Indian Sub-continent

JAKARTA, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian police have declared the owner and the manager as suspects of the lighter factory fire that killed 30 people in north Sumatra province's city of Binjai, a local police officer said on Saturday.

The factory's owner and manager, identified as "Burhan" and "Lismawarni," have been arrested and detained in Binjai police station at present for further investigation into the case.

ISLAMABAD, Jun 23 (APP): President Dr Arif Alvi on Sunday conferred Nishan-i-Pakistan upon Amir of Qatar Shiekh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in a special investiture ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

The ceremony was attended by Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser, Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjarani, Governor Punjab, Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, members of the federal cabinet, members of the parliament, members of Qatar delegation and civil and military officials.

New Delhi, Jun 20; GANASHAKTI: The Left parties accused the Centre on Thursday of succumbing to the pressure exerted by the US government to further open India's economy, stating that they were opposed to the "US agenda".

In a joint statement, the Left parties said the stated purpose of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit to India was to push the country to further open its economy, drop the trade barriers and sell US defence equipment to India.

New Delhi, Jun 21 (PTI) The price of 1032 essential medicines have been capped by the government to help provide poor medicines at cheaper rates, the Rajya Sabha was informed Friday.

Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Mansukhlal Mandavia said the government is attempting to provide 700 medicines in Jan Aushadi Stores and a total of 20 truck loads of medicines are being supplied to such stores per day for providing medicines at cheaper rates to the poor.

New Delhi, June 21 (PTI) As many as 30 private members' bills, including the one to ban non-vegetarian food at official meetings and functions, were introduced in the Lok Sabha Friday.

The bill to prohibit non-vegetarian food at official functions was introduced by Parvesh Sahib Singh (BJP).

N K Premachandran (RSP) moved a bill for maintaining status quo on religious practices of Sabrimala temple that existed before September 1, 2018.

LAHORE, Jun 21 (APP): Lahore District Karate Association is organising the ‘Olympic Day 2019’ Lahore District Team Kumite Karate Championship here on June 23 at the Punjab College.

LDKA is holding the event in collaboration with Pakistan Karate Association. All the affiliated clubs of Lahore district will participate in the competition. Each team will consist of five players and tournament will be played on knock-out system.

The championship will start at 9am and the closing ceremony will be held at 4pm.

Dehradun, Jun 21 (PTI) A three-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her 11-year-old neighbour in Dalanwala area of the city, police said Friday.

The incident took place on Wednesday when the girl's parents had gone out leaving her at home with her two elder siblings, an official said.

According to the complaint registered by the girl's parents on Thursday, the accused took the victim to his house and raped her, Superintendent of Police (city) Shweta Choubey said.

The boy was booked under the POCSO act and has been sent to a juvenile home, she said.

Patna/Muzaffarpur, Jun 21 (PTI) Three more children with symptoms of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) died at a hospital in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district Friday taking the toll to 139.

According to the Muzaffarpur district administration, all the three deaths were reported from the government-run SKMCH hospital, which alone has accounted for 104 casualties since June 1.

The Bihar health department had on Thursday released state-wide figures putting the total toll following the outbreak, which has spread across 16 districts, at 136.

ISLAMABAD, Jun 22 (APP): Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Saturday people of Pakistan have rejected those who converted Sindh province into Moenjodaro-like ancient remains.

Responding to the speech of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, in a tweet the SAPM said Bilawal should not blame Imran Khan for trial as the cases against his arrested father were initiated during Nawaz Sharif government.

NEW DELHI, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Four children including two siblings were killed due to electrocution after a live overhead wire snapped and fell into a pool in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, police said Saturday.

The incident took place Friday evening in Petiyan village of Sambhal district, about 370 km northwest of Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh.

"Last evening a live overhead electricity wire snapped and fell into a tubewell pond, where four children were bathing. The children got electrocuted," a police official posted in the district said.