Indian Sub-continent

KABUL, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan has received 64 million U.S. dollars recently in humanitarian cash assistance, the country's central bank said Monday.

"Following a series of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, today, Feb. 14, the 14th shipment of humanitarian aid of 32 million U.S. dollars reached Afghanistan and delivered to the Afghanistan International Bank (AIB)," Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB) wrote on Twitter.

On Sunday, the DAB also received 32 million U.S. dollars in assistance and delivered the cash to AIB, the bank said.

KABUL, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Washington's decision on splitting frozen Afghan assets in the United States has sparked an outcry among ordinary Afghans who believe the verdict would exacerbate the already dire humanitarian crisis.

U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Friday to free 7 billion U.S. dollars out of more than 9 billion frozen Afghan assets, splitting the money between humanitarian aid for cash-strapped Afghanistan and a fund for 9/11 victims.

MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) — A Pakistani man sentenced to life in prison in 2019 for strangling his sister, a model on social media, was acquitted of murder Monday after his parents pardoned him under Islamic law, an attorney for the man’s family said.

Waseem Azeem was arrested in 2016 after he confessed to killing Qandeel Baloch, 26, for posting what he called “shameful” pictures on Facebook. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison but his parents had sought his release, said Sardar Mahboob, a lawyer who represents Azeem and his family.

Kanpur: "Will you exhibit the punctuality in casting your vote on polling day here?" On hearing this query a middle-aged woman said: "I shall not falter in exercising my right to vote on the day of polling here." 

We are aware of our voting right now. It is a big responsibility for us.

The question was put up only to test the mood of women in the Jajmau area here. As they spend much time in marketing, it was imperative to know their opinion on the voting activity. However, they accepted that they do not escape from their duty to vote.

New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the CBI to probe the death by suicide of a 17-year-old girl in Thanjavur, who was allegedly coerced to convert to Christianity.

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Bela M Trivedi issued notice on the appeal filed by the Tamil Nadu DGP challenging the Madras HC order.

Mumbai, Feb 14 (PTI) The rupee declined 20 paise to 75.56 against the US dollar in opening trade on Monday, amid geopolitical tensions pushing investors to the safe-haven appeal of the greenback.

Forex traders said muted domestic equities and elevated crude oil prices weighed on the local unit.

At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 75.53 against the US dollar, then slipped further to 75.56, registering a decline of 20 paise from the last close.

New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) The Ministry of Home Affairs has recommended a ban on 54 Chinese mobile applications that pose a threat to the country's security, officials sources said on Monday.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) will formally issue a notification banning the operations of these apps in India.

Kolkata, Feb 13 (PTI) Three BJP leaders, who had withdrawn their nominations for polls to the Garulia Municipality in West Bengal, on Sunday made their way back to the Trinamool Congress, voicing grievance over the saffron party's style of functioning.

Polls to 108 municipalities, including Garulia, are scheduled to be held on February 27.

The three leaders - former MLA Sunil Singh, his son Aditya and Garulia Municipality's ex-chairperson Saurabh Singh - had withdrawn their nominations on Saturday.

Lucknow, Feb 13 (PTI) A girl wearing Hijab will become the prime minister of the country one day, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has said amid the controversy over Muslim women's headscarves.

"If a girl decides to wear Hijab and asks her parents to do so and when her parents allow her to wear it, who can stop her from wearing it? We shall see, Inshallah," Owaisi is heard saying in a 43-second video of his address in an election rally.

Bengaluru, Feb 14 (PTI) High schools in Karnataka reopened on Monday after being shut from last Wednesday following untoward incidents in parts of the State over the hijab row.

Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code has been imposed in sensitive areas in the districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada, and Bengaluru.