Indian Sub-continent

KABUL, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Afghanistan Chamber of Industries and Mines has described the recent decision of U.S. President Joe Biden on Afghanistan's frozen assets as unjust, and called for the return of the assets.

"On behalf of 5,000 factories and hundreds of mine extracting companies, I today describe the recent decision of President Biden as unjust and stealing our national assets and we denounce it," acting chairman of the association Al-Hajj Sakhi Ahmad Paiman told reporters.

17 Feb 2022; MEMO: Indian military officers in central occupied Kashmir have been forced to apologise after allegedly burning a portrait of slain Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, triggering massive protests. Officers were later seen putting up a replacement picture, featuring Qassem Soleimani alongside Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

18 Feb 2022; MEMO: The vice president of the Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, nicknamed Hemedti, yesterday announced the release of detained peaceful protesters from the country's prisons, Anadolu reported.

Sudanese news agency SUNA said Hemedti, who is also commander of the Rapid Support Forces, announced the release of detained protesters without further details, as well as the release of all Rapid Support Forces employees convicted of disciplinary offences and the payment of their fines.

New Delhi, Feb 18 (PTI) Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday said it was most unseemly for the Ministry of External Affairs to "summon" the envoy of a friendly country like Singapore over remarks by their prime minister to their own Parliament, and asserted that "we must learn to be less thin-skinned".

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 18 (PTI): Kerala Assembly's budget session began on a stormy note on Friday with the opposition Congress-led UDF raising "go back" slogans against Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and staging a protest sit-in at the portal of the House after boycotting the proceedings.

Chandigarh, Feb 17 (PTI) Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra slammed the Narendra Modi government at the Centre on Thursday, saying its governance is only visible in advertisements.

She also accused the BJP and the AAP of using religion and sentiments for political gains.

Srinagar, Feb 17 (PTI) The People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) will meet here on February 26 to discuss the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir, including the draft proposal of the Delimitation Commission.

Last week, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had said the PAGD would meet on February 23.

"PAGD meeting is scheduled to be held at Srinagar on 26th February, 2022 to discuss the present prevailing situation in J&K," spokesperson of the five-party alliance M Y Tarigami said here on Thursday.

Thiruvananthpuram, Feb 17 (PTI) Kerala's first Caravan park is all set to come up in Vagamon, a scenic hill station located in Idukki district.

The park, as part of the state government's new Caravan Tourism policy, would be thrown open to travellers on February 25, state Tourism Minister P A Mohammad Riyas said on Thursday.

He said Caravan Tourism was introduced by the state Tourism department as a safe means for holidaying at a time when people are unable to step out or travel due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

Kolkata, Feb 17 (PTI) Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal assembly, Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP, was greeted with pro-Mamata Banerjee slogans by Trinamool Congress workers on Thursday during his door to door campaign for the saffron party candidates in Contai Municipality area of Purba Medinipur district.

New Delhi, Feb 18 (PTI) The central government is reviewing the security of former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kumar Vishwas and may give him protection through a central agency, official sources said on Friday.

The move came in the wake of Vishwas' allegations against AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

"The government is reviewing the security of Kumar Vishwas and may give him protection depending on his threat perception after a through review and based on intelligence inputs," the sources said.