Welcome to Africa Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent – news that matters.

COMMENTARY

Zambia’s success will be Africa’s success

The year 2021 has been a landmark year for Zambia. Two important events occurred. The passing of the first president of independent Zambia, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, was mourned in June. Then, in the election in August 2021, the people of Zambia voted decisively for change. Click here to read…

East Africa: Was China’s foreign minister’s visit a success or failure?

Last week, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi concluded his tour of Eritrea, Kenya and Comoros – part of a 31-year-old tradition of Chinese foreign ministers visiting the continent for their first overseas trips in the new calendar year (or before the end of the lunar new year). Click here to read…

NEWS

Senegal Elects Mayors with Eyes on 2024 Presidential Election

Senegal votes in municipal and regional elections on Sunday, amid growing political tensions over whether President Macky Sall will seek to extend his rule beyond the two-term limit in a nation long considered one of Africa’s most stable democracies. Click here to read…

Burkina Faso govt denies army takeover after barracks gunfire

Burkina Faso’s government denied that the army had seized control of the country on Sunday after exchanges of gunfire took place at multiple army barracks, including two in the capital. Click here to read…

Ethiopia army planning to ‘eliminate’ Tigrayan forces, military official says

Ethiopia’s military is planning to enter the Tigray regional capital of Mekelle and “eliminate” rebellious forces, a top military official said late on Friday amid diplomatic efforts to end conflict in the country’s north. Click here to read…

Djibouti: Can IOG ‘finish the job’ during his last term in office?

In the very troubled Horn of Africa, the small Republic of Djibouti is an island of stability. Although Ismaïl Omar Guelleh (IOG) was re-elected thanks to a positive economic record, the expectations of the population – three-quarters of whom are under 35 – remain high. Click here to read…

Biden’s dangerous refusal to reverse Trump’s Western Sahara policy

Trump recognized the wholesale annexation of one country by another. If Biden lets that stand, the global implications are deeply troubling. Click here to read…

Sudanese hold ‘day for martyrs’ after anti-coup protest killings

Sudanese anti-coup protesters have held a “day for the martyrs”, gathering outside the homes of some of those killed in a bloody crackdown on demonstrations since an October military takeover. Click here to read…

Guinea junta establishes council to lead transition to elections

Guinea’s junta on Saturday set up an 80-member council to act as a parliament during the country’s transition to electionsClick here to read…

Arab League Summit postponed in blow to Algeria’s diplomatic hopes

Algeria’s President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, announced on Wednesday that the thirty-first Arab League Summit will be postponed. Click here to read…

Kenya is refusing to release the loan contracts for its Chinese-built railway

Kenya has declined to make public the loan contracts for its Chinese-built railway in response to a court petition by two activists, saying they have non-disclosure clauses and that releasing them would amount to breaching a bilateral agreement, impairing relations between Kenya and China. Click here to read…

The signs suggest that another uprising looms in Egypt

Many human rights organisations, political activists and reports point out unambiguously that the people of Egypt have lived under a brutal police state since the 2013 military coup. Click here to read…

Somali government spokesperson wounded in suicide bomb attack -police, state media

Somalia’s government spokesperson was wounded on Sunday in an explosion at a road junction set off by a suicide bomber in the capital Mogadishu, police and the national news agency said. Click here to read…

Tunisian dies after protesting President Saied’s moves

A Tunisian man has died of wounds he sustained during a crackdown by security forces on anti-government protesters during a demonstration last week. Click here to read…

US AFRICOM Commander Says Russian Mercenaries in Mali

The U.S. has now confirmed reports that Russian mercenaries known as the Wagner Group have deployed in Mali and are supported by the Russian military. Click here to read…

Construction Starts on Congo, Central African Republic Sub-River Fiber Connection

As part of the Central African Backbone (CAB) development project, the Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic (CAR) will be connected by a 285km steel-reinforced, sub-river fiber optic connection designed to enhance business and communications between Congo and the Central African region. Click here to read…

Mali holds state ceremony for ex-President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita

Mali has held a state ceremony for former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was removed in a 2020 coup and died last week. Click here to read…

U.S. Envoy Visits Coup-Hit Sudan in Bid to End Spiralling Unrest

A new U.S. envoy arrived in Sudan for crisis talks as expectations grow for a more robust response from Washington to the military’s crackdown on opponents of October’s coup that’s left dozens of people dead. Click here to read…

Macron says EU and Africa seek vaccines deal at February summit

The EU is working with African countries toward a deal to improve access to coronavirus vaccines, French President Emmanuel Macron said. Click here to read…

Appeal in ‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero’s case can proceed without him, judge rules

A Rwandan court ruled on Tuesday that an appeal by prosecutors in a case involving Paul Rusesabagina, who was portrayed in the movie ‘Hotel Rwanda’ sheltering hundreds of people during the 1994 genocide, could proceed in his absence. Click here to read…

Elon Musk’s Tesla Inks Mozambique Deal to Get Key Battery Component Outside China

Tesla is turning to Mozambique for a key component in its electric car batteries in what analysts believe is a first-of-its-kind deal designed to reduce its dependence on China for graphite. Click here to read…

Tanzania, Burundi Sign $900 Million Railway Deal to Boost Trade

Tanzania and Burundi have signed an agreement to build a $900 million railway that will connect the neighboring East African nations. Click here to read…

Angola to produce 10.5 mn carats of diamonds in 2022

Angola estimates to produce 10.5 million carats of diamonds in 2022 with a revenue of $1.4 billion, the country’s National Diamond Company (Endiama) announced here. Click here to read…

Kenyan e-commerce company Copia Global raises $50M to ramp up African expansion

Kenyan B2C e-commerce company Copia Global has raised $50 million in a Series C equity round led by Goodwell Investments. Click here to read…

False banana: Is Ethiopia’s enset ‘wondercrop’ for climate change?

Scientists say the plant enset, an Ethiopian staple, could be a new superfood and a lifesaver in the face of climate change. The banana-like crop has the potential to feed more than 100 million people in a warming world, according to a new study. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

Development partnership key pillar of India-Mauritius ties: PM Narendra Modi

Jointly inaugurating multiple development projects in Mauritius, along with the country’s Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that Mauritius is “integral” to India’s approach to the Indian Ocean, and that the development partnership is a key pillar of the close ties between the two nations. Click here to read…

PM to launch India-assisted projects with Mauritius counterpart Jugnauth today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Mauritius counterpart Pravind Kumar Jugnauth will jointly inaugurate an India-assisted social housing project in Mauritius during a virtual event on January 20. Click here to read…

India to send a battalion for peacekeeping ops in Africa

India will next month dispatch an infantry battalion for UN peacekeeping operations in the oil-rich Abyei region in Africa, which straddles northern and southern Sudan and is hotly contested by both. Click here to read…

Second defence export deal this month: India to supply ALH (MkIII) to Mauritius

Close on the heels of the BrahMos supply contract India has got another contract to supply Indigenously manufactured Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH). Click here to read…

Devas shareholders to continue seizing Indian assets abroad

Unfazed by the Supreme Court upholding winding up of the company, shareholders of Devas Multimedia will continue to seek seizure of Indian government assets abroad to collect $1.2 billion the firm has been awarded by arbitration tribunals for cancellation of a satellite deal but are open for talks to settle the issue, counsel said. Click here to read…

At UNSC, India Urges All Sides to Find ‘mutually Acceptable Solutions’ To Normalise Sudan

India at United Nations Security Council (UNSC) highlighted that the resignation of Sudan Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok shows the “inherent challenges to the transition process.” Click here to read…

J’khand workers stuck in Mali seek help for return home

Around three dozen residents of Jharkhand, working at a power transmission line laying project in the African country of Mali, have sought help from the authorities back home to ensure payment of their pending salaries and safe return to IndiaClick here to read…

Chinese economy gets off to a good start in 14th Five-Year Plan period: Quishi

January 24, 2022

Thanks to the efforts of the Chinese government and people, China led the world in terms of both economic development and epidemic prevention and control over the past year, said Ning Jizhe, head of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office on Jan.17. Click here to read…

Seven senior officers promoted to military rank of general: China Military

January 21, 2022

China’s Central Military Commission (CMC) held a ceremony to promote seven senior officers of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force to the military rank of general in Beijing on January 21. President Xi Jinping, also chairman of the Central Military Commission, presented seven senior officers of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the Chinese People’s Armed Police (PAP) Force with certificates of promotion to the military rank of general, the highest rank for officers in active service in China. Click here to read…

China’s Wing Loong UAV family embraces new all-composite model: China Military

January 24, 2022

China’s independently-developed Wing Loong large unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) family has embraced a new model made of all-composite materials, its developer announced Friday.vThe Wing Loong-1E all-composite multipurpose large UAV successfully completed its maiden flight on Jan. 18, said the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). Click here to read…

China gears up for 2022 military recruitment: China Military

January 20, 2022

Military recruitment for the first half of 2022 will start on Feb 15 and end on March 31, according to a teleconference on China’s conscription work in Beijing Thursday. Recruitment for the second half of the year will run from Aug 15 to Sept 30, said an order issued by the State Council and the Central Military Commission, which was read out at the teleconference. Click here to read…

Li Lecheng elected governor of China’s Liaoning: People’s Daily

January 23, 2022

Li Lecheng was elected governor of northeast China’s Liaoning Province by the provincial legislature on Sunday. The 13th Liaoning Provincial People’s Congress elected the governor at its sixth session. Click here to read…

Wang Hao elected governor of China’s Zhejiang: People’s Daily

January 21, 2022

Wang Hao was elected governor of east China’s Zhejiang Province by the provincial legislature on Friday. The 13th Zhejiang Provincial People’s Congress elected the governor at its sixth sessionClick here to read…

36 provincial-level officials penalized for discipline violations in China in 2021: People’s Daily

January 21, 2022

A total of 627,000 Chinese officials, including 36 at the provincial and ministerial level, were penalized for violating Communist Party of China (CPC) discipline and laws in 2021, according to the country’s top anti-graft body. Click here to read…

China’s disciplinary agency vows to maintain strong, persistent crackdown on corruption: People’s Daily

January 21, 2022

The Communist Party of China’s (CPC) top disciplinary agency pledged to maintain strong and persistent crackdown on corruption in a communique released Thursday. The communique was adopted at the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), which was held in Beijing from Tuesday to Thursday. Click here to read…

Wang Zhengpu elected governor of China’s Hebei: People’s Daily

January 20, 2022

Wang Zhengpu was elected governor of north China’s Hebei Province by the provincial legislature on Thursday. The 13th Hebei Provincial People’s Congress elected the governor at its fifth session. Click here to read…

China’s State Council leaders study Xi’s Party-governance speech: People’s Daily

January 20, 2022

The leading Party members group of the State Council held a meeting on Wednesday to study and implement an important speech on Party governance by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, at the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. Click here to read…

Senior Sichuan provincial legislator under probe: China Daily

January 22, 2022

Wang Minghui, a vice chairman of the Standing Committee of Sichuan Provincial People’s Congress, is being investigated for suspected severe violations of discipline and law. Wang is under the investigation by the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission, according to a statement released on Saturday. Click here to read…

Digital economic growth plan unveiled: China Daily

January 20, 2022

New blueprint calls for upgrades to infrastructure and expansion of service sector. China’s latest plan to grow its digital economy will empower national digital transformation, shore up innovation and enable the government to offer more equitable public services, analysts said. The State Council, China’s Cabinet, unveiled the first five-year plan on the digital economy on Jan 12, highlighting the sector’s role in reshaping the global economic structure and international competition, and rolling out targets for its development through 2025. Click here to read…

Former Hangzhou Party chief took bribes with brother: China Daily

January 21, 2022

All of the mistakes and crimes were started by me. Without my power, my brother was nothing, and he could do nothing without my help,” Zhou Jiangyong, former Party chief of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, said in an anti-graft documentary broadcast on Wednesday. Zhou, from Ningbo, Zhejiang, began to work in 1985 and joined the Communist Party of China in 1992. He served as the Party chief－the top leader－in several cities in Zhejiang, including Zhoushan from 2015, Wenzhou from 2017 and Hangzhou, the provincial capital, from May 2018. Click here to read…

Two sessions’ kicks off in Xinjiang: No violent terror attacks for five years, social stability enhanced: Global Times

January 23, 2022

Xinjiang has moved past chaos and is making progress on governance on the basis of stability, and there have been no cases of violent terrorist attacks for five consecutive years. People of all ethnic groups have a growing sense of safety and confidence in social stability, local government work report pointed out during the fifth session of the 13th People’s Congress of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region which kicked off on Sunday. Click here to read…

J-20 fighter could get directed-energy weapon, drone-control capability: Global Times

January 23, 2022

China’s domestically developed J-20 stealth fighter jet could in the future be equipped with directed-energy weapons, and it can also spawn variants for early warning, unmanned flight and drone control, military experts predicted after the aircraft received concentrated media coverage over the past week. Click here to read…

Chinese businesses to hold first large expo in Afghanistan to boost trade: Global Times

January 23, 2022

China’s business representatives at China Town in Kabul are to hold what could be the first large expo in Afghanistan since the Afghan Taliban took power, aiming to create a platform for traders and producers to find deals on complementary goods for each other’s markets, business representatives told the Global Times. Click here to read…

Seven trucks belonging to Chinese company burned down in Kenya: Global Times

January 24, 2022

Seven trucks belonging to a Chinese company were burned down in Lamu County, Kenya on Sunday. No Chinese casualties have been reported, a public relations officer from the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) told the Global Times on Monday. Click here to read…

Chinese lifestyle app Xiaohongshu fined 300,000 yuan for failing content review: Global Times

January 23, 2022

The Chinese lifestyle app, Xiaohongshu, said that the penalty of 300,000 yuan ($47,329) came as Shanghai authorities determined it had failed the review on harmful content for minors, which was reported by the China Media Group (CMG) in December, according to an announcement released by the company on Sunday. Xiaohongshu’s remarks came after some media outlets reported that the company received a heavy fine by the Bureau of Culture and Tourism of Shanghai’s Huangpu district for disseminating undesirable content which may be harmful to the physical and mental health of minors. Click here to read…

China says it deterred US warship: Taipei Times

January 21, 2022

Chinese forces followed and warned away a US warship that entered waters near the Paracel Islands (Xisha Islands) in the South China Sea, China’s military said yesterday, in the latest uptick in tensions in the disputed waterway. The Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army said the USS Benfold “illegally” sailed into Chinese territorial waters without permission, infringing upon the country’s sovereignty, and that Chinese naval and air forces tracked the ship. Click here to read…

Chinese rights lawyer held for ‘inciting subversion’: Taipei Times

January 20, 2022

Human rights lawyer Xie Yanghas been detained in China on suspicion of “inciting state subversion,” according to an official notice obtained by his wife weeks after he spoke out for a hospitalized teacher. Xie — who has previously defended Christians and democracy advocates — has not been heard from since he was detained more than a week ago in Changsha, Hunan Province. Click here to read…

China cuts benchmark lending rate for 2nd straight month: Kyodo

January 20, 2022

China’s central bank cut its benchmark lending rate on Thursday for the second straight month to shore up the slowing economy, in contrast with the United States and other major economies that are moving to tackle inflation. The U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank have been inclined to tighten monetary policy in a bid to curb sharp inflation stemming from a spike in global material prices amid supply chain disruptions and hopes for a post-pandemic economic recovery. Click here to read…

Taiwan reports new large-scale Chinese air force incursion: Reuters

January 24, 2022

Taiwan on Sunday reported the largest incursion since October by China’s air force in its air defence zone, with the island’s defence ministry saying Taiwanese fighters scrambled to warn away 39 aircraft in the latest uptick in tensions. Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained for more than a year of repeated missions by China’s air force near the democratically governed island, often in the southwestern part of its air defence identification zone, or ADIZ, close to the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands. Click here to read…

Beijing 2022 says 6 new positive cases detected among Games-related personnel on Jan. 23: Reuters

January 24, 2022

The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Organising Committee on Monday said it confirmed six new positive cases of COVID-19 during testing the previous day. Of the new cases, four were among new arrivals and the other two were stakeholders already in the closed loop who had taken confirmatory tests. Of the four positive cases found among 529 Olympic-related arrivals at the airport on Sunday Jan. 23, one was an athlete or team official, showed a statement on the official Beijing 2022 website. Click here to read…

Remember the Soviet Union, top Chinese policy adviser says in warning against blind pursuit of absolute security: South China Morning Post

January 22, 2022

The pursuit of “absolute national security” can extract a heavy price, a Chinese foreign policy adviser has warned, citing the collapse of the Soviet Union as proof of the pitfalls of putting military expansion over long-term security. The unfettered pursuit of security “will see the costs go up drastically and the benefits go drastically down, until the costs outweigh the benefits”, according to Jia Qingguo, a former dean of Peking University’s international relations school. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Ministry Says Schools to Open for All in Spring: Tolo News

Two days after Thomas West’s remarks on girls’ education, officials at the Ministry of Education (MoE) said it will reopen schools for all age groups, both girls and boys, at the beginning of new solar year (March 21). Click here to read…

Taliban, US to discuss establishment of inclusive government: The Khaama Press

State Department of the United States has announced that special representative Thomas West will discuss the establishment of an all-inclusive government in Afghanistan with the 15-member delegation of the Taliban visiting Norway. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Bangladesh reports increasing COVID cases amid omicron spread – Sawah Press

Bangladesh has continued to register an increasing number of COVID-19 cases as nearly 11,000 new infections were reported on Sunday. The South Asian country of 165 million population registered 10,906 more coronavirus cases and 14 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the Directorate General of Health Services. Click here to read…

Bangladesh’s success story is a lesson in poverty reduction. Here’s why – The Print

Since its founding in 1971, Bangladesh has emerged from overwhelming poverty to be proclaimed by The World Bank in 2020 as ‘a model for poverty reduction’. It achieved the highest cumulative GDP growth globally from 2010 to 2020 and is now on course to become a developed country by 2041. The Bangladesh paradox has been researched well, and the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in this progress is well documented. What is not researched enough is why their approach has been so successful. Click here to read…

Bhutan

China expands construction along disputed Bhutan border – YouTube

According to satellite images, Chinese-built villages and settlements along the Himalayan border have stretched into Bhutan’s disputed territory, the small country between China and India. Like the India-China border, China’s 477-kilometer border with Bhutan remains undefined. Analysts say that the latest construction move by Beijing is intended to facilitate it in its territorial dispute with India. Click here to read…

”Living with virus” not an option for Bhutan: PM – Kuensel Online

While some nations around the planet make subtle arrangements to “live with the virus”, living with the virus is not an option for Bhutan, according to PM Dr Lotay Tshering. Click here to read…

Maldives

The Maldives is being swallowed by the sea. Can it adapt? – National Geographic

“My most peaceful moments are on the water,” Thoiba Saeedh, an anthropologist, said just before a motorboat took us skimming across the glassy Indian Ocean towards the tiny island of Felidhoo in the Maldives. Click here to read…

Maldives establishes diplomatic relations with Burundi – Raajje

The Joint Communiqué formalizing diplomatic relations between the two countries was signed by Permanent Representative of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations Thilmeeza Hussain on behalf of the Maldivian government, whereas Permanent Representative of the Republic of Burundi to the United Nations, Zéphyrin Maniratanga signed on behalf of the government of Burundi. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Ethnic Organizations Call For Myanmar Military No Fly Zone and Civilian Safe

Areas – The Irrawaddy

Three of Myanmar’s oldest ethnic political organizations have urged the United Nations (UN), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the international community to declare a military no fly zone, and to internationally guarantee the protection of civilian safe zones due to the junta’s increased use of indiscriminate airstrikes on civilian targets. Click here to read…

Myanmar’s ‘Army’ of Overseas Workers Join Fight Against Junta – The Irrawaddy

Like her, there are tens of thousands of Myanmar migrants across Thailand who voluntarily contribute to Myanmar’s democracy movement, known locally as the Spring Revolution against the junta. Every month they typically donate 200-1,500 baht from their salaries, which vary from 6,000 to 10,000 baht. Click here to read…

Myanmar military arrests more journalists in media crackdown-editor – Reuters

Myanmar’s military has arrested three people working for the independent news portal Dawei Watch, an editor at the publication said on Thursday, the latest detentions under a media crackdown that has occurred since last year’s coup. Click here to read…

What is Iran’s Revolutionary Guard doing in Myanmar? – Asia Times

Iranian planes landing in Myanmar have raised speculation of secretive military-to-military cooperation, including possible sensitive Iranian weapons sales amid rising international calls to impose an arms embargo on the rights-abusing junta. Click here to read…

Nearly 160 Myanmar Regime Troops Killed in First Half of January: KNU – The Irrawaddy

Nearly 160 Myanmar junta soldiers were killed and another 102 were injured in fighting between the Myanmar military and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) during the first two weeks of January. The KNLA is the armed wing of the country’s oldest revolutionary group, the Karen National Union (KNU). Click here to read…

Arakan Army, not military junta, run the show in Myanmar’s Rakhine state – RFA

An armed ethnic group in Myanmar’s western state of Rakhine has wrested administrative and judicial control from the country’s military junta, which has been in power for almost one year, residents of the state told RFA. Click here to read…

U.N Rights Envoy Calls for Halt to Attacks on Myanmar Town – OWP

The special envoy called for international support to ensure the protection of civilians,  the free movement towards safety, and accessibility of humanitarian aid. Regional violence has exacerbated the refugee crisis and displaced civilians caught in the crossfire. Click here to read…

An outlawed group resurfaces, raising new fears of clashes in Myanmar’s Rakhine state – RFA

Residents of western Myanmar’s Rakhine state say they are concerned over possible armed clashes in Maungdaw township along the country’s border with Bangladesh amid a recent uptick in activity in the area by the outlawed Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA). Click here to read…

Nepal

Omicron drives surging Covid-19 cases in Nepal: Health authority – DajjiWorld

The Omicron variant of the coronavirus is now driving daily cases to surge in Nepal, accounting for 88 per cent of the samples tested recently, the country’s Ministry of Health and Population has said. Click here to read…

Rising inflation, COVID-19 make people more vulnerable in Nepal – Macau Business

Radha Tamang, a 60-year-old woman living in a squatter settlement on the bank of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu of Nepal, had an easier life two years ago when her son had a job at a trekking agency with a decent income. Click here to read…

Nepal’s trade deficit widens to Rs 880 billion despite two-fold growth in export in first half of current FY – My Republica

The records with the Department of Customs show that the widening trade deficit was due to the hefty rise in imports in the review period. During mid-July and mid-January, Nepal imported goods worth Rs 999.34 billion, 51.13 percent more than that of the last year. Click here to read…

Pandemic can derail progress made in child nutrition, UNICEF warns – Kathmandu Post

Nepal has made significant progress in reducing child stunting and scaling up nutrition services during the Millennium Development Goals era (2002 -2016), according to UNICEF-Nepal. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Dread the day when I’ll be back on streets, warns PM Imran: Dawn

Expressing confidence that people would never take to the streets against him, especially on the call of the ‘tainted’ opposition, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday warned his opponents that if he was forced out of office, he would become even more dangerous for them.

Click here to read…

After invoking UN norm, PM Imran clarifies call for Afghan help: Dawn

Prime Minister Imran Khan revisited his call to help Afghanistan under the international doctrine of Responsibility to Protect (R2P), inviting the international community to fulfil its obligation to the Afghan people by providing humanitarian assistance to the country.

Click here to read…

Islamabad, Moscow in talks for maiden Putin visit: The Express Tribune

The visit of the Russian president was being discussed by the two sides for the last two years but could not materialise because of a variety of reasons including the Covid-19 pandemic.

Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

India claws back ground lost to China in Sri Lanka: Deccan Herald

No “third party” should interfere in the “friendly relations” between Beijing and Colombo, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa during his visit to the island nation earlier this month.

Click here to read…

Saving Sri Lanka: Can India’s Line-Of-Credit Help The Island’s Sinking Economy Reeling Under China’s Debt?: EurAsian Times

The pandemic aggravated the economic crisis that was already brewing since 2019. While the island nation reached out to two of its most trusted partners, only one came to its rescue.

Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Donors at Summit Agreed Funds Should Be Released: Officials: Tolo News

The Islamic Emirate said it reached agreements with relevant stakeholders in four areas during Wednesday’s economic summit hosted by Kabul. Click here to read…

Taliban deny Kamal Khan Dam’s water flowing to Iran: The Khaama Press

Ministry of Water and Power of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan reacted to the video clip of water of the Kamal Khan Dam in the western Nimroz province flowing to neighboring Iran. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Govt now aims to jab 70pc population- Daily Star

Bangladesh now plans to inoculate 70 percent of its population with the Covid-19 vaccine — down from the initial plan of 80 percent — in line with the World Health Organisation’s target. Click here to read…

Government finalizes initiatives to standardize the e-commerce sector- Dhaka Tribune

The ICT Ministry, through a2i, has already started to develop software for Complaint Management System (UBID) which is ready for beta testing to be launched for everyone by March. Click here to read…

The consistent chaos that is Dhaka airport- Daily Star

Airports are the most fascinating places in the world. This forced congregation of total strangers from all corners of the world, rushing off to destinations as exotic as Zanzibar or Casablanca—isn’t it just wonderful? Click here to read…

BNP seeks inquiry over appointing lobbyists- Asian Age

Turning down the allegation of hiring any lobbyist in the USA, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Thursday categorically said it is Awami League that spent huge public money by appointing lobbyists abroad to hush up its “misdeeds and repressive acts”.Click here to read…

Bhutan

Essential items stock in the country will last for 52 days: MoEA- Kuensel

Stocks of essential items in the country are estimated to last for 52 days based on the projection of the average consumption pattern as of January 18, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MoEA). Click here to read…

Thimphu lockdown to continue until January 22- Kuensel

Prime Minister Office (PMO) announced yesterday that lockdown in Thimphu will continue until January 22. Click here to read…

From 247 active cases to 513 active cases in 3 days: COVID’s spread into both high risk and low risk areas- Bhutan Today

It all started at around 2 am on Sunday morning on 16th January as a notification from the PMO on facebook announced a blackout in 14 Dzongkhags. Click here to read…

UN Resident Coordinator Gerald Daly’s tenure nears end- Bhutan Times

In about a month the Resident Coordinator (RC) for United Nations (UN) in Bhutan Gerald Daly will complete his five-year tenure as the RC of UN-Bhutan. Click here to read…

Maldives

Shahid: #IndiaOut isn’t patriotic, its hatemongering- Sun

The #IndiaOut campaign, backed by the opposition, has gathered fuel in Maldives in recent months. According to opposition politicians, the purpose of the campaign is to expel Indian military presence from Maldives. Click here to read…

Two Maldivian resorts on sale for non-performing loans- The Edition

The sale of the islands were announced due to unpaid loans to SBI. Dholhiyadhoo Resort, now operated by Three A company, had been announced for sale in 2019 by SBI as well. The island was then put on sale for USD 42 million (MVR 659 million). Click here to read…

UNGA President: Continued vaccine inequity will needlessly prolong pandemic- Sun

President of the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Abdulla Shahid warned on Wednesday that continued global disparities in vaccine access will needlessly prolong the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to read…

Myanmar

The Day Hired Mobs Began Protesting the Military Proxy Party’s 2020 Election Loss- Irrawaddy

On this day last year, a series of demonstrations targeting the then Union Election Commission (UEC) over the results of the 2020 general election started in Myanmar’s biggest city, Yangon. Click here to read…

Ousted Rakhine State chief minister sentenced to 9 more years in prison for corruption- Myanmar Now

Nyi Pu is sentenced to three years for each of three convictions, bringing his total prison term to 11 years. Click here to read…

Nepal

Odd/Even rule reintroduced in Kathmandu valley amid Covid-19 surge- Himalaya

The District Administration Authorities of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur have reimposed the Odd/Even rule for traffic movement, which will come into effect Friday midnight. Click here to read…

Dahal proposes mid-term polls in April- Himalaya

CPN-Maoist Centre chair’s proposal to hold parliamentary elections in April and local polls in November-December has angered the CPN-UML. Click here to read…

Women journalists say they face harassment, but actions rarely taken- Kathmandu Post

Calls for making working space safe have been lost in din of the ‘nothing unusual’ refrain. Click here to read…

Student unions demand withdrawal of petroleum price hike- Republica

Various student unions have demanded the government to withdraw the price hike of petroleum products. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Govt revises up FY21 growth rate to 5.4pc, GDP to $347bn: Dawn

The size and growth rate of Pakistan’s economy increased significantly during 2020-21, making it the second-highest economic growth recorded in the last three years of the incumbent government. Click here to read…

China resumes work on Dasu Hydropower Project: The Express Tribune

The confirmation comes days after Islamabad decided to compensate the victims of a terror attack on the dam last July in which 10 Chinese nationals died while 28 others were injured. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Road to Sri Lanka’s economic recovert: The Times of India

NEW DELHI: The economic roadmap charted by India and Sri Lanka. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Kabul Urges Islamic Countries to Recognize Afghan Govt:Tolo News

Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund called on Islamic countries to be the first to recognize the Afghan government. Click here to read…

IEA interim cabinet passes uniform scheme for Taliban affiliates: The Khaama Press

Interior Ministry of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, announced that the interim government led by Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund has passed the scheme of uniform for the personnel of the ministry. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Arakan Army keen for stronger ties with Bangladesh- Dhaka Tribune

‘In regard to Bangladesh’s authorities, it’s (the relation) not that bad, but not yet so good either,’ said Major General Tun Myat Naing. Click here to read…

Consumers paying 3-time higher prices than selling prices of farm produce in Bangladesh- Dhaka Tribune

Government decides to find out why it’s happening. Click here to read…

Climate Change: Encroaching saltwater threatens coastal residents- Dhaka Tribune

Rising sea levels, frequent storms leading to increasing salinity in many parts of Bangladesh. Click here to read…

Reprioritise spending, bring financial reforms- Daly Star

IMF offers recipe for better use of public money amid pandemic woes. Click here to read…

Highest daily cases in five months- Asian Age

The number of people infected with deadly coronavirus is soaring by leaps and bounds in Bangladesh as the country logged 9,500 fresh cases, the highest daily count since August 12, and 12 more fatalities in 24 hours till 8am on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Bhutan

How do we adapt to Omicron?- Kuensel

The lockdown, now mutated to “blackout,” that started from Sunday comes with a sense of déjà vu even if it is for 72 hours. Click here to read…

Opposition raise concerns over youth unemployment crisis- Bhutan Times

While the government has pledged to create more employment opportunities for youths, the Opposition Party in its meet-the-press on Friday raised a scathing criticism stating that the government failed to give priority to job creation. Click here to read…

Wall demolished just months after completion- Bhutan Times

Just months after the constructions were finalized, the newly laid concrete wall above the Supreme Court along the newly constructed four-lane road from Chhubachhu to Jungshina has been completely demolished. Click here to read…

Maldives

Covid-19 caseload continues to spiral alarmingly across Maldives – Raajje

The Covid-19 caseload continues to increase across the Maldives, with the total case count surpassing 105,000 by sundown on Monday. Click here to read…

The tourism paradox: Is the Maldives facing an existential crisis?- Euro News

The Maldives is a tropical paradise of immaculate white beaches and spectacular coral reefs – but it might be gone by the end of the century. That’s the verdict of the country’s Minister of Environment, Aminath Shauna, who says that unless urgent action is taken to curb the climate crisis, the Indian Ocean archipelago of more than 1,000 islands could be underwater by the year 2100. Click here to read…

Myanmar

BURMESE ARMY ATTACKS CATHOLIC CHURCHES WITH AIRSTRIKES – Tampa Dispatch

A local priest slammed the attack as abominable and sacrilegious. “Most tragically, the ones who are suffering because of the brutal persecution are the people of God,” he wrote on Facebook. Click here to read…

UN seeks Thailand’s help to halt Myanmar crisis deterioration – Aljazeera

A United Nations envoy has called for Thailand’s support to prevent an escalation of the crisis in neighbouring Myanmar and welcomed assurances that refugees fleeing Myanmar military operations would be protected by the Thai government. Click here to read…

Two children wounded in ERW blast in Mrauk-U Twsp – BNI Online

The two children picked up a bomb from the field, pelted it with rocks, and it exploded while playing. Both children were injured in the blast and the home’s wall of bamboo matting was damaged,” he told DMG. At present, the two injured children are being treated at Myaungbwe Hospital, and a team of policemen and soldiers are reportedly investigating the incident. Click here to read…

Nepal

Nepal records all time high single-day Covid-19 cases on Wednesday- Himalaya

Nepal on Wednesday recorded 11,352 cases of COVID-19 — 9502 of which were detected via PCR tests and 1850 via RDT, the highest 24-hour figures reported since the onset on the pandemic in March of 2020. Click here to read…

Major airlines cancel, change flights to US over 5G dispute- Himalaya

Major international airlines canceled flights heading to the U.S. or changed the planes they’re using Wednesday, the latest complication in a dispute over concerns that 5G mobile phone service could interfere with aircraft technology. Click here to read…

Human resource crunch at hospitals could be an issue as Covid cases rise- Kathmandu Post

Experts say health workers are catching virus amid spike in cases and it could pose a challenge to pandemic fight. Click here to read…

Pakistan

PM Imran invokes Silicon Valley as model for startups: Dawn

Addressing the launch of the National Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) policy on Wednesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan vowed to take stern action against government departments and officials who created hurdles in the setting up of new startups and export-oriented businesses. Click here to read…

Opposition sees campaign behind emergency rumours: Dawn

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) suspect that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is behind such a “campaign” to distract the people’s attention from real issues and its failure on every front. Click here to read…

Chinese envoy calls on Gen Bajwa: The Express Tribune

During the meeting at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, Gen Bajwa said that Pakistan remained committed to cooperating with its international partners for peace in the region. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Chief of Naval Staff of Bangladesh meets Commander of the Navy: News.IK

The Chief of Naval Staff of Bangladesh, Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal, who is currently on a four-day official visit to Sri Lanka, met with Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne at the Navy Headquarters (19th January 2022). Click here to read…

SL, UK recognize British Sri Lankan diaspora communities in the UK: Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka and Britain today recognized that the British Sri Lankan diaspora communities in the UK are a unique asset, making a significant contribution towards the prosperity of the UK. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Minister Orders Police to Stop Unauthorized Operations: Tolo News

Acting Minister of Interior Sirajuddin Haqqani ordered Kabul police districts to avoid launching unauthorized operations and to not detain suspects or search people’s houses without consulting the ministry. Click here to read…

Earthquake in western Afghanistan kills 28, destroyed 800 homes: The Khaama Press

Deputy Minister of Information and Culture and spokesman of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Zabiullah Mujahid said that two earthquakes in the western Badghis province on Monday, January 17 killed 28 people, wounded four, and destroyed 800 homes. Click here to read…

IEA asks Norway to take lead in recognition: The Khaama Press

Deputy of the Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in economic affairs Maulaee Kabir meets with the Norwegian ambassador to Kabul Andreas Linedman and expressed hope that Norway would take lead in recognizing the interim government in Afghanistan. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

President Hamid to DCs: Don’t abuse power while discharging duties- Dhaka Tribune

The president reminded the DCs that getting services is the right of people, not an act of kindness or benevolence. Click here to read…

India’s Modi urges collective global effort to deal with cryptocurrencies- Dhaka Tribune

India has been mulling virtual currency-related regulations which were widely expected to be introduced in the winter session of the parliament in December before being shelved. Click here to read…

Govt turns down DCs’ plan to oversee development projects- Dhaka Tribune

Proposal to move Sub-Registrar’s Office under Land Ministry. Click here to read…

Exporters enjoying US sales bonanza- Daily Star

US consumers expected to purchase 30pc more garment, footwear in 2022: study. Click here to read…

(Opinion) Free our universities of suppression and violence- Daily Star

It is a matter of common sense that a university is supposed to create space and opportunities to generate knowledge, open up scopes for creative ideas and thinking, invite questions against the existing knowledge and system, and raise voices against injustice, discrimination and oppression. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Gelephu reports 15 new community cases- Kuensel

Gelephu reported 15 new Covid-19 cases from the community yesterday, taking the total count of the active community cases to 20 in the past two days. Click here to read…

Primary contacts of the positive case in Mongar quarantined- Kuensel

All 16 primary contacts of the 38-year-old non-Bhutanese man, who had come from Wangdue and tested positive for Covid-19 at Gyalpoizhing, Mongar, were traced and quarantined yesterday. Click here to read…

Imports and exports in Samdrupjongkhar resume- Kuensel

Imports and exports in Samdrupjongkhar, which were suspended after one of the frontline workers at the border checkpost (BCP) tested Covid-19 positive yesterday morning, resumed at 3pm after sanitising the area. Click here to read…

MoEA minister discusses P I barrage, Sunkosh status, Vegetable exports, power export to Bangladesh, Third internet gateway in Delhi visit- Daily Bhutan

In the first ever in person meeting with Indian ministers in more than two years, the Minister of Economic Affairs Loknath Sharma went to Delhi on January 10 with a host of issues from difficulty in exporting vegetables to hydropower to the third internet gateway. Click here to read…

Opposition raise concerns over youth unemployment crisis- Bhutan Times

While the government has pledged to create more employment opportunities for youths, the Opposition Party in its meet-the-press on Friday raised a scathing criticism stating that the government failed to give priority to job creation. Click here to read…

Maldives

Maldives still one of the favourite destinations to travel for Indians – Deccan Herald

Post-Covid, tourism in 2021 saw a deluge of Indian travelers flocking to Maldives, and this upward trend has remained consistent with the start of this year as well. According to Dr. Abdulla Mausoom, Maldives’ Minister of Tourism, India has now replaced Russia as the top source market for Maldives, with the sheer number of Indian travelers surpassing that from all other countries. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Leaked memo shows Myanmar’s junta feels legally vulnerable – Arab News

An internal Myanmar army memo surfaced last week, instructing all members of the military to not answer or even accept any letter, summons or warrant from abroad, especially where it is clear they are from the International Criminal Court, the Argentinian federal court or any of the plaintiffs in either of these casesClick here to read…

Army denies operation inside Myanmar territory -The Hindu

In response to news story ‘Three killed in exchange of fire near International border’ published in The Hindu dated January 14, 2022, the Army on Monday denied that any such operation has taken place inside Myanmar territory. Click here to read…

Karen State: 2,190 Burma Army Soldiers Killed – KNU Claims Junta Now Resorting to Airstrikes as its Ground Troops Reluctant to Fight – BNI Online

A Karen National Union military tactical commander, in an interview with Karen News, said Burma Army soldiers were showing signs of not wanting to fight. Colonel Saw Htoo K’Shaw, Tactical Commander of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) Brigade 5 said the Burma Army had suffered heavy casualties in its clashes with Karen troops and this had caused its rank and file soldiers to withdraw from battle. Click here to read…

Aung San Suu Kyi Hit With 5 New Corruption Charges – The Diplomat

According to the Associated Press, these five additional charges are connected to the granting of permits involving “the hire, purchase, and maintenance of a helicopter.” Click here to read…

Nepal

Constitutional and legal contradictions surface amid local election talks- Kathmandu Post

Some parties in the ruling coalition appear to be in bid to exploit the loopholes to delay local level polls, which have been proposed by the poll body for April-May. Click here to read…

(COLUMNS) Redrawing the map: CK Lal- Kathmandu Post

Territorial issues between countries are as challenging to resolve as claims over land ownership between squabbling siblings. Click here to read…

Ruling Parties Agree On Local Elections In April- Rising Nepal
A meeting of the ruling political parties’ joint mechanism, the High Level Political Coordination Committee on Tuesday discussed holding local election. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Bilawal sees probability of opposition parties working together: Dawn

“If they (PDM) are ready to withdraw their stance on the issue of en mass resignations and consider my proposal of bringing a no-confidence motion, then certainly there is a possibility that we can work together,” said the PPP chairman while talking to reporters outside the Parliament House on Tuesday. Click here to read…

Editorial: Vicious cycle of politics: Dawn

While the PTI government is riven by internal discord, the opposition parties are too much in a state of disarray to present any serious threat to the current dispensation. But nothing is certain given the ever-shifting sands of Pakistani politics. If conspiracy theories are to be believed the game is on. Click here to read…

Pakistan to pay Dasu attack Chinese victims: The Express Tribune

A total of 10 Chinese national lost their lives and another 26 were hurt in a suicide attack on a bus that was carrying them to the work site of the Dasu Hydropower Project in July last year. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s Tamil MPs seek PM Modi intervention on political solution: The Hindu

Prominent Tamil legislators from Sri Lanka’s north and east have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking India’s help in ensuring that Colombo addresses the island’s long-pending Tamil question with a lasting political solution. Click here to read…

India extends $500 million line of credit to help Sri Lanka purchase fuel: Money Control

India on Tuesday announced a $500 million credit line to help Sri Lanka purchase petroleum products as the island nation struggles with a massive fuel and energy crisis. Click here to read…

Xi stresses further promoting full, strict Party governance: Xinhunaet

January 18, 2022

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Tuesday stressed rigorous and unswerving efforts in further promoting full and strict Party governance. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while addressing the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Commission for Discipline InspectionClick here to read…

Xi stresses full, strict Party governance, vows zero tolerance on corruption: Xinhunaet

January 18, 2022

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Tuesday stressed rigorous and unswerving efforts in further promoting full and strict Party governance. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, vowed to maintain a zero-tolerance stance on corruption while addressing the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI). Click here to read…

China pledges to further support employment of people emerging from poverty: Xinhuanet

January 18, 2022

In an effort to consolidate its poverty elimination achievements, China will strive to ensure that at least 30 million people who have been lifted out of poverty are employed this year, a senior official said on Tuesday. In 2021, some 31.45 million people lifted out of poverty found jobs, Liu Huanxin, deputy chief of the Office of the Central Rural Work Leading Group and head of the National Rural Revitalization Administration, told a video conference. Click here to read…

China urges U.S. to compensate victims of secret experiments: Xinhuanet

January 18, 2022

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Tuesday urged the United States to offer apologies and compensation to victims of secret experiments. Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on a Danish Radio documentary which exposed the secret human body experiments practiced on 311 Danish children in the 1960s, allegedly funded by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Click here to read…

China unveils plan to improve transportation networks by 2025: Xinhuanet

January 18, 2022

China has unveiled a plan outlining major targets for transportation network development in the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). High-speed railways will stretch to a total length of 50,000 kilometers in 2025, up from 38,000 kilometers in 2020, and 250-km ones are expected to cover 95 percent of cities with populations above 500,000, per the document released by the State Council. Click here to read…

China’s ex-senior provincial political advisor prosecuted: Xinhuanet

January 18, 2022

A public prosecution has been initiated against Xiao Yi, a former senior political advisor in east China’s Jiangxi Province, over suspected bribe-taking and abuse of power. The Hangzhou Municipal People’s Procuratorate in Zhejiang Province recently filed a lawsuit with the Intermediate People’s Court of Hangzhou, an official statement said Tuesday. Click here to read…

Former official feels ‘liberated’ behind bars: China Daily

January 19, 2022

One-time Beijing vice-mayor yielded to enticement of corruption and bribery. To fulfill a dream, Chen Gang, a former member of the Leading Party Members Group of the China Association for Science and Technology, asked real estate developers to build a private garden for him in Huairou, Beijing, from 2002 to 2014. Click here to read…

PLA Xinjiang Military Command gets new air defense missiles, artillery, rocket launch systems: Global Times

January 18, 2022

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Xinjiang Military Command recently commissioned a large batch of advanced air defense missiles, artillery and multiple rocket launch systems, which analysts said on Tuesday are expected to enhance the troops’ emergency response capabilities under complicated situations. Click here to read…

China, Russia, Iran to hold joint maritime exercise: Global Times

January 19, 2022

China, Russia and Iran will hold a maritime joint exercise, media reported on Tuesday, citing the Russian navy’s Pacific Fleet, without releasing a specific time for the drill. It is not the first time for the three countries to hold similar joint exercises. In 2019, the Chinese Navy, together with its Russian and Iranian counterparts, conducted a four-day military drill on the Gulf of Oman to deepen cooperation between the navies of the three countries. The drill also conveys a goodwill gesture and exhibits China’s ability to maintain world peace and maritime security, according to Chinese military officials. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Pakistani NSA to Visit Kabul Tuesday: Tolo News

A high-level delegation of Pakistan, led by the country’s National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf, is due to visit Afghanistan on Tuesday, Pakistani media reported. Click here to read…

IEA assures transparent distribution of humanitarian aids: The Khaama Press

Officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan have reacted and denied that claims over humanitarian assistance are being squandered and not delivered to the people in need. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Discard after use: Why Washington parted ways with RAB- Dhaka Tribune

Should the fact that sanctions against RAB came only months after de-prioritization of counterterrorism by the Biden administration be taken as a mere coincidence? Click here to read…

EC dialogues close with Awami League- Dhaka Tribune

President praised the ruling party for taking initiative on EC law. Click here to read…

Grading eateries loses appetite- Daily Star

Plans to bring the country’s restaurants and bakeries under a grading system according to their standards have seen little progress in three years. Click here to read…

AL places proposals, including enacting law, to President- Asian Age

Bangladesh Awami League, during the talks with President M Abdul Hamid on Monday placed some proposals, including enacting new law, strengthening the Election Commission (EC) and using EVM like technologies in the polls.Click here to read…

Bhutan

Bajo, Lobesa, Khuru towns cordoned off- Kuesel

To rule out any residual Covid-19 cases in the community, Bajo and Lobesa towns in Wangdue and Khuruthang town in Punakha and the areas surrounding them would be cordoned off and movement restricted. Click here to read…

Schools gear up to implement coding curriculum- Kuensel

‘Alien Attacks,’ a game developed by eight-grader Chencho Namgyel Ghalley, won the mini-coding contest held in Thimphu yesterday. Click here to read…

Opposition says govt’s. chili and egg import lift not sustainable- Bhutan Times

The opposition party is concerned with the government’s interim measure in allowing the import of chilies and eggs to overcome the shortage in the country as it will affect the food self-sufficiency, self-reliance, and sustainable growth rate of the country. Click here to read…

Booster dose for all eligible population to begin this month- BBS

The health ministry will roll out the COVID-19 booster dose for the eligible population on 24 of this month. The Health Minister said the country received 150,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine yesterday. The doses will be enough for approximately 300,000 people. The ministry will announce the booster rollout plan in the coming days. Click here to read…

Maldives

Over 500 new Covid-19 cases confirmed across Maldives capital in 24 hours – Raajje

According to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), a total of 954 new Covid-19 cases and 1,958 additional recoveries were confirmed across the archipelago nation between 6pm Friday and 6pm Saturday. Click here to read…

With #IndiaOut, Maldives opposition expanding links to China – Sunday Guardian Live

Just about a year ago, on 28 August 2020, the Opposition coalition of Progressive Party of Maldives and People’s National Congress held a number of rallies across the nation to protest the so-called “selling off of Maldives” to India. Click here to read…

Myanmar

ASEAN to invite Myanmar’s non-political representative to meetings until ‘meaningful progress’ is made on five-point consensus: PM Lee – The Bharat Express News

Until there is “meaningful progress” in implementing the five-point consensus, ASEAN should stick to its decision made at the 38th and 39th ASEAN summits to invite an apolitical representative from Myanmar at ASEAN meetings, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said, according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on January 15. Click here to read…

More could be done to restore peace as invitation already extended for peace talks resumption: Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing – Eleven Myanmar

Chairman of the State Administration Council and Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has expressed his belief that more could be done to restore internal peace as the invitation has been extended to peace talks for the resumption of new paces of peace.Click here to read…

Fight between military and rebels intensifies as hundreds of monks flee Myanmar: Report – WioNews

Intense fighting between the military junta and rebel groups have forced hundreds of monks to flee temples in eastern Myanmar as crackdown intensifies, according to media reports. The United Nations (UN) estimates that almost 90,000 people have fled, with local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) placing that figure far higher at 170,000. Click here to read…

Pay your power bill or pay with your life, Myanmar soldiers warn citizens – First Post

The schoolteacher had just gotten out of bed when four Myanmar army soldiers pounded on her door. Her electricity payment was overdue, they said, and ordered her to pay it immediately at the government power company office. Click here to read…

Philippines says ‘indispensable’ Suu Kyi must be involved in Myanmar peace process – Reuters

Deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi is “indispensable” in restoring democracy to the military-ruled country and must be included in any peace talks, regardless of her conviction, the Philippines’ foreign minister said on Sunday. Click here to read…

Nepal

Nepal’s active Covid-19 caseload advances to 30,877 as 5747 more test positive- Himalaya

The national active Covid-19 caseload of Nepal climbed to 30,877 on Monday as 5,747 people tested positive for the infection in past 24 hours. Click here to read…

Province 2 named Madhes Pradesh, Janakpur capital- Himalaya

The long-standing debates on naming Province 2 and designating its capital have been eventually settled as the province has been named Madhesh, while Janakpur was chosen as its permanent capital. Click here to read…

Oxygen may not be an issue like last year, but experts stress preparedness- Kathmandu Post

Shortages of the life-saving gas during the second wave prompted hospitals to step up capacity. Doctors say there is a need to keep a close eye on the virus situation. Click here to read…

Kathmandu’s temple restoration after 1934 quake- Nepali Times

Monuments were rebuilt using Moghul style, and structural elements were interchanged. Click here to read…

Major U.S. airlines warn 5G could ground some planes, wreak havoc- Republica

The chief executives of major U.S. passenger and cargo carriers on Monday warned of an impending “catastrophic” aviation crisis in less than 36 hours, when AT&T (T.N) and Verizon (VZ.N) are set to deploy new 5G service. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Pakistan keen to work on gas project, PM Imran assures Putin: Dawn

PM Khan and President Putin spoke by phone about the progress in relations between the two countries, regional situation, Islamophobia and justification of blasphemy by some of the western countries as freedom of expression. Click here to read…

Editorial: The establishment pivot: Dawn

INFORMATION Minister Fawad Chaudhry has claimed that four senior members of the PML-N have met some important people and offered themselves as replacement for the Sharif family. The PML-N has rubbished this claim contemptuously. Click here to read…

Pakistan ‘successfully completes’ trial of Chinese herbal medicine to fight Covid:The Express Tribune

The Chinese medicine, Jinhua Qinggan Granules (JHQG) manufactured by Juxiechang (Beijing) pharmaceutical Co Ltd, is already being used in treatment of Covid-19 patients in China. Lanka invites Indian investments in infra, energy & manufacturing as Jaishankar & Basil Rajapaksa review status of loan request: Economic Times

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a virtual meeting with Finance Minister of Sri Lanka Basil Rajapaksa on Saturday. This interaction follows Rajapaksa’s visit to India last month. Click here to read…

Top political advisor stresses unity in realizing Chinese Dream: Xinhuanet

January 17, 2022

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks at a conference for heads of united front work departments across China. Click here to read…

Chinese vice premier stresses swift containment of COVID-19 outbreaks: Xinhuanet

January 18, 2022

Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan has stressed quick response and swift containment of cluster COVID-19 cases as the Chinese New Year is approaching. Sun urged local anti-epidemic authorities to stay alert, improve their efficiency and conduct drills. Click here to read…

China outlines marine-protection tasks for 2021-2025: Xinhuanet

January 17, 2022

China has unveiled a plan to specify key tasks for protecting the marine environment in the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) on Monday. Click here to read…

Special Address by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the 2022 World Economic Forum Virtual Session: Xinhuanet

January 17, 2022

BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday delivered a special address to the 2022 World Economic Forum virtual session.

Following is the full text of the address: Click here to read…

Placing Greater Emphasis on Promoting Common Prosperity for All: Quishi

January 18, 2022

Achieving common prosperity is an essential requirement of socialism, a common expectation of the Chinese people, and the CPC’s abiding goal. Over the past hundred years, the CPC has worked consistently to build a strong and thriving nation and to bring common prosperity to the people. In the early days of the People’s Republic of China which was founded in 1949, Mao Zedong put forward the goal of developing China into a prosperous and strong country. He said, “This prosperity is common prosperity, and this strength is common strength. Everyone has a share.” The establishment of socialism as China’s basic system has laid down the institutional foundations necessary for gradually bringing about common prosperity. Click here to read…

China compiles its first national five-year plan for vocational skills training: People’s Daily

January 18, 2022

China recently released a plan for vocational skills training during its 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), the first national five-year plan made by the country for boosting vocational skills training. China’s 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020) witnessed rapid development in the country’s vocational skills training. During the period, government-subsidized vocational skills training sessions trained a total of nearly 100 million people across the country, among whom more than 30 million were enterprise employees, over 40 million were rural migrant workers, and more than nine million were once-impoverished laborers. Click here to read…

Senior adviser gets death sentence with reprieve: China Daily

January 18, 2022

Wang Fuyu, a former top political adviser in Guizhou province, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve by a court in Tianjin on Monday for accepting more than 434 million yuan ($68.4 million) in bribes. Click here to read…

Former senior Chinese security official Sun Lijun charged with taking ‘huge’ bribes: South China Morning Post

January 13, 2022

Prosecutors in northeast China have officially charged Sun Lijun, a former public security vice-minister, with accepting a “huge amount” of bribes, market manipulation and the illegal possession of firearms The official Xinhua News Agency said Sun, 53, was indicted by state prosecutors in Changchun in Jilin province and will face trial soon. Click here to read…

Top Chinese law official warns of major threat from external forces: South China Morning Post

January 16, 2022

A senior official in China’s top law enforcement body singled out pressure from external forces as a major threat to the country on Sunday, saying it complicated the country’s political and legal activities. Wrapping up a two-day annual meeting in Beijing, Chen Yixin, secretary general of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, said the pressure was one of “seven-fold” challenges facing the country. Click here to read…

Beijing Olympics tickets will not be publicly sold due to COVID-19: Reuters

January 18, 2022

Tickets for the Winter Olympics set to begin on Feb. 4 will be distributed to “targeted” groups of people and will not be sold to the general public, the organising committee said on Monday, in the latest setback to the Games inflicted by COVID-19. Organisers had said in September that there would not be any international spectators at the Games, under COVID-19 prevention policies that have all but shut China’s borders to international travellers. Click here to read…

Senior official of south China’s Guangxi under probe: Xinhuanet

January 15, 2022

Liu Hongwu, vice chairman of the people’s government of south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, is under probe by the country’s top anti-graft body for suspected severe violations of discipline and the law. The investigation is being conducted by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China and the National Supervisory Commission, according to a statement released on Friday. Click here to read…

Xi stresses safeguarding national security, social stability, peaceful lives: Xinhuanet

January 15, 2022

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has called for efforts to safeguard national political security, social stability and the peaceful life of the people. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the call in a recent instruction to the political and legal work. Click here to read…

First comprehensive bonded zone on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau starts operation: Xinhuanet

January 16, 2022

The first comprehensive bonded zone on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was put into use on Sunday in Xining, capital of northwest China’s Qinghai Province. Two container trucks carrying precision equipment imported from Canada entered the Xining comprehensive bonded zone Sunday morning under the supervision of Xining Customs, marking the zone’s launch of operations. Click here to read…

China rolls out preferential policies on academic and vocational education of ex-soldiers: China Military

January 13, 2022

Recently, China’s Ministry of Veterans Affairs issued a new policy document on the education and training of demobilized soldiers, which is to be promoted and implemented in the departments of veteran affairs at all levels across China. The policy document has 23 articles covering policies of ex-soldiers’ academic education, skill training and adaptive training, all of which are closely relevant to their individual rights and interests. Click here to read…

Documentary revealing former vice security minister’s bribery sparks discussion: Global Times

January 16, 2022

A documentary that reveals details of Sun Lijun, former vice minister of public security, taking bribes from an interest group member who gave him “seafood boxes” with $300,000 hidden inside, sparked discussion among Chinese netizens after the show was broadcast on Saturday. Click here to read…

China develops world’s largest quadruped bionic robot for delivery, reconnaissance tasks: Global Times

January 16, 2022

China has developed the world’s largest electric-powered quadruped bionic robot, which is expected to join logistics delivery and reconnaissance missions in complex environments that have proven too challenging for human soldiers, including remote border regions and highly risky combat zones, analysts said on Sunday. Click here to read…

J-20 fighters conduct nocturnal battle drill to hone stealth advantages: Global Times

January 16, 2022

J-20 stealth fighter jets of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force recently conducted a nocturnal battle exercise against other types of warplanes with experts saying on Sunday that the stealthy J-20 demonstrated its all-time and all-weather combat readiness. Click here to read…

China’s central bank lowers MLF rate first time in 21 months: Global Times

January 17, 2022

China lowered the medium-term lending facility (MLF) interest rate by 10 basis pointson Monday, the first time since April 2020 and about one month after it cut the reserve requirement ratio (RRR), a move which experts interpreted as aiming to direct domestic banks to lower market interest rates amid downward economic pressure. Click here to read…

Green philosophy urged in BRI projects: Quishi

January 14, 2022

In a move to advance green Belt and Road Initiative development, China has updated a guideline on environmental protection in overseas operations, with Chinese companies sticking to environmentally friendly approaches through the entire life cycle of their projects. The guideline, unveiled on Tuesday, was jointly issued by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the Ministry of Commerce as a guide for enterprises to “implement the philosophy of ecological civilization”, as well as to “promote green and high-quality development”.Click here to read…

CPC sends clear signal for seeing Party conduct-improving campaign through: China Daily

January 14, 2022

The top disciplinary watchdog of the Communist Party of China (CPC), China’s governing party, has recently published 10 cases of violations of the eight-point decision on improving Party conduct. Five of the 10 identified violators were officials registered at and supervised by the CPC Central Committee and were mostly found to have either accepted gifts of money, played golf, or accepted dinner or tour invitations that may interfere with the performance of their official duties impartially, in breach of regulations. Click here to read…

China’s birth rate drops to record low in 2021: Reuters

January 17, 2022

Mainland China’s birth rate dropped to a record low in 2021, data showed on Monday, extending a downward trend that led Beijing last year to begin allowing couples to have up to three children. China scrapped its decades-old one-child policy in 2016, replacing it with a two-child limit to try to avoid the economic risks from a rapidly aging population, but the high cost of urban living has deterred couples from having more children. Click here to read…

China agrees with U.S. to release oil reserves near Lunar New Year: Reuters

January 14, 2022

China will release crude oil from its national strategic stockpiles around the Lunar New Year holidays that start on Feb. 1 as part of a plan coordinated by the United States with other major consumers to reduce global prices, sources told Reuters. Click here to read…

China’s economy may slow in 2022 on zero corona policy, Xi’s ambition: Kyodo

January 17, 2022

China’s economy is expected to slow down ahead of the ruling Communist Party’s twice-a-decade congress in fall 2022 as President Xi Jinping’s radical “zero corona” policy and socialist ambition are set to choke private spending in the country. Even after the end of the Beijing Winter Olympics, slated to start Feb. 4, the Communist-led government is likely to continue implementing strong anti-epidemic measures including locking down major cities and suspending all public transportation services. Click here to read…