Afghanistan

India’s assistance to Afghanistan came at a very critical time: Envoy Farid

Mamundzayjan19v30 – The Times of India

Hailing India’s humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan as the country goes through a critical time, Ambassador of Afghanistan to India, Farid Mamundzay said that India’s aid came at a very critical time, but at the same time, the country needs more help in form of development and humanitarian assistance. “India has supported Afghanistan in a very difficult time. We are grateful for India’s generous contribution by giving us 40,000 metric tonnes of Wheat, by giving us more than 30 metric tonnes of life-saving medicine and half a million COVID vaccines. Click here to read…

Pakistan begs before Afghan Taliban, urges action against TTP bases in Afghanistan – Firstpost

With the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) creating widespread havoc with almost daily attacks against the security forces, Pakistan has been begging the Afghan Taliban to prevent the banned group from using Afghanistan as their safe haven. In recent months, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has stepped up attacks against security forces across Pakistan. While most of the attacks have taken place in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, Punjab – the heartland of Pakistan – has also been targeted. Click here to read…

UN Seeks Afghanistan’s Active Role in Int’l Community: Spokesman – Tolo News

A spokesman for the prime minister’s office said on Thursday that the United Nations Deputy Secretary General, Amina Mohammed, who met with officials in Kabul this week, said they seek Afghanistan’s active role in the international community. Mullah Hassan Akhund’s spokesman, Qari Mohammad Yousuf Ahmadi, said the UN top official assured of the continuation of aid to Afghanistan. Click here to read…

US Launches Private Refugee Sponsorship Prgram – The Khaama Press

The U.S. State Department announced Thursday, 19 January, the creation of a new Welcome Corps program that will allow private sponsorship of refugees to help them resettle in the United States, read the statement. The state department said the program would build on America’s generosity of spirit by creating a durable program for Americans in communities nationwide to privately sponsor refugees from unstable countries, including Afghanistan, Ukraine and Venezuela. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Bangladesh universal health coverage indicators better than Pakistan – The Print

In a recent article in the Dawn, Professor Zafar Mirza of Shifa Tameer-i-Millat University, Islamabad and WHO adviser on Universal health coverage made some shocking revelations regarding the healthcare status in Pakistan. For instance on neonatal mortality rate (NMR), Pakistan ranks second highest in the world, i.e. out of every 1,000 live births, 40 newborns die within 28 days of life. Click here to read…

China prioritises friendship with Bangladesh in South Asia – Bangladesh Live News

The small but significant non-aligned South Asian nation of Bangladesh is caught between China and the United States both of whom want a strategic alliance with the country as they spar over superpower status in the region. The US is worried that its recent tensions with the country could turn into an opportunity for China to come closer to it. It was a mighty diplomatic challenge the other Week when the newly appointed Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang had an airport layover in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, on way to an African tour. Click here to read…

Fakhrul vows to continue BNP’s anti-government movement – Dhaka Tribune

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said that they are determined to make their movement successful by fighting against imprisonment and oppression. He was speaking at a discussion meeting of BNP marking the party’s founder Ziaur Rahman’s birth anniversary in the capital’s Ramna. He also vowed to fulfill their 10-point demand. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Indian apprehensions soar as Bhutan, China talk border – The Week

Besides underlining Indian curiosity, the ongoing January 18-20 visit of India’s foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra in Bhutan, among other things, is also one of apprehension.
Though pre-scheduled, as Kwatra will also co-chair the 4th India-Bhutan Development Cooperation Talks, the visit will try to look at the implications of the latest Bhutan-China talks. Click here to read…

Govt. can not lift observation period: Finance minister – Kuensel Online

The government cannot lift the observation period for loan accounts once it is under non-performing loans (NPL), Finance Minister Namgay Tshering said during the meeting with the members of the private sector yesterday. As per the Royal Monetary Authority (RMA), the NPL that have become performing through repayments made by the borrowers have to undergo six months observation period with no bank guarantee and letter of credit. Click here to read…

Maldives

India extends $40 million for bolstering sports infrastructure in Maldives: EAM Jaishankar – The Times of India

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said India has extended a concessional $40 million Line of Credit for developing sporting infrastructure in the Maldives, as part of New Delhi’s efforts to bring Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship projects such as “Fit India” and “Khelo India” into the ambit of the Neighbourhood First Policy. Click here to read…

Maldives polls, India’s concerns – The Indian Express

The presidential election in Maldives is to be held on September 9 this year, with a runoff, if necessary, on September 30. Solih has announced he will run for a second term, but his candidature has been opposed within his party by former president and leader of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Mohamed Nasheed, who has thrown his hat in the ring. The two will face off in the party primary on January 28. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Myanmar’s junta chief meets Thai counterpart at beach resort to discuss military ties – Radio Free Asia

Myanmar’s junta chief met with his Thai counterpart at a Myanmar beach resort on Thursday for talks that will likely focus on military relations and stability issues along their 1,500-mile (2,415-kilometer) border, according to sources in the country. The three-day meeting between Sr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing and a delegation led by Gen. Chalermpol Srisawat, Thailand’s military chief of staff, in Ngapali in Rakhine state’s Thandwe township is the eighth annual gathering for the two nations’ military leaders. Click here to read…

Myanmar bomb did fall in India but no air space violation: MEA – The Tribune

Ten days after a bomb fell on the Indian side during Myanmar air force’s operations against a rebel settlement near the Indian border, the government acknowledged the incident but maintained there was no violation of the air space. The Union Home Ministry has kept silent on the issue despite testimonies by eyewitnesses and an admission by the local police chief that such an incident had taken place. Click here to read…

UNHCR Reports Sharp Spike in Dangerous Rohingya Boat Voyages – The Diplomat

Earlier this week, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) released new statistics about the number of Muslim Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar or Bangladesh by sea in search of sanctuary abroad. According to the new data, some 3,545 people undertook perilous sea voyages in 2022, a fivefold increase on 2021, when around 700 people made similar journeys, UNHCR said in a statement Tuesday. Click here to read…

Nepal

Congress on ‘Mission President’ after its futile Speaker bid – The Kathmandu Post

With its eyes on top state posts—President and Speaker—Congress has tried to cosy up to Dahal again in order to create a rift in the ruling coalition. The largest party gave a vote of trust to the prime minister on January 10. In return, Dahal said he would try his best to accommodate Congress’ concerns in the elections for the top posts. Congress’ attempt yielded no result in the Speaker election after UML’s Ghimire won the coveted post on Thursday. But Congress leaders have said they are now focused on presidential elections in what they label ‘Mission President’. Click here to read…

‘China building dam near border with India, Nepal,’ New satellite images – Mint

China is building a new on the Mabja Zangbo river, near north of the trijunction border with India and Nepal, according to the new satellite images a geospatial intelligence researcher, Damien Symon on his official Twitter handle on Thursday. Symon stated that the project will raise concerns regarding China’s future control on water in the entire region. He said that construction is still incomplete at the site. Click here to read…

Why India Should Be Concerned Over Chinese-Built Airport At Nepal’s Pokhara Becoming A White Elephant And A Chinese Outpost – Swarajya

An air crash in its vicinity is not the most auspicious start to a new international airport. The new Chinese-built ‘international’ airport at Nepal’s lake city — Pokhara — will have to live with this blot of a disaster within days of its inauguration. But more than this ‘jinx’ which it will find difficult to shake off, the Pokhara airport may end up being a white elephant and a huge drain on Nepal’s sparse resources, much like Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port. Click here to read…

Pakistan

US wants Pakistan to be ‘economically sustainable’ – The Khaama Press

The United States wants to see Pakistan in an ‘economically sustainable’ position, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said during a press briefing on Wednesday. During the press briefing, Ned Price was asked to share his view about Pakistan’s economy as the country has less than $5 billion left in its foreign exchange reserves. He answered that this is a challenge the US was attuned to, and they know that Pakistan has been working with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and International financial institutions. Click here to read…

Want good ties with Pak but there should be no terror: India – Hindustan Times

India on Thursday responded to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s conditional offer of talks by saying an atmosphere free from terror and violence is a prerequisite for normal neighbourly ties. Asked about Sharif’s comments at a weekly media briefing, external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said talks could be held only in the absence of terrorism and hostility. “We have said that we have always wanted normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan. But there should be a conducive atmosphere in which there is no terror, hostility or violence. That remains our position,” he said. Click here to read…

Pakistan doesn’t see a partner in PM Modi: Pakistan Minister Hina Rabbani Khar – The Hindu

Pakistan Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on January 19 said her country does not see a “partner” in Prime Minister Narendra Modi for working towards peace between the two countries, but it saw a partner in his predecessors Manmohan Singh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Her comments come days after Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sought “serious” and “sincere” talks with his Indian counterpart for the resolution of the “burning” issues, including Kashmir. Click here to read…

Govt ready to meet all IMF demands to revive loan programme – Dawn

Conveying its willingness to accept all the four major conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the government on Thursday requested the lender to send its mission to Pakistan at the earliest, preferably next week, to conclude a long-awaited agreement to revive the loan programme. Another official said that the government had told the IMF that it was ready to implement decisions in line with Geneva discussions, when the Fund visited Pakistan to conclude a staff-level agreement. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Jaishankar conveys India’s commitment to increase investment flows to Sri Lanka to hasten economic recovery – The Economic Times

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday met Sri Lanka’s top leadership and conveyed India’s commitment to increase investment flows to hasten the debt-ridden island nation’s economic recovery. Sri Lanka, which is trying to secure a USD 2.9 billion bridge loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), was negotiating to get financial assurances from its major creditors – China, Japan and India – which is the requisite for Colombo to get the bailout package. Click here to read…

The inevitable geopolitical lens in Sri Lanka – The Hindu

If it’s a conversation on Sri Lanka’s economy, talking points on China and India are inevitable. ‘What about China?, What will India do?’ are questions that invariably come up in casual chats, as well as official meetings and briefings. Watching the escalating China-India contest in Sri Lanka is a preoccupation for Sri Lankan columnists and diplomats stationed in Colombo. With the crisis-plagued island’s imminent debt restructuring programme in focus, the interest in the two big powers’ responses has only grown. Click here to read…

Ashok Leyland to supply 500 buses to Sri Lanka Govt – Business Standard

The Hinduja Group company on Thursday (19 January 2023) announced that it will supply 500 buses to Sri Lankan Transport Board (SLTB). Sri Lanka Transport Board is the state owned single largest bus transport provider with 110 depots throughout the Sri Lankan island, and operates buses in city routes, hilly & rural routes and also long distance inter-city routes. These buses will help combat the heavily crowded public transport in the island nation, supporting mobility and accessibility in Sri Lanka. Click here to read…

UN human rights office urges Sri Lanka to provide full reparations to victims of 2019 attack – Jurist

Following a decision of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka last week ordering top former authorities, including former president Mathripala Sirisena, to compensate the victims of the Easter Sunday Attack in 2019, spokesperson Jeremy Laurence of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) urged the Sri Lankan government to provide full compensation to all victims, establish an independent investigation to hold responsible persons to account, and release complete findings of previous inquiries into the attack. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

30 pc decline in imports from Afghanistan via Attari ICP – The Tribune

The decline of 30 per cent in the imports from Afghanistan through the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari can be attributed to clashes between Pakistan forces and Taliban fighters on the international border being shared between Afghanistan and Pakistan besides floods in Afghanistan. The trade through Attari-Wagah route dipped as the import from Afghanistan registered a fall of Rs 1,018 c in 2022 (from January 1 to December 31) in comparison to the previous corresponding period (2021). Click here to read…

Dozens of people killed as cold wave sweeps Afghanistan – Al Jazeera

At least 70 people and tens of thousands of cattle have died due to freezing temperatures across Afghanistan, the country’s Ministry of Disaster Management confirmed with Al Jazeera as Afghans reel from a spell of cold weather amid a humanitarian crisis. The ministry said on Wednesday that 70 people and 70,000 cattle have died in the past week. Click here to read…

Qatar Emphasizes Need for Engagement with Islamic Emirate – Tolo News

Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani emphasized the need for continued engagement with the Islamic Emirate as he addressed a panel discussion on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday. Al Thani criticized a number of the recent actions the current government took but said that engagement with the Islamic Emirate was the only way to bring change in Afghanistan. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

A deepened friendship between the US and Bangladesh – Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh and the US have shared historical experiences. Both nations share a strong belief in democracy and have endured bloody wars to gain their independence. The democratic process is ongoing. The US have witnessed heinous acts of violence and racism. The American people are openly and honestly discussing these concerns, and they are speaking up forcefully to make changes in society and hold lawmakers responsible. Click here to read…

Bangladesh Sents Back Consignment From Embargoed Russian Ship – Marine Insight

On Tuesday, January 17, Bangladesh sent away a Russian ship carrying supplies for their Rooppur nuclear power plant, an incident which has left Russia dissatisfied. The move was made because of the US embargo on the Ursa Major ship. According to international laws, a country that allows embargoed vessels to dock at ports also faces embargo charges. The ship was slated to dock on Dec 24. However, the US government alerted Bangladesh on Dec 22 about its embargo status, which was relayed to the Russian Ambassador Alexander Mantitsky by Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry’s Maritime Affairs Secretary Khorshed Alam. Click here to read…

‘PM Hasina should get Nobel prize for hosting Rohingyas’ – Dhaka Tribune

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should get the Nobel prize for her humanitarian and responsible policy in hosting the Rohingyas, the speakers said during a discussion Wednesday. They were addressing the discussion “Rohingya’s: Victims of Genocide and Looking for Answers” organised by the Entrepreneurship Economics Program of the Dhaka School of Economics. The speakers also urged the international community to play a strong role in the repatriation of Rohingyas from Bangladesh. Click here to read…

Sea ‘a graveyard’ as number of Rohingya fleeing Bangladesh by boat soars

The number of Rohingya refugees taking dangerous sea journeys in the hope of reaching Malaysia or Indonesia has surged by 360%, the UN has announced after hundreds of refugees were left stranded at the end of last year. Rohingya in Bangladesh refugee camps have warned that human smugglers have ramped up operations and are constantly searching for people to fill boats from Myanmar and Bangladesh headed for Malaysia, where people believe they can live more freely. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Foreign Secretary in Thimphu days after China-Bhutan border talks – The Tribune

Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra reached Thimphu on Wednesday on a three-day visit. Kwatra will hold talks with his counterpart Pema Choden, besides calling on the country’s top leadership. He will also co-chair the 4th India-Bhutan Development Cooperation Talks. India is Bhutan’s largest benefactor and had earmarked $282 million for its development during 2022-23. The focus of the visit is expected to be on boosting cooperation in the hydropower sector, defence ties and reviewing the situation in the strategically sensitive Doklam tri-junction. Click here to read…

Maldives

India, Maldives must together ensure regional security: EAM S Jaishankar – The Tribune

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reached the Maldives on Wednesday as part of his two-leg overseas tour and with his counterpart Abdullah Shahid reviewed India’s ambitious development projects in the island that will far surpass earlier Chinese efforts at building infrastructure there. After the ground-breaking ceremony of the Hanimaadhoo International Airport expansion, Jaishankar said it was one of the most anticipated projects. He said at a press conference that another equally ambitious project, the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP), would become an “economic corridor”. Click here to read…

India announces 100 million Maldivian Rufiyaa for community development projects in Maldives – News on Air

Dr. Jaishankar held discussions with Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid on strengthening India-Maldives cooperation and took stock of ongoing development projects financed by India in Maldives. He said the MoUs and agreements are a reaffirmation of a strong developmental partnership between the two countries. He expressed happiness on witnessing an MoU between Maldivian National University and Kochi University of Science & Technology. The minister said India has handed over two sea ambulances to help the MALDIVES NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE (MNDF). He also said India has completed 23 out of 45 impactful community development projects. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Myanmar Junta Leaked Memo Shows Resistance Growing Beyond Control – Irrawaddy

Leaked minutes from a top-level “counterterrorism” meeting led by Home Affairs Minister Lieutenant-General Soe Htut show the junta is at its wit’s end after failing to drum up public support to crush the shadow National Unity Government (NUG). Click here to read…

Kokang: Caught Between Myanmar and China – Irrawaddy

One of the most unexpected developments in the struggle against Myanmar’s latest military dictatorship is the support for the resistance that has come from the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA). An ethnic armed organization (EAO), the MNDAA is based in Kokang in the far northeastern corner of Shan State in eastern Myanmar. More than 90 per cent of Kokang’s population of approximately 150,000 people are ethnic Chinese of Yunnan descent, and the region’s cultural, personal and even political ties with China have always been strong. Click here to read…

Singapore doesn’t authorise transfer of arms to Myanmar, says Ministry of Foreign Affairs – The Print

Singapore does not authorise transfer of arms or “items with potential military application” to Myanmar, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said, rebutting a report which claimed it functions as a “strategic transit point” for items that “feed” the junta’s weapon production. Click here to read…

Nepal

India stealing a march on China on rail connectivity with Nepal? – Kathmandu Post

As a Chinese technical team started a feasibility study for the proposed Kerung-Kathmandu cross-border railway, India has almost completed a detailed feasibility study for the Raxaul-Kathmandu Railway project, officials at the Department of Railways said. The two projects highlight the geopolitical rivalry between the two neighbouring giants who are competing for influence in Nepal. Click here to read…

Ghimire and Neupane in the House Speaker race – Kathmandu Post

Dev Raj Ghimire of the CPN-UML and Ishwari Neupane of the Nepali Congress have on Wednesday filed nominations for the election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The election is scheduled for Thursday morning. Neupane’s candidacy was proposed by Congress lawmaker Bishwa Prakash Sharma and was seconded by Prakash Jwala of the CPN (Unified Socialist). The Congress and the Unified Socialist, both of which had voted for Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal during a floor test in Parliament on January 10, had earlier decided to field their own candidate against the ruling alliance’s candidate for Speaker. Click here to read…

Rastriya Swatantra Party goes against its own policy as it picks plum Cabinet posts – KathmanduPost

The party has disregarded its own commitment to cutting the costs of legislatures and the executive, cutting off unnecessary positions, as they bargained for, and heartily accepted the deputy prime minister and state minister in the power sharing. The party’s change in tone and action, soon after emerging as the fourth largest force in the Parliament from its first foray into parliamentary politics, is now widely criticised by political commentators and experts. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Rice can’t cushion fall – Island

The prospect of having to face an election always fills an unpopular regime with horror and has a sobering effect on self-important politicians intoxicated with power. The SLPP-UNP government has awakened to the fact that many people are starving, and something needs to be done urgently to help them. It has decided to provide 10 kilos of rice each, free of charge, to two million families per month for a period of two months. Technically, the proposed handout amounts to an election bribe in all but name, for the Cabinet decision thereon came after the Election Commission (EC) had initiated the process of conducting the local government (LG) elections. But only those with a callous disregard for the suffering of the poor will be able to bring themselves to oppose the distribution of free rice irrespective of the government’s ulterior motive. Click here to read…

China opposes Dalai Lama’s planned visit to Sri Lanka – Devdiscourse

China on Tuesday opposed a suggested visit by Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to Sri Lanka, saying the bankrupt island nation must safeguard the bilateral relationship. A top Chinese embassy official here met the powerful Buddhist prelates in the central town of Kandy to express opposition to the visit for which no dates have been fixed yet, a statement from the embassy said. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka hopes for ‘good news’ from Jaishankar’s two-day visit starting Thursday – Devdiscourse

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s two-day visit here starting Thursday is anticipated with much hope given Sri Lanka’s crucial negotiations with the IMF to secure a USD 2.9 billion bridge loan for a bailout to come out of the economic crisis. His visit comes two days after President Ranil Wickremesinghe Tuesday announced in Parliament a breakthrough in talks with India to restructure Sri Lanka’s debt, saying the discussions have been successful. Click here to read…

Govt. goes ahead with Election Expenses Bill despite Opposition’s objections – Daily News

The government decided yesterday (18) to present the Bill to regulate election expenses, which discloses parties giving money for election campaigns, despite the Opposition’s objections. Although agreement was not expressed by the Opposition during a special meeting held at the Parliament premises with the participation of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, representatives of the ruling party and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader Rauff Hakeem, Leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Maithripala Sirisena under the leadership of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, it was announced that the Act will be presented. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Afghan Taliban For First Time Reports Threat From Pakistan: Report – NDTV

For the first time, the Taliban reported threats from Pakistan, which they considered as the safe haven from 2000-2021, independent journalist Bilal Sarwary said citing an internal memo. Taking to Twitter, Sarwary said, “A leaked Taliban internal memo reports an ISKP training camp inside Pak’s tribal area&warns of ISKP massing from Pak into Logar. This is an interesting twist in the story with first-time Taliban reports of threats from Pakistan where they once had their safe havens from 2002-2021.” Click here to read…

UN’s top woman envoy in Afghanistan for talks on Taliban crackdown – France 24

Senior UN officials have arrived in Kabul for talks as the United Nations chief voiced concern over the Taliban’s creation of “gender-based apartheid,” a UN spokesman said Tuesday. The UN delegation, which arrived Monday, includes Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and Sima Bahous, executive secretary of UN Women, spokesman Farhan Haq said. Click here to read…

Taliban (IEA) Authorities Flog Nine People in Kandahar – Khaama Press

The Islamic Emirate court in southern Kandahar has announced that nine people allegedly accused of committing “adultery and theft” have been flogged in public in this province. Kandahar province’s court of appeals announced in a press release on Monday that nine individuals allegedly accused of committing adultery and theft have been lashed in public. The Taliban authorities have not provided further clarifications in this regard. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

FM: Bangladesh’s growing economy entices US to maintain good relations – Dhaka Tribune

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday said the United States wants to maintain good relations with Bangladesh and noted that Bangladesh is “becoming a big economy”. Momen said US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu came to Bangladesh to “help improve the relationship” between the two countries. Click here to read…

US embassy clarifies home minister’s comment – Daily Star

Clarifying things over Home Minster Asaduzzaman Khan’s comments, the US embassy yesterday said Assistant Secretary Donald Lu, during his visit to Dhaka, did not indicate a time frame for lifting the sanctions on Rab. Talking to reporters at the Secretariat on Monday, the home minister said the US sanctions on Rab would be lifted soon as Lu had expressed his satisfaction over the force’s recent activities. Click here to read…

Bangladesh remains hesitant on backing Biden’s Indo-Pacific strategy – Economic

Times
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said that Bangladesh stood ready to do whatever was needed for the people’s welfare, noting that the government is still studying the issues related to US Indo-Pacific Strategy. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Worry for Delhi: China is eyeing Doklam – Deccan Herald

There is concern in New Delhi that the Sino-Bhutanese talks to settle their border dispute could culminate in Bhutan ceding control over Doklam. The Bhutanese government is under pressure from its people to settle the border. Although India has invested heavily in Bhutan, the allure of Chinese investments seems to be growing. India may need to reorient investments into people-centric development in Bhutan. Ultimately, it is the Bhutanese people who have always stood firmly with India, who are India’s strongest defence in that part of the HimalayasClick here to read…

National debt increases by Nu 7.84B at Nu 264.83B – Kuensel Online

The country’s national debt saw an increase by 3.1 percent which is equivalent to Nu 7.84 billion (B) in the last three months from October to December last year. The total debt increased to Nu 264.83B in December last year, the finance ministry’s report shows. This accounted for 129.1 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) estimate for fiscal year 2022-23. The finance ministry stated that the increase in debt was because of 8.2B or 3.6 percent increase in external debt. The external debt was Nu 237.63B as of December last year. Click here to read…

Maldives

Jaishankar to visit Maldives, Sri Lanka – PTI News

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be on a three-day visit to the Maldives and Sri Lanka beginning Wednesday to further expand bilateral engagement with the two key maritime neighbours of India. Jaishankar’s first destination will be the Maldives, where he will sign several agreements to bolster bilateral cooperation. His visit to Sri Lanka on Thursday comes at a time when the island nation is battling an economic crisis and is looking forward for debt restructuring from New Delhi. Click here to read…

Maldives confirms six new Covid-19 cases, one hospital admission – Raajje

This was revealed by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in its latest figures publicized on Tuesday. As such, over the past week, Maldives confirmed six new Covid-19 infections out of which just one was detected from the Greater Malé Region and the remaining five were reported from others including industrial islands, liveaboard vessels and resorts. No new cases were detected from residential islands outside of the capital, between January 8 – 14.
Click here to read…

Myanmar

Myanmar’s Civilian Government Calls on Neighbors to Deny Junta Jets Airspace Access – The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s civilian National Unity Government (NUG) has called on neighboring countries to stop junta warplanes from using their airspace following last week’s air raids along the Indian border. On January 10 and 11, junta fighter jets attacked Camp Victoria, the headquarters of the Chin National Front (CNF), near the border, killing five Chin fighters, injuring many others and damaging a health clinic and civilian houses. Click here to read…

HRW Urge ASEAN Chair Indonesia to Pressure Myanmar on Violence – VOA News

Indonesia is under increasing pressure to use its new one-year role as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to isolate Myanmar’s junta in a bid to end its bloody crackdown on pro-democracy opponents, analysts say. Click here to read…

UNHCR seeks comprehensive regional response to address rise in deadly South-East Asia sea journeys – Relief Web

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Shabia Mantoo – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. More than 3,500 desperate Rohingya attempted deadly sea crossings in 39 boats in the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal in 2022, according to the latest data from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. This represents a 360 per cent increase on the year before when some 700 people made similar journeys. Click here to read…

Nepal

Nepal temple prepares to gift 350-tonne stones to build Ram statue in Ayodhya – The Hindu

Two shilas (stones), around seven feet long and weighing over 350 tonnes, from Nepal’s Kali Gandaki river are set to arrive at Ayodhya, where they will be used to carve the idol of Lord Ram, said the priests from Janaki temple (Janakpur), Nepal. Interestingly, in Ayodhya, there is still no clarity if the stones from Nepal will be used to build the idol, according to an official from the temple trust. Click here to read…

PM Dahal expands Cabinet, inducts 15 more ministers – Himalayan Times

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal today expanded the Cabinet, inducting 15 more ministers from partners of the seven-party alliance. The expanded Cabinet has 23 ministers, including four deputy prime ministers and three ministers of state. The PM inducted lawmakers from his party, the CPN- MC, as well as the CPN-UML, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party, and the Janamat Party. Click here to read…

Pakistan

US lawmaker introduces bill to terminate Pakistan’s designation as major non-NATO ally – The Indian Express

A US lawmaker has introduced a legislation in the US House of Representatives that seeks to terminate Pakistan’s designation as a major non-NATO ally, and require annual certification from the president with certain conditions for Islamabad to be given such a designation. It needs to be passed by the House and the Senate before it can be signed into law by the US President, and has been sent to the House Foreign Affairs Committee for necessary actions. Click here to read…

Pakistan PMO: No talks unless India revokes ‘Art 370 move’ – Times of India

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif’s office Tuesday amended his seemingly unconditional offer of “serious and sincere talks” with counterpart Narendra Modi “to resolve our burning issues like Kashmir”, saying a dialogue with India would be possible only if the latter reversed its “illegal action of August 5, 2019” on J&K. Sharif said the UAE could play an important role in bringing the two countries to the table, adding he would hold talks with “sincerity of purpose”. The Pakistan PM said his country and India being neighbours, there was no choice but to live with each other. Click here to read…

Pakistan’s economy South Asia’s weakest, World Bank report says amid crisis – Hindustan Times

The World Bank forecast Pakistan’s economic growth to slow further to two percent during the current year. This will mark a drop of two percentage points from its June 2022 estimates, according to the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects report. The report, issued by a flagship publication of the World Bank Group, said that Pakistan’s economic output was not only declining itself but also bringing down the regional growth rate as well. Forecasting Pakistan’s GDP growth rate to improve to 3.2 per cent in 2024, the report said, “Policy uncertainty further complicates the economic outlook” of Pakistan. Click here to read…

Pakistani FM Zardari slams previous government’s TTP policy – Al Jazeera

Pakistani foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has accused the previous government of Prime Minister Imran Khan of following a “wrong approach” towards the armed group Pakistan Taliban (Tahreek-e-Taliban, or TTP). “Its policy of appeasement towards the Taliban has created problems for the people of Pakistan,” Zardari told Al Jazeera in an interview on Tuesday, adding that the former approach has been ended by his government. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka nears IMF bailout as India backs debt plan – Deccan Herald

Sri Lanka’s debt negotiations with China and India “are successful,” according to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, bringing the bankrupt nation closer to clearing a major hurdle to unlock $2.9 billion from the International Monetary Fund. The nation’s president, who doubles as finance minister, spoke before the parliament Tuesday, without providing details. Before that, a person with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg News that India formally notified that it would support Sri Lanka. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka Announces Major Cut to Armed Forces – DSM

Confronted with a severe financial crisis, the government of Sri Lanka has announced plans to slash its armed forces over the course of the year in an effort to get a handle on public expenditures. According to the Ministry of Defense, the move will see the Sri Lankan Army shrink to 135,000 next year from its current total of around 180,000. It will then fall further down to 100,000 by 2030. Click here to read…

SL forces and U.S. Marines to hold joint training exercise – Daily Mirror

The U.S. Navy and Sri Lankan Marine Corps including Airforce and Navy will commence a joint military exercise in Colombo from Jan.19 to 26. The US embassy said the CARAT/MAREX Sri Lanka is a bilateral exercise between Sri Lanka and the United States designed to promote regional security cooperation, maintain and strengthen maritime partnerships, and enhance maritime interoperability. This is the fifth CARAT/ MAREX exercise between the United States and Sri Lanka, and this year includes participants from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Maldives National Defence Force. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka, India discuss priority areas for cooperation – Daily News

Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda met National Security Advisor of India Ajit Kumar Doval on January 16 and discussed matters pertaining to India-Sri Lanka relations. The discussion focused on mutual strategic interests of the two countries and priority areas for cooperation. The meeting took place as part of the regular and ongoing dialogue between the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka and the National Security Advisor of India. Click here to read…

DEFENCE

• 63rd National Defence College (NDC) Course commences.
• India and Pakistan exchanged the list of nuclear installations and facilities.
• Exchange of list of prisoners between India and Pakistan.
• DRDO celebrates its 65th Foundation Day.
• RM calls upon other Ministries, State Governments and private sector to provide new opportunities to Agniveer.
• Raksha Mantri reviews operational preparedness of Andaman & Nicobar Command in Port Blair.
• IAF & Japan Air Self Defence Force set to exercise jointly in Japan.
• Roundtable conference for Aero India 2023.
• Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approves Acceptance of Necessity (AON) worth Rs 4,276 crore.

INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

Africa

Somalia

• The Somali government and al-Shabaab denied peace talks as the Somalian President called on terrorists to surrender.
• Twin car bombings killed more than 20 people in central Somalia.

Nigeria

• Nigerian security forces killed 30 Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State.

Afghanistan

• Taliban claimed to kill 08 IS terrorists and arrested several others in a raid in Nimroz province.

DOMESTIC TERRORISM

Jammu and Kashmir

• MHA designated HM operative Asif Maqbool Dar as a “terrorist” under UA(P) Act.
• Two children were killed in an explosion in the Rajouri district.
• MHA designated LeT and JeM’s proxy groups as “terrorist organisations”.

Left-Wing Extremism

• “Bharat will be free from Maoist menace by 2024”: Home Minister Amit Shah.
• Key Maoist leader eliminated in anti-Naxal operation on Telangana-Chhattisgarh border.
• Security forces arrested two Maoists OGWs from Telangana.
• Eight Maoists surrendered before the police in Jharkhand.

Islamic Extremism (excluding J&K)

• UP ATS arrested a terrorist from Saharanpur for radicalising youth.

Khalistan-inspired Extremism

• Khalistan sympathisers’ graffiti the walls of a Hindu temple with hatred messages in Australia.
• Canada-based Arshdeep Singh Gill was designated a terrorist under the UA(P) Act over Khalistan-inspired activities.

DEFENCE

Value of indigenous defence production.

The value of indigenous defence production for Financial Years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 are Rs 84,643 crore and Rs 94,846 crore respectively. To achieve ‘Aatmanirbharta’ and realise the goal of ‘Make in India’, Government of India has established two Defence Industrial Corridors (DICs) in the country, one in Uttar Pradesh and other in Tamil Nadu.
For more information: Click here to read…

63rd National Defence College (NDC) Course commences.

The 63rd National Defence College (NDC) Course commenced on January 02, 2023 with Commandant NDC and the Course Participants laying wreaths at the National War Memorial, as a mark of respect to the fallen soldiers. The Course is focused on National Security & Strategy, along with strands of Governance, Technology, History, and Economics. It is represented by 41 Officers from Indian Army, 07 from Indian Navy, 13 from Indian Air Force, 19 from Civil Services, and 40 officers from 30 Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs).
For more information: Click here to read…

India and Pakistan exchanged the list of nuclear installations and facilities.

India and Pakistan exchanged, through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, the list of nuclear installations and facilities, covered under the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities between India and Pakistan. The Agreement, which was signed on 31 December 1988 and entered into force on 27 January 1991 provides, inter alia, that India and Pakistan inform each other of the nuclear installations and facilities to be covered under the Agreement on the first of January of every calendar year. This is the 32nd consecutive exchange of such lists between the two countries, the first one having taken place on 01 January 1992.
For more information: Click here to read…

Exchange of list of prisoners between India and Pakistan.

India and Pakistan exchanged, through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in their custody. Under the provisions of the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access, such lists are exchanged every year on 01 January and 01 July. India shared lists of 339 Pakistani civilian prisoners and 95 Pakistani fishermen currently in Indian custody. Similarly, Pakistan has shared lists of 51 civilian prisoners and 654 fishermen in its custody, who are Indians or are believed to be Indians.

The Government has called for early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, missing Indian defence personnel, and fishermen along with their boats, from Pakistan’s custody. In this context, Pakistan was asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 631 Indian fishermen and 02 Indian civilian prisoners, who have completed their sentence and whose nationality has been confirmed and conveyed to Pakistan. In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to the remaining 30 fishermen and 22 civilian prisoners in Pakistan’s custody, who are believed to be Indian.
For more information: Click here to read…

DRDO celebrates its 65th Foundation Day.

The 65th Foundation Day of the Organisation, was celebrated on 1st January 2023. The DRDO Chairman stated that several systems developed by DRDO have been delivered, inducted or handed over to the users. Dr Kamat added that the Acceptance of Necessity (AON) has also been accorded by the Defence Procurement Boards and Defence Acquisitions Council for induction of several DRDO developed systems. Some of the notable systems include: Sarang ESM system, Light Tank, Tactical Advance Range Augmentation (TARA) kit, Long Range Guided Bomb (LRGB)-Gaurav, Naval Anti-Ship Missile-Medium Range (NASM-MR), Air surveillance radar for NGMV, Low Level Transportable Radar (LLTR) -Ashwini, New Generation Anti-radiation Missile (NGARM), Pralay, Guided Extended Range Rocket Ammunition for Pinaka, Self-Propelled Mine Burier, Infantry Combat Vehicle-Command, Anti-Personnel Fragmentation Mine ‘Ulk’, Infantry Floating Foot Bridge, Bridge Laying Tank (BLT) T-72 and ACADA.

The DRDO Chairman said that it is expected that most of the systems under trials will be handed over to the users in the coming year. He summarised that five CCS programmes worth Rs 26,000 crore and 55 other projects worth Rs 11,000 crore were sanctioned in 2022. 32 previously sanctioned projects were successfully completed. Some other flagship programmes such as Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) are also under consideration for approval by CCS.

He brought out that in the past year, DRDO has signed 145 ToTs. Towards IP protection, 160 patents were filed and 100 have been granted during 2022. The fund limit under Technology Development Fund (TDF) Scheme was enhanced to Rs 50 crore from Rs 10 crore per project. This will enable DRDO to support industry for development of more complex technologies. He mentioned that MoU was also signed between Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation and TDF to work jointly on advanced naval technologies. In addition, he mentioned that the 4th version of Dare to Dream contest has been launched by the Raksha Mantri. He informed that DRDO has now established a total of 15 DRDO-Industry-Academia Centres of Excellence (DIA-CoEs). Currently, 867 projects are on-going with academia at a cost of Rs 1,183 crore.
For more information: Click here to read…

RM calls upon other Ministries, State Governments and private sector to provide new opportunities to Agniveer.

During the event, Ministry of Defence (MoD), Ministry of Education (MoE), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MoSDE) and all the three Services signed/exchanged MoUs/ Agreements with various stakeholders to facilitate continued education of Agniveers while serving in the Armed Forces and award of appropriate skill certificates in accordance with their expertise/experience. Under these MoUs with National Institute of Open School (NIOS) and Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), suitable 12th Class certificates and Bachelor’s degree will be awarded to the Agniveers respectively.
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Raksha Mantri (RM) reviews operational preparedness of Andaman & Nicobar Command in Port Blair.

RM reviewed the operational preparedness of Andaman & Nicobar Command and infrastructure development at operational areas during his visit to the Headquarters of the only operational joint services command of the country in Port Blair on January 05, 2023. Commander-in-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN) Lieutenant General Ajai Singh briefed the RM about the geo-strategic potential of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the role they can play towards enhancing India’s influence and support to military operations in the area.
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IAF & Japan Air Self Defence Force set to exercise jointly in Japan.

To promote Air Defence cooperation between the countries, India and Japan are all set to hold the joint Air Exercise, ‘Veer Guardian-2023’ involving the Indian Air Force and Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) at Hyakuri Air Base, Japan from 12 January 2023 to 26 January 2023. The Indian contingent participating in the air exercise will include four Su-30 MKI, two C-17 & one IL-78 aircraft, while the JASDF will be participating with four F-2 & four F-15 aircraft.
For more information: Click here to read…

Roundtable conference for Aero India 2023.

Raksha Mantri chaired, in New Delhi on January 09, 2023, the Ambassadors’ Roundtable conference for the forthcoming Aero India 2023. The reach-out event, organised by Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, was attended by Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Chargé d’affaires and Defence Attachés of over 80 countries. The Raksha Mantri invited the representatives from across the world to attend Asia’s largest and 14th Aero show – Aero India-2023 – which will be held in Bengaluru, Karnataka on February 13-17, 2023. He urged them to encourage their respective defence and aerospace companies to attend the global event.

Recalling the success of Aero India 2021, Shri Rajnath Singh stated that the last edition had witnessed unprecedented attendance of over 600 exhibitors physically and another 108 virtually. He added that the event saw the participation of 63 countries and around 3,000 Business-2-Business meetings were held. He also elaborated on the huge success of DefExpo 2022 which witnessed unparalleled participation of over 1,340 exhibitors, businesses, investors, start-ups, MSMEs, Armed Forces and delegates from several countries. He asserted that the conclusion of 451 Memoranda of Understanding, Transfer of Technology agreements, product launches and orders to domestic businesses, worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore, etc. attest to the success of the DefExpo.
For more information: Click here to read…

Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approves Acceptance of Necessity (AON) worth Rs 4,276 crore.

A meeting of Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), held on January 10, 2023 and accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for three capital acquisition proposals, amounting to Rs 4,276 crore. All the three proposals – two of the Indian Army and one of the Indian Navy – are under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category.

The DAC accorded AoN for procurement of HELINA Anti-Tank Guided Missiles, launchers and associated support equipment which will be integrated to the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH). The DAC also accorded AoN for procurement of VSHORAD (IR Homing) missile system under design and development by DRDO. Further, the DAC granted approval for procurement of Brahmos Launcher and Fire Control System (FCS) for the Shivalik class of ships & Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMVs) for Indian Navy.
For more information: Click here to read…

INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

Africa

Somalia

The Somali government and al-Shabaab denied peace talks as the Somalian President called on terrorists to surrender.

On 07 January 2023, the Somali government and the al-Shabaab group denied having peace talks, where President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud called “brainwashed” terrorists to surrender to the government. “We are not negotiating with the al-Shabaab terror group. However, individuals who wish to give up arms and leave the group will undergo a process to defect and be eligible for government amnesty,” said National Security Adviser— Hussein Sheikh Ali. On 06 January 2023, Somali President called on the al-Shabaab terrorists to leave the terrorist ideology before it was too late.

Al-Shabaab, too, denied any talks with the Somali government. “I can confirm that there are not and can be no talks between the government and us,” said an al-Shabaab terrorist.
For more information: Click here to read…

Twin car bombings killed more than 20 people in central Somalia.

More than 20 people were killed, and 30 more were injured in twin car explosions by al-Shabaab on 05 January 2023 in the Mahas neighbourhood of Central Somalia. Mumin Mohamed Halane, the District Commissioner of Mahas, claimed that the first bomb went off in front of his house, and the second device was aimed at a lawmaker’s residence. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the incident and said it resulted in the deaths of 87 persons, including military officers.
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Nigeria

Nigerian security forces killed 30 Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State.

On 01 January 2023, Nigerian Air Force (NAF) carried out air strikes on four Boko Haram camps in the Sambisa forest in Borno State and eliminated 30 Boko Haram terrorists, including three commanders. The targeted camps included Bula Jitoye, Halka Kojoy, Halka Alai, and Bulamaye in Bama Local Council.
For more information: Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Taliban claimed to kill 08 IS terrorists and arrested several others in a raid in Nimroz province.

On 04 January 2023, the Taliban carried out raids at various locations in Nimroz province and killed eight Islamic State (IS)/IS-Khurasan Province (IS-KP) terrorists in a spate of attacks in Kabul city. “The raids in the capital city and western Nimroz province targeted IS members who organised recent terror attacks on Kabul’s Longan Hotel, Pakistan’s Embassy, and the military airport. Eight IS terrorists, including foreign nationals, were killed, whereas seven others were arrested in the raids,” said Taliban spokesman— Zabihullah Mujahid.

DOMESTIC TERRORISM

Jammu and Kashmir

MHA designated HM operative Asif Maqbool Dar as a “terrorist” under UA(P) Act.

On 07 January 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) released a notification designating Hizb ul-Mujahideen (HM) operative— Asif Maqbool Dar as a “terrorist” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967, [UA(P)A]. Currently, Dar is based in Saudi Arabia.

Per the notification, Dar is involved in instigating the youth from Kashmir to use social media platforms for terrorist activities. He is also accused of conspiring terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and other major cities.
For more information: Click here to read…

Two children were killed in an explosion in the Rajouri district.

Two children were killed in an explosion on 02 January 2023, and four others were injured in the Dangri village of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Another IED (Improvised Explosive Device) was recovered from the same area and defused by security forces. To track down terrorists involved in the attack, security forces intensified the Cordon-And-Search Operation (CASO) by inducting security personnel, including drones and sniffer dogs were deployed.
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MHA designated LeT and JeM’s proxy groups as “terrorist organisations”.

In a notification released on 05 January 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) designated Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)’s— The Resistance Front (TRF) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM)’s— People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF) as terrorist organisations. “PAFF was involved in terror acts and is regularly issuing threats to security forces, political leaders, civilians working in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) from other states and is involved, along with other organisations, in conspiring pro-actively physically and in social media to undertake violent terrorist acts and Jammu-Kashmir and other major cities in Bharat,” read the MHA notification.

The MHA also declared Mohammed Amin and TRF commander— Shiekh Sajjad Gul terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967. Khubaib is a launching commander of LeT and plays a key role in reviving and accelerating terror activities in the Jammu region.
For more information: Click here to read…

Left-Wing Extremism

“Bharat will be free from Maoist menace by 2024”: Home Minister Amit Shah.

Addressing a public meeting organised by Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) in Korba, Chhattisgarh, on 07 January 2023, the Union Home Minister— Amit Shah, said, “we are now on the verge of making Naxal-affected areas free from the menace. Our (BJP) efforts are to ensure that the country is free from the Naxal problem by 2024.” As per the strategy, youths who used to take up arms will be provided employment, roads, water, telephone, and electricity in remote areas to assist them in joining the mainstream of society.
For more information: Click here to read…

Key Maoist leader eliminated in anti-Naxal operation on Telangana-Chhattisgarh border.

On 11 January 2023, security forces engaged in a gun battle with Maoists and killed a top leader— Madvi Hidma, on the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border. According to a communique from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) of the Chhattisgarh sector, CRPF’s COBRA battalion carried out the operation. Hidma’s killing will be a jolt to the Maoist organisation. Being a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (CPI)-Maoist, Hidma was an expert in guerrilla warfare. Hidma was a prime suspect in an attack carried out in April 2021 in which 22 security personnel attained Veergati (fell in the battle).
For more information: Click here to read…

Security forces arrested two Maoist OGWs from Telangana.

On 05 January 2023, the joint team of CRPF personnel and Charla police arrested two Maoist Over-Ground Workers (OGWs)/couriers— P Sammaiah (35 years old) and Satyaveni (33 years old) during a vehicle checking drive at Mandal headquarters town of Charla in Bhadradri Kothagudem district in Telangana.

Security forces recovered a bundle of 200-metre wire, ten pressure cookers, some explosive ingredients, and a tractor-trolley. According to police, for the last two years, the duo supplied essential commodities and explosive materials to Maoists operating in Chhattisgarh.
For more information: Click here to read…

Eight Maoists surrendered before the police in Jharkhand.

On 04 January 2023, eight Maoists of the Communist Party of India (CPI)-Maoist, including three women, surrendered before security forces in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The surrendered Maoists were facing charges of murder, and rioting, besides other cases registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967.

“The Jharkhand government has vowed to make the state free of Naxalites. The surrender and rehabilitation policy has a positive impact. The Naxals are surrendering due to the CPI(Maoist)’s internal oppression, environment of fear, and increased police raids. Today, eight Maoists, including three women members of CPI(Maoist), who worked directly under the Central Committee member Misir Besra, surrendered,” said Inspector-General (IG) Operations— Amol Homkar.
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Islamic Extremism (excluding J&K)

UP ATS arrested a terrorist from Saharanpur for radicalising youth.

On 30 December 2022, Uttar Pradesh’s Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested Azharuddin from Saharanpur for his alleged involvement in radicalising youth through videos and terrorist literature. Azharuddin was detained for interrogation on the inputs from Lukmaan, a terrorist affiliated with al-Qa’ida in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), and later was arrested. Lukman was arrested on 26 September 2022.
For more information: Click here to read…

Khalistan-inspired Extremism

Khalistan sympathisers’ graffiti the walls of a Hindu temple with hatred messages in Australia.

On 12 January 2023, Khalistan sympathisers graffiti the walls of a Hindu temple— BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, with pro-Khalistan and anti-Bharat slogans in Melbourne’s northern suburb of Mill Park. The BAPS Swaminarayan temple released a statement condemning the act. “We are deeply saddened by these acts of vandalism and hate. We offer our prayers for peace and harmony,” read the statement.

On the incident, the Liberal MP for the Northern Metropolitan Region— Evan Mulholland, said that this vandalism is deeply distressing for victoria’s peaceful Hindu community.
For more information: Click here to read…

Canada-based Arshdeep Singh Gill was designated as a terrorist under the UA(P) Act over Khalistan-inspired activities.

On 09 January 2023, the Government of India (GoI) designated Canada-based Arshdeep Singh Gill as a terrorist for his association with the Khalistan-inspired movement. Gill has been declared a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A]. According to the notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Gill is closely associated with Harshdeep Singh Nijjar, chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF).
For more information: Click here to read…

Afghanistan

UN Employ Technology to Stop Afghanistan’s Illicit Opium Cultivation – Khaama Press

On Monday, a British University, Cranfield, released a statement indicating a research partnership with United Nations. The report said that the researchers from the University would work on a research project to help the United Nations develop artificial intelligence (AI) to support the monitoring of illegal opium production in Afghanistan. In this research program, the researcher will use artificial intelligence to interpret satellite imagery, tracing where the crops are used for drug production in Afghanistan. The partnership between the University and UN lasts until July 2023, said Daniel Simms, Cranfield University lecturer. Click here to read…

Pakistan “quietly urging” Kabul to Neutralize Taliban Pakistan – Khaama Press

Pakistan is subtly urging the Afghan Taliban leadership to counter the threat posed by the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has intensified its strikes in the country in the recent past. However, the efforts by Islamabad have yet to give any meaningful result, and the interim government in Kabul is still sticking to its earlier position that the only way to resolve the TTP issue is by dialogue, sources said, report the Express Tribute. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Bangladesh ‘key’ to India’s Northeast – Bangkok Post

Recently, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar stated that, if there is one border and one region of India which has dramatically improved in the last decade, it is eastern and northeastern India. And the reason for that is that India has vastly improved its relationship with Bangladesh. Click here to read…

Ensure none can use religion to mislead people – Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called upon Alem and Olama (Islamic scholars) to instil humanitarian values among people and guide them against terrorism, militancy and drug abuse. “These are destroying families and the society as well,” she said while virtually inaugurating 50 more model mosques across the country from her official residence Gono Bhaban. Click here to read…

Many shot as police, BNP clash in Ctg – New Age

During the third simultaneous opposition programme on Monday, at least 55 people, including five cops, were injured as BNP activists clashed with police during a rally at Kazirdewri in Chattogram. New Age staff correspondent in Chattrogram reported that police detained 16 BNP people in the area after the clash. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Kuwait Crown Prince receives Bhutan King – Arab Times Online

His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received at Bayan Palace on Monday visiting King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and the accompanying delegation. During the meeting, His Highness the Crown Prince conveyed greetings in addition to wishes of welfare and prosperity from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to the Bhutan King. King Wangchuck conveyed greetings of similar sentiments to the leadership and people of Kuwait. The two also touched on issues of mutual concern during the meeting attended by senior state officials. Click here to read…

Bhutan aims USD 5B GDP by 2029, USD 10B by 2034 – Kuensel Online

The government plans the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to double from USD 2.5 billion (B) to USD 5B by 2029 and USD 10B by 2034. This according to the government’s draft “Long Term Perspective Plan (2024-2034),” is one of the 10 drafts National Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) identified. From the beginning of 13th five-year plan, the government’s new approach would be to set Bhutan’s socio-economic development efforts over the next 10 years from 2024-2034 towards realising the Royal Vision of ‘Developed Bhutan’, according to the Long Term Perspective Plan (2024-2034). Click here to read…

Maldives

Key agreements signed to solidify Maldives-Cambodia bilateral relations – Raajje

Key agreements have been signed between the governments of Maldives and Cambodia to further strengthen the existing bilateral relations between the two countries. On Monday, both governments signed six key agreements mirroring a pivotal point of progress in bilateral relations between the two countries.President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen who is currently undertaking an official visit to the island nation, presided over the agreement exchange ceremony . Click here to read…

Myanmar

Myanmar Military’s Proxy Party Woos Votes in Shan State – The Irrawaddy

The chairman of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) travelled to Taunggyi in southern Shan State over the weekend to woo ethnic support for the junta’s planned election. Khin Yi was making his first visit to an ethnic state following trips to meet USDP members in Bamar-majority regions including Yangon, Mandalay, Ayeyarwady, Bago and Sagaing. The military’s proxy party performed well in Shan State in the 2020 general election, losing only narrowly to the National League for Democracy (NLD) despite its otherwise humiliating defeat on the national scale. Click here to read…

200 Myanmar refugees in Mizoram after fleeing strikes on border camp – Indian Express

At least 200 Myanmarese nationals crossed the border into Mizoram last week following airstrikes by the Myanmar military on a key rebel camp at the India-Myanmar border, according to an NGO helping them. Click here to read…

Myanmar Junta Census Collection Sparks Deadly Resistance Attacks – The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s regime has been conducting a census to update voter lists this month as it prepares for an election, which might take place in August. Five people, including two police officers, have been killed and an administration office and immigration offices attacked in the last week, according to resistance groups. Click here to read…

Israeli Defense Ministry, Company Accused of Helping Myanmar Military Spy on Opponents – The Irrawaddy

A group led by an Israeli human rights lawyer has asked the country’s attorney general to investigate allegations that the Israeli Ministry of Defense and a spyware firm from the country helped the Myanmar military commit crimes against humanity. Eitay Mack filed the application for a criminal probe into the activities of the ministry and Cognyte Software Ltd. on Jan. 2 on behalf of more than 60 Israeli citizens including a former speaker of the country’s legislature, academics and human rights activists. Click here to read…

Nepal

Crashed Plane’s Black Box Handed Over To Nepal Aviation Authorities – NDTV

The black box of the Yeti Airlines aircraft, which crashed a day ago with 72 people on board was handed over by the Nepal Army to Civil Aviation Authority officials today.
The Nepal Army also handed over the flight data recorder, following the crash. The twin-engine ATR 72 aircraft from Kathmandu crashed in Pokhara minutes before touch-down on Sunday. A total of 68 bodies have been recovered so far from the site of the crash. Click here to read…

Dahal to visit India in first foreign trip – The Kathmandu Post

Several bilateral meetings will precede the sojourn that will take place in late February or early March. Government officials have started preparations for Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s visit to India in the near future with the prime minister saying on Saturday that he would make New Delhi his first port of call after taking up the executive job in December-end. Click here to read…

Major coalition partners reach agreement on ministerial allocation – The Kathmandu Post

A month after CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal got appointed as prime minister, top leaders of the ruling coalition have agreed on ministerial allocations. With this development the Dahal-led Cabinet will be expanded on Tuesday. A meeting of the chiefs of four ruling parties held at the prime minister’s residence at Baluwatar on Monday reached the power-sharing deal. However, the JSP has expressed reservations over the ministerial allocations and decided not to send its ministers immediately. Click here to read…

Pakistan

PTI hints at NA return to fail PM’s trust vote – Dawn

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has hinted at returning to the National Assembly to ensure that the “party turncoats” do not help Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif get vote of confidence that the party is planning to put the premier to “test”. With PTI dissident Raja Riaz holding the parliamentary party leader’s position in the National Assembly, PTI fears that he may decide to vote in favour of the prime minister if President Dr Arif Alvi asks Shehbaz Sharif to take the trust vote. Click here to read…

‘Pakistan has learnt its lesson…’: PM Shehbaz Sharif on wars with India – India Today

Oil prices dipped in early Asian trade on Monday, but held close to the highest levels since the start of the year on optimism that China’s reopening will lift fuel demand at the world’s top crude importer. Brent crude fell 36 cents, or 0.4 per cent, to $84.92 a barrel by 0116 GMT while US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $79.65 a barrel, down 21 cents, or 0.3pc amid thin trade during a US public holiday. Click here to read…

Pakistan’s Abdul Rehman Makki, Hafiz Saeed kin, listed as global terrorist by UN – Hindustan Times

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Monday listed Abdul Rehman Makki, a Pakistan-based terrorist and brother-in-law of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed, as a global terrorist under its ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee. The listing comes after China in 2020 had put on India’s bid to name the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader a global terrorist. In June 2022, India had slammed China after it blocked the proposal to list terrorist Makki under the Sanctions Committee, also known as the UNSC 1267 Committee. Click here to read…

Pakistan: Wheat shortage, inflation trigger protests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – Firstpost

As Pakistan struggles with a severe economic crisis, protests are taking place across the country due to an acute shortage of food items. Protests were staged in various cities of Swabi district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region of Pakistan on Saturday against wheat flour shortage and skyrocketing inflation, Dawn reported. Jamaat-i-Islami workers held demonstrations at Shewa Adda Chowk in Swabi against inflation, extortion, robbery incidents, electricity load shedding and closure of compressed natural gas stations. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

India expected to send ‘positive’ message on debt restructuring during Jaishankar’s visit – Daily News

Indian External Affairs Minister of India, S. Jaishankar’s visit to Colombo on Thursday will focus on “supporting Sri Lanka” in its current economic crisis, government sources said, adding that talks are ongoing in the field of energy security, food security, currency swap arrangements as well as talks about restructuring Sri Lanka’s debt. Click here to read…

“You will have some good news soon”, Chinese Vice Minister tells PM – Daily News

A high level delegation of China’s Communist Party (CPC), led by Vice Minister Chen Zhou, Head of the CPC International Department called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at Temple Trees yesterday and assured that China would stand by Sri Lanka in the current economic crisis. Click here to read…

GCC secretary-general calls for stronger ties with EU, Sri Lanka – Arab News

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Dr. Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf emphasized the importance of strengthening relations between the GCC and the EU to realize shared interests. Meanwhile, Al-Hajraf also met with the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia P.M. Amza to discuss strengthening cooperation between the GCC and Sri Lanka in politics, the economy and tourism. Click here to read…

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

COMMENTARY

US and Russia clash over violent extremism in Africa

The United States accused Russian military contractors backed by the Kremlin on Tuesday of interfering in the internal affairs of African countries and “increasing the likelihood that violent extremism will grow” in the Sahel region which is facing increasing attacks and deteriorating security — an allegation Russia denied. Click here to read…

How Ruto can transform Kenya’s economy

Despite William Ruto’s narrow win to become Kenya’s president in August last year, the transition occurred peacefully. Now his challenge is to transform the economy in a country with numerous developmental challenges. Click here to read…

NEWS

Benin pro-government parties win parliamentary majority

Benin’s pro-government parties have won a majority of seats in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, the country’s constitutional court announced Thursday. Click here to read…

Benin constitutional court affirms election win for ruling coalition

Benin’s constitutional court on Friday affirmed the ruling coalition’s win in last weekend’s legislative election and the return to parliament of an opposition after boycotts and exclusions in previous elections. Click here to read…

Gabon names first female vice president and new prime minister

The new vice president, the first woman to hold the position in Gabon, was previously prime minister and defence minister. Click here to read…

Polisario holds leadership poll under shadow of Morocco-Algeria tensions

The Polisario movement, which seeks independence in disputed Western Sahara, started meeting Friday for leadership elections in the shadow of mounting tensions between host Algeria and Morocco, which controls most of the territory. Click here to read…

Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict: TPLF forces hand over weapons in peace move

Tigrayan forces in northern Ethiopia have started handing over heavy weapons in line with a peace deal to end a brutal civil war. Click here to read…

Amhara forces withdraw from northern Ethiopia’s Tigray region

Forces from Ethiopia’s Amhara region who fought in support of federal troops during the two-year civil war in neighbouring Tigray have withdrawn in line with an African Union-backed ceasefire, the army says. Click here to read…

Insecurity could derail Nigeria polls, election commission warns

There have been 50 recorded attacks on offices of the electoral commission nationwide between 2019 and 2022. Click here to read…

Chad says it foiled ‘destabilisation’ attempt by officers

A group of 11 officers, led by a human rights activist, was behind the attempt, according to a government statement. Click here to read…

Violence soars in Mali in the year after Russians arrive

Western officials say violence against civilians in Mali has risen in the year since hundreds of Russian mercenaries have started working alongside the West African country’s armed forces. Click here to read…

Amnesty condemns Mozambique’s ‘forgotten war’ after viral video

A video showing soldiers hurling a corpse onto a pile of burning rubble in Mozambique’s north “gives a glimpse” of what is happening in a “forgotten war,” Amnesty International said. Click here to read…

South Africa wants probe into ‘disturbing’ Mozambique clip

South Africa wants an investigation into a “disturbing” video allegedly showing one of its soldiers present while bodies were being burned on a pile of rubble in Mozambique. Click here to read…

DR Congo accuses Rwanda of ‘political’ blackmail over refugees

Kinshasa accused Rwanda of using refugees for political purposes on Wednesday, after its neighbour said it would no longer take in people fleeing violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Click here to read…

South Africa to Use BRICS Chair Role to Advance Africa Interests

South Africa will use its role as the 2023 chair of the BRICS grouping of nations to advance the interest of Africa as a whole, President Cyril Ramaphosa saidClick here to read…

Egypt vows to cut military’s outsized role in economy under IMF bailout

Egypt has committed to reducing the military’s role in the economy as part of its $3bn IMF bailout package, as the Arab state grapples with a foreign currency crisis, a weakening pound and rising inflation. Click here to read…

New Zimbabwe law threatens health workers with jail over strikes

Zimbabwe has brought in a law banning health workers such as nurses and doctors from prolonged strikes, imposing punishments of up to six months in jail for defiant workers or union leaders, state-run media and a government spokesman said. Click here to read…

Nigeria: Don’t interfere with our elections, Buhari warns foreign governments

With just few weeks to the commencement of the general elections, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday reiterated his warning to foreign governments’ representatives not to meddle in the exercise. Click here to read…

Hundreds rally against al-Shabab in Somali capital Mogadishu

Somalia President Mohamud urges citizens to help flush out members of the group he describes as ‘bedbugs’. Click here to read…

Chinese national nabbed in Tanzania for cyber fraud

A Chinese national has been nabbed in Tanzania for cyber fraud, raising concern about the global threat posed by Chinese cyber criminals, The HK Post reported. Click here to read…

Botswana court upholds ex-president Khama’s arrest warrant

A Botswana court on Friday dismissed an application by former President Ian Khama to have an arrest warrant against him struck down. Click here to read…

Why the military promised to withdraw from power in Sudan

Little more than a year ago, the military side of the coalition charged with helping Sudan transition to democracy staged a coup, ousting the civilian elements of the coalition and seizing control of the country. Click here to read…

Fourteen Malian soldiers killed in two armed group attacks: Army

Fourteen Malian soldiers were killed and 11 wounded in two separate attacks in central Mali after their vehicles struck explosive devices. Click here to read…

Nine Killed in Mosque Attack in Burkina Faso

Nine people were killed when suspected jihadists attacked a mosque in northeastern Burkina Faso, local sources said Thursday. Click here to read…

Libyan politicians’ pay goes up 40% as election impasse continues

Western leaders are losing patience with an entrenched Libyan political elite that has collectively failed to agree on the basis of elections for more than a year but has boosted politicians’ salaries by more than 40%.Click here to read…

Zambia’s Former Ruling Party Rejects IMF Allegation of Corruption Under Lungu

Zambia’s former ruling Patriotic Front party has rejected a report by the International Monetary Fund saying corruption flourished under its government. Click here to read…

Ghana increases salaries by 30 percent amid economic woes

Ghana’s government and trade unions have agreed to increase all public servants’ salaries by 30 percent for 2023, they said in a joint statement, as the country struggles to reduce debt and tackle rampant inflation. Click here to read…

US, Russia clash at UN meeting over ‘violent extremism’ in Africa

The United States has accused Kremlin-backed Russian military contractors of interfering in the internal affairs of African countries and “increasing the likelihood that violent extremism will grow” in the Sahel region. Click here to read…

Yellen leads new U.S.-Africa policy with trip to Senegal, Zambia, South Africa

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will travel to Senegal, Zambia and South Africa during the next two weeks, as the United States aims to strengthen ties with a continent that has been the focus of Chinese trade and investment for years. Click here to read…

China’s new Foreign Minister Qin Gang heads to Africa for first trip

“Qin Gang will visit Ethiopia, Gabon, Angola, Benin and Egypt from January 9-16,” spokesperson Wang Wenbin said. Click here to read…

China FM on Africa visit sidesteps call for UN council seat

China’s new foreign minister, Qin Gang, has sidestepped a new call by the African Union for permanent representation on the U.N. Security Council during his visit to Ethiopia. Click here to read…

China ‘Gobbles’ Russia’s Market Share in Africa; Increases Defense Cooperation as Ukraine War Keeps Moscow Busy

Recent statistics have indicated that Beijing’s expanding influence may threaten the Russian market share. Click here to read…

Angolan President meets Chinese FM on bilateral ties

Angolan President Joao Lourenco on Friday met with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Luanda. Click here to read…

Uganda drops Chinese firm from railway deal, eyes Turkish rival

Uganda has terminated its contract with a Chinese firm China Harbour and Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) to build a railway to the Kenyan border and is now considering a deal with a Turkish company. Click here to read…

Türkiye says 5 million tons of grain shipped to sub-Sahara Africa

Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu was in Rwanda’s Kigali on Thursday, as part of his five-nation Africa tour. Click here to read…

Why new Rwanda, Turkey deals matter

Cooperation agreements between Rwanda and Turkey lay ground for a promising trajectory towards needed development across various sectors, according to diplomacy experts. Click here to read…

South Sudan’s Kiir invited for conference in Turkey

Turkey has invited South Sudan President Salva Kiir to attend a diplomatic conference scheduled to take place in March 2023. Click here to read…

Turkish FM opens consulate in Cape Town, hails South Africa ties

Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu inaugurated the new building of the Turkish Consulate in South Africa’s Cape Town on Monday and heaped praise on ties with the African country. Click here to read…

Macron will not seek Algeria’s ‘forgiveness’ for colonialism

President Emmanuel Macron says he will not “ask forgiveness” from Algeria for French colonisation, but hopes to continue working towards reconciliation with his counterpart, Abdelmajid Tebboune. Click here to read…

Djibouti inks $1bn deal with Hong Kong company to build rocket launch site

Djibouti has inked a preliminary technological cooperation agreement with Chinese multinational Hong Kong Aerospace Technology to build a $1bn satellite and rocket launch site which could see the launch of the first Africa-made satellite from the African continent. Click here to read…

Uganda declares itself Ebola-free after swiftly turning tide on outbreak

Uganda on Wednesday declared the end of a nearly four-month Ebola outbreak that it briefly struggled to contain but was then able to swiftly bring under control despite the absence of a proven vaccine against the viral strain in question. Click here to read…

Autonomous Africa CDC a game-changer on disease outbreak response: Experts

Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention will now be in a position to assess disease outbreaks on the continent and declare it an emergency if it’s beyond one country. Click here to read…

Rain still in short supply as another failed wet season kills thousands of wild animals in Kenya

Rain has returned to the Amboseli ecosystem, but it is too little, too late for thousands of wildlife that have already perished in Kenya’s worst drought in 40-years. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

First ever India-Africa military exercise in March. Will be at platoon level: Army Chief

In March this year the first ever India-Africa Military exercise will take place and on the sidelines there will be Army Chiefs conclave. Click here to read…

30 years of India-South Africa relations: Connected with Cricket, Culture, Cuisine

As we enter the new year, South Africa marks the completion of 30 momentous years of the bilateral relationship with India. Click here to read…

Time to rebuild relations with Egypt

For India, a deeper economic engagement with Egypt acquires an additional strategic imperativeClick here to read…

Sisi’s R-Day Visit: Ties with Egypt Key to India’s Ambitions in North Africa

Egypt Prez Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s visit on Republic Day comes as India aims to expand its presence in WANA region. Click here to read…

Egypt mulls cooperation with India’s TEJAS in communication sector

Egypt is considering cooperation in the field of wired and wireless communication with India’s TEJAS, according to a statement by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology on January 11th. Click here to read…

Over 1,000 Indian peacekeepers awarded UN medals for their exceptional service in South Sudan

Over one thousand Indian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) were awarded United Nations medals for their exceptional service. Click here to read…

All-woman team from India to keep peace at Abyei on Sudan-South Sudan border

This will be India’s largest single unit of women peacekeepers in a U.N. mission since the deployment of the first-ever all women’s contingent in Liberia in 2007Click here to read…

Om Birla to lead Indian parliamentary delegation to Kenya, Tanzania

Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla will be leading a delegation to Kenya and Tanzania from 16th to 21st of this month. Click here to read…

Indian companies invest $19bn in Nigeria

The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Shri Balasubramanian, has disclosed that over 135 Indian companies have so far invested $19bn in Nigeria in the last four decades of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Click here to read…

India’s Mahindra named fastest-growing brand in South Africa for 2022

The report said that ‘Mahindra SA’ increased its sales volume by a massive 78 per cent compared to 2021, the highest of all the vehicle brands that report their sales to NAAMSAClick here to read…

Mauritius top court bars Devas shareholders from pursuing arbitration against India

According to Devas Mauritius shareholders’ contention, the Indian government had failed to protect their investment in Devas by allegedly wrongfully liquidating the companyClick here to read…

IMF chief heading to Zambia, says new debt ’roundtable’ will meet next month in India

A new global sovereign debt “roundtable” that will include China, other creditors and some borrowing countries will meet for the first-time next month on the sidelines of a Group of 20 finance officials meeting in India. Click here to read…

Azadi kaa Amrit Mahotsav’: Remembering forgotten hero of Bhojpur in South Africa

Recounting Budree Ahir’s journey, his great grandson says, “During acute financial crisis, Dadaji had helped him (Mahatma Gandhi) by giving £1000 to him in those days.” Click here to read…

Pravasi Bharatiya Samman: Mohanlal Hira is keeping Gandhi alive in South Africa

Mohanlal Heera receives Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award. He receives award for community welfare in South Africa. Click here to read…

Top West African countries supplying imports to India

Nigeria emerged as the leading supplier of imports to India among West African countries in FY 2022, with a value of $10 million. Click here to read…

India condemns ‘mindless act of vandalism’ on Mahatma Gandhi statue in Seychelles

The high commission of India has thanked the Seychelles authorities for their action in the matter and hopes that the perpetrators will be apprehended expeditiously. Click here to read…

India is adapting to new peacekeeping priorities

Peacekeeping operations have undergone a shift in the last two decades. They have become more violent and risky. Click here to read…

Airtel Africa acquires 4G, 5G spectrum for $316.7 million

Airtel Africa is a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel. The payment for the purchased spectrum will be done in local currency. Click here to read…

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

COMMENTARY

US and Russia clash over violent extremism in Africa

The United States accused Russian military contractors backed by the Kremlin on Tuesday of interfering in the internal affairs of African countries and “increasing the likelihood that violent extremism will grow” in the Sahel region which is facing increasing attacks and deteriorating security — an allegation Russia denied. Click here to read…

How Ruto can transform Kenya’s economy

Despite William Ruto’s narrow win to become Kenya’s president in August last year, the transition occurred peacefully. Now his challenge is to transform the economy in a country with numerous developmental challenges. Click here to read…

NEWS

Benin pro-government parties win parliamentary majority

Benin’s pro-government parties have won a majority of seats in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, the country’s constitutional court announced Thursday. Click here to read…

Benin constitutional court affirms election win for ruling coalition

Benin’s constitutional court on Friday affirmed the ruling coalition’s win in last weekend’s legislative election and the return to parliament of an opposition after boycotts and exclusions in previous elections. Click here to read…

Gabon names first female vice president and new prime minister

The new vice president, the first woman to hold the position in Gabon, was previously prime minister and defence minister. Click here to read…

Polisario holds leadership poll under shadow of Morocco-Algeria tensions

The Polisario movement, which seeks independence in disputed Western Sahara, started meeting Friday for leadership elections in the shadow of mounting tensions between host Algeria and Morocco, which controls most of the territory. Click here to read…

Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict: TPLF forces hand over weapons in peace move

Tigrayan forces in northern Ethiopia have started handing over heavy weapons in line with a peace deal to end a brutal civil war. Click here to read…

Amhara forces withdraw from northern Ethiopia’s Tigray region

Forces from Ethiopia’s Amhara region who fought in support of federal troops during the two-year civil war in neighbouring Tigray have withdrawn in line with an African Union-backed ceasefire, the army says. Click here to read…

Insecurity could derail Nigeria polls, election commission warns

There have been 50 recorded attacks on offices of the electoral commission nationwide between 2019 and 2022. Click here to read…

Chad says it foiled ‘destabilisation’ attempt by officers

A group of 11 officers, led by a human rights activist, was behind the attempt, according to a government statement. Click here to read…

Violence soars in Mali in the year after Russians arrive

Western officials say violence against civilians in Mali has risen in the year since hundreds of Russian mercenaries have started working alongside the West African country’s armed forces. Click here to read…

Amnesty condemns Mozambique’s ‘forgotten war’ after viral video

A video showing soldiers hurling a corpse onto a pile of burning rubble in Mozambique’s north “gives a glimpse” of what is happening in a “forgotten war,” Amnesty International said. Click here to read…

South Africa wants probe into ‘disturbing’ Mozambique clip

South Africa wants an investigation into a “disturbing” video allegedly showing one of its soldiers present while bodies were being burned on a pile of rubble in Mozambique. Click here to read…

DR Congo accuses Rwanda of ‘political’ blackmail over refugees

Kinshasa accused Rwanda of using refugees for political purposes on Wednesday, after its neighbour said it would no longer take in people fleeing violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Click here to read…

South Africa to Use BRICS Chair Role to Advance Africa Interests

South Africa will use its role as the 2023 chair of the BRICS grouping of nations to advance the interest of Africa as a whole, President Cyril Ramaphosa saidClick here to read…

Egypt vows to cut military’s outsized role in economy under IMF bailout

Egypt has committed to reducing the military’s role in the economy as part of its $3bn IMF bailout package, as the Arab state grapples with a foreign currency crisis, a weakening pound and rising inflation. Click here to read…

New Zimbabwe law threatens health workers with jail over strikes

Zimbabwe has brought in a law banning health workers such as nurses and doctors from prolonged strikes, imposing punishments of up to six months in jail for defiant workers or union leaders, state-run media and a government spokesman said. Click here to read…

Nigeria: Don’t interfere with our elections, Buhari warns foreign governments

With just few weeks to the commencement of the general elections, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday reiterated his warning to foreign governments’ representatives not to meddle in the exercise. Click here to read…

Hundreds rally against al-Shabab in Somali capital Mogadishu

Somalia President Mohamud urges citizens to help flush out members of the group he describes as ‘bedbugs’. Click here to read…

Chinese national nabbed in Tanzania for cyber fraud

A Chinese national has been nabbed in Tanzania for cyber fraud, raising concern about the global threat posed by Chinese cyber criminals, The HK Post reported. Click here to read…

Botswana court upholds ex-president Khama’s arrest warrant

A Botswana court on Friday dismissed an application by former President Ian Khama to have an arrest warrant against him struck down. Click here to read…

Why the military promised to withdraw from power in Sudan

Little more than a year ago, the military side of the coalition charged with helping Sudan transition to democracy staged a coup, ousting the civilian elements of the coalition and seizing control of the country. Click here to read…

Fourteen Malian soldiers killed in two armed group attacks: Army

Fourteen Malian soldiers were killed and 11 wounded in two separate attacks in central Mali after their vehicles struck explosive devices. Click here to read…

Nine Killed in Mosque Attack in Burkina Faso

Nine people were killed when suspected jihadists attacked a mosque in northeastern Burkina Faso, local sources said Thursday. Click here to read…

Libyan politicians’ pay goes up 40% as election impasse continues

Western leaders are losing patience with an entrenched Libyan political elite that has collectively failed to agree on the basis of elections for more than a year but has boosted politicians’ salaries by more than 40%.Click here to read…

Zambia’s Former Ruling Party Rejects IMF Allegation of Corruption Under Lungu

Zambia’s former ruling Patriotic Front party has rejected a report by the International Monetary Fund saying corruption flourished under its government. Click here to read…

Ghana increases salaries by 30 percent amid economic woes

Ghana’s government and trade unions have agreed to increase all public servants’ salaries by 30 percent for 2023, they said in a joint statement, as the country struggles to reduce debt and tackle rampant inflation. Click here to read…

US, Russia clash at UN meeting over ‘violent extremism’ in Africa

The United States has accused Kremlin-backed Russian military contractors of interfering in the internal affairs of African countries and “increasing the likelihood that violent extremism will grow” in the Sahel region. Click here to read…

Yellen leads new U.S.-Africa policy with trip to Senegal, Zambia, South Africa

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will travel to Senegal, Zambia and South Africa during the next two weeks, as the United States aims to strengthen ties with a continent that has been the focus of Chinese trade and investment for years. Click here to read…

China’s new Foreign Minister Qin Gang heads to Africa for first trip

“Qin Gang will visit Ethiopia, Gabon, Angola, Benin and Egypt from January 9-16,” spokesperson Wang Wenbin said. Click here to read…

China FM on Africa visit sidesteps call for UN council seat

China’s new foreign minister, Qin Gang, has sidestepped a new call by the African Union for permanent representation on the U.N. Security Council during his visit to Ethiopia. Click here to read…

China ‘Gobbles’ Russia’s Market Share in Africa; Increases Defense Cooperation as Ukraine War Keeps Moscow Busy

Recent statistics have indicated that Beijing’s expanding influence may threaten the Russian market share. Click here to read…

Angolan President meets Chinese FM on bilateral ties

Angolan President Joao Lourenco on Friday met with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Luanda. Click here to read…

Uganda drops Chinese firm from railway deal, eyes Turkish rival

Uganda has terminated its contract with a Chinese firm China Harbour and Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) to build a railway to the Kenyan border and is now considering a deal with a Turkish company. Click here to read…

Türkiye says 5 million tons of grain shipped to sub-Sahara Africa

Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu was in Rwanda’s Kigali on Thursday, as part of his five-nation Africa tour. Click here to read…

Why new Rwanda, Turkey deals matter

Cooperation agreements between Rwanda and Turkey lay ground for a promising trajectory towards needed development across various sectors, according to diplomacy experts. Click here to read…

South Sudan’s Kiir invited for conference in Turkey

Turkey has invited South Sudan President Salva Kiir to attend a diplomatic conference scheduled to take place in March 2023. Click here to read…

Turkish FM opens consulate in Cape Town, hails South Africa ties

Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu inaugurated the new building of the Turkish Consulate in South Africa’s Cape Town on Monday and heaped praise on ties with the African country. Click here to read…

Macron will not seek Algeria’s ‘forgiveness’ for colonialism

President Emmanuel Macron says he will not “ask forgiveness” from Algeria for French colonisation, but hopes to continue working towards reconciliation with his counterpart, Abdelmajid Tebboune. Click here to read…

Djibouti inks $1bn deal with Hong Kong company to build rocket launch site

Djibouti has inked a preliminary technological cooperation agreement with Chinese multinational Hong Kong Aerospace Technology to build a $1bn satellite and rocket launch site which could see the launch of the first Africa-made satellite from the African continent. Click here to read…

Uganda declares itself Ebola-free after swiftly turning tide on outbreak

Uganda on Wednesday declared the end of a nearly four-month Ebola outbreak that it briefly struggled to contain but was then able to swiftly bring under control despite the absence of a proven vaccine against the viral strain in question. Click here to read…

Autonomous Africa CDC a game-changer on disease outbreak response: Experts

Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention will now be in a position to assess disease outbreaks on the continent and declare it an emergency if it’s beyond one country. Click here to read…

Rain still in short supply as another failed wet season kills thousands of wild animals in Kenya

Rain has returned to the Amboseli ecosystem, but it is too little, too late for thousands of wildlife that have already perished in Kenya’s worst drought in 40-years. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

First ever India-Africa military exercise in March. Will be at platoon level: Army Chief

In March this year the first ever India-Africa Military exercise will take place and on the sidelines there will be Army Chiefs conclave. Click here to read…

30 years of India-South Africa relations: Connected with Cricket, Culture, Cuisine

As we enter the new year, South Africa marks the completion of 30 momentous years of the bilateral relationship with India. Click here to read…

Time to rebuild relations with Egypt

For India, a deeper economic engagement with Egypt acquires an additional strategic imperativeClick here to read…

Sisi’s R-Day Visit: Ties with Egypt Key to India’s Ambitions in North Africa

Egypt Prez Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s visit on Republic Day comes as India aims to expand its presence in WANA region. Click here to read…

Egypt mulls cooperation with India’s TEJAS in communication sector

Egypt is considering cooperation in the field of wired and wireless communication with India’s TEJAS, according to a statement by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology on January 11th. Click here to read…

Over 1,000 Indian peacekeepers awarded UN medals for their exceptional service in South Sudan

Over one thousand Indian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) were awarded United Nations medals for their exceptional service. Click here to read…

All-woman team from India to keep peace at Abyei on Sudan-South Sudan border

This will be India’s largest single unit of women peacekeepers in a U.N. mission since the deployment of the first-ever all women’s contingent in Liberia in 2007Click here to read…

Om Birla to lead Indian parliamentary delegation to Kenya, Tanzania

Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla will be leading a delegation to Kenya and Tanzania from 16th to 21st of this month. Click here to read…

Indian companies invest $19bn in Nigeria

The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Shri Balasubramanian, has disclosed that over 135 Indian companies have so far invested $19bn in Nigeria in the last four decades of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Click here to read…

India’s Mahindra named fastest-growing brand in South Africa for 2022

The report said that ‘Mahindra SA’ increased its sales volume by a massive 78 per cent compared to 2021, the highest of all the vehicle brands that report their sales to NAAMSAClick here to read…

Mauritius top court bars Devas shareholders from pursuing arbitration against India

According to Devas Mauritius shareholders’ contention, the Indian government had failed to protect their investment in Devas by allegedly wrongfully liquidating the companyClick here to read…

IMF chief heading to Zambia, says new debt ’roundtable’ will meet next month in India

A new global sovereign debt “roundtable” that will include China, other creditors and some borrowing countries will meet for the first-time next month on the sidelines of a Group of 20 finance officials meeting in India. Click here to read…

Azadi kaa Amrit Mahotsav’: Remembering forgotten hero of Bhojpur in South Africa

Recounting Budree Ahir’s journey, his great grandson says, “During acute financial crisis, Dadaji had helped him (Mahatma Gandhi) by giving £1000 to him in those days.” Click here to read…

Pravasi Bharatiya Samman: Mohanlal Hira is keeping Gandhi alive in South Africa

Mohanlal Heera receives Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award. He receives award for community welfare in South Africa. Click here to read…

Top West African countries supplying imports to India

Nigeria emerged as the leading supplier of imports to India among West African countries in FY 2022, with a value of $10 million. Click here to read…

India condemns ‘mindless act of vandalism’ on Mahatma Gandhi statue in Seychelles

The high commission of India has thanked the Seychelles authorities for their action in the matter and hopes that the perpetrators will be apprehended expeditiously. Click here to read…

India is adapting to new peacekeeping priorities

Peacekeeping operations have undergone a shift in the last two decades. They have become more violent and risky. Click here to read…

Airtel Africa acquires 4G, 5G spectrum for $316.7 million

Airtel Africa is a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel. The payment for the purchased spectrum will be done in local currency. Click here to read…

NATIONAL

Minister for Electronics and IT launched ‘Stay Safe Online’ campaign & ‘G20 Digital Innovation Alliance’ as part of Bharat’s G20 Presidency.

On 28 December 2022, the Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Communications and Railways— Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the ‘Stay Safe Online’ campaign and the ‘G20 Digital Innovation Alliance’ (G20-DIA). Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is the nodal ministry for the G20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) and has represented Bharat in numerous working groups and ministerial sessions during previous presidencies. In Bharat’s tenure of G20 Presidency, MeitY will focus on three areas— i) Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), ii) Cyber Security, and iii) Digital Skill Development (DSD).

Addressing the event, the Minister said, “Bharat [India] believes in the philosophy of inclusion. Bharat’s population scale and open source ‘public digital platforms’ such as UPI and Aadhaar have delivered economic and social inclusion and spurred innovation. The two campaigns launched today have the humanitarian way of thinking.”

The objective of the ‘Stay Safe Online’ campaign is to raise awareness among Internet users about how to stay safe while surfing the web. This campaign will make citizens of all ages, particularly children, students, women, senior citizens, the disabled, teachers, faculty, Central/State Government officials, and others, aware of the cyber risk and how to deal with it. To reach a wider audience, the campaign will be carried out in Hindi, English, and local languages. ^[1]

MoS for Electronics and IT held public consultation with over 200 stakeholders on the DPDP Bill 2022

On 23 December 2022, the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship— Rajeev Chandrasekhar met over 200 stakeholders to discuss and deliberate on the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill 2022. Public consultations were open until 02 January 2023. The attendees included representatives from industry, think-tanks, law firms, consumer and citizen rights group. “Bill will act as a kinetic enabler for personal data protection while catalysing data led innovation and start-up ecosystem. Post the bill, the intermediaries will have to go for deep behavioural changes, and it will no longer be business as usual for them,” said MoS Chandrasekhar.

The stakeholders made numerous suggestions regarding various clauses of the Bill, such as the penalty regime for data fiduciaries, obtaining parental consent for children, cross-border data flows, and consent managers and how the government intends to regulate them, among many others. The Minister also clarified the deemed consent clause for government data access. ^[2]

“Bharat (India) will chart its own course on the future of Internet”: MoS Chandrasekhar

Speaking at a session at the India Global Forum held in Dubai, UAE, on 14 December 2022, the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship— Rajeev Chandrasekhar said over 820 million Internet users deserve to have their own way to decide what kind of internet they want. “European GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is considered a gold standard for privacy and data protection. But we [Bharat] would like to disagree. With more than 820 million internet users, we have the largest presence on global internet and deserve an opportunity to shape our own destiny. We will chart our own course and build a framework suitable for us,” said MoS Chandrasekhar.

On Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill 2022, the Minister said that “protecting the digital rights of our citizens is an obligation of the Government. But we do not see this as a binary at the expense of slowing down the ecosystem for innovation that exists in India (Bharat) and in partnerships with other countries. The Government would not strongly regulate the Internet but is committed to the principles of open, safe, trusted and accountable internet.” ^[3]

CERT-In issued advisory on multiple vulnerabilities in Apple iOS and iPdOS

On 15 December 2022, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) issued an advisory on multiple vulnerabilities reported in Apple iOS and iPadOS which could allow remote attacker(s) to gain access to sensitive information, execute arbitrary code, spoof the UI, gain elevated privileges, bypass security restrictions or cause denial of service conditions on the targeted system. The vulnerabilities exists in the Accounts, Apple Mobile File Integrity, Core Services, GPU Services, among other components of Apple iOS and iPadOS.

Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow the attacker(s) gain access to sensitive information, execute arbitrary code, spoof the UI, and bypass security restrictions on the targeted system. ^[4]
As solutions, the advisory suggests users to apply appropriate software updates as mentioned in Apple’s security updates at: Click here to read…

Tata Group to invest USD 90 billion over 5 years into chip manufacturing in Bharat

In an interview with Nikkei Asia on 08 December 2022, the Tata Sons chairman— Natarajan Chandrasekaran informed the Tata Group plans to begin production of Semiconductors in Bharat in next few years, in order to make the country an essential part of global chip supply chains. Tata Group already have announced a semiconductor design and development partnership with Renesas Electronics, Japan, in June 2022.

According to the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association, the semiconductor market will more than double to USD 64 billion between 2021 and 2026. The ongoing ‘disengagement’ between the United States and China in chip-related technology is causing major chipmakers to seek more diverse supply-chain locations. The Government of India and Tata Group are both looking to capitalise on this shift in order to position Bharat as a new semiconductor hub. The chairman also announced a USD 90 billion investment over the next five years as part of that effort. Aside from semiconductors, the company is in the process of launching new businesses such as electric vehicle (EV) and EV battery production, renewable energy production, and the development of ‘super apps’ that allow users to purchase goods and services ranging from groceries to financial products. ^[5]

Since 2018, stolen data of 6,00,000 Indians sold on Bot markets, claimed study by Nord VPN

According to the study conducted by one of the world’s largest VPN service providers— NordVPN, since 2018, around five million people worldwide, including 6,00,000 Indians, had their data stolen and sold on the Bot market. Bot markets are used by hackers to sell stolen data from victims’ devices with bot malware. The stolen data included user logins, cookies, digital fingerprints, screenshots and other information, with the average price for the digital identity of a person at ₹490 Indian rupees (USD 6.03/USD 1=₹81.14).

As reported by The Times of India, a week after the ransomware attack on AIIMS in November 2022, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) faced around 6,000 hacking attempts within 24 hours. ^[6]
Bharat’s cybersecurity rules have tightened in 2022, with the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) requiring tech companies to report data breaches within six hours of noticing such incidents and to maintain IT and communications logs for six months. ^[7]

INTERNATIONAL

Hackers claimed to stole data from multiple electric utilities in a ransomware attack in the US

An unidentified group of hackers claimed to stole data belonging to multiple electric utilities of US government contractor, in a ransomware attack held in October 2022. In a memo distributed to power company executives in December 2022 by the North American Grid Regulator’s Cyber-Threat Sharing Centre, it is stated that while private investigators searched the Dark Web for stolen data, US Federal officials kept an eye on the incident for any potential wider effects on the US power sector.

An engineering firm— Sargent & Lundy, with offices in Chicago, was the target of the ransomware attack. The company has designed over 900 power plants and thousands of kilometres of power lines, and holds sensitive project data. According to the memo shared by the Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Centre, there is no indication that the “model files” and “transmission data” that Sargent & Lundy used for utility projects, which were stolen, are available on the Dark Web. ^[8]

LockBit ransomware gang claimed cyber-attack on Port of Lisbon Administration

On 25 December 2022, LockBit ransomware gang carried out a cyber-attack on Port of Lisbon Administration (APL) and claimed to steal financial reports, audits, budgets, cargo information, ship logs, customer PII (personal identifiable information), and more. According to the statement released by APL, “cyber-attack did not impact the port’s operations. All safety protocols and response measures provided for this type of occurrence were quickly activated, the situation being monitored by the National Cybersecurity Center and the Judicial Police.”

The ransomware gang demanded the ransom of USD 15,00,000 and also gave the possibility to delay the publication of the data by 24 hours by paying USD 1,000. The LockBit gang is currently at the third version of their encryptor that powers the notorious RaaS (Ransomware as a Service) project, and one of the most prolific gangs of 2022. ^[9]

International Police shut down 48 DDoS-for-hire services, arrested 07 alleged administrators

The Europol, on 15 December 2022, announced that the International Police shut down around 48 popular websites, mainly Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS), that allowed paying users to launch DDoS attacks, and arrested seven alleged administrators of these websites. According to the US Department of Justice (DOJ), the accused disguised their sites as services that could be used for network testing but actually sought money for conducting DDoS operations against educational institutions, government agencies, gaming platforms, and millions of individuals worldwide. DDoS function by flooding websites with spam traffic, rendering them inaccessible.

The Operation— “Power Off” operation was carried out by law enforcement authorities in the US, the UK, Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands. According to the DOJ, the takedown occurred less than two weeks before the Christmas holiday, which normally results in a large rise in DDoS attacks across the gaming sector. ^[10]

US extended ban on military and surveillance tech sales to China

On 15 December 2022, the US administration extended a ban on commercial exports of advanced US technology that it said “aids Beijing’s military and hypersonic programs and enables Human Rights violations. The decisions come a month after US President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Bali to try to put a “floor” under the relationship’s downward spiral. The Chinese government has accused the US administration of abusing export regulations in order to wantonly hinder and handicap Chinese firms and keep its sci-fi hegemony.

The Entity List includes 36 Chinese firms that are effectively prohibited from getting US technology. All but one, a Chinese subsidiary based in Japan, are based in China. Significantly, 21 of the newly listed corporations are also subject to a new regulation— Foreign Direct Product Rule (FDPR), which prohibits foreign companies from selling to Chinese entities anything manufactured with American technology or equipment. ^[11]

US National Cyber Director visited Japan to bolster digital cooperation

In December 2022, the United States’ National Cyber Director— Chris Inglis visited Japan to advise government officials posted there on strengthening cyber security defences. The visit was an effort to improve cyber security cooperation with a key alley (Japan) in Asia amid a strained relationship between the US and China. According to Mark Montgomery, former executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) and current director of the Centre on Cyber and Technology Innovation (CTI) at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), the Biden administration wants to encourage all friendly nations to speed up their investments in cybersecurity. “Boosting cybersecurity collaboration with Japan is crucial for the US amid increasing cyber threats from China, North Korea, and Russia,” said Atlantic Council Cyber Statecraft Initiative Program Assistant Jen Roberts. ^[12]

Endnotes :

^[1] “Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw launches ‘Stay Safe Online’ Campaign and ‘G20 Digital Innovation Alliance’ as part of India’s G20 Presidency”, Press Information Bureau- Ministry of Electronics and IT, 28 December 2022, accessed on 02 January 2023, available from: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1887114
^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]}

Afghanistan

Bombing Near Foreign Ministry Triggers Widespread Reactions: Tolo News

The bombing near the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul on Wednesday triggered widespread reactions at national and international levels. Kabul security department said the attack left five people dead and many others wounded. Daesh claimed responsibility for the attack, according to a website affiliated to the group. Former president Hamid Karzai in a tweet “strongly” condemned the attack and called it a terrorist act and said it is against human and Islamic values. Click here to read…

Pakistani, Afghan Foreign Ministers Make Telephone Conversation: The Khaama Press

Amir Khan Muttaqi the Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan had a telephone conversation with his Pakistani counterpart, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari earlier today. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister in a special telephone conversation with Amir Khan Muttaqi the Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan discussed the brutal attack which took place near the entrance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, resulting in the death and injury of scores of Afghan people. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

First phase of Bishwa Ijtema begins Friday – Dhaka Tribune

The first phase of the Bishwa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of the Muslims, will begin on the bank of the Turag River at Tongi, on the outskirts of the city on Friday. The first phase of the Ijtema will begin with ‘Aam Bayan’ (general sermons) by noted scholars after Fazr prayers on the day that will end with Akheri Munajat (final prayers) on Sunday. The second phase of the Ijtema, however, will begin on January 20 at the same venue and it is scheduled to end with Akheri Munajat on January 22. Click here to read…

US assistant secretary Lu arrives on Saturday – New Age

The United States assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs, Donald Lu, is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Saturday on a two-day visit to discuss a range of issues relating to energy, security cooperation, religious freedom, labour and human rights, among others. Click here to read…

When the American Nightmare kills a Bangladeshi Dream – The Daily Star

In a tragic turn of events, a young Bangladeshi student, Sayed Arif Faisal, was fatally shot to death by police in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, on January 4. This has spurred protests and enraged the Bangladeshi community living in the US state. The Bangladesh Association of New England (BANE), which described the death as a “racist incident by white police officers,” strongly denounced the “brutal killing” and demanded a fair probe of the incident and punishment of the police officer who opened fire. Click here to read…

A Looming Economic Crisis in Bangladesh

Today, Bangladesh faces the combined impact of declining global demand for its ready-made garments (RMG) exports, a collapse in remittances, rapidly falling foreign exchange reserves to stabilize the volatility of the Bangladeshi taka, concerns with the demand-supply gaps in the energy markets, and inflationary tendencies in the domestic economy. These difficulties caused Bangladesh to seek a precautionary International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan of $ 4.5 billion in July 2022. Click here to read…

Bhutan

BTP positions itself as a unique party – Kuensel Online

Voters will have more choices, with Bhutan Tendrel Party (BTP) being formally registered by the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) as the sixth political party in the country. The ECB officially registered BTP on January 9 to contest the 2023 parliamentary elections and handed over the approval and certificate yesterday. The party applied for registration on November 30, last year. Click here to read…

Nepal

China exerting pressure on a reluctant Nepal to join the Belt and Road Initiative: Report – OpIndia

Leaving the airport project aside China had also put its hands into Damak Industrial Park and Kerung-Kathmandu railway project and they are stranded as the work of these projects has not yet progressed and the work on Damak Industrial Park in Jhapa has not yet begun, according to the same Epardafas report. According to the agreement for the Jhapa project, the construction period of the park will take ten years and the Chinese will operate the park for 40 years, and then only it will be handed over to Nepal. It is claimed that this project will improve the economic condition of the country, and provide employment for one lakh people, according to the same report. Click here to read…

Nepali Congress preparing to contest President and Speaker elections – The Kathmandu Post

Congress leaders say that the party will sit on the opposition bench, despite extending support to the Dahal government, it is also eyeing the plum posts of President and Speaker. On Thursday, a meeting of the party’s present and former office bearers decided to hold talks with other parties about the Speaker and deputy Speaker elections. At an all-party meeting on Sunday, the political parties represented in the House had agreed to elect the Speaker and deputy Speaker on January 21 and 22, respectively. Click here to read…

UML chairman Oli meets Nepal’s PM Prachanda, discuss cabinet expansion – The Print

Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” and CPN-UML chairman K P Sharma Oli met on Thursday and discussed issues relating to cabinet expansion as well as the latest political developments. Oli reached the PM’s official residence at Baluwatar to meet Prachanda. The two leaders, who have agreed to lead the government on a rotation basis, mainly discussed matters relating to expansion of cabinet and power-sharing, CPN-Maoist Centre secretary Ganesh Shah said. Click here to read…

Nepal requests more doses of Covid vaccines from Gavi – Online Khabar

The government has sought additional 1.5 million doses of the Covid vaccines to administer booster doses in view of increasing infection in neighbouring countries. The Ministry of Health and Population today wrote to the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (Gavi) for additional dispatch of vaccines. Sagar Dahal, the chief of the Child Health and Immunisation Section, Child Welfare Division, the Department of Health Services, confirmed the writing of a letter to the vaccine alliance for additional doses of vaccines. Click here to read…

Maldives

BML has played a pivotal role in Maldives’ economy over the past 40 years: BML Chairperson – Raajje

The Bank of Maldives (BML) has played a pivotal role in the economy of the Maldives in the past 40 years, says the bank’s Chairperson, Yooshau Saeed. Yooshau made these remarks while speaking at an event the country’s national bank held on Thursday evening to celebrate its 40th anniversary at Crossroads. Shedding light on BML’s operations upon inception back in 1982 with just 10 employees dedicated to raising public awareness on general banking, traveling to the atolls to ensure accessible services, Yooshau noted that the bank has since developed to become the largest bank in the archipelago nation. Click here to read…

World Bank, Maldives Establish Country Partnership Framework – Mirage News

The World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors today discussed the new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) 2023-2027 for Maldives, which aims to support the country to achieve a green, resilient, and inclusive high-growth future. The new five-year strategy lays out key areas for work by the World Bank Group’s member organizations, including the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) which focuses on the private sector in developing countries, and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) which offers political risk insurance and credit enhancement guarantees. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Myanmar military targets rebel camp in strikes along Mizoram border; bombs hit Indian village – Times Now News

The bombardment of a significant insurgent camp by the Myanmar military on the border with Mizoram on Tuesday has caused dread and panic in Mizoram state’s Champhai district near to the camp. At least one shell landed on the Indian side, as per media reports. According to a Champhai district official, there were no casualties, although a truck on a river bank near to the border sustained damage. Click here to read…

Myanmar navy commissions five new vessels, continues modernization efforts on annual navy day celebration – Shephard Media

Myanmar’s navy continued the tradition of commissioning new platforms during its annual navy day celebrations, which last year occurred on 24 December, the force’s 75th anniversary. Unlike similar events in 2020 and 2021 that saw the commissioning of submarines amongst other platforms, the 2022 event was a relatively low-key affair that saw the Myanmar Navy add five vessels. Click here to read…

Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge reopens three years after closure during Covid-19 – Asia News Network

Senior officials from both sides of the border took part in a ceremony held on the bridge to mark the reopening. Tak Governor Somchai Kitcharoenrungroj joined his Myanmar counterpart U Zaw Tin at the long-awaited reopening of the bridge. Among those attending the ceremony were customs officials, immigration officers, police and military officers, local administrators, public health officials, and local business leaders. Local officials from Thailand and Myanmar had convened many meetings in preparation for the bridge’s reopening. Click here to read…

Pakistan

UAE’s $3b lifeline averts imminent default: The Express Tribune

The UAE on Thursday agreed to provide a $3 billion lifeline to Pakistan in the shape of a rollover of the existing debt and new financing – helping Islamabad avoid defaulting on its loans for a couple of more months.Click here to read…

Political chessboard: PTI’s Imran emerged victorious: The Express Tribune

Despite strong pressure and other tactics, the PML-N led federal government along with the ‘powerful circles’ were unable to refrain Elahi from taking a vote of confidence in the Punjab Assembly. A senior PML-N leader told The Express Tribune that all efforts by his party to convince the PTI lawmakers to switch their loyalties had been in vain. He also conceded that the Punjab CM taking a vote of confidence was a major surprise for his party. Click here to read…

Elahi signs summary for PA dissolution: PTI sets sights on Punjab interim set-up: The News

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi Thursday sent an advice to the governor for the dissolution of the provincial assembly. According to the Constitution, after advice is sent by the chief minister, the assembly would stand dissolved within 48 hours even if the governor did not sign the summary. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Former President, Ex-Defence Secretary, Ex-IGP and Ex-Intelligence Chiefs found guilty – Daily News

The Supreme Court yesterday ruled that Former President Maithripala Sirisena, former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara, former Chief of State Intelligence Service Nilantha Jayawardena, former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, former National Intelligence Chief Sisira Mendis have violated the fundamental rights of the petitioners by failing to act to prevent the Easter Sunday attacks despite receiving intelligence information and ordered to pay a compensation of Rs.310 million personally. Click here to read…

China – Sri Lanka’s true friend – Prime Minister – Daily News

Whenever Sri Lanka needed help, China was with us as a true friend, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said yesterday (12) while participating at the opening of the China Sri Lanka Friendship Information Technology Centre in Boralugoda, Kosgama with the assistance of the Chinese Government. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka given six more months to repay Bangladesh’s $200 million loan

Bangladesh Bank today granted Sri Lanka six more months to repay the $200 million loan after the Island nation requested to extend the repayment period due to its prolonged economic crisis. A senior official of the central bank, on condition of anonymity, said the board of directors of Bangladesh Bank has extended the repayment tenure. The Island nation, which has been facing an acute greenback shortage for months, borrowed $200 million from Bangladesh in May 2021. The country was scheduled to repay the loans by April last year, but it failed to do so. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka keen to import ethanol from India

Indian Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said that Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have shown their keenness to import ethanol from India. “I was able to discuss this matter with PM of Bangladesh and even the Sri Lankan minister. Both are keenly interested about import of ethanol from India for adding ethanol into petrol in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka,” Gadkari said while addressing the CII Conference on Bio-Energy. The minister also said that in 15 days he has a meeting with Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, where a discussion would be made on making a policy for starting of ethanol pumps in the country. Click here to read…

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

COMMENTARY

Africa needs reliable and resilient healthcare system: How India can deliver it

It is crucial to strengthen cooperation between Indian healthcare providers and African partners in areas like capacity building, the establishment of hospitals, and investment in telemedicine, given the significance of India in providing medicines to Africa. Click here to read…

Lessons from South Africa: The fading Gandhi-Mandela legacy

“Papa, I want to leave South Africa. I see no future for myself here. I’ll go abroad for studies and to live the rest of my life.” This is what the 16-year-old son of an Indian academic in Cape Town told his father. Click here to read…

NEWS

Benin holds parliamentary election set to test democracy

Voters in Benin go to the polls on Sunday for a parliamentary election seen as a test of democracy as opposition parties are back on the ballot after boycotting or being excluded from the most recent presidential and legislative votes. Click here to read…

Ethiopia sets out on long road to peace after two years of war

A year that began with no end in sight for one of the world’s deadliest conflicts finished on a note of cautious optimism in Ethiopia’s northern region of Tigray after a November ceasefire agreement. Click here to read…

Final round of Sudan’s political process set to start Sunday

The final stage of Sudan’s political process is set to kick off on Sunday, according to the country’s trilateral mechanism body. Click here to read…

Burkina Faso’s military regime expels French ambassador

Burkina Faso’s military junta has expelled France’s ambassador, authorities said Monday, amid a surge in anti-French sentiment as the West African country moves to develop closer ties with Russia. Click here to read…

Libyan govt ready to hold elections in 2023: PM

Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamed Dbeibah said his government is ready to hold general elections this year. Click here to read…

Arab League welcomes joint Libyan declaration on election road map

The Arab League on Friday welcomed a Libyan joint statement agreeing to draw a “clear and specified” road map to hold long-awaited elections. Click here to read…

‘Destabilization’ plot foiled, 11 officers indicted, says Chad

An attempt to destabilize Chad has been defeated, authorities in the Central African nation have announced, adding that 11 army officers were indicted over their alleged roles in the bid that took place last month. Click here to read…

After Yet Another Coup Attempt, It’s Time for The Gambia to Demilitarize

About two weeks ago, someone called me and said there were rumors of a failed attempt to stage a coup d’etat in The Gambia. Click here to read…

Sudan shuts border with Central African Republic amid heightened security presence

Sudan closed its border with the Central African Republic (CAR) and sent military reinforcements to frontier areas, local media reported on Thursday. Click here to read…

Morocco links Israel embassy to W Sahara recognition: Report

Morocco has demanded that Israel recognise its sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara before Rabat opens an embassy in Tel Aviv, the news outlet Axios has reported, citing four current and former Israeli officials involved in the matter. Click here to read…

Ethnic clashes hit Somaliland ahead of this year’s elections

Kenyan Member of Parliament has been accused of inciting the violence to stop Somaliland from being recognised as an independent entity. Click here to read…

Somalia for 1st time claims Al Shabab extremists seek talks

Somalia’s government claimed on Saturday that the Al Shabab extremist group has for the first time asked to open negotiations, amid a military offensive the government has described as “total war.” Click here to read…

U.N. internal report flags east Congo rebels flouting ceasefire and withdrawal deal

United Nations intelligence analysts have spotted suspected movements by M23 rebels in parts of eastern Congo from which they were meant to have withdrawn and signs the armed group has seized ground in other areas, internal U.N. documents showed on Thursday. Click here to read…

Tanzania’s Government Lifts Ban on Political Rallies

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has lifted a six-year-old ban on political rallies. Her predecessor, the late John Magufuli, banned public rallies in 2016, one year after he came to power, saying they could escalate into violence. Click here to read…

Mali escapes sanctions over detention of 46 Ivorian soldiers

West African leaders will not go through with a threat to sanction Mali for jailing 46 Ivorian soldiers, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Mali junta leader pardons 49 convicted Ivorian soldiers

Mali’s junta leader on Friday pardoned all 49 Ivorian soldiers whose arrest in July triggered a bitter diplomatic row, a government spokesman said, just a week after the courts sentenced them. Click here to read…

Botswana’s ex-leader Khama asks court to set aside arrest warrant

Botswana’s former president Ian Khama has filed an urgent court application seeking to strike down an arrest warrant issued against him by a magistrate last week. Click here to read…

World’s ‘most wanted people smuggler’ arrested in Sudan

An Eritrean fugitive accused of being “the world’s most wanted” people smuggler has been arrested in Sudan in coordination with UAE authorities, Interpol announced. Click here to read…

Cameroon Adopts Maritime Security Law to Fight Gulf of Guinea Piracy

Almost six months after the UN Security Council adopted a text compelling Gulf of Guinea countries to criminalize piracy and armed robbery at sea, Cameroon has adopted a law on suppression of piracy and general safety of maritime navigation within its waters. Click here to read…

Cameroonian fishery products banned in EU, commission says

The European Commission on Thursday banned imports of seafood caught in Cameroon’s waters, or caught by ships flagged there, and it labeled the West African country as “non-cooperating” in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Click here to read…

UN rights chief urges rapid inquiry after 28 die in Burkina Faso town

The head of the United Nations human rights office has called for a prompt, transparent investigation into the deaths of at least 28 people whose bodies were found in north-west Burkina Faso last month. Click here to read…

Five African migrants die, 10 missing after boat sinks off Tunisia

At least five African migrants died and another 10 were missing after a boat sank off Tunisia, as they tried to cross the Mediterranean to Italy, a judicial official said on Saturday. Click here to read…

EU calls on Rwanda to stop supporting M23 rebels in DR Congo

The European Union has urged Rwanda to stop supporting the M23 rebel group, which has captured swaths of territory in North Kivu province in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Click here to read…

Morocco says EU ties under attack amid corruption scandal

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said Thursday that the north African country is the target of calculated media attacks and legal harassment aimed at undermining ties with the European Union, weeks after Belgian authorities implicated Morocco in a major corruption scandal. Click here to read…

Strike over pay paralyses transport in the Tunisian capital

Metro and bus traffic in the Tunisian capital ground to a halt on Monday, after employees of the state transport company held a strike over delays in the payment of wages and bonuses. Click here to read…

Zambians brace up for up to 12 hours of daily power cuts

Starting from Wednesday, January 4, Zambia’s power utility has updated the hours of load shedding to 12 hours daily. Click here to read…

South Sudan: Journalists held over film of president appearing to wet himself

Six journalists in South Sudan have been detained over the circulation of footage showing President Salva Kiir appearing to wet himself at an official event, the national journalists union said on Saturday. Click here to read…

Edwin Chiloba: LGBTQ activist found dead in Kenya

Police in Kenya are investigating the death of young fashion designer and LGBTQ activist Edwin Chiloba after his body was found dumped in a metal box by the roadside near the town of Eldoret. Click here to read…

Mass grave with 18 bodies found in ex-Daesh stronghold in Libya

Libyan authorities on Sunday said they have found 18 bodies buried in a mass grave in a former stronghold of Daesh along the conflict-stricken North African nation’s coast. Click here to read…

US-Angola military ties deepen

“So there is a game changer. We may say it’s significant and this is in the interest of both parties – Angola and the United States of America,” Angolan President João Lourenço said at last month’s US-Angola bilateral meeting in Washington, at the US Department of State. Click here to read…

Chinese firm to manufacture lithium batteries in Zim

CHINESE steel manufacturer Dinson Iron and Steel Company (DISCO) says it intends to locally produce lithium-ion batteriesClick here to read…

Namibia orders Russian uranium exploration to stop due to environmental concerns

Namibian authorities have ordered Russia’s state atomic energy agency to stop uranium exploration over concerns about potential contamination of underground water. Click here to read…

Israeli foreign minister sees Abraham Accords summit in Morocco in March

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said on Monday he planned to attend a summit in March with counterparts from Arab countries that have drawn closer to Israel following a U.S.-sponsored diplomatic drive in 2020. Click here to read…

Iran sees ‘no problem’ with building ties with Egypt

Iranian Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Nasser Kanaani has said that Iran sees no problem with building relations with Egypt. Click here to read…

Mauritius, UK open talks on status of contested islands

Britain and Mauritius have begun talks on the sovereignty of the disputed Chagos archipelago, the Mauritian prime minister announced Sunday. Click here to read…

U.S. cuts off Burkina Faso from Africa duty-free trade program

The United States has dropped Burkina Faso from its AGOA trade preference program citing deep concerns over “unconstitutional change” in government in the West African country, the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) office said on Sunday. Click here to read…

Nigeria to Ban Cash Withdrawals from Government Accounts

Nigeria will ban cash withdrawals from government accounts from March 1 to tackle illicit activity and push toward a cashless economy. Click here to read…

Sierra Leone Becomes First in Africa to Hike Rate This Year

Sierra Leone’s central bank became the first in Africa and second globally after Israel to raise interest rates this year. Click here to read…

Mauritania celebrates Nouakchott as cultural capital of Islamic world

Mauritania on Friday commenced the first events since Nouakchott was chosen as the capital of culture in the Islamic world for 2023. Click here to read…

Uganda’s Ebola outbreak nearly under control, says Africa CDC

Africa’s top public health body has said the Ebola outbreak in Uganda was coming under control, as it had been 39 days since the last confirmed case of the virus was reported in the country. Click here to read…

Burundi declares cholera outbreak in Bujumbura

Burundi has declared a cholera outbreak in the commercial capital Bujumbura, the Health minister Sylvie Nzeyimana announced Sunday evening, noting that at least nine cases had been recorded. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

Largest unit of Indian women peacekeepers in Sudan conflict zone

India Friday deployed a platoon of women peacekeepers in Abyei on the border of Sudan and South Sudan as part of the Indian Battalion in the United Nations Interim Security Force. Click here to read…

Army sends largest contingent of women peacekeepers for UN

The Indian Army has deployed its largest-ever contingent of women soldiers for UN peacekeeping operations in the volatile oil-rich Abyei region of Africa, which straddles northern and southern Sudan and is hotly contested by both. Click here to read…

India condemns ‘mindless act of vandalism’ on Mahatma Gandhi statue in Seychelles

The high commission of India in Seychelles has condemned what it termed as “the mindless act of vandalism” on statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela located at the Peace Park in Victoria. Click here to read…

MoS Muraleedharan discusses trade, investment with visiting Tanzanian minister Jenista Mhagama

Union Minister of State (MoS) V Muraleedharan met with visiting Tanzanian minister Jenista Mhagama on Saturday and discussed wide-ranging bilateral cooperation including trade, investment and capacity building. Click here to read…

India Madagascar Trade Conference was organized by the Indian Economic Trade Organization and the Embassy of Madagascar on DECEMBER 27, 2022

The India Madagascar Trade Conference was organized on December 27, 2022 by the Indian Economic Trade Organization and the Embassy of Madagascar to strengthen bilateral trade relations. Click here to read…

Navi Mumbai: Mauritius Health Minister visits NMMC’s Vashi Public Hospital, praises cleanliness and digitisation

Health Minister of Mauritius Dr. Kailash Kumar Singh Jagutpal along with Senior Chief Executive Officer Shri. Devichand Anandi Ray Seevuruthoon, Digital Health Services Officer Dr. Bholah Mamal as well as Director of Ministry of Electronic and Information Technology Delhi Ravindra Kumar paid a special visit to NMMC Hospital, Vashi. They inspected the E-Hospital and AYUSH Center functioning in Vashi hospital. Click here to read…

Tanzania minister calls on Dr Jitendra, lauds India’s governance practices

Minister in the President’s Office of the United Republic of Tanzania, Jenista Joakim Mhagama Wednesday called on Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh at North Block New Delhi. Click here to read…

India to Secure Rock Phosphate from Morocco

India’s Minister of chemicals and fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya is set to visit Morocco to seal a deal to import rock phosphate. Click here to read…

India seeks food security through more Moroccan phosphates supplies

Indian chemicals and fertilizers minister Mansukh Mandaviya will be visiting Morocco this month to seal long-term phosphates supply deal amid surging prices in the international market. Click here to read…

Morocco to receive 90 ‘Made In India’ military trucks manufactured by Indian Tata

The Royal Moroccan Army is set to receive 90 ‘Made in India’ 6×6 trucks made by Indian Tata Advance Systems LimitedClick here to read…

Morocco revamps it’s logistics capacity with new trucks

In order to plug capability gaps Moroccan governments has invested in procuring military trucks to revamp it’s logistics operations. Click here to read…

AGI attends India International Textile Manufacturing Expo

A delegation of businesses from the Textiles, Garments and Leather Sector of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), and the Spinnet Textiles and Garment Cluster has participated in the India International Textile Manufacturing Expo (ITME) to identify and meet with potential partners. Click here to read…

Mob attacks Delhi Police after Nigerians detained for overstaying visa

A huge mob, comprising 100 African nationals, surrounded a police team in the Neb Sarai area of South Delhi and clashed with them when the cops apprehended three NigeriansClick here to read…

Atua Enkop Africa Appoints Avenir Research Marketing As India Representative

Atua Enkop Africa Ltd has appointing Avenir Research Marketing to promote its portfolio of luxury camps in the Indian market. Click here to read…