Afghanistan

Why India is cautiously engaging with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan -Scroll

In February, the Indian budget for 2023 allocated Rs 200 crore in aid to Afghanistan. It was an indication of how far India’s engagement with the Taliban has progressed, even as New Delhi has yet to officially recognise the regime in Kabul. This is in stark contrast to the position India took during the Taliban’s previous stint in power from 1996 to 2001, when the regime was overthrown by an American-led military coalition. Click here to read…

Will China’s latest investment in Afghanistan actually work? – Aljazeera

The Taliban-run Afghanistan saw its first significant foreign investment last month when a Chinese firm signed a 25-year-long, multimillion-dollar contract to extract oil. Experts are cautiously optimistic the project may bring jobs and income despite China’s sketchy record on executing deals. Click here to read…

Pakistan threatens Afghanistan with war even as Taliban refuses to act against TTP bases – First Post

Pakistan has warned of military action inside Afghanistan if the Afghan Taliban continues to provide support to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). However, the Afghan Taliban has denied the presence of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) bases inside Afghanistan. The Afghan Taliban told the Pakistani delegation that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – also known as the Pakistani Taliban – has no presence in Afghanistan. The Afghan Taliban also claimed that all members of the TTP leadership had relocated to Pakistan after the Taliban captured Kabul. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Argentina reopens embassy after 45yrs – Daily Star

Overwhelmed by Bangladesh’s support for the Argentine football team that went on to win the FIFA World Cup 2022, Argentina reopened its embassy in Dhaka yesterday, 45 years after it had closed it. “The people of Bangladesh never forgot to show love for Argentina. So, we today humbly came here and reopened the embassy in Bangladesh as a new channel to cement our relations,” Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero said, inaugurating the embassy in the city’s Banani in the afternoon. Click here to read…

Bangladesh adds 44 countries in the list of dual citizenship, total rises to 101 – NewsOnAir

Bangladeshi citizens can now avail citizenship of 44 more new countries while keeping their Bangladeshi citizenship.The decision to expand the existing list of 57 countries to 101 countries for which the Bangladeshi people can keep dual citizenship was cleared by the cabinet on Monday. Out of these 44 countries 19 countries are in Africa, 12 countries are in South America, 12 countries are in the Caribbean region and one in Oceania. The new list includes Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, Algeria, Sudan, Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Fiji among others. Click here to read…

Khaleda Zia is disqualified from participating in any election, says Bangladesh Law Minister – First Post

Bangladesh Law Minister Anisul Huq has clarified the confusion over Khaleda Zia’s involvement in the upcoming polls. “Khaleda has been released from jail temporarily for medical treatment. Apart from that, her current physical condition is not suitable for politics,” the law minister said while speaking at an event in Brahmanbaria on Saturday. Khaleda Zia is named in two corruption cases, the law minister added. “While one case has already been tried, the other one is still under trial. As per Article 66 of the constitution, she is disqualified from participating in any election due to being sentenced,” said Huq. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Bhutan aims to eliminate malaria by 2025 – The Print

Bhutan, which had earlier failed to meet targets for the elimination of malaria in 2018 and 2020, now aims to eliminate the disease by 2025, The Bhutan Live reported. Bhutan’s Health Minister said that cross-border issues in the south especially during the COVID-19 pandemic have hampered the country’s progress to eliminate malaria. Click here to read…

Maldives

President concludes unofficial visit to Singapore – Raajje

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has concluded his unofficial visit to Singapore. The President departed on the unofficial visit to Singapore on 20 February. He returned to Malé on 26 February. His last unofficial trip to Singapore was in October 2022. The president had made four previous trips to Singapore in 2022, the first being from February 10 – 15 and the second being from February 23 – March 6. Click here to read…

Maldives: Persistent Threat – Eurasia Review

Maldives recorded no terrorism-linked fatality in 2022, as in 2021. The abduction and killing of blogger Yameen Rasheed by a local affiliate of Al-Qaeda on April 23, 2017, was the last fatal incident of terrorism recorded in the country. There have, however, been at least nine terrorist attacks in the country since the Rasheed killing, including three in 2019, four in 2020 and one each in 2021 and 2022. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Beyond the Headlines: China’s special envoy meets ethnic armed organisation representatives on Myanmar visit – Myanmar Now

Members of the anti-regime People’s Defence Force (PDF) in the junta capital of Naypyitaw launched two handmade rockets into a compound where the 2031st Air Defence Battalion is based at 9:30am on February 22. The explosives struck a building in the site, which is some 23 miles southeast of Naypyitaw’s centre, according to a spokesperson of the resistance group. He added that they could not confirm the extent of the damage caused by the attack, but described it as a “test hit.” Click here to read…

Nestle to close factory, head office in Myanmar – Vietnam Plus

Swiss food giant Nestle is set to halt all production in Myanmar, but it has yet to give a time frame, according to international media. This is the latest foreign company planning to draw back from the country. A spokesperson of Nestle said on February 27 that due to the “current economic situation”, Nestle’s factory in Yangon, as well as its head office, will “cease operations”. Click here to read…

Chairman of Myanmar’s USDP meets youths in Yangon – The Star

Khin Yi, chairman of Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) met with youths at Myanmar Convention Center(MCC) in Yangon Region, on Saturday (Feb 25). In attendance was USDP’s vice-chairman Myo Zaw Thein, Yangon Region USDP’s chairman Khin Maung Soe who is also USDP’s CEC, the CEC members from USDP’s headquarter and 3,226 youths in the Yangon region. Click here to read…

Nepal

Nepal heads towards fresh instability as Oli ditches Prachanda – Economic Times

India’s key northern neighbour Nepal may again be heading towards political instability with KP Oli led – CPN-UML – on Monday withdrawing its support to Prachanda-led government following a rift over backing the main opposition party’s candidate for the presidential polls. However, the exit of CPN-UML may not immediately affect the Prachanda-led government, which is supported by the Nepali Congress (NC) which has 89 MPs in the House. Click here to read…

Community cooperation across Nepal-India border saves lives during floods – the Third Pole

Nagdev Yadav is president of the Community Development and Advocacy Forum Nepal (CDAFN), an NGO involved in coordinating local stakeholders to ensure the functioning of the early warning system. He tells The Third Pole that the system helps around 64,000 people every year in Nepal and India. CDAFN’s counterpart in India is an NGO called Yuganter. Its executive director Sanjay Pandey says around 10,000 families in India benefit from the system. Government agencies in both countries, including Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology and Bihar State Disaster Management Authority, provide support to the system from time to time. Click here to read…

India hands over Madan Bhandari Memorial College built with Indian assistance to Nepal – ANI News

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava handed over the college building of Madan Bhandari Memorial College, Kathamndu, built with Indian assistance to Nepal. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Pakistan economic crisis results in big layoffs; 1 million textile workers to be hit – Business Today

The industrial sector in Pakistan is preparing for more job cuts and a sharp decline in production. As a result of the economic uncertainty that has gripped Pakistan, more than 1 million informal workers in the textile sector are likely to be impacted, National Trade Union Federation Pakistan (NTUF) Secretary General Nasir Mansoor said. Click here to read…

Forces ready to take ‘fight back to the enemy’ if war imposed on Pakistan: Army – The Hindu

Pakistan’s civil and military leadership said on Monday that the armed forces were ready to take the “fight back to the enemy” if a war was imposed on the “peace-loving nation”. In a statement on the anniversary of an aerial skirmish between the air forces of India and Pakistan, the army said that Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, three services chiefs and the armed forces “pay tribute to the resilience of the nation and resolve of armed forces displayed during Operation Swift Retort”. Click here to read…

Defaulting Pakistan takes the steam out of CPEC – The Print

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project that was commenced a decade ago was held as a harbinger of prosperity for Pakistan. However, seven years later, many projects under the CPEC still remain non-starters while some of those being operational have become liabilities and are incurring losses. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Pakistan Navy Chief calls on President – Daily News

Chief of the Pakistan Navy Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi who is currently on an official visit to Sri Lanka met President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the President’s Office yesterday (27). During the discussion, the emphasis was placed on enhancing maritime regional cooperation between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, alongside exploring opportunities for the further expansion of maritime activities between the two nations. Symbolizing this meeting, the Pakistan Navy Chief presented a commemorative gift to President Wickremesinghe. A group of senior naval officials from both countries attended the event. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka: Authorities must exercise restraint in use of force and facilitate the right to peaceful assembly – Amnesty

Responding to the news that one protestor had been killed and dozens injured as a result of the unlawful use of water cannons and tear gas by the police in Colombo in Sri Lanka on Sunday, Harindrini Corea, Regional Researcher for the Right to Protest at Amnesty International said, “It is worrying that even after months of widespread protests in the country, the Sri Lankan police needs to be constantly reminded of their duty to facilitate the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and exercise restraint in the use of force while policing assemblies. Their actions over the last several months have cost the lives of many peaceful protestors including another death today. Click here to read…

Ranil proposed winding up UNP – Daily Mirror

United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had proposed to wind up the party following its humiliating loss at the last elections, former Minister Navin Dissanayake revealed. Dissanayake said that Wickremesinghe had several discussions with party seniors and questioned the relevance of the UNP after it lost the elections. However, some UNP members wanted the party to continue, especially since some UNP supporters did not vote
at the last General Election. “I was firmly of the view that we can get those UNPers back,” he said. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Women Hold Protest for Right to Learn and Work: Tolo News

Following calls to reopen girls’ schools above sixth grade and employment for women, a group of women staged a protest in Kabul to express their concerns about the continued effective ban on female students over 6th grade and on female employment. Click here to read…

Save the Children: Malnourished Afghan Children Up Nearly 50% Since January: Tolo News

The number of dangerously malnourished children has spiked 47% since January this year, Save the Children said in a recent report. However, the Ministry of Public Health denied an increase in the number of children affected by malnutrition. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

World Bank: Climate change to hit Bangladesh’s poor, vulnerable hardest: Dhaka Tribune

A new World Bank report predicts that climate change will hit poor and vulnerable people the hardest. Average tropical cyclones cost Bangladesh about $1 billion annually. By 2050, a third of agricultural GDP could be lost. In case of severe flooding, GDP could fall by as much as 9%, according to the World Bank Group’s Country and Climate Development Report for Bangladesh, published on Monday. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Asian Development Bank to Fund Bhutan’s First Utility-Scale Solar Project – Saurenergy

Bhutan may well be moving beyond hydropower as far as renewable energy development in the Himalayan country is concerned. In a key development, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $18.26 million financing for the construction of the first utility-scale solar photovoltaic power plant in BhutanClick here to read…

How BRO used shredded plastic to construct road in Bhutan – The Kashmir Monitor

Border Road Organisation (BRO) has used shredded plastic in resurfacing 4.5 km on Phuentsholing-Thimphu Road under Project Dantak in Bhutan. BRO has used the technology in It has been used in the resurfacing of the 5.22 km Hnahthial-Sangau-Saiha Road under Project Pushpak in Mizoram and the two km resurfacing of Hapoli-Sarli-Huri Road under Project Arunank in Arunachal Pradesh. Click here to read…

Maldives

Maldives govt proposes MVR42.6 bln budget for 2023 – Avas

Maldives government on Monday proposed an MVR42.6 billion state budget for next year, keeping with the increasing annual trend. Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer presenting the state budget to the parliament on Monday, said next year’s budget aims to ensure fiscal and debt sustainability while mitigating the challenges caused by the global economic crisis stemming from the Russian-Ukrainian war. Click here to read…

Maldives state debt soars to 113 billion – Edition

Forecasts show that the Maldives national debt including sovereign guarantees will reach MVR 113 billion in 2023. According to the proposed state budget, Internal borrowings are expected to rise from MVR 57 billion to MVR 62 billion in 2023. It is anticipated that external borrowing will rise from MVR 35 billion to MVR 40 billion and the sum of sovereign guarantee is expected to be reduced from MVR 12.4 billion to MVR 11.7 billion, according to the Ministry of Finance. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Myanmar rebels moving arms via Mizoram to fight junta, say security forces in Northeast – Deccan Herald

Sources in Assam Rifles said more than 20 Myanmar nationals have been arrested in the past few months in Mizoram alone. However, security agencies in the region, have been recently claiming that they have begun to witness a “reversing trend”, where rebel groups of Myanmar are now found to be using Mizoram to arrange and transport arms and equipment to aid their fight against the military junta that usurped the elected government there last year. Click here to read…

Myanmar junta bans Irrawaddy news agency after months of harassment – RFA

Myanmar’s junta has officially banned online news outlet The Irrawaddy and charged the outlet’s registered publisher for violating national security laws, state media reported over the weekend, following months of legal harassment. Click here to read…

ASEAN, EU invite Myanmar youth to express their thoughts on climate change issues – Mizzima

The European Union continues to emerge as the world’s climate trailblazer. Every year in the lead up to the Conference of the Parties (COP27), EU delegations and embassies of EU Member States around the world hold various events to foster dialogue and cooperation on climate change, showcase success stories, and inspire further action. This year, the EU delegation to ASEAN is preparing a series of events to be held from 25 to 31 October 2022 as part of the Climate Diplomacy Week. Click here to read…

Myanmar Junta Frees NLD Finance Minister and Two Political Prisoners – The Irrawaddy

Former planning and finance minister U Soe Win of the deposed National League for Democracy (NLD) government was among three regime opponents released from jail by the junta on Friday, sources close to the trio said. The other two political prisoners freed were singer Po Po and beauty blogger Win Min Than. Click here to read…

Nepal

Nepal enters full campaign mode – The Hans India

With just three weeks left for the November 20 elections, political parties in Nepal are campaigning at a feverish pitch. This is the second general election in Nepal after the country adopted its first secular republican constitution in 2015. The first elections under the new federal structure were held in late 2017. Click here to read…

Nepal election is crucial for India – Deccan Herald

When China’s outgoing ambassador to Nepal, Hou Yanqi, recently penned an article in The Kathmandu Post, she made it a point to take note of the upcoming parliamentary elections and hoped bilateral relations would “continue to reach new levels”. Click here to read…

Nepal: Hindu procession attacked by an Islamist mob in Mahottari, several people including police officials injured – OpIndia

On Thursday, October 27, a Hindu procession allegedly came under attack from a Muslim mob. Reportedly, following a dispute over a flag hoisting, the procession came under attack. Police had to resort to lathicharge and tear gas to bring the situation under control. In the preceding violence, several people as well as police officials were left injured. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Imran promises revolution, through ‘ballot’ or ‘bloodshed’

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan kicked off the fourth day of his ‘Haqeeqi Azadi’ long march with an aggressive message, tweeting early on Monday that the sea of people on the roads with him indicated the dawn of a revolution, and asked “handlers and facilitators” if they would allow a soft revolution through the ballot or a destructive one through bloodshed. Click here to read…

PM hopes to revive CPEC, expand trade with maiden China visit: Dawn
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is embarking on a two-day official visit to China on Tuesday (today) in an effort to revive the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), expand trade and investment ties with the neighbouring country by making optimal use of the second phase of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka
SL starts discussions to join OACPS with potential EU FTA: Daily Mirror
Sri Lanka’s Presidential Envoy to Europe and Commonwealth Niranjan de Silva Deva Aditya (Nirj Deva) said this week in Brussels that he has started discussions for Sri Lanka to join the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS). Click here to read…

Colombo inflation rate eases to 66% in October: Daily Mirror
Inflation in the Colombo district made an about turn in October, bringing an end to the current spell of runaway inflation, which set off more than a year ago when the global commodities prices started rising, caused by the surge in demand amid the supply chain bottlenecks and emergence of foreign currency shortages in the domestic market. Click here to read…

Public security ministry reports fraud prevention numbers: China Daily

August 17, 2022

The number of filed cases related to telecom and network fraud has decreased for 14 consecutive months since last June, the Ministry of Public Security said on Wednesday. From April 2021 to July 2022, the police resolved 594,000 telecom and network fraud cases. Click here to read…

Cloud seeding targets drought: China Daily

August 17, 2022

As drought conditions have continued, many Chinese provinces and cities have been taking action to find relief. Anhui province resorted 48 times to ground-based cloud seeding operations in 31 urban districts and rural counties on Monday and Tuesday, according to Anhui Daily. Click here to read…

China urges U.S. to strictly observe one-China principle: Xinhuanet

August 17, 2022

China on Wednesday urged the United States to draw lessons from history, honor the three China-U.S. joint communiques and strictly observe the one-China principle. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a regular press briefing when asked to comment on the 40th anniversary of the August 17 Communique, one of the three China-U.S. joint communiques crucial to bilateral relations. Click here to read…

China to nurture over 4,000 SMEs as digital transformation models: : Xinhuanet

August 17, 2022

China will build 4,000 to 6,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into digital transformation models amid the country’s push for developing its digital economy. From 2022 to 2025, China will use central financial funds to support SMEs in digital transformation pilot, and further improve digital platforms that provide public services for SMEs, according to a circular jointly issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and Ministry of Finance Wednesday. Click here to read…

E-commerce boom attracts young people back to hometown: Qiushi

August 17, 2002

While many young Chinese from remote counties are swarming to bigger cities for job opportunities, Xiushan Tujia and Miao Autonomous County in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality is reversing this trend by attracting young people with its local e-commerce boom. Click here to read…

Yangtze River basin faces severe drought after experiencing lowest rainfall for six decades: Global Times

August 17, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday ordered local authorities in Northeast China’s Liaoning Province to ensure the safety of people’s lives in flood control, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday. During his inspection of comprehensive environmental improvement work along two rivers in Liaoning’s Jinzhou city, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, was briefed about the province’s flood control and relief efforts. Click here to read…

Transcript of Ambassador Qin Gang’s Interview with the US Mainstream Media: Global Times

August 17, 2022

On August 16, Ambassador Qin Gang took a joint interview of the US mainstream media in Washington DC, including Reuters, Associated Press, Bloomberg, National Public Radio, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, The Hill, POLITICO, Axios, Defense One, and he answered questions on China-US relations, the Taiwan question, Hong Kong-related issues, and China’s diplomacy. The transcript of the interview is as follows: Click here to read…

China takes solid steps to foster stronger sense of community for Chinese nation: China Daily

August 18, 2022

Solid measures have been taken in China to foster a stronger sense of community for the Chinese nation over the past decade, according to Zhao Yong, deputy head of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission. Click here to read…

Language rights of ethnic groups protected, official says: China Daily

August 18, 2022

While promoting the use of standard spoken and written Chinese in ethnic-minority-inhabited areas, China has ensured that people’s rights to learn and use languages of different ethnic groups are protected. In addition, more efforts have been made to preserve such languages during the past 10 years, a senior ethnic afClick here to read…

Domestic combat drone gets upgrade: China Daily

August 18, 2022

The Caihong-4, China’s top-selling unmanned combat aircraft, will soon have a more powerful engine that is expected to greatly improve its operational capability, according to its maker. The China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics in Beijing, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, said in a news release on Wednesday that a prototype equipped with a new type of heavy-fuel piston engine has recently completed all required tests to verify the drone’s autonomous takeoff and landing, load capacity, flight ceiling and radius, as well as other functions. Click here to read…

Dozens of anti-China figures in HK including Benny Tai and Joshua Wong plead guilty for conspiracy to subvert state power: Global Times

August 18, 2022

29 defendants in HKSAR, including anti-China figures Benny Tai Yiu-ting and Joshua Wong Chi-fung have pleaded guilty on Thu for “conspiracy to subvert state power,” and the case will be handed over to the Hong Kong High Court for sentencingClick here to read…

China ready to work with Pakistan on CPEC in more fields, says Chinese FM: Global Times

August 18, 2022

Commenting on a Global Times exclusive interview with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said China appreciates the care and efforts from Sharif on practical cooperation between the two countries and China is ready to work with Pakistan on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in more fields. Click here to read…

China central bank, under pressure to ease, is hemmed-in by inflation, Fed jitters: Reuters

August 18, 2022

China’s central bank is set to take more easing steps, pressured by a shaky economy that is undercutting jobs, but it faces limited room to manoeuvre due to worries over rising inflation and capital flight, policy insiders and analysts said. Analysts now expect cuts in the country’s benchmark lending rates as early as Monday, after the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) unexpectedly lowered two key rates this week as data showed the economy unexpectedly slowed in July. read moreClick here to read…

Chinese premier stresses seeking new impetus for stabilizing economy, promoting development: Xinhuanet

August 18, 2022

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has urged efforts to advance explorations in reform and opening-up to seek new impetus for stabilizing the economy and promoting development.
Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection tour in Shenzhen in south China’s Guangdong Province from Tuesday to Wednesday. Click here to read…

China’s State Council appoints, removes officials: Xinhuanet

August 18, 2022

The State Council, China’s cabinet, announced the appointment and removal of several officials on Wednesday. Sun Maoli was appointed vice minister of public security. Wang Dongwei replaced Yu Weiping as vice minister of finance. Click here to read…

China, Japan hold 9th high-level political dialogue: Xinhuanet

August 18, 2022

Yang Jiechi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Wednesday co-chaired the ninth China-Japan high-level political dialogue in Tianjin with Takeo Akiba, secretary general of Japan’s National Security Secretariat. Yang said that the 2,000-year history of exchanges between China and Japan and the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations have taught both sides that peaceful coexistence and friendly cooperation are the only right choice for the China-Japan relationship. Click here to read…

Chinese mainland reports 614 new local confirmed COVID-19 cases: Xinhuanet

August 18, 2022

The Chinese mainland on Wednesday reported 614 locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which 496 were in Hainan Province, the National Health Commission said ThursdayClick here to read…

Xi meets heroes, role models from public security system: Xinhuanet

May 25, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday met representatives of a meeting commending heroes and role models from the public security system. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, offered warm congratulations to the representatives, and extended sincere greetings to police and auxiliary police officers from across the country. Click here to read…

China’s top political advisor inspects Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture: Xinhuanet

May 25, 2022

China’s top political advisor Wang Yang has stressed the importance of advancing high-quality development and ensuring lasting stability in the country’s prefectures and counties with large Tibetan populations. Click here to read…

BRICS ministers urge inclusiveness, mutual learning in cultural partnership: Xinhuanet

May 25, 2022

BRICS culture ministers met virtually on Tuesday, calling for deepened cooperation on cultural digitalization, cultural-relic protection and the construction of cultural-exchange platforms. Click here to read…

World Bank approves funds to promote biodiversity, carbon neutrality in Chinese cities: Xinhuanet

May 25, 2022

The World Bank has decided to provide funds for an urban environment project in China to promote biodiversity conservation and carbon neutrality, the country’s finance ministry said Wednesday. Click here to read…

Huawei cloud service sees robust growth in Bangladeshi market: Xinhuanet

May 25, 2022

China’s telecom giant Huawei on Wednesday said its cloud service is gaining popularity in the Bangladeshi market. The company said the Bangladeshi government is using HUAWEI CLOUD in meeting myriads of digital needs, with many leading local and multinational companies also benefiting from the cloud service. Click here to read…

China’s central SOEs to ease strains for small firms, nurture growth: Xinhuanet

May 25, 2022

China’s centrally-administered state-owned enterprises (SOEs) will help struggling small businesses address pressing difficulties and shore up growth, said a circular unveiled Wednesday. Click here to read…

Scientists engineer new material that can harvest energy 24-hr uninterrupted: Xinhuanet

May 25, 2022

A new type of material has been developed that can absorb heat from the sun during the day and emit energy to outer space to harvest cooling at night, according to a recently published article. Click here to read…

Senior Beijing health official removed from office: Xinhuanet

May 25, 2022

Yu Luming, former director of the Beijing Municipal Health Commission, has been removed from his post over serious violations of Party discipline and laws. The decision was made at the 39th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 15th Beijing Municipal People’s Congress on Wednesday. Click here to read…

PLA conducts combat-readiness patrol and training exercises around Taiwan Island: China Military

May 25, 2022

“The Eastern Theater Command (ETC) of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has recently organized joint combat-readiness security patrol and real-combat training exercises involving multiple services and arms in the waters and airspace around the Taiwan Island,” said Army Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the PLA Eastern Theater Command, in a written statement on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Chinese courts explore blockchain application: China Daily

May 25, 2022

A judicial blockchain alliance between Chinese courts and other sectors is expected to be built by 2025, according to a guideline from China’s top court. The alliance will promote deep integration of rule of law and technology as well as better serve economic and social governance, according to the 32-article guideline issued by the Supreme People’s Court on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Seminar details China’s approach to common prosperity: China Daily

May 25, 2022

A recent seminar in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, about Zheng Yongnian’s latest book, The Chinese Approach to Common Prosperity, detailed endeavors related to common prosperity in the country and how it can be of value to the world. Click here to read…

Shanghai ramps up financial support for tech firms: China Daily

May 25, 2022

Shanghai will offer rental reductions or exemptions for small and micro-sized tech firms in scientific and technological innovation hubs, including university science parks and State-owned technology business incubators, so as to help these firms address financial burdens arising from the latest COVID-19 wave in the city. a href=”http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202205/25/WS628de10ba310fd2b29e5eed3.html” target=”_blank”>Click here to read…

Chongqing at center of new China-Myanmar corridor: China Daily

May 25, 2022

A train fully loaded with 60 containers of mechanical devices, electronic components and auto parts departed on Monday from Chongqing. It will arrive in Lincang, Yunnan province, and then the cargo will be transported to Mandalay, Myanmar, by highway in 15 days, marking the opening of a new international rail service between inland China and the Southeast Asian country. Click here to read…

12 COVID cases identified in Liaoning: China Daily

May 25, 2022

Liaoning province reported a total of 11 local asymptomatic carriers and one imported case of COVID-19 on Tuesday, authorities said on Wednesday. All the local infections were found in Dandong city, located in the southeastern part of the province. Click here to read…

PLA exercise near Taiwan meant to serve as warning to island, US: China Daily

May 25, 2022

The People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command recently carried out interservice combat exercises in the air and waters near Taiwan, according to a theater spokesman. Senior Colonel Shi Yi said in a statement on Wednesday that the operations were intended to serve as a warning to the United States and Taiwan for their recent actions. Click here to read…

Chinese scientists to create 3D map of glaciers on Mount Qomolangma, share it globally: Global Times

May 25, 2022

As a month-long comprehensive scientific expedition to Mount Qomolangma, also known as Mount Everest, has drawn to an end, Chinese glaciologist Kang Shichang – who led a glacier and pollutant research group as part of the expedition – said that they will form a 3D digital map of the glaciers on Mount Qomolangma based on their field measurements, and the related research and data will be shared with international scientists. Click here to read…

Xi stresses China’s human rights progress, warns certain countries not to lecture others, politicize human rights issues in video meeting with Bachelet: Global Times

May 25, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet via video link on Wednesday, during which Xi talked about major issues on China’s human rights developments and stressed that each country should be allowed to explore suitable paths of human rights development based on national realities and warned against certain countries that lecture others on human rights, politicize the issue and use it as a tool to apply double standards. Click here to read…

CPEC won’t be derailed by inflated economic woes of Pakistan: Global Times

May 25, 2022

Economic headwinds in Pakistan have aroused concerns over whether the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project will be affected. It is neither the first time, and unlikely to be the last time that Western media outlets slander the CPEC. Some media may try to claim that a bad enough economic downturn could lead to a collapse of the CPEC, but those people are going to be deeply disappointed. Click here to read…

China holds unprecedented meeting on stabilizing economy with focus on policy implementation: Global Times

May 25, 2022

China’s State Council, the cabinet, on Wednesday held what has been seen as an unprecedented national video teleconference on stabilizing the economy with reportedly upwards of 100,000 participants, including officials of various levels, stressing the need to better implement measures to safeguard market entities, employment, people’s livelihood and keep the economy operating in a reasonable range. Click here to read…

China’s Communist Party expels state-owned insurer’s executive accused of graft: Reuters

May 25, 2022

China’s ruling Communist Party has expelled a former chief accountant of state-controlled PICC Property and Casualty Co (2328.HK) from the party, accusing him of illegal activities and taking bribes, the anti-graft watchdog said on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Beijing lets university students go home after campus Covid protest: South China Morning Post

May 25, 2022

University students in Beijing have been allowed to leave closed campuses and return home after hundreds gathered on campus on Tuesday night to vent their frustration at the Chinese capital’s hardline Covid-19 control measures. Beijing Education Commission spokesman Li Yi said on Wednesday that universities were key areas of epidemic control and campuses needed to remain closed, but universities could be flexible and allow students to return to their hometowns. “Students can return to their homes and hometowns in a safe and orderly manner…Students need to be guided with good protection and return directly to their families in closed-loop management,” Li said. Click here to read…

Chinese scientists build robot earthworm to explore engine pipes: South China Morning Post

May 26, 2022

Chinese scientists have developed a tiny wormlike robot that can wiggle into tiny pipes to inspect them with an endoscopic camera. The Tsinghua University team said the small robot could navigate pipes in aircraft engines and oil refinery machines, even when they were filled with oilClick here to read…

Xi speaks with Bachelet as files from Xinjiang emerge: Taipei Times

May 26, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday held a videoconference with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet as she visited Xinjiang during a mission overshadowed by fresh allegations of Uighur abuses and fears she is being used as a public relations tool. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been accused of detaining more than 1 million Uighurs and other Muslim minorities in the region as part of a years-long crackdown the US and lawmakers in other Western nations have labeled a “genocide.” Click here to read…

China GDP: economic growth likely ‘to fall short’, premier admits as crisis concerns mount: South China Morning Post

May 26, 2022

Premier Li Keqiang has conceded that China’s economy is stalling at a dangerous rate and faces critical risks, as he instructed an army of officials from across the country to exhaust all measures to stabilise the economy. And for the first time, Li admitted that China may miss the “around 5.5 per cent” economic growth target that Beijing laid out earlier this year, according to a transcript of his speech on Wednesday that was verified by officials who attended the meeting. Speaking candidly during a national teleconference to more than 100,000 bureaucrats – from the State Council to county-level authorities – Li said a realistic target for the year’s second quarter is simply to get the economy back on a growth trajectory. Click here to read…

China will give cash subsidies to airlines for two months: Reuters

May 26, 2022

China’s finance ministry said on Thursday that it would offer subsidies to Chinese airlines from May 21 to July 20 to help carriers weather the coronavirus-induced downturn and higher oil prices. Click here to read…

Global automakers face electric shock in China: Reuters

May 26, 2022

If global automakers think they can extend their dominance in China into the electric era, they may be in for a shock. Kings of the combustion age such as General Motors and Volkswagen are falling behind local players in the booming electric vehicle (EV) market in China, a country that’s key to funding and developing their electric and autonomous ambitions. Click here to read…

ASEAN citizens view China as paramount future partner, says Japan poll: Kyodo

May 26, 2022

Nearly half of people surveyed in Southeast Asia picked China as the region’s most important partner in the future, surpassing Japan for the first time, according to the results of a Japanese government opinion poll released Wednesday. The survey showed 48 percent of respondents from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations chose China, unchanged from the last survey in fiscal 2019. China was followed by 43 percent for Japan, down 8 percentage points, and 41 percent for the United States, up 4 points. Click here to read…

Documents show Chinese Pacific plans: Taipei Times

May 26, 2022

China is seeking a region-wide deal with almost a dozen Pacific island nations covering policing, security and data communications cooperation when Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi hosts a meeting in Fiji next week, documents seen by Reuters showed, while an Australian official is due in Suva today. Click here to read…

China’s BeiDou system achieves in-depth integration with various industries: People’s Daily

May 26, 2022

The BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), a global navigation system independently developed and operated by China, has achieved in-depth application and extensive growth in various fields. Click here to read…

Quad moves show efforts to curb Chinese tech: China Daily

May 26, 2022

The attempts by the United States, Japan, Australia and India to deepen their ties in critical and emerging technologies are aimed at marginalizing China in crucial global industrial and supply chains, which will harm the interests of their own companies, experts said on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Vocational enrollments soar: Quishi

May 26, 2022

China has built the world’s largest vocational education system, which nurtures around 10 million graduates every year, the Ministry of Education said on Tuesday. The number of new enrollments to higher vocational colleges reached 5.57 million last year, up by 180 percent from 10 years ago, said Chen Ziji, director of the ministry’s department of vocational education, adding that secondary vocational schools enrolled 4.89 million students last yearClick here to read…

Chinese mainland reports 104 new local confirmed COVID-19 cases: Xinhuanet

May 26, 2022

The Chinese mainland on Wednesday reported 104 locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which 48 were in Shanghai and 36 in Beijing, the National Health Commission said Thursday. Tianjin and Henan also saw 11 and nine new local COVID-19 cases, respectively. Click here to read…

BRICS countries launch joint committee on space cooperation: Xinhuanet

May 26, 2022

The BRICS Joint Committee on Space Cooperation was officially launched on Wednesday, opening a new chapter on their cooperation in the remote sensing satellite observation and data sharing fields. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Efforts to Continue Former Govt Are Useless: Samangani: Tolo News

The Ministry of the Information and Culture on Wednesday reacted to a statement by a number of officials of the former government–who claim to be continuing the work of the former government–saying their efforts are meaningless.Click here to read…

ICC Prosecutor Will Not Focus on US Forces in New Probe: Tolo News

The International Criminal Court prosecutor on Monday said he is seeking approval to resume a war crimes investigation of Afghanistan, focusing on the actions of the Taliban and Daesh militia. Click here to read…

China’s humanitarian aid arrives in Kabul: The Khaama Press

The first consignment of humanitarian aids arrived from China to Kabul on Wednesday, September 29, and was submitted to the acting minister of the refugees and repatriates Khalil-ur Rahaman Haqqani. Click here to read…

India, Turkey, Uzbekistan to resume flights to Kabul: The Khaama Press

International Radar has reported one flight from New Delhi, Istanbul, and Tashkent each to land in Kabul International Airport on Thursday, September 30. Click here to read…

20-war in Afghanistan was a strategic failure, 2,500 troops should have been kept: Milley: The Khaama Press

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US General Mark Milley said that their 20-year presence was their strategic failure and his personal opinion was to have 2,500 troops in Afghanistan. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Rohingya leader Mohibullah shot dead- Daily Star

Unidentified criminals shot Rohingya rights activist and leader Mohibullah dead at his office in Kutupalong camp under Cox’s Bazar’s Ukhia upazila last night. Click here to read…

Mohibullah’s death undermines Rohingyas’ chances of safe return to Myanmar: HRW- Daily Star

Following the shooting to death of Rohingya rights activist and leader Mohibullah last night, Human Rights Watch issued a statement lamenting the loss of a defender of a people. Click here to read…

China lets US siblings return home- Daily Star

An American brother and sister barred from exiting China since 2018 in an apparent bid to pressure their father to return and face criminal allegations have finally left the country, Beijing and Washington confirmed yesterday. Click here to read…

Will Kallyanpur Pond solve Dhaka’s waterlogging problem?- Dhaka Tribune

The project is expected to be sustainable both financially and in terms of maintenanceClick here to read…

Govt mulling mechanization to boost jute production- Dhaka Tribune

The prospect of mechanization is giving new hope to the country’s jute industry, experts have said. Click here to read…

‘GDP growth rate will be restored by end of FY22’- Dhaka Tribune

State Minister Dr Shamsul Alam said that the ‘GDP growth rate will be restored by end of FY22’. Click here to read…

Finance Minister for merging BASIC & Padma Bank- Asian Age

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has opined that BASIC Bank and Padma Bank should be merged with each other. Click here to read…

Take lessons from PM’s honesty, ideology- Asian Age

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has urges all to take lessons from the honesty and ideology of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, worthy daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Click here to read…

17 new deaths 1,178 cases- Asian Age

Bangladesh reported 17 new fatalities and 1,178 cases in 24 hours till 8am on Wednesday. Click here to read…

PM Hasina opens “Bangladesh House” in USA’s Maryland- The Observer

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is now in Washington DC, inaugurated the newly constructed “Bangladesh House” at Maryland in the USA. Click here to read…

People won’t respond to BNP’s call of movement, says Quader- The Observer

Sheikh Russel Jatiya Shishu-Kishore Parishad arranged the discussion and educational equipment distribution ceremony, marking the 75th birthday of AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Click here to read…

Bangabandhu-Bapu digital exhibition begins at BSA- The Observer

The Bangabandhu-Bapu digital exhibition was opened for public viewing at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) on Saturday. Click here to read…

Biman’s Medina, Kuwait, Kathmandu flights resume in October- Independent

Biman Bangladesh Airlines will resume its direct flights from Dhaka to three popular destinations from October. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Police investigating sexual harassment case at the Royal Tutorial Project- Kuensel

Sources said the police investigation has involved message retrieval from phones. “The case might be forwarded to court soon,” a source said. Click here to read…

PM underscores the importance of investing in health- Kuensel

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly virtually from Thimphu on September 25, Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering said the pandemic underlined the importance of investing in public health. Click here to read…

Bhutan begins efforts to become a model ecotourism destination- Kuensel

The Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) launched “Mainstreaming Biodiversity Conservation into the Tourism Sector in Bhutan”, a new project with the beginning of a three-day inception workshop in Trashigang on September 27. Click here to read…

Streamlining donation drives and crowdfunding- DLO-BBS

To ensure that donation drives and crowdfunding are genuine, the department of law and order has now put in place certain requirements. Click here to read…

Bhutan receives three fire-fighting and two utility vehicles from Japan-
To ensure that donation drives and crowdfunding are genuine, the department of law and order has now put in place certain requirements. Click here to read…

Maldives

Italy gives green light to travel to the Maldives – Avas

Italy has removed the Maldives from its list of countries to which travel is restricted. Italians will now be allowed to travel to the Maldives without the need for quarantine either on arrival or return. In addition to Maldives, Italians can travel to Seychelles, Mauritius, Egypt, Dominican Republic and Aruba from outside EU. Click here to read…

Bilehfahi Harbour project progressing well: MTCC – Avas

Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) has said the construction of Sh. Bilehfahi Harbour is ongoing at a fast pace. Click here to read…

President arrives in the Maldives after concluding visit to New York – Avas

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih arrived in the Maldives Tuesday morning after concluding the trip to New York City, United States, to attend the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Click here to read…

The climate change dilemma facing Maldives, Mauritius and other tourism-dependent small island nations: their livelihoods or their lives? – South China Monitoring post

Come visit the Maldives, its president entreated the world at this year’s United Nations General Assembly, moments before switching to an impassioned plea for help combating climate change. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Myanmar Junta Accused of Targeting Civilians with Landmines – The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s junta is laying landmines in residential areas while it conducts raids on civilian resistance forces in Kayah State. Click here to read…

Myanmar Junta Crony Plays Key Role in Arms Purchases From Ukraine – The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s crony league welcomed new members when current coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing succeeded former dictator Senior General Than Shwe as the military chief in 2011, with relatives and business associates of newly promoted generals joining the elite. Click here to read…

Myanmar’s Currency Hits Record Low as Coup Wreaks Havoc on Economy – The Irrawaddy

Almost eight months after the military coup, Myanmar’s currency depreciated to a record low this week, prompting fears of worsening social and economic instability in the country, which has been devastated by the takeover. Click here to read…

Myanmar on a military-made road to disaster – Asia Times

What began as carnival-like protests against Myanmar’s military takeover on February 1 has since morphed into a vicious nationwide insurgency that has hit areas of the nation that had seen no armed confrontations between rebels and state forces for decades. Click here to read…

Nepal

How Madhesh-based parties are using constitution amendment as a political weapon- Nepal Live Today

Six years after the promulgation, Madhesh-based political parties have continued to oppose the constitution while joining the governments whenever they like. Click here to read…

PM Calls All-Party Meet Today for Smooth House Proceedings- The Rising Nepal

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has called an all-party meeting on Thursday to remove obstructions in the parliamentary session. Click here to read…

Speaker Sapkota likely to read out letter of repeal of the ‘party-split’ ordinance in today’s House session- Republica

Speaker Agni Sapkota is likely to read out a letter of repeal of the ordinance related to the political party. Click here to read…

Beginning of the end of the Gorkha Empire (Part I)- Nepali Times

The Gorkha Empire was on a warpath, and the British East India Company saw it as a threat to its own expansionist ambitions. Click here to read…

No law on oath raises questions over rulers’ adherence to rule of law- TKP

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is working to give full shape to his Cabinet within a few days after a major obstruction to his bid to expand the Council of Ministers ended with the repealment of the ordinance on political parties on Tuesday. Click here to read…

Active caseload drops to 18193 as death toll shifts to 11123- Himalaya

Nepal’s coronavirus caseload reached 794,163 on Wednesday with 892 more people testing positive for the infection in the past 24 hours. Click here to read…

First casualty of the season on Manaslu as Canadian climber dies above 7,000m- Himalaya

Mt Manaslu recorded the season’s first casualty as a Canadian climber died while ascending the mountain, sources said. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Most loans under CPEC at commercial rates: report: Dawn

Shedding light on Beijing’s global development programme, the report said Chinese loans under CPEC constitute 95.2 per cent and 73pc of total commitments in energy and transport sectors, respectively. Click here to read…

Alarm over anti-Pakistan bill moved in US Senate: Dawn

The bill moved in the US Senate seeking to assess Pakistan’s alleged role in Afghanistan before and after the fall of Kabul to Afghan Taliban set alarm bells ringing in the upper house of parliament on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Pakistan denies providing military support to Taliban: The Express Tribune

Reacting to a bill seeking imposition of sanctions on the Afghan Taliban that could also potentially extend to Pakistan in US Senate, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Wednesday said that the country did not provide any military support to the Taliban. Click here to read…

A dollar is now fetching Rs172: The News

The rupee hit an all-time low against the dollar on Wednesday as investors evaluated political and economic risk from upcoming IMF reviews on the bailout package. Click here to read…

FIA to probe road projects of PMLN era: PM Imran Khan: The News

Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday said that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been given the responsibility to investigate the money spent on roads construction during the PMLN era. Click here to read…

Pakistan, Russia to strengthen military ties: Dawn

The agreement was reached during the third round of Russia-Pakistan Joint Military Consultative Committee (JMCC) meetings held here. Click here to read…

Keywords
Afghanistan, Afghan Government in Exile, International Criminal Court, China Aid, Kallyanpul Pond, Bhutan, Bhutan Jute Production, Bangladesh, Bangladesh GDP, COVID-19, Sheikh Hasina, BNP, Royal Tutorial Project, Ecotourism, Fire-Fighting Vehicles, Japan-Bangladesh, Maldives, Maldives in UN, Climate Change, Myanmar, Military Junta, Nepal, Nepal Constitution, Constitution Amendment, Gorkha Empire, CPEC, BRI, Pakistan, Pakistan-Russia