aid to thousands of people who lost homes, livestock and crops in severe flash flooding that has hit the country since last week.

New Delhi, Aug 22 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Monday sought the Gujarat government's response on social activist Teesta Setalvad's bail plea and posted the matter for hearing on August 25.

Setalvad was arrested in June for allegedly fabricating evidence to frame "innocent people" in the 2002 Gujarat riot cases.

A bench headed by Justice U U Lalit issued notice to the state on her plea.

On August 3, the Gujarat High Court issued notice to the state government on the plea and had fixed the matter for hearing on September 19.

Srinagar, Aug 22 (PTI) The National Conference will hold an "all-party meeting" here on Monday to discuss the issue of "inclusion of non-local voters" in the revised electoral rolls in Jammu and Kashmir.

Parties like the NC and PDP claimed the administration has not addressed their main concern on whether 'outsiders' ordinarily residing in J-K will be allowed to enrol as voters and the meeting will discuss the clarification issued by the administration on the matter.

Ahmedabad, Aug 22 (PTI) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia will visit Gujarat for two days from Monday during which they will address a gathering and hold discussions on employment and education with youth ahead of the state Assembly polls due later this year.

Kejriwal, the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party and Sisodia, who is the education minister of Delhi, will meet people in Himmatnagar and Bhavnagar, Gujarat AAP's general secretary Manoj Sorathiya said in a video statement.

New Delhi, Aug 23 (PTI) The Sharad Pawar-led NCP on Tuesday asked the AAP to expose the BJP's attempts to topple the Delhi government by releasing the purported recording of the offer made to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

Sisodia had claimed that BJP had offered to make him the Delhi Chief Minister and drop all cases against him if he joined the saffron party.

NCP spokesman Clyde Crasto said claims of such offers from the BJP, if true, were dangerous for democracy in India.

New Delhi, Aug 23 (PTI) The Supreme Court Tuesday struck down one of the provisions of the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act of 1988, which provides for the punishment of a maximum jail term of three years or a fine or both for those indulging in benami' transactions.

The apex court termed the provision unconstitutional on the ground of being manifestly arbitrary .

"We hold section 3(2) of the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988 as unconstitutional," a bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices C T Ravikumar and Hima Kohli said.

Kanpur: There has been a protest against the decision of the Municipal Corporation to collect tax from the morning walkers at Nana Rao Park in Phoolbagh here.

On Monday, a decision was taken by the municipal executive body to pay fees to those visiting Nana Rao Park. 

It was decided to charge free children up to the age of 5 years, Rs 5 for children from 6 to 12 years and Rs 10 for people above.

The fee will be charged from September 1. One month's pass will be made for Rs 250. The morning walkers will also have to pay a fee. Informs Mayor Pramila Pandey.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 22 (APP): Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Interfaith Harmony and Middle East Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi on Monday said Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Qatar would open new vistas of opportunities.

Talking to APP before proceeding to Qatar, Ashrafi who is also the chairman of Pakistan Ulema Council said this visit would further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.