h5>Afghanistan

NRC Chief Urges West to Engage with Islamic Emirate: Tolo News

Jan Egeland, head of Norwegian Refugee Council, NRC, urged the West to engage with the Islamic Emirate. Egeland made the remarks in a special interview with TOLOnews. He pointed out to the recent decision of the Islamic Emirate regarding the ban on women from going to schools, universities and work, saying that such decision would affect Kabul relations with the international community.”I am sure we will find a solution. We found the solution in the past. We never left Afghanistan. The western forces did, the western diplomats did. I am also asking the western diplomats to engage more with the Taliban but again I don’t think it is gonna be in Doha then because what is said in Doha, is not what decided in Kabul and Kandahar,” Egeland said. Click here to read…

Delivering Humanitarian Aid in Afghanistan to Continue: UN: The Khaama Press

The United Nations and its humanitarian partners are committed to the delivery of life-saving services to the people of Afghanistan during these difficult times, a UN envoy for Afghanistan said on Thursday. In a media briefing, in New York, on Thursday, Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for Afghanistan said, despite the Taliban-run administration’s decision to ban women from working in non-governmental organizations, the UN and its partners will deliver the much-needed humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan during these tough times. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Bangladesh is an important country in South Asia: new Chinese envoy – New Age

Newly appointed ambassador of China to Bangladesh Yao Wen has described Bangladesh as the ‘Pearl of the Bay of Bengal, an important country in South Asia and a rapidly emerging economy’. ‘Bangladesh is playing an irreplaceable role in regional and international affairs,’ said the ambassador who arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday evening to serve as the 16th ambassador of China to BangladeshClick here to read…

Bangladesh bars Russian vessel under US sanction from entering its territory – New Age

A Russian ship carrying a consignment for Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project has been barred from entering Bangladeshi territory due to the sanctions of the United States on it. The incident surfaced at a time when the US and Russia were apparently engaged in a debate over the political developments in Bangladesh. Click here to read…

When will border killings stop? – Dhaka Tribune

There is no questioning the deep ties and friendship India and Bangladesh share, and have always shared, since our inception as a nation. There is no denying that India’s assistance during our Liberation War was the catalyst that helped us become a free nation. However, despite ties between the two countries remaining as strong as ever, it is disheartening to see just the alarming regularity with which we hear news of some Bangladeshi being shot at along the border. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Ramp up the surveillance systems – Kuensel Online

In the face of rising Covid-19 cases in the region, the Ministry of Health has advised the government and the public to step up safety measures. This is an important warning. We have gone through some difficult times. Lockdown is never a convenient measure, as we have experienced. Click here to read…

Maldives

Maldives taking precautions after threat to Indian High Commission: MEA

The government of Maldives has taken “swift action” after an Opposition leader called for an arson attack on the Indian High Commission in Male, the External Affairs Ministry said on Thursday. Click here to read…

Maldives President In Sri Lanka On Private Visit

Prior to his departure the President kicked off his campaign for the upcoming presidential primary of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). He even met with the press after a long hiatus and answered numerous questions. Both President Solih and MDP leader and Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed are running in the primary. The election is believed to be causing even deeper divisions within the party. Click here to read…

Myanmar

UNICEF Myanmar Humanitarian Situation Report No. 11, December 2022 – Relief Web

The number of people displaced nationally, including those in protracted situations, has continued to rise, exceeding 1.5 million as of 26 December 2022. UNICEF reached over 2.7 million children aged 6–59 months with support to the vitamin A supplementation campaign. Click here to read…

Myanmar junta supporters protest outside US and UK embassies – Mizzima

Supporters of the Myanmar junta held protests against the United States’ (US) ratification of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) outside the Yangon US embassy on University Avenue and the UK embassy on Strand Road. The 2022 Burma Act was part of the 2023 NDAA that was ratified into law by US President Biden on 23 December 2022. Click here to read…

Nepal

UML Chair Oli holding talks with Madhav Nepal – Khabarhub

In a bid to narrow down differences, CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli and Unified Socialist Chairman Madhav Nepal are holding a meeting on Friday. However, the time and place have not been decided yet. According to sources, the two leaders are meeting on Friday where they would discuss power-sharing and party unity. Click here to read…

Excited to work with new government in Nepal: India – The Hindu

India is “excited” about working with the new government in Nepal, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Thursday. “Our PM congratulated Pushpa Kamal Dahal. The Nepalese PM also responded and said he wants friendly relations. He talked about natural affinity. Both our countries have unique bilateral relations. We hope to work together with the new government of Nepal. We are excited to work with the new government,” Mr. Bagchi said. Click here to read…

US funds for Tibetans in India, Nepal – Tribune India

The US budget-2023, passed by the Congress last week, has a provision of USD 11 million for the Tibetan Government-in-Exile and Tibetan communities living in India and Nepal. The budget has made available “not less than $8,000,000” for programmes to promote and preserve Tibetan culture and language for Tibetan communities residing in India and Nepal and “not less than $3,000,000” for programmes to strengthen the capacity of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). Click here to read…

Chinese reactions to Nepal’s election result – ORF Online

Despite the “communist victory” in Nepal, there seem to be some apprehensions within Chinese strategic circles about the stability of this new coalition government. Either due to the havoc wreaked by the ongoing COVID crisis or confounded by the complexity of Nepali politics, the Chinese reaction to Nepal’s election results, as evident from the debates and discussions in the Chinese internet circles, has been rather muted. Click here to read…

Nepal expresses satisfaction over SJVN hydro projects – Devdiscourse

Matters related to the development of hydropower in Nepal were also deliberated in the meeting, the statement.SJVN said its CMD is on an official visit to Nepal to review the execution of 900 MW Arun-3, 669 MW Lower Arun 490 MW Arun-4 hydro projects.The CMD also briefed the Deputy Prime Minister about the measures taken by his company to mitigate the impact of the global pandemic on the construction activities of the Arun-3 Project. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Presidential ordinance likely to bring mini-budget: The Express Tribune

Sources in the Ministry of Finance told The Express Tribune that it has been decided, in principle, to impose 1% to 3% import duties to raise around Rs60 billion in additional revenues. However, these duties might be imposed as a levy, which would keep the money outside the federal divisible pool and would not be distributed under the National Finance Commission Award. Due to its non-tax nature, the levy would also not be counted as part of the Federal Board of Revenue collection.
Click here to read…

Geneva moot to take up plight of flood-hit people: The Express Tribune

The prime minister expressed these views as he chaired a review meeting on the Resilient Pakistan Conference to be held in Geneva next month.
The premier said hundreds of lives and billions of dollars had been lost this year due to flash floods in Pakistan. He vowed to make every possible effort to accommodate the flood-struck population. Click here to read…

National Security Committee meets today: The News

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has summoned a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) on Friday (today) to discuss the security matters.The NSC meeting has been convened at the PM House, which would be attended by the defence minister, interior minister, foreign minister and finance minister as well as military chiefs, local media reported quoting sources. Click here to read…

Rising inflation, gas shortage, snap polls: PTI holds countrywide protest from today: The News

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced Thursday it would start a country-wide protest movement starting tomorrow (Friday) as the party seeks to force the coalition government into early elections. The PTI has been repeatedly calling for snap elections since ex-prime minister Imran Khan’s ouster in April as it refuses to go back to the National Assembly and keeps on stressing that “early polls” are the only solution to the country’s ongoing crisis, reported local media. But the government has ruled out staging early polls and has told the PTI that given the current situation — floods, census, and new delimitation — the elections cannot be held before October. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

IS member connected with Sri Lanka Easter bomber held for links with Coimbatore blast suspects: NIA – Hindustan Times

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday arrested a member of terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS) who was in touch with the mastermind of 2019 Easter Day bombings in Sri Lanka, for his alleged links with suspects in the October 23 blast in Tamil Nadu’s CoimbatoreClick here to read…

Bankrupt Sri Lanka enters New Year with no clarity on bailout – Strait Times

Sri Lanka will hobble into 2023 with old problems it had hoped not to carry over into the New Year. The bankrupt country is nearing its deadline of end-December to get the bilateral approvals necessary for a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with little good news. Click here to read…

Let’s unpack the query in ‘Tamil National Question’ – Daily Mirror

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has called all parties to get together and solve what he calls the ‘ethnic-problem’ that has remained ‘unresolved’ for decades. Meanwhile, parties that claim to represent ‘Tamil interests’ have put forward a set of demands: a) stop ‘land grabs in the Northern and Eastern Provinces by armed forces the state institutions while releasing all lands so acquired earlier by them in those two provinces, b) hold provincial council elections forthwith after implementing all provisions in the Constitutions and other laws in respect of power devolution, and c) implement power devolution under a federal framework through a new Constitution are the three demands. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

UN Official Urges Islamic Emirate to Lift Ban on Female Staff at NGOs: Tolo News

The UN deputy humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan, Fran Equiza, in a meeting with Acting Minister of Public Health Qalandar Ibad called for “the Taliban ban on women working for NGOs and international NGOs to be lifted in its entirety.” “The ban will impact millions of the most vulnerable Afghans,” the UN official said. Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in a phone call reaffirmed the importance of guaranteeing women’s rights and their full and equal participation in all aspects of life, a statement of the Pakistan Foreign Ministry said.
Click here to read…

Pakistan faces disappointment on bilateral deals with the new regime in Afghanistan: The Khaama Press

Recent events on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border make it clear that Pakistan’s decades old Afghanistan policy has failed. On 11 December 2022, Taliban forces in Afghanistan shelled a town just across the border in Pakistan, killing seven Pakistani civilians. Pakistan retaliated, killing one Taliban fighter and injuring ten Afghans. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the “unprovoked shelling” by Afghan forces. On 15 December, the two sides exchanged artillery fire across the border, killing at least one Pakistani civilian and wounding 15 others. Both countries are today on the verge of war! These developments signal a turn in ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan and signals Pakistan’s loss of control over the Afghan Taliban, which is today a government in power. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

PM Hasina: Metro rail a unique milestone for Dhaka – Dhaka Tribune

After completing the giant Padma Bridge and the Bangabandhu tunnel this year, the government will now inaugurate a part of Bangladesh’s first-ever elevated metro rail on Wednesday as another feather in its cap. The Awami League has taken detailed preparations to make this historic moment memorable with the presence of a vast crowd along the streets from Diabari to Agargaon.Click here to read…

Minister: Delhi has assured Dhaka of smooth supply of essentials – Dhaka Tribune

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Tuesday said that India has assured Bangladesh of uninterrupted supply of essential goods round the year as New Delhi is setting an annual quota of exports to its immediate neighbor. The quota will be set up after reviewing export data of India’s essential commodities to Bangladesh in recent years, he said in a press briefing on his recent India tour at his ministry. He said Bangladesh imports rice, wheat, onion, garlic, ginger, pulse and many other essential items from India. Sometimes India suspends export of those goods, but this time India has assured that the supply will remain uninterrupted, he said. Click here to read…

HCA signed, €609 million in loans approved by France’s AFP for Bangladesh – Dhaka Tribune

In 2022, Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the Economic Relations Division (ERD) of the government of Bangladesh signed a host country agreement for the establishment of AFD activities in Bangladesh, a successful outcome of years of negotiations between the French and Bangladesh governments. This was a crucial step which came after 10 years of operation and over 20 projects financed in the country, said a media release on Tuesday. Click here to read…

Bhutan

NC elections in early 2023 – Kuensel online

The Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) has notified that the National Council (NC) elections for the fourth Parliament will be conducted in early 2023. The tenure of the current National Council members end on May 9, next year. The ECB also said that the familiarisation tour of the political parties and candidates would be allowed only until January 31, 2023. All political parties and candidates who are on their familiarisation tour must comply with this announcement. Click here to read…

Credit growth improves by 9.2 percent – Kuensel Online

With the re-opening of the economy, the total credit growth of financial institutions (FIs) saw an increase by 9.2 percent as of September this year from the same month last year, the Royal Monetary Authority figures show. The total loan disbursement from FIs to customers amounted to Nu 191.96 billion (B) as of September this year. It saw an increase of Nu 16.17B from September last year. Click here to read…

Nu 108.7M forgone from duty-free entitlement tax – Kuensel Online

The government last year forswore Nu 108.7M from the taxes from the duty-free entitlement, according to the Ministry of Finance (MoF). From next year, the duty-free quota privilege will be given only to diplomats governed by the international laws, conventions and covenants ratified by the parliament of Bhutan and International employees governed by the Bilateral and multilateral agreement signed by the government of Bhutan. Click here to read…

Maldives

Rail Vikas Nigam shares jump 5% on bagging Rs 1,545 crore contract in Maldives – Business Today

Shares of Rail Vikas Nigam (RVNL) surged 4.96 per cent in Wednesday’s trade after receiving an appointment letter as project implementation agency for the UTF Harbor project in Maldives. The order for this strategic project was placed by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The project cost stood at Rs 1,544.60 crore and it has to be completed within 24 months. Click here to read…

Team from India studies technical specifications for India-Maldives power transmission grid – Live Mint

The union power ministry on Tuesday said that a technical team from India has visited Maldives to study the technical specifications for interconnection of a power transmission grid between the two countries. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Political turmoil in Afghanistan, Myanmar impacting Indian projects – Business Standard

India-backed projects have suffered setbacks in Afghanistan and faced numerous challenges in Myanmar due to the current political and security situations in these countries, the Ministry of External Affairs has informed a parliamentary panel. Click here to read…

China-aided national theatre renovation project handed over to Myanmar – Xinhua

The China-aided renovation project of the National Theatre of Yangon was officially handed over to the Myanmar government here on Tuesday. The renovation project, which was carried out with the assistance from China, began in August 2019 and was completed in November 2022. The upgrading work has made the theatre a modernized one of higher standards. Speaking at the handover ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Chen Hai said that the National Theatre of Yangon is the largest of its kind in Myanmar, whose construction was completed with the assistance from the Chinese government in 1990. Click here to read…

Nepal

India’s policy hurts power export prospects of Nepal – The Kathmandu Post

In a move that will make hydroelectricity generated by Indian projects cheaper than that produced by Nepal, India’s power ministry starting earlier this month removed the inter-state transmission charges for new Indian hydropower projects. The ministry on December 2 issued the order to waive Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges on the transmission of electricity generated by new hydropower projects. The waiver is already available to solar and wind power projects. Click here to read…

President summons parliament session from January 9 – The Kathmandu Post

President Bidya Devi Bhandari has called for the session of the Federal Parliament on January 9. The session has been called at 1:00 pm according to Article 93 (1) of the constitution, informed Office of the President on Tuesday. The meeting of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly is going to be held for the first time after the November 20 polls. There are 12 lawmakers from different political parties while four are independent. Click here to read…

China nudges Nepal to expedite BRI projects as Prachanda becomes new PM – Business Standard

A day after Maoist party chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda was appointed as Nepals new prime minister, China on Monday said that it looks forward to working with the new government to push projects under the ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Congratulating Prachanda on his appointment, Mao Ning, the official spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, has said that China wants to pursue projects under the Belt and Road cooperation. Click here to read…

Not Against India, Will Forget Old Disputes, Says Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ – ABP News Online

The newly appointed Prime Minister vowed to strengthen Nepal’s relations with India. “We want good relations with India,” he said. “I am not against India, will forget the old disputes and move forward,” said Prachanda. “According to the mandate given, the government has been formed in the country. The public wanted everyone to work together, and that’s why they formed the government together. Our government will complete its term. Work will be done according to the constitution,” said PM Prachanda while talking to senior news anchor Dibang. Click here to read…

Chinese arrive for rail feasibility study – The Kathmandu Post

A day after Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s assumption of office, a six-member Chinese technical team landed in Kathmandu on Tuesday to carry out a feasibility study of the Nepal-China cross-border railway. Dahal, the CPN (Maoist Centre) chairman, heads a coalition of two biggest leftist parties and others. The China Railway First Survey and Design Institute Group will carry out the feasibility study via a Chinese government grant. Click here to read…

Pakistan

No other option but to implement IMF deal: PM: The Express Tribune

He said the coalition government never wanted to transfer the burden of price hikes. In the past, the PTI government blatantly breached the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Meanwhile, the prime minister said that they had devised a plan to immediately convert all the federal government entities’ buildings to solar power by April next year in order to slash a huge chunk out of the country’s costly fuel import bill hovering around $27 billion. Click here to read…

Road, railway connectivity with CARs discussed: The Express Tribune

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said road and railway connectivity projects between Pakistan and Central Asian states will not only bring the trade communities together, but also usher in a new era of peace and prosperity in the region.The premier said this during a meeting with a high-level delegation from Uzbekistan led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Investment and Foreign Trade Khodjaev Jamshid Abdukhakimovich in Islamabad. Click here to read…

Gold outshines market, gives over 40pc return in 2022: report: The News

Gold was the top-performing asset class in 2022 with a return of more than 40 percent, followed by one-year dollar-denominated Naya Pakistan Certificate (NPC), and the US currency, a local brokerage report stated on Tuesday. The NPC remained on second with a return of up to 36 percent and the holders of the US dollar in cash were listed on third with 28 percent return. Topline Securities presented the report on asset classes that were widely followed by local investors and savers in 2022. “These asset classes provided better returns compared to estimated average consumer price index inflation of 20 percent in outgoing calendar year 2022,” the brokerage said in a client note. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Not the correct time for LG polls: PUNP – Daily News

Patriotic United National Party (PUNP) General Secretary Sugath Hewapathirana stated that it is inappropriate to hold a Local Government election now as the economic situation in the country is not stable yet. He said that it is inappropriate to spend Rs.10 billion for an election at this time. He said that it is not appropriate to spend such a large amount of money to hold an election, leaving aside the sufferings of the entire country, who have been greatly affected by the severe economic downturn that the country has faced. He also said that this will give the people an opportunity to recognize who are the political parties and leaders who are working for their own greedy goals by urging for an election setting aside the hardships faced by the people. Click here to read…

Can Sri Lanka drive itself from bankruptcy to prosperity in 2023? DailyFT

Converting the bankrupt nation to solvency will be a challenging task for Sri Lanka in 2023. If this is not done quickly, the goal of making Sri Lanka a rich country by 2048 will be an elusive one…Click here to read…

Increase in requests for dual citizenship in Sri Lanka – Adaderana

Requests have reportedly been made by 5,401 individuals to the Department of Immigration and Emigration for obtaining dual citizenship in the year 2021. The Department of Immigration and Emigration pointed out that the majority of them are residents of Australia, which is numerically 1,621 individuals. Meanwhile, dual citizenship requests have been made by 885 individuals from the United Kingdom, 795 from the United States, 371 from Canada and several others from countries such as Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, New Zealand, France and Denmark. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Deputy Minister Reiterates Commitment to Fight Drugs: Tolo News

The deputy minister of counter-narcotics, Abdulhaq Akundzada, said the commitment to fight drugs and said alcoholic beverages, as well as a number of illicit drugs, are brought to Afghanistan from Iran, Pakistan and Central Asia. Akhundzada asked the countries to prevent the trafficking of drugs to Afghanistan. “If the narcotics are being trafficked to Iran, Pakistan and Central Asian countries or anywhere else, we will prevent it. We have arrested many of them. Click here to read…

Taliban (IEA) Bans Two Female Training Centers in Kabul & Hera: The Khaama Press

Authorities of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan closed two educational centers in Kabul and Herat accommodating more than 1200 female students.Roya Mahboob, the Founder of the Afghan Girls Robotic Team tweeted on Monday that the Taliban authorities forcibly shut the education centers in Herat and Kabul. More than a thousand female students were taking pieces training in business, Robotics, coding, and Information Communications Technology. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Senior ministers sound alarm over foreign interference – Dhaka Tribune

Momen said that other countries do not need to give prescriptions to Bangladesh on democracy and human rights, as both are deeply rooted in Bangladesh’s DNA. He said the current government is committed to holding free, fair, transparent, and inclusive elections under the independent Election Commission. The foreign minister also said Bangladesh welcomes constructive suggestions from foreign friends. Click here to read…

Mongla port upgrade: Tk 6,014 crore deal inked with Indian firm – Daily Star

The Mongla Port Authority (MPA) and Egis India today signed the related agreement for the “Upgradation of Mongla port” project, at the Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden in the capital. Rear Admiral Mohammad Musa, chairman of the MPA, and Laurent Germain, chief executive officer of Egis India, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective parties.
Of the estimated Tk 6,014 crore project, the government will finance Tk 1,555 crore from its own coffer while India will provide Tk 4,459 crore as assistance under its third line of credit. The project is scheduled to be complete by July 30, 2024. Click here to read…

Bangladesh, ADB ink deals worth $627mn for development, climate projects – Business Standard

The ADB said it will provide about $278 million in loan for the Third Public-Private Infrastructure Development Facility– Tranche 2, and $100 million for the Greater Dhaka Sustainable Urban Transport Project (BRT-Gazipur). Meanwhile, the bank will also give about $246 million in loan for the Coastal Towns Climate Resilience Project and a grant of $4 million for the Coastal Towns Climate Resilience ProjectClick here to read…

Bhutan

Hydropower revenue to drop by 4 percent – Kuensel online

The overall hydropower generation of Druk Green Power Corporation’s (DGPC) power plants for the year was forecast to be around 6,914 Gigawatt hours (GWh) with expected revenue of Nu 11.51 billion (B). This, according to the DGPC, would be a decrease of about 4 percent or Nu 497.54 million (M) from last year. In 2021, the country generated Nu 12B from electricity. As of November this year, the DGPC’s power plants generated 6,919.12GWh of electricity, less by 34.68GWh compared to the same month last year. The country generated 6,953.8GWh of electricity as of the same month last year. Click here to read…

Maldives

Cambodia eyes rice sales to Maldives – Phnompenh Post

Cambodia plans to begin the formal export of milled rice to the archipelago nation of Maldives, a month after its Phka Rumduol jasmine variety was crowned as the “World’s Best Rice” for a fifth time, as part of a campaign to raise the profile of the local grain on the regional and international stages. At a ceremony marking the beginning of work to revamp the 95.27km National Road 41 on the morning of December 26, Prime Minister Hun Sen revealed that he would visit the Maldives next month to discuss milled-rice sales as well as stepping up tourism ties. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Myanmar court to deliver final verdicts this week in Suu Kyi trials – Reuters

A court in military-ruled Myanmar will deliver its final verdicts in cases against deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday, said a source familiar her trials, wrapping up marathon proceedings that have been condemned in the West as a sham. Suu Kyi, 77, was arrested when the military seized power on Feb. 1 last year in a coup that ended a decade of tentative democracy and plunged the country into chaos. Click here to read…

Myanmar Junta’s Worst Massacres of 2022 – The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s regime has stepped up atrocities during 2022, including arbitrary killings and the torturing of civilians, burning people alive and using civilians as human shields. Arson attacks, the looting of homes, shelling and airstrikes on residential areas and sexual violence have also increased this year. Click here to read…

Manipur to beef up security along Myanmar border: CM Biren Singh – Dajji World

The Manipur government would strengthen the security in the state’s border areas along with Myanmar by setting up more outposts to curb illegal peddling of drugs, exotic wildlife, various contraband besides cross-border crimes, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said on Monday. Click here to read…

Nepal

Prime minister settled, all eyes on President and Speaker race – The Kathmandu Post

With the CPN (Maoist Centre) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal becoming prime minister with the backing of the second largest party, the CPN-UML, the latter is set to get two other major positions—the President and the Speaker. After Dahal decided to join the UML camp following Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s refusal to allow him to lead the government for the first half of the next five-year term, the new coalition of seven parties will now distribute among themselves 35 constitutional positions including the President, Vice-President, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, National Assembly chair and vice-chair, chief ministers, speakers, deputy speakers and provincial chiefs of seven provinces. Click here to read…

Explained: How Prachanda Outsmarted Sher Bahadur Deuba To Be Nepal’s PM, What It Means For India? – Outlook

The surprise development of Prachanda becoming the Nepal’s Prime Minister may not bode well for India-Nepal ties as he and Oli have had some run-ins with New Delhi previously over territorial issues. Prachanda is seen as pro-China. He has in the past said a new understanding with India needed to be developed on the basis of a “changed scenario” in Nepal and after addressing all outstanding issues, like revision of the 1950 Friendship Treaty and resolving Kalapani and Susta border disputes. Click here to read…

A parlous path ahead for Rabi Lamichhane – The Kathmandu Post

Rastriya Swatantra Party president Rabi Lamichhane took the oath of office and secrecy as Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister at the Sheetal Niwas on Monday—a remarkable turn of events for a person who was running a TV show until six months ago. The Rastriya Swatantra Party—which Lamichhane formed after resigning from his TV job in June just five months prior to the November 20 elections—emerged as the fourth-largest force in the House of Representatives (HoR) in its first-ever elections. The party won 20 federal seats. Its head has now bagged a coveted ministry, becoming one of the country’s most influential leaders. Click here to read…

Finance minister inherits a troubled economy again – The Kathmandu Post

Amid rumours that Bishnu Poudel is becoming the new finance minister, the share market began to make upward moves from Monday morning. As the market closed, the Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) index rose by 56.88 points, appearing to welcome Poudel’s appointment as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister in the new Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Shehbaz renews pledge to crush terrorism menace: Dawn

As the country reels from multiple incidents of terrorism, claimed by the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) over the past few days, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday vowed to eradicate militants across the country amid criticism by his predecessor Imran Khan, who grilled the government over a steep rise in militancy during its eight-month stint.
Addressing a gathering in Dera Ismail Khan, PM Shehbaz said that with the help of provincial governments and security forces, the government will eliminate terrorism in all its forms. Click here to read…

Rs2.2 trillion spent on interest and defence: The Express Tribune

Sources in the Ministry of Finance told The ExpressTribune that during July-November period of the current fiscal year, there was an alarming increase of 83% in the interest cost on the Rs50 trillion federal government debt stock. The Ministry of Finance paid nearly Rs1.7 trillion in the interest cost, up by Rs763 billion or 83%, according to the sources. Similarly, excluding military pensions and expenses on the armed forces development programme, Rs517 billion was spent on defence in five months. It was Rs112 billion or nearly 28% more than the previous fiscal year, according to the sources. Click here to read…

Security advisory: Saudi Arabia, Australia ask citizens in Pakistan to limit movement: The News

In the wake of recent terror incidents in the country, the Saudi embassy has issued a security alert for its citizens in Pakistan, advising them to remain careful and limit their movement. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka PM urges new envoys to promote foreign investment, exports, tourism – Colombo Page

Sri Lanka Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena meeting with a group of new envoys on Monday noted that the economic diplomacy rather than traditional diplomacy has gained priority in the world and emphasized the importance of innovative diplomacy that promotes investment attraction, exports and tourism. Newly appointed Ambassadors and High Commissioners to 16 countries participated in a special discussion held with the Prime Minister at Temple Trees. Click here to read…

We face the repercussion of handing over the country to politicians: Prelate – Daily Mirror

What we are experiencing now is the consequence of handing over everything in the country to politicians, the Chairman of the National Movement for the Protection of the Nation Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thera said. “We have never heard of an era where the people of our country are suffering as much as they do these days,” he lamented. “Now I am hearing several opinions being discussed about the issues in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of the country. “The Government should not do that. It will be creating more national problems at a time when people are worried over their next meals,” he said. Click here to read…

Distribution of dry rations at Abhayagiriya – Daily Mirror

Arrangements have been made to distribute 50,000 parcels of dry rations among needy families by the China Buddhist Association and Fa-Xien Charity Trust with the participation of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and Acting Chinese Ambassador Hu Wei in the presence of Atamasthanadhipathi Ven Pallegama Hemaratana, Chief Incumbent Abhayagiriya Temple Ven Dr Kallanchiye Ratanasiri on Tuesday (27) at 1.30 pm at the Abhayagiriya premises in Anuradhapura. The event is organized by the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka and the China Sri Lanka Buddhist Friendship Association. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Islamic Emirate’s Ban on Women’s Jobs Faces Widespread Reactions: Tolo News

The Ministry of Economy in a statement on Saturday ordered all national and international non-government organizations to suspend their female staff members until the next announcement. The announcement of the Islamic Emirate faced widespread reactions at national and international levels. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a tweet expressed deep concerns about the Islamic Emirate decision’s ban on women’s jobs and said “this decision could be devastating for the Afghan people, women are central to humanitarian operations around the world.” Click here to read…

TTP Threat, Rings Alarm for Pakistan: The Khaama Presss

With the return of the Taliban to Afghanistan in August 2021, the dynamic of TTP operations has changed in Pakistani tribal areas and other major cities to a great extent. Afghan Taliban, TTP’s ideological twin brother’s success in neighboring Afghanistan gave them extra momentum and energy to expand their operations across Pakistan. Since the beginning of the year, the TTP has conducted hundreds of attacks mostly targeting police and army headquarters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, and Quetta Balochistan in Particular. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Sheikh Hasina re-elected as AL president, Quader as general secretary – Dhaka Tribune

The ruling Awami League announced its new central committee with minor changes at its 22nd National Council on Saturday afternoon. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was re-elected as party president for the 10th time, while Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader was elected general secretary for a hattrick of terms. Click here to read…

AL rank and file confused who’s top joint GS – Daily Star

Among the ruling Awami League rank and file, confusion reigned about who actually tops the list of joint general secretaries. The official website of AL uploaded the names of leaders of the full-fledged committee around 10:30pm on Saturday, putting Hasan as the number one joint general secretary. However, an hour later, the list was pulled down from the website. Only the names of Sheikh Hasina and Obaidul Quader remained there. This created a confusion among the party rank and file. Click here to read…

More exchanges between Bangladesh, China media emphasized – New Age

Bangladesh’s relations with China, one of the major development and trading partners of the country, are growing with each passing day, speakers said at a function. Enhanced contacts and exchange between the media of the two countries are needed as the media can play an important role in strengthening cultural and economic ties, they said. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Growing import a growing concern – Kuensel online

It took less than a month for the unemployed guide to switch his career. Within three months he has become a licensed importer and his trial business of importing instant noodles and coffee, seaweed, and ready-to-eat meals is doing well. The guide is among the many in the import business, also called as “container business,” making quick money – bringing in goods ranging from instant noodles to furniture and furnishings from as far as China, South Korea, and Indonesia. There is money in the import business. However, it is leaving a huge impact on the country. Click here to read…

Former Bhutan king warned India about China: R&AW ex-chief A.S. Dulat -The Hindu

Bhutan’s then king Jigme Singye Wangchuck warned India of pressures from China in 1999, writes former R&AW chief A.S. Dulat in his latest book. Mr. Dulat says the former King’s words were “prophetic” about India-China tensions in Doklam in 2017 and the build-up of infrastructure by China that has followed. He also says that New Delhi’s “muscular policy” on a range of issues, including the situation in Kashmir, and tough foreign policy in the neighbourhood led to “failures”. Click here to read…

Maldives

Maldives former president Yameen gets 11-year jail term – Business Recorder

The Maldives criminal court on Sunday sentenced former president Abdulla Yameen to 11 years in prison and fined him $5 million after finding him guilty of corruption and money laundering charges related to receiving kickbacks from a private company. Yameen has denied any wrongdoing. He lost power in 2018 but has been declared presidential candidate for the Progressive Party of the Maldives for an election due in 2023. Click here to read…

Maldives leader held for threatening attack on Indian Mission – Tribune India

Abbas Adil Riza who, in a tweet, had encouraged an arson attack on the Indian High Commission in Male. The arrest came on a day when his party colleague and former Maldives President Abdulla Yameen was sentenced to 11 years in prison by a court for corruption. The developments come ahead of the presidential elections in Maldives next year. Pro- China Yameen has in the past few days made several anti-India remarks. Click here to read…

Myanmar

China-funded mobile clinic provides healthcare services in Kyaukphyu of Myanmar – Xinhua

The China-funded Kyaukphyu Anargat (Future) Mobile Clinic project in western Myanmar’s Rakhine state entered its final stage in late December, already providing free healthcare service to over 1,500 villagers. U Kyaw Win, 54, from Kyaukphyu Township’s Shauk Chaung Village, is one of the hundreds of villagers who benefited from free healthcare and medicines from the mobile clinic. Click here to read…

New Sittwe port for Indo-Myanmar direct trade will open for Indo-Myanmar trade – Mizzima

The Military Council-appointed Rakhine State government Chief Minister Dr Aung Kyaw Min said in his opening address on the 48th Rakhine State Day that one of the Indo-Myanmar friendship projects, the Sittwe port, would be opened soon for direct trade between India and Myanmar. This Kaladan multi-modal transit transport (KMTT) project would be beneficial not only for Myanmar but also for Rakhine State development, he said. Click here to read…

Myanmar junta says UN resolution aimed at destabilizing country – LaPrensalatina

Myanmar’s military junta has rejected the resolution passed by the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday demanding an immediate end to violence and release of all political prisoners, accusing the global body of trying to “destabilize” the country. Myanmar’s foreign ministry said in a statement late on Friday that the resolution – approved on Wednesday with 12 votes in favor and three abstentions (China, Russia and India) – includes “several intrusive elements on Myanmar’s internal affairs that contravene the principles and purposesof the United Nations.” Click here to read…

Nepal

Dahal becomes prime minister again, Oli the new kingmaker – The Kathmandu Post

Sher Bahadur Deuba, a veteran of manoeuvring hung parliaments to his advantage, got outfoxed on Sunday afternoon by his bete noire, KP Sharma Oli. Not only did Oli succeed in getting Pushpa Kamal Dahal anointed as the prime minister, a move which weaned Dahal away from the Congress-led alliance, he also now gets to have his own candidate for the head of the state and the Speaker of the House of Representatives along with plum ministries and a majority of the provincial chief ministers. Until Sunday afternoon, a Nepali Congress-led coalition led by Deuba was the favourite to form the next federal government. The Oli masterstroke means that he will now get to pull the strings of power. Click here to read…

Indian Workers Attacked Along Nepal Border In Uttarakhand; Defence Minister Intervenes – Republic World

In Dharchula, a safety wall is being created along the Kali river that flows between India and Nepal. It has been learned that some elements are against the construction of the wall and are furiously throwing stones in order to stop the work at the location. Calling Nepal a friend, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called for negotiations with the neighbouring country saying, “Nepal is our friend, if there is any dispute, we will solve it together.” Also, Indian officials will be taking up the matter with their Nepalese counterparts if such incidents occur in the future. Click here to read…

Modi congratulates Prachanda on being elected Nepal’s PM – Economic Times

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” on Sunday on being elected as the new leader of Nepal and said he looks forward to working with him to further strengthen the friendship between the two countries. Click here to read…

No respite for national economy with more instability in store – The Kathmandu Post

The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has launched a ‘Save the Economy’ campaign in the face of worsening economic indicators. Although the indicators of the external sector have improved due to the strict import control measures, industrialists complain of a sharp decline in demand for goods and services, which has forced them to cut down on the operations of their businesses and factories.https://kathmandupost.com/money/2022/12/26/no-respite-for-national-economy-with-more-instability-in-store” target=”_blank”>Click here to read…

Pakistan

Editorial: Troubles lurking around every corner: Dawn

In the outgoing year, the people came around to an unprecedented price growth amid the country’s consistently deteriorating balance of payments crisis exacerbated by devastating summer floods and ongoing political uncertainty.Next year we could see inflation entrenched further and the economy trek toward a deeper recession as the politically embattled coalition led by the PML-N struggles to revive its sour relationship with the International Monetary Fund for the resumption of its loan programme to overcome its dollar liquidity crisis. Click here to read…

US embassy restricts staff movement in Islamabad: The Express Tribune

A statement issued by the US Embassy in Islamabad said the US government staff prohibited from visiting the private hotel in the federal capital due to possible attack.The US government is aware of information that unidentified individuals are possibly plotting to attack Americans at the private hotel in Islamabad “sometime during the holidays”, the statement added. Click here to read…

Govt again advises Imran to return to NA: The Express Tribune

As PTI chief Imran Khan remains adamant about playing hardball to force early polls, the government has again advised the former prime minister to return to the National Assembly to put forth his demands and lead a “healthy opposition” against the ruling coalition for negotiations. Click here to read…

News analysis: Country needs vision to break through economic trap: The News

As finance minister Ishaq Dar publicly defied the IMF earlier this month and overlooked tough economic conditions across Pakistan, a wider crisis continued with no signs of abating any time soon. The minister is presiding over Pakistan’s fast worsening economic turmoil driven by stagnation, far above target inflation, a balance of payments crisis and widespread uncertainty to name matters proverbially at the tip of the iceberg. And his recent promise of returning the Rupee versus US Dollar exchange rate to below Rs200 to a Dollar is already lost. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Manic weather across the country – Daily Mirror

Heavy rain was experienced yesterday all over the country disrupting civilian life. The worst affected were the central hills that had been hit by floods and earth slips due to the torrential rains experienced from Saturday midnight (24) that continued unabated yesterday. The Police said the central hills had been shrouded with a thick mist and warned the drivers to be cautious of fog that prevented visibility. Click here to read…

President Ranil’s initiative to resolve Tamil national question – Daily Mirror

Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) leader and Colombo District MP, Mano Ganesan received a telephone call from Ranil Wickremesinghe on 19 July 2022. Recalling the telephone conversation, Mano Ganesan told me “Ranil spoke as if he had already been elected President. He told me of his intention to resolve the Tamil National Question. He also told me of his plans to address the socio -economic issues of the North-Eastern and Up Country Tamils. He also spoke about the economic upliftment of their areas. Ranil seemed very convincing then” Click here to read…

Chinese infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka may have contributed to the country’s crisis: Report – The Print

According to the report, “A port city that dominates Colombo’s seafront was built on a 269-hectare patch of land reclaimed from the sea. It was to become a thriving business and financial hub, but it is virtually deserted.” An international airport commissioned at Sri Lanka’s Mattala city almost a decade ago is called the “emptiest airport in the world.” Both these projects funded by China are seen as “white elephants” that have significantly contributed to Sri Lanka’s debt. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Restrictions on Banking System an Obstacle for Investors: ACCI: Tolo News

The business community said that restrictions on the banking system in Afghanistan have challenged investors, leaving them with many problems in their businesses. According to the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI), withdrawals for investors have been restricted to the purchase of food and basic materials required for running their businesses. Withdrawals for decoration of offices, clothes, and other relevant materials are not processed, said ACCI officials. Click here to read…

Pakistan Delegation to Visit Afghanistan This Week: Tolo News

A delegation from Pakistan comprised of religious scholars and tribal elders is visiting Afghanistan this week, local officials in the Chaman area in Pakistan confirmed to TOLOnews. The visit is expected to discuss recent tensions raised between the Islamic Emirate and Pakistani forces along the Durand Line, according to some members of the delegation. “We are going to Afghanistan. Those in Afghanistan are our brothers. The same are the governor and other leaders. We talk to them because the (Spin Boldak-Chaman) crossing is closed often due to clashes,” said Sardar Barat, a member of the delegation.Click here to read…

UN Security Council Holds a Session on Afghanistan: The Khaama Press

The UN Security Council held a session on Afghanistan today emphasizing the way forward through a more pluralistic polity, where all Afghans, especially women and minorities, could see themselves represented. In a briefing to the United Nation’s Security Council earlier today, the Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Roza Otunbayeva said the only war forward for Afghanistan is to form an inclusive government where everyone, particularly women and minorities could seem themselves represented. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Dhaka for increasing capacity of land ports on India-Bangladesh border – Dhaka Tribune

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Tuesday called for increasing the capacities of the land ports on the India-Bangladesh border. “India is a close friend and a major trading partner of Bangladesh. There is a huge demand for Bangladeshi products in the Indian market. Bangladesh is now able to export international quality products at relatively low prices. For this reason, it is necessary to increase the capacities of the land ports on the India-Bangladesh border,” he said. Click here to read…

Dhaka considering pros, cons of Indo-Pacific Economic Framework – Dhaka Tribune

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday said Bangladesh is looking into the “pros and cons” of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) to determine if Bangladesh will benefit from joining it. “Recently, there has been debate about the Quad and Indo-Pacific Economic (Framework). To understand the issue, we have requested BIISS to look into it. I am thankful to them. They have submitted one report on it,” Momen saidClick here to read…

Iranian Deputy FM Ali Bagheri due Thursday – Dhaka Tribune

Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs of Iran Ali Bagheri Kani is scheduled to arrive here on Thursday morning to discuss bilateral and other issues of mutual interest with Bangladesh. In November, the Iranian said Foreign Office Consultation and meeting of Joint Economic Commission should be held at mutually convenient time to further strengthen relations in the field of trade, investment, economy, energy, chemical fertilizer and food security. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Import bill to hit over Nu 100B this year – Kuensel online

If the country imported Nu 30 billion (B) worth of goods in the last three months this year, the import bill would hit over Nu 120B. The total import bill at Nu 93.03B as of September this year already surpassed one-year’s import of Nu 90.23B in 2021. About 70 percent was imported from India. The value of exports, including electricity, stood at Nu 44.9B. Click here to read…

Maldives

India & Maldives hold 6th Joint Staff Talks in New Delhi – News On Air

The 6th Joint Staff Talks between India and the Maldives were held in New Delhi yesterday, December 20. The meeting was conducted in a friendly, warm and extremely cordial atmosphere. Discussions focused on the ongoing and new initiatives under the ambit of the existing bilateral defence cooperation mechanism of all three services and further strengthening the engagements. Click here to read…

Maldives Completes IMF Consultation for 2022 – Mirage News

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Maldives. Maldives’ economic activity rebounded strongly from the pandemic-induced contraction, supported by the authorities’ decisive policy measures. Real GDP growth recovered sharply to 37 percent in 2021 from the unprecedented contraction of 33.5 percent in 2020, as tourism activities bounced back. Inflation has risen but is contained due to price subsidies. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Two New Potential Game-Changers in Myanmar’s Crisis – The Irrawaddy

The bill recently passed by the US Congress, known broadly as the 2022 Burma Act, which allows the US government to provide technical support and non-military assistance to engage with groups opposing the military junta in Naypyitaw, combined with the arrival of incoming ASEAN chair Indonesia, could be a game-changer for the Myanmar crisis, which is soon to enter its third year. Click here to read…

Trial of Myanmar’s Suu Kyi enters final phase – Thai PBS World

A junta court will hear the final arguments in the 18-month-long trial of Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi next week, a legal source said Tuesday, before reaching its final verdicts against the Nobel laureate. Suu Kyi has been a prisoner since the military toppled her government in February 2021, ending the Southeast Asian nation’s brief period of democracy. Click here to read…

IFC Divests from Yoma Bank After Myanmar Military Links Exposed – The Irrawaddy

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has divested from Yoma Bank after its business with military companies was exposed, according to activist group Justice For Myanmar (JFM). Divestment by the IFC, the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in developing countries, came after JFM revealed Yoma Bank’s dealings with the military and its conglomerates. Click here to read…

Nepal

Gagan Thapa lone challenger to Sher Bahadur Deuba – The Himalayan

Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa, who is from the Shekhar Koirala faction of the party, became the only opponent to NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba in the contest for the parliamentary party leader. The NC will elect its parliamentary party leader tomorrow. Of the seven national political parties, the NC is the only party that will have to hold election to choose its parliamentary party leader. Other parties decided on their PP leader unanimously. Click here to read…

Nepal blacklists 16 Indian pharma cos – The Tribune

Nepal’s drug regulatory authority has blacklisted 16 Indian pharmaceutical companies, including Divya Pharmacy which manufactures yoga guru Ramdev’s Patanjali products, stating that they failed to comply with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) drug-manufacturing standards. In April and July this year, the department sent a team of drug inspectors to India to inspect the manufacturing facilities of pharmaceutical companies that had applied to supply their products to Nepal. Click here to read…

Nepal makes over Rs11 billion selling power to India – The Kathmandu Post

Nepal earned over Rs11 billion by selling excess power to India from early June to this week, the Nepal Electricity Authority said on Monday. The high income suggests electricity has emerged as a major export item. In early November last year, India had for the first time allowed Nepal to sell electricity in the Indian market via a competitive bidding process. But after exporting for a few weeks, Nepal stopped selling power to India in December amid reduction in power generation in the dry season. Exports resumed this year with the start of monsoon in early June. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Punjab on the brink of another constitutional crisis: Dawn

Punjab Assembly Speaker Sibtain Khan on Tuesday termed “illegal, against the provisions of the Constitution and thus stand disposed of” the Punjab governor’s orders directing Chief Minister Parvez Elahi to seek a vote of confidence in a special assembly session to show he still commands a majority. In his two-page ruling, the speaker maintained that the governor’s orders were not in accordance with Article 54(3) and Article 127. “The house is in session since Oct 23, 2022, and under Article 54(3) and 127. No fresh session can be convened unless and until the current one ends,” the order read. Click here to read…

Editorial: An audacious attack: Dawn

WE are witnessing the rapid unravelling of Pakistan’s anti-terrorism policy, and can expect an escalating human and material cost. On Sunday, in their most audacious attack yet since late November when they called off their tenuous ceasefire with the government, 33 TTP militants detained inside the Bannu Counter-Terrorism Department centre managed to overpower their interrogators and take a number of law-enforcement personnel hostage. Click here to read…

Pakistan identifies $8.2b flood funding gap: The Express Tribune

The $8.2 billion gap appeared too large to be filled in the Geneva conference amid low response to the UN’s $816 million emergency appeal, high risks of Pakistan’s sovereign default, and possible derailment of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme because of imprudent economic policies. The planning ministry has finalised the resilient, recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction framework, dubbed as 4RF, showing a financing gap of $8.2 billion. The framework has been developed with the help of the Asian Development Bank, European Union, UN Development Programme, and World Bank Group. Click here to read…

‘Pakistan in a fix on Afghan strategy’: The Express Tribune

Background discussions with the people dealing with the matter told The Express Tribune that despite apparent friction in ties with Kabul, Pakistan has no option but to seek engagement with the Afghan Taliban regime. The incidents of the last few weeks have put Pakistan’s relationship with the Afghan Taliban in jeopardy. Islamabad was already upset over Kabul’s failure to tackle the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the border clashes in Chaman further deepened the crisis. Click here to read…

IMF asks for passing on Rs65bn burden to power consumers: The News

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has asked Pakistan to pass on Rs65 billion to consumers of electricity which has been deferred in the shape of Fuel Price Adjustments (FPA) during the peak of last summer season. Out of the total outstanding amount of Rs65 billion on account of deferment of FPA in the electricity bills in the current fiscal year, the government has agreed with the IMF that Rs 55billion would be passed on to consumers and that would be recovered through bills. The remaining Rs10 billion would be absorbed through allocation of subsidy amount. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Unity between Indian Ocean, Asian and African countries vital to face global problems: President – Daily News

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that in order to face the global problems that may arise in the future, there should be unity between the Indian Ocean as well as Asian and African countries. The President said that since the impact of the Ukraine-Russia war may be felt in the future, the country should also work towards self-sufficiency by establishing food security. Click here to read…

9 Sri Lankans arrested in Tamil Nadu for attempt to revive LTTE: NIA – Hindustan Times

NIA has registered at least four cases since last year to probe conspiracy by several LTTE cadres based in India and Sri Lanka to revive the activities of the banned outfit by indulging in arms smuggling, ferrying of drugs and using hawala for transfer of funds. Click here to read…

China’s promised rice donation delivered – Daily News

The Chinese Embassy in Colombo yesterday said that one million kilograms (10,000 metric tonnes) of rice donation promised by China have all been delivered to Sri Lanka with the last 1,000 MT reaching Colombo on Monday. The Embassy said that the donation of this rice stock will help support nutrition and studies of over one million students in 7,900 schools across the country. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Decision on Afghan Seat at UN Postponed: Faiq: Tolo News

The Chargé d’Affaires of the Afghanistan Permanent Mission to the UN, Naseer Ahmad Faiq, said the UN credentials committee has postponed the decision on whether the Islamic Emirate can send a UN ambassador to New York for a second time. According to Faiq, the current Chargé d’Affaires of Afghanistan, Myanmar and Libya will continue representing the countries. “The UN credentials committee has not made the decision on whether to give credentials to the Taliban in the UN and it postponed the decision about Afghanistan, Myanmar and Libya,” Faiq said. Click here to read…

Afghanistan Loses Contest for UN Human Rights Seat: Tolo News

Afghanistan lost a contested race for a seat on the top UN human rights body on Tuesday along with Venezuela and South Korea. Afghanistan competed with Bangladesh, Maldives, Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan. Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate said that Afghanistan’s not being selected for the seat is unjust. “This is not fair that they didn’t give the seat to the Islamic Emirate and they make such decisions in our absence. They should reconsider this,” said Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Islamic Emirate. Click here to read…

Afghan Nationals Make Half of Iran’s Foreign Investment: The Khaama Press

Hassan Kazemi Qomi, the special representative of the Iranian President to Afghanistan said in his remarks, “Afghan nationals in Iran play a pivotal role towards the national economy. Half of Iran’s foreign investment comes from them, therefore, the high capacity of Afghan citizens should be utilized when the country is facing difficulties in attracting foreign investment.” Mr. Qomi further added that during the past year the United Arab Emirates expelled 700 Afghan businessmen from this country, whose capital was estimated at $30 million. Unfortunately, we failed to attract this capital and embrace Afghan traders to invest in Iran. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Political parties need to find common ground for free and fair election – Dhaka Tribune

Politicians and members of civil society have stressed finding a common ground among the political parties to ensure a free and fair election as the country gears up for the 12th parliamentary election, likely to be held in January, 2024. “Although finding common ground is very difficult, it is possible if the parties look to increase understanding and appreciation of the other,” Sharmeen Murshid, the chief executive officer of local election observer group Brotee, said at a seminar in the capital on Thursday. Click here to read…

Raised our concerns with Dhaka – The Daily Star

US Ambassador Peter Haas and embassy staff had to wrap up a meeting in Dhaka early on December 14 due to security concerns, said US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel. “And we have raised our concerns about this matter at the highest levels of Bangladesh government,” he told a press briefing at the US State Department yesterday. He made the comments in response to a question on the US envoy’s visit to the house of BNP leader Sajedul Islam Sumon, a victim of enforced disappearance in 2013, where other families gathered as well. Click here to read…

Jamaat spreading propaganda against nation – The Daily Star

A group of eminent citizens yesterday strongly condemned the appointment of lobbyists by Jamaat to convince the US and UK governments to impose sanctions against Bangladesh. They also viewed that Jamaat is spreading propaganda against Bangladesh using human rights issue as a shield. They said it in a joint statement under the banner of Sammilita Samajik Andolon, a citizens’ platform. Click here to read…

Bhutan

hina builds ropeway, roads near tri-junction – The Hindu

Beijing has been improving infrastructure and arranging additional deployments along the eastern sector of LAC; officials say there is lot of activity near Doklam that saw face-off in 2017. China has set up a ropeway near the Torsa Nala on its side of the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction, and is strengthening roads and other infrastructure along the entire eastern sector, according to defence sources.Click here to read…

Maldives

VP Naseem in the south of Maldives on an official visit – Raajje

Vice President Faisal Naseem is in the south of Maldives, on an official visit. VP Naseem departed to Fuvahmulah City and Addu City on Thursday. His first destination was Addu City where he visited all the districts of the city. In Hulhumeedhoo district, VP Naseem inaugurated the health center’s new services. He will visit government offices and institutions during his stay in Fuvahmulah City, where he will also inaugurate the new facility of Fuvahmulah Hospital.
Click here to read…

China encourages investing in the Maldives: Ambassador – Edition

The Chinese government encourages its enterprises to invest in the Maldives, the Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives, Wang Lixin, stated on Wednesday. The Ambassador made the remark at the Business Forum held as part of the “Belt and Road” initiative between China and Maldives. Lixin highlighted the importance of effectively conducting the Tripartite Coordinating Mechanism Meetings. Click here to read…

Myanmar

BRI: China plans mega infra project in Myanmar close to Arunachal border – Economic Times

China’s claim on Arunachal Pradesh must be viewed in the context of the country’s plan to create a mega infrastructure project in Myanmar’s Kachin state, which borders Arunachal Pradesh, with an eye to bring the area under its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). A Chinese company has announced plans to build the massive Myitkyina Economic Development Zone on about 4,700 acres of land along the historic Ledo Road in Kachin state. Click here to read…

Myanmar Air Force Day – Scramble

As every year on 15 December, the Tatmadaw Lay (MAF, Myanmar Air Force) have their commemoration ceremony where new aircraft and helicopters are commissioned into service. The ceremony is traditionally held at Mandalay-Meiktila flying training air base. Click here to read…

Myanmar Junta Cannot Last Long: Kachin Leader – The Irrawaddy

A leader of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the political wing of the powerful Kachin Independence Army (KIA) which is fighting the regime, says Myanmar’s junta is unlikely to survive as it is crippled by low morale and declining power. General Gun Maw, vice-chairman of the KIO told Radio Free Asia: “There is no possibility for a further increase in [junta] strength and its existing forces are also already crippled …There is almost no hope for them to last long.” Click here to read…

Nepal

Nepal, India to hold joint military training exercise – The Economic Times

“Indian Army troops arrived today in Saljhandi, Nepal for the 16th Joint India-Nepal Military Ex #SURYAKIRAN. The exercises are a paragon for the exchange of professional experience & cementing the friendship between two armies,” the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu tweeted on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Remittance

inflows to Nepal up by record 20 percent – The Kathmandu Post
The remittance inflows to Nepal jumped by a record 20.4 percent to Rs378.04 billion during the first four months of the current fiscal year amid the world’s largest economies teetering on the brink of a recession triggered by inflation, latest data from the Nepal Rastra Bank showed. Click here to read…

Foreign powers weigh in as new faces join President race – The Kathmandu Post

With the Election Commission submitting the election results to President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Thursday, parties have stepped up discussions on a new government and candidate for new President. Former chief justice Shrestha, according to some Congress leaders, is the choice of some foreign forces and is still under consideration at the top political level. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Govt devises plan to conserve energy, cut import bill: Dawn

The government has devised a national contingency energy-saving plan to stabilise the economy, conserve energy and cut the import bill because an “extraordinary situation” required “extraordinary measures”, the information minister said on Thursday. The plan, prepared by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, was approved in a high-level meeting presided over by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday at the Prime Minister’s Office. Click here to read…

Govt slashes petrol price by Rs10 per litre: The Express Tribune

The federal government on Thursday slashed the prices of petroleum products by up to Rs10 per litre effective from December 16, 2022. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in a tweet said that the government had reduced the price of high speed diesel by Rs7.50 per litre. The government slashed the price of petrol by Rs10 per litre, kerosene oil by Rs10 per litre and light diesel oil (LDO) by Rs10 per litre. Click here to read…

Review of Pakistan’s Afghan policy sought: The Express Tribune

The Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs on Thursday called for a review of Pakistan’s Afghan policy in the wake of the attitude of the Taliban government in Kabul towards Islamabad as seen during recent weeks and months.The committee met at the Parliament House with Chairman Farooq Hamid Naek in the chair. The committee received a briefing from Foreign Secretary Asad Majeed on several issues, including the recent attack on the Pakistan Embassy building in Kabul. Click here to read…

Afghan forces resume firing at Chaman border: The News

One person was killed and 12 others were wounded on the Pakistani side of the border in Chaman during an intense firing by the Afghan security forces for the second time on Thursday. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the incident was “uncalled-for aggression” and Pakistani troops gave a “befitting” but “measured response” and avoided targeting the civilians on the other side. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Easter Attacks: Former President Sirisena ordered to produce written submissions – Daily News

Former President Maithripala Sirisena and other accused were ordered to produce their written submissions on January 18 regarding the removal of President Ranil Wickremesinghe from the 108 cases filed by the victims who were injured, permanently disabled and victimized in the Easter attack seeking compensation for their life and property damage. Colombo Additional District Judge Mahesha De Silva issued this order due to the fact that former President Maithripala Sirisena and the prosecution raised their objection to the removal of the President who has been named as the second accused in these compensation cases. Click here to read…

Russia to provide market for Sri Lanka’s agricultural products – MSN

The Government of the Russian Federation expresses its support to provide a market for Sri Lanka’s agricultural products and introducing new technical equipment to increase agricultural production. A discussion in this regard was held between Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Levan S. Dzhagarayan and Russian Trade Commissioner Alexander L. Rybas and Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera on Wednesday (14)… The new technology used by the Russian Federation to create a market for agricultural products of Sri Lanka in Russia increasIng agricultural production and the introduction of technical methods was taken up for discussion at the meeting. Talks also focused on acquiring chemical fertilizers including Urea to Sri Lanka in the futureClick here to read…

INS Sahyadri’s Colombo Port call and Sri Lanka’s Maritime Policy – Daily News

The Indian Navy Commander’s visit, along with the arrival of Indian Naval Ship Sahyadri, a multi-role missile frigate of the Indian Navy is another landmark of the maritime cooperation between the two Indian Ocean neighbours. Analysts also point out that these two incidents have marked Sri Lanka’s impartiality in its dealings with maritime powers. Although Indian experts were irked by Sri Lanka’s decision to allow a Chinese satellite tracking vessel to enter its ports in August this year, the two neighbours seem to have smoothened the ruffled relationship as evident from the visit by Indian Navy Chef and the INS Sahyadri, which is a Shivalik-class stealth multi-role frigate built for the Indian Navy. The Shivalik-class features improved stealth and land attack capabilities over the preceding Talwar-class frigates. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

‘Majority of Displaced Populations in Afghanistan’ Are Women: UN: Tolo News

The UN Women in Afghanistan said that “women make-up the majority of the displaced populations in Afghanistan. The inability to exercise property rights or seek legal help means women in informal settlements live every day in fear of being evicted.” “Women and girls are affected by negative coping mechanisms due to lack of food. Women are forced to sell their assets to buy food, or, in most extreme cases, families have to sell their girls for marriage,” UN women in Afghanistan said on Twitter. .Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Japan considers Rohingya resettlement – The Daily Star

Japanese Ambassador in Dhaka Ito Naoki has said his country was considering resettlement of some Rohinyas to Japan as Bangladesh tries to ease its load of over a million of refugees who fled their homes in Myanmar to evade persecution. “Japan has received the request about third country resettlement [of Rohingyas] from your [Bangladesh] government. UNHCR here is also advising us to consider the possibility [to take Rohingyas to Japan],” the outgoing envoy told BSS, ahead of leaving Dhaka ending his tenure. .Click here to read…

Distorting History: Jamaat just won’t stop trying – The Daily Star

In yet another blatant attempt to distort history, Jamaat-e-Islami yesterday said Indian forces were behind the killings of intellectuals at the fag end of the Liberation War. At a virtual discussion to mark the Martyred Intellectuals Day, Jamaat leaders said the intellectuals were killed so that the country could not stand without the support of a neighbouring country. .Click here to read…

US envoy forced to cut short visit to Shaheen Bagh – Dhaka Tribune

The US envoy was visiting the residence of Sanjida Islam, the coordinator of Mayer Dak, an organization of relatives of missing persons. Sanjida is also the sister of missing BNP leader Sajedul Islam. According to media reports, the US envoy had been at the residence for about a half an hour when the members of another organization called Mayer Kanna began gathering outside. Mayer Kanna is an organization of families of army personnel who fell victim to killings and disappearances when Zia was in power in 1977. In response to the gathering crowd, the ambassador’s security detail asked him to leave the premises immediately. The US envoy hurriedly left the area with a police escort. .Click here to read…

Bhutan

Satellite pics of new bridge, expanding villages signal permanent Chinese occupation in Doklam – India Today

The Doklam faceoff at the India-Tibet-Bhutan tri-junction triggered a show of strength from both sides. The Chinese are still holding on to the territory in Bhutan which is not to India’s liking. China has beefed up infrastructure across the borders, built tunnels to store heavy armaments and doubled its strength near the borders since the faceoff ended, according to intelligence reports. .Click here to read…

Fiscal deficit expected to drop to 5 percent by June, FM says – Kuensel Online

Bhutan’s fiscal deficit would drop below 5 percent from 11.01 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) by the end of the 2022-23 fiscal year, Finance Minister Namgay Tshering said. This means that the fiscal deficit will narrow below Nu 10.4 billion (B) from this year September’s fiscal deficit of Nu 22.89B. A fiscal deficit arises when the government expenditure exceeds its revenue and it needs to be filled with borrowings. .Click here to read…

Maldives

Now expatriates from Maldives can send remittance to Bangladesh instantly – The Business Standard

Bangladeshi expatriates in Maldives will now be able to send remittances back home from Commercial Bank of Maldives to bKash accounts instantly. To facilitate this convenience, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, Bangladesh, Commercial Bank of Maldives and bKash have recently signed an agreement. This service will further widen the opportunity of instant remittance transfer through secured and legal channel, reads a press release. With the launching of “Bangla eRemit” platform, the service has been inaugurated on Sunday (11 December) at the head office of Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, Bangladesh. .Click here to read…

Myanmar

Could ‘Rice Diplomacy’ bolster Myanmar-Bangladesh ties – Modern Diplomacy

Without food, a nation could face turmoil and financial ruin. The agricultural sector is one of the most crucial and strategically vital for a nation to survive. There are numerous things the Bangladeshi government can do to keep rice in supply, but one of the most common is to import it. This import policy has many drawbacks because Bangladesh is known as an agricultural nation or a nation where the majority of workers are employed in agriculture, but despite this, Bangladesh still imports rice. .Click here to read…

India losing territory due to faulty border pillars: BJP MP from Manipur – The Hindu

A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member from Manipur said in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that India was losing territory along the Manipur-Myanmar border due to faulty border pillars and demanded that the issue be taken up diplomatically with the neighbouring country.Click here to read…

Myanmar Junta Snubs Pro-Regime Armed Groups’ Call for Peace Talks – The Irrawaddy

Seven ethnic armed organizations, which are signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), have failed to arrange an informal meeting with Myanmar’s regime. The Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), New Mon State Party, Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army Peace Council (KPC), Arakan Liberation Party, Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO) and Lahu Democratic Union on December 7 proposed a meeting with Lieutenant General Yar Pyae, chairman of the regime’s National Solidarity and Peace Negotiation Committee. Click here to read…

Nepal

Nepal resumes buying power from India amid drop in domestic production – The Kathmandu Post

As domestic power production slumped along with the arrival of winter, the Nepal Electricity Authority has resumed buying power from India. “We restarted importing power from India starting late last week,” said Suresh Bhatarai, spokesperson of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). “Domestic power plants are producing just around 1000MW, lower than the peak domestic demands.” Click here to read…

Election Commission unveils final result of parliamentary elections – The Himalayan

The Election Commission of Nepal here today published the final result of the parliamentary elections held on November 20 this year.The Commission made public the results of the elections held under First-Past-The-Post and Proportional Representation systems. The final published result will be presented to President Bidya Devi Bhandari on coming Thursday, the Commission said. Click here to read…

Only 91 women in 275-member Nepal Parliament: Election Commission – The Hindu

There are only 91 women lawmakers in the 275-member Nepal Parliament, the Election Commission said on Wednesday, lower than the 33% reservation mandated for women by the Constitution. Out of 275 newly elected members in HoR, 184 are men and 91 are women, which constitutes only 31.10% representation for women, the Election Commission said. Women candidates fared slightly better in Provincial Assemblies though, registering 36.36% by clinching 200 out of the 550 seats. Click here to read…

Nepal partners up with Saudi Arabia for economic prosperity – My Republica

Through Saudi Arabia Vision 2030, a strategic framework was discussed to reduce Nepal’s dependence on Saudi Arabia’s oil, diversify Nepal’s economy and help develop public service sectors such as education and health. Under this vision, a high-level visit between Nepal and Saudi Arabia is planned to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Alvi’s mediation fails to heal govt-PTI rift: The Express Tribune

As PTI chief Imran Khan dials up the resolve to dissolve assemblies, the ruling coalition is hoping quiet negotiations with the former ruling party can take the sting out of the burgeoning peril before the window of opportunity closes.However, despite the rare talks, neither side showed any appetite to thaw tensions on the ‘sticking point’ — early elections — as the political temperature continues to rise up. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka expects up to $8 bn more in loans, asset restructuring: Minister – Daily News

Sri Lanka is expecting loans of up to $5 billion next year from multilateral agencies besides a deal with the IMF, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry told Reuters, adding that the government could raise up to $3 billion through the restructuring of state assets. “Apart from what we get from the IMF, we are looking at all others, the multilaterals put together another $4 to $5 billion …,”Sabry said in an interview on Wednesday. “The President is interested in restructuring some of the (state) institutions, so through that if we can raise $2 to $3 billion, our treasury and reserves become strengthened.” Click here to read…

Discusses ways to enhance cooperation at Parliamentary level – Daily News

Sri Lanka and India sought ways and means to enhance cooperation at Parliamentary level, when Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda met with the Chairman of the Committee on External Affairs of the Indian Parliament, Shri P. P. Chaudhary on December 13 in New Delhi…The discussion focused on how to enhance interactions between the two Parliaments through exchanges of committees and friendship groups. High Commissioner Moragoda’s meeting with the Chairman was held in keeping with the objective, ‘Enhance cooperation at Parliamentary level; boost Parliamentary diplomacy’, stipulated in the ‘Integrated Country Strategy for Sri Lanka Diplomatic Missions in India 2021/2023’ policy roadmap of the High Commission. Click here to read…

A political breakthrough – Daily News

The collective Opposition had hoped that, with many factions of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) going their separate ways, there was an opportunity to harness that dissent into a majority vote against the Government during the Budget debate. That however did not materialise. …The Budget was endorsed with 123 votes for and 80 against, a tally similar to the vote on the Second Reading. With the passage of the Budget in Parliament now concluded, President Wickremesinghe and his Government have been quick to shift their focus to two other important matters: a final resolution of the ethnic issue and conducting Local Government (LG) elections throughout the country. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Attack on Kabul Hotel Sparks International Reactions: Tolo News

The attack on a hotel in the Shar-e-Naw area of Kabul on Monday has brought international condemnation and calls to action. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked the Islamic Emirate to identify the attackers and ensure the safety of Chinese nationals in Afghanistan. “China demands the Afghan side spare no efforts in searching for and rescuing Chinese individuals, and at the same time open a comprehensive investigation, severely punish the attackers, and earnestly strengthen the protection of Chinese citizens and organizations in Afghanistan,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said. Click here to read…

Everyone Wants a Peaceful and Progressive Afghanistan; FM Bilawal: The Khaama Press

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday stated that everyone wants peace, progress and prosperity in Afghanistan. It is not in favor of anyone to see Afghanistan becoming the hub of terrorism once more. “We are hopeful that the current caretaker government in Afghanistan will not only address the issue of terrorism but also provide security because that’s a fundamental prerequisite for peace and prosperity,” FM Bilawal said in an interview with an Indonesian television channel. Click here to read…

Further Security Measures to be Provided at the Foreign Entities in Kabul: The Khaama Press

Over the past few weeks, several people died and many were wounded in three different terrorist attacks in Kabul. The latest bombing targeted a Chinese-run hotel in which five Chinese nationals were injured according to the Chinese Ambassador to Kabul, Wang Yu. Following the attack, the Chinese government urged its citizens to leave Afghanistan immediately to avoid similar incidents. Similarly, over the past few days, a gunman attack targeted the head of the Pakistani Diplomatic Mission in the capital Kabul, injuring one of the Charge D’affaire’s security guards, while another terrorist attack targetted a jihadi leader’s office, killing one and injuring two people. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

PM stresses addressing threats for national security – New Age

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday stressed the need for addressing traditional and non-traditional threats to ensure national security as the pattern of crimes has changed with the advent of newer technology. ‘Nowadays, the security concept is changed as on the one hand, digital devices brought many advantages and on the other hand changed the pattern of terrorism, militancy and crimes. So, it is equally important to defend non-traditional and traditional threats to ensure national security,’ she said…The prime minister said they have even not engaged in any quarrel with Myanmar over repatriation of their forcibly displaced national Rohingyas to their home land. ‘We’re trying to solve the problem through discussions,’ she added. She referred to solving the land boundary issue with India through discussion and establishing rights in the vast sea areas and on its resources after winning legal battles with neighbouring India and Myanmar maintaining friendly relations. Click here to read…

Bangladesh wants Dhaka-Guwahati direct air connectivity – Daily Star

Bangladesh wants direct Dhaka-Guwahati and Sylhet-Guwahati air connectivity and direct bus service between Sylhet and Shilchar for promoting people-to-people contacts, boosting bilateral ties and ensuring collective prosperity in the region. Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen shares this idea when Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Kumar Verma called on him at his office yesterday. Click here to read…
A call for international recognition – Dhaka Tribune
The demand for acknowledgment of the 1971 genocide committed by Pakistan was raised in October by the Deputy Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations in Geneva, Sanchita Haque. To this day, 51 years later, Pakistan has neither apologized to Bangladesh for the atrocities committed by its troops, nor has it brought to justice the 195 war criminals recognized by Bangladesh in 1972. The acknowledgement from the United Nations is significant not only for the families of the victims, but also for the aggrieved nation, which has now reached the age of 51 and is also an important member of the United Nations. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Bhutan opens two formal trade routes with India – Kuensel Online

As the decision to open two more formal trade routes with India has got the green light, people living near the borders in Lhamoidzingkha in Dagana and Chhuchungsa in Samtse have begun measuring their future prospects. The routes would be operational after the official inauguration next month. Click here to read…

Remittance drops by 11 percent – Kuensel Online

What was feared and a concern, inflow of remittance has dropped from Nu 5.29B to Nu 4.69B or by 11 percent from January to August. While hundreds of Bhutanese are leaving to work or study in Australia, remittance in AUD has been declining while remittance in USD has been growing. Remittance in AUD, which contributed over 50 percent in the same period last year, has gone down to 40 percent this year. Click here to read…

ADB approves $20m package to improve water management and resilience in Bhutan – Devdiscourse

he Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $20 million financing package to improve access to drinking water, irrigation services, and strengthening of climate resilience in Thimphu and the districts of Zhemgang and Wangdue Phodrang in Bhutan. The Water Flagship Program Support Project will build gravity-fed integrated drinking water supply and irrigation systems in the Hetshosamchu area of Wangdue Phodrang district and Zhemgang town and surrounding villages, which collect surface water from upstream sources. Click here to read…

Maldives

Civil servants from Bangladesh, Maldives to receive training at India’s Good Governance Centre – TBS News

India’s National Centre for Good Governance began its two-week capacity-building programmes for civil servants from Bangladesh and Maldives on Tuesday. As many as 39 civil servants from Bangladesh and 27 Maldives are participating in the two programmes, reports The Hindu. India has been helping neighbouring countries to build capacities of their civil servants to meet the emerging challenges in governance and assure public service delivery to improve the quality of life of people, a statement by the Indian government reads. The centre was set up in Mussoorie, India, in 2014. Click here to read…

WHO donates air quality monitoring stations to the Maldives – Avas

The World Health Organization (WHO) has donated two ambient air quality monitoring stations to the Maldives. One out of the two stations donated by WHO will be installed in Hulhumale’ Central Park. An agreement has been signed between the Environment Ministry and Housing Development Corporation (HDC), handing over the management of the station to HDC. The HDC and the Environment Ministry plan to use the data available through the station to raise awareness among the public and publish the data for public viewing. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Malaysian Court Lifts Stay on Deportation of Myanmar Nationals – The Diplomat

A court in Malaysia yesterday lifted a stay on the deportation of 114 Myanmar nationals, clearing the legal obstacles to their deportation and raising concerns about the likely threats to their safety if sent back to the troubled country. The court granted the request from the Malaysian government to lift the stay, which was imposed in February of last year to delay the deportation of 1,200 Myanmar nationals, and which the government ignored. Click here to read…

Myanmar conflict may take 5 more years to resolve: Cambodia PM – Asia News

Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed his doubts that the Myanmar crisis would be resolved any time soon and ruled out a third trip there by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn in his capacity as the ASEAN chair’s special envoy. He made the remarks on December 12 while meeting with over 2,000 members of the Cambodian diaspora in Europe who came to see him in Brussels, Belgium, where he is slated to co-chair the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit. The December 14 event marks the 45 anniversary of ASEAN-EU Dialogue Partnership. Click here to read…

Europe and ASEAN Should Work Together on Myanmar Crisis – The Diplomat

On December 14, leaders of European Union member states are meeting in Brussels with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) — with one exception. Myanmar is unrepresented. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who heads the junta put in power in Myanmar after a February 2021 military coup against a democratically elected government, was not invited. Click here to read…

Canada sanctions Myanmar jet fuel suppliers – Mizzima

Pressure group Justice For Myanmar has welcomed the latest round of Canadian sanctions in response to the Myanmar military’s illegal attempted coup, to mark Human Rights Day. Canada is the first jurisdiction to impose sanctions on Myanmar military jet fuel suppliers, designating Asia Sun Group, a Myanmar conglomerate. Asia Sun Group is a local partner of the Myanmar military and is involved in procuring, storing and distributing jet fuel. Asia Sun has been found to import aviation fuel and directly deliver it to the Myanmar military. Click here to read…

India Urged to Back ASEAN Peace Plan for Myanmar – The Irrawaddy

Indonesia, the incoming chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), says other countries including India must get behind the bloc’s peace effort for Myanmar, which has been engulfed by violence since a coup last year. Retno Marsudi, Indonesia’s foreign minister, urged other regional powers to support ASEAN’s “five-point consensus” for peace, which includes an immediate end to violence in Myanmar and dialogue among all parties. Indonesia will chair the bloc next year. Click here to read…

Nepal

Nepalese delegation visits Warangal to study sanitation – Telengana Today

A team of 29 officials including Mayors from Nepal has visited Warangal city to study sanitation practices particularly the management of the ‘Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP)’ here on Tuesday. The team has inspected the Decentralised Sewage Treatment Plant at Ambedkar Nagar in Hanamkonda , and also the FSTP at Ammavaripet. Click here to read…

Pakistan-Nepal trade relations impriving day by day: Ambassador – The National

Ambassador of Nepal to Pakistan Tapas Adhikari said yesterday that Nepal-Pakistan bilateral trade relations were very limited but they were improving day by day. “We are optimistic on recent positive trends after the Covid-19 pandemic on bilateral economic engagements and hope it will surpass pre-Covid level very soon.Click here to read…

Madhav Nepal in North Korean embassy to take part in Kim Jong Il’s memorial assembly – The Annapurna Express

CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal has reached the North Korean embassy at Jhamsikhel in Kathmandu to take part in the memorial assembly of Kim Jong-il, father of Kim Jong Un, supreme leader of North Korea. The North Korean embassy had invited Nepal as the chief guest of the memorial assembly. North Korean Ambassador to Nepal Jo Yong Man welcomed former prime minister Nepal at the Embassy. Click here to read…

Can Gagan Thapa beat Deuba in prime minister race? – The Kathmandu Post

Political observers think Thapa is well aware that he has only a slim chance of winning parliamentary party leadership and that by declaring his candidacy, he only intends to project himself as the party’s future leader. They said as much, citing the strategy experimented by Thapa at the party’s 13th general convention. Click here to read…

Investment pledges plunge amid global economic slowdown – The Kathmandu Post

Foreign direct investment (FDI) commitments to Nepal plunged by more than half in the first four months of the current fiscal year, which officials attributed to a slowdown in the global economy. An economic slump in China is the key reason behind the fall in FDI pledges, insiders said. China’s economy is decelerating after it adopted a zero-Covid strategy. Despite the steep fall in commitments, China, which has been Nepal’s top FDI source for nearly a decade, still retains the top spot, accounting for two-thirds of the total. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Cracks appear in ruling coalition over Reko Diq: Dawn

Amid fragile political situation in the country, some cracks appeared for the first time in the ruling coalition on Tuesday when two allied parties boycotted the federal cabinet meeting over a controversial bill regarding revival of the Reko Diq copper and gold mine project in Balochistan. Sources privy to the cabinet meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, told Dawn that two of the allies — Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) and Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-Mengal) — boycotted that meeting to register their protest, but later joined it. Click here to read…

FM calls for stronger ties with Indonesia: The Express Tribune

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed the desire to uplift the bilateral economic cooperation in diverse fields between Pakistan and Indonesia. During an interview with an Indonesian TV channel, the foreign minister opined that there existed a large scope of cooperation between Pakistan and Indonesia. He said that they had signed an MoU for setting up a joint ministerial commission between the two countries, adding the economic and bilateral ties between the two countries had more potential which required to be unlocked. Click here to read…

Rs 340bn flood expenditures: Pakistan asking IMF to allow budget deficit increase: The News

Informing the IMF that the expenditures on flood rescue and relief amounted to Rs 340 billion, Pakistan has requested the lender to grant an adjuster of the same amount by allowing an increase in the budget deficit for the current fiscal year 2022-23, it is learnt. To jack up the tax collection target, the government is considering slapping a Flood Levy in the current fiscal year and different proposals are under consideration for finalizing its exact modalities. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan Tamil parties to meet President Wickremesinghe to settle outstanding issues – The Print

The representatives from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), an alliance of parties who represent Tamils from the North and East regions, the Tamil Progressive Front, the Tamil National People’s Front and the Tamil National People’s Alliance will meet Wickremesinghe this evening, sources saidClick here to read…

IMF not expected to discuss Sri Lanka before year-end, say sources – Malaymail

The executive board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is not expected to formally approve Sri Lanka’s US$2.9 billion (RM12.8 billion) bailout before year-end, a key step required for the embattled country to receive funding, two sources familiar with the matter said…Sri Lanka has to secure prior financing assurances from creditors, put its heavy debt burden on a sustainable path and increase public revenue before the global lender will disburse the funds. The IMF stressed the importance of joint talks involving three of Sri Lanka’s main bilateral creditors ― China, Japan and India. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

‘No Alternative’ for Dialogue With Kabul: Norwegian FM: Tolo News

Norway’s foreign minister Anniken Huitfeldt said that there is no alternative to dialogues and that there is a need to talk with “those in power in order to help the Afghan people.” She made the remarks at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum 2022: Afghanistan – Finding a Way Forward, held in Oslo, Norway. “There is no alternative to the dialogues. We need to talk with those in power in order to help the Afghan people,” Anniken Huitfeldt, Norway’s foreign minister, told the Nobel Peace Prize Forum 2022: Afghanistan – Finding a Way Forward, held in Oslo Norway. “For instance, to ensure access for aid workers to all parts of the country. No access means no life-saving assistance.” Click here to read…

Attack on Pakistan Embassy in Kabul Widely Condemned: Tolo News

The United Nations Security Council in a statement condemned the attack and said it asks all relevant parties to respect and ensure the safety and security of diplomatic and consular premises and personnel of United Nations Members States. The attack on the Pakistan embassy happened shortly after an attack on Hizb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s office in which at least two people were killed. The attack on Pakistani embassy was also slammed by some Kabul-based diplomatic missions. Click here to read…

UNHCR Provides Shelter to the Earthquake-Affected Villages in Southern Afghanistan: The Khaama Press

The newly-built, well-insulated houses equipped with Bukhari heaters, expansive windows, strong doors, and solar energy will provide enduring shelter for some 7,000 people following June’s devastating earthquake that ravaged Afghanistan’s long-neglected southeast region, the UNHCR said in a tweet. According to the UNHCR, UN Refugee Agency, some US$14 million has been allocated for the community-based construction efforts to build some 2,300 earthquake-resilient houses in Southern Khost and Paktika provinces devastated by the deadly June 22, earthquake. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

BNP, Mancha to launch simultaneous movement – New Age

As the Ganatantra Mancha, an alliance of seven political parties, announced on Monday that it would wage a street movement simultaneously with the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party from December 24 on the basis of common demands, the country is likely to witness the beginning of a greater movement for democracy. The Ganatantra Mancha announced its 14-point demands on Monday, including the resignation of the government, dissolving the parliament and forming an interim government to hold a free and fair election, after the BNP at its December 10 mass rally in the capital called on all opposition parties to join its December 24 countrywide demonstration to back its 10-point demandsClick here to read…

The politics behind Bangladesh protests – Indian Express

A massive rally by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Dhaka Saturday has signalled that the main opposition party has reorganised on the ground despite a severe government crackdown against it, channeling economic grievances and popular resentment against the perceived authoritarian style of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a three-term incumbent. Click here to read…

ARNA Declaration and our expectations – Dhaka Tribune

The political platform can be a principle player in forming a comprehensive solution to the Rohingya crisis…After a lot of efforts, the Rohingya community around the world could come to a sole political platform named Arakan Rohingya National Alliance (ARNA) on November 20. It was a much-awaited requirement and decision, which is needed to establish Rohingya’s right of self-determination, to be able to reach the international community, to guide their future generations, and to engage with all the stakeholders in Myanmar and around the world. ARNA Declaration contains 14 clauses and 7 sub-clauses. Click here to read…

NC elections budget increase by 47% – Kuensel Online

The fourth National Council election next year could be the most expensive, going by the number of aspiring candidates and the budget the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) proposed. The ECB has proposed a budget of Nu 368.363M for the fourth National Council (NC) elections. This is an increase of 47 percent compared to the previous election in 2018. Click here to read…

Govt. to drop Duty-Free Quota from next month – Kuensel Online

The decision was taken during the 132nd Lhengye Zhungtshog held on November 29. SoTN report stated that, when reviewed, it was found that differentiated handouts were also misused deflecting from their intended purposes. “The membership had also increased over the years leading to loss of revenue.” Click here to read…

Bhutan Observes 38th SAARC Charter Day – Bhutan Times

The SAARC Development Fund (SDF) observed the 38th SAARC Charter Day on 8 December in capital Thimphu. The day was adopted on 8 December, 1985 during its first summit in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The SAARC charter recognizes the region’s shared history and the determination of the SAARC Member States – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – to foster mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation for peace and prosperity. Click here to read…

Bhutan to pursue sustainable development and remain carbon neutral – Bhutan Times

Bhutan elaborated on efforts to pursue sustainable development and committed to remain carbon neutral at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt during the COP 27. Adaptation and scaling of climate finance were of high priority to Bhutan. Thus, in collaboration with Nepal, Bhutan proposed the inclusion of needs and special circumstances of fragile and vulnerable mountainous countries in keeping with the Paris Agreement’s principle of leaving no one behind under the African Group’s agenda on special needs of African Countries. Click here to read…

Maldives

Blackjet launches direct flights to the Maldives – Avas

BlackJet airline has launched flights from Moscow to the Maldives’ Velana International Airport (VIA). The Tourism Ministry said the launch of Blackjet flights is expected to increase the number of high-end tourists visiting the Maldives. Russia is currently the second-largest tourist source market for the Maldives. According to statistics from the Tourism Ministry, as of December 6, 12.2 percent of tourist arrivals were from Russia. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Is China using Pakistan as its proxy to arm military rule in Myanmar – Times of India

Pakistan-Myanmar military industrial link has received a significant improvement in the recent past. In Oct 2022, a senior-level Pakistani military officials visited Myanmar to examine a defence industry complex near Yangon and take part in a workshop on JF-17 block II aircraft that Myanmar had bought from Islamabad, as per the reports in the media. One more Pakistani team of officials visited Myanmar to afford technical assistance for the production of weapons. In Sept, Myanmar military officials went to Pakistan to review the delivery of bombs and bullets it had ordered from that country. This team again visited Pakistan recently for pre-shipment scrutiny of deliveries. Click here to read…

Myanmar’s UN Ambassador Reportedly Renewed for Another Year Despite Junta’s Opposition – VOA News

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun is the permanent representative of Myanmar to the United Nations; however, the diplomat does not represent the country’s ruling military junta. Kyaw Moe Tun was appointed to his position in 2020, months before the military overthrew the elected civilian government in February 2021. The military junta tried to fire him from his post, but he refused to leave, and so far, the United Nations General Assembly Credentials Committee has refused to recognize the military’s appointee. He is also backed by Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG), established by the country’s elected and now-removed legislators. On Monday, a U.N. diplomat told VOA that the U.N. credentials committee had agreed to uphold his status as Myanmar’s ambassador. The diplomat declined to speak on the record before the committee formally announces its decision. Click here to read…

Chinese underworld floods Thailand-Myanmar border river – Asia Nikkei

“Thailand and Myanmar are friendly and close neighbors separated only by a strip of water,” proclaims Hong Kong-based Yatai International Holding Group in a Facebook video promoting its purported contribution to a China-Thailand-Myanmar economic corridor. Along that strip, the Moei River, Shwe Kokko Yatai New City has been conceived as a fantastic $15 billion city of the future. Development is well underway in Myanmar’s malarial and strife-torn Karen state, where ethnic Karen forces continue a grinding insurgency against the central government that dates from 1948. Click here to read…

Nepal

CPN-Maoist Centre chief ‘Prachanda’ says his party has key to form next govt in Nepal – Indian Express

Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda”, the chairman of Nepal’s ruling coalition partner – CPN-Maoist Centre, said on Sunday that his party has the key to form the next government, as the ruling alliance leaders intensified negotiations for a power-sharing deal. “Maoist Centre is now a key force in Nepal that even the international power cannot influence here without knowing its position,” the former two-time prime minister said. Click here to read…

India, Nepal Signed MoUs For 3 Projects To Be Developed Under Assistance Of Government Of India – Orissa Diary

The Embassy of India and Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, Government of Nepal today signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) for undertaking three HICDP projects in Nepal under the grant assistance of Government of India, one each in Education, Health Care and Drinking Water Sectors. These three projects, namely:- construction of Shree Janata Belaka Secondary School Building in Udayapur District; construction of Ngonga Thenchowk Chholing Meditation Centre in Soulukhumbu District and construction of Lisnekhola Tikasung Dangchet Jharlang Water Supply Project in Dhading District shall be implemented at a total estimated cost of NRs.101.79 million. Click here to read…

Amid political transition, Nepali Army trying to purchase 27 APCs from China opaquely – Khabarhub

The Nepali Army (NA) has requested the Ministry of Defense for the procurement of what has been termed “sub-standard” military equipment from China. However, the government is yet to give a nod to the NA’s proposal. It may be noted that the Nepal Army has been facing a series of irregularities allegations in the procurement of defense equipment from China through a private company by bypassing the government-to-government (G2G) procurement process. Click here to read…

Govt bringing controversial ordinance to release Tikapur massacre mastermind Chaudhary from jail – My Republica

The government has decided to introduce an ordinance to pave the way for the release of the advisor to Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP), Resham Chaudhary, who is serving a life sentence for the past five years for masterminding the 2015 Tikapur massacre in which nine people were killed. Click here to read…

What Nepal elections mean for South Asia – Hindustan Times

A new government will likely see continuity in Nepal’s ties with its neighbours. With India assuming the G20 presidency and Delhi’s push for diplomacy in non-traditional spheres, the time is ripe to push regional ties beyond the existing areas. Click here to read…

Pakistan

PM signals readiness to forgive and forget: The Express Tribune

At a press conference in the federal capital, the prime minister, however, fired a broadside against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, holding him responsible for all the crises facing the country today. He called Imran a liar, who used all his energies to crush the Sharif family, and not for the public good. Click here to read…

Afghan govt ‘apologised’ for Chaman incident: The Express Tribune

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday announced that the interim Afghan government had tendered an apology to Pakistan, as the behind-the-scene efforts aimed at defusing tensions triggered by bloody border clashes in Chaman on Sunday appeared to bear fruit. At least seven people lost their lives and 17 others suffered injuries in Chaman when it came under “unprovoked and indiscriminate” heavy gunfire and artillery shelling by the Afghan Border Force. Click here to read…

Sindh to face massive gas loadshedding: The News

The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) Monday announced that under a new load management plan, gas will be supplied to consumers in Sindh from 6-9am, 12-2pm, and 6-9pm — for a total of eight hours. The SSGC official said that the gas supply would not be cut off completely for the rest of the day. The SSGC will ensure supply in the above-mentioned eight hours as per the government directives, he added. Last month, the SSGC halted its gas supply to industries across Karachi from November 15 to February 28 as gas crisis worsened in the port city. Click here to read…

Imran’s take on army’s ‘immunity’ sought: Dawn

While taking up a challenge by former premier Imran Khan to the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) amendments, the Supreme Court on Monday sought his opinion on exclusion of armed forces from the accountability law’s purview. “Since the counsel has emphasised before the court how significant accountability process is in the progress of a society, especially in view of religion, fundamental rights and other factors then what is his client’s opinion about Section 5(n)(iv) of NAO?” Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s Aragalaya protestors form ‘Xcore’ political movement – Economynext

Sri Lanka’s anti-government Aragalaya protestors have formed a discussion group to prepare young leaders for the local government election with the aim to train them to take the country forward. A new movement of the Aragalaya- “Aragalaya XCore” was launched on December 12 with the aim to nurture potential youth leaders in the country who will seek public office. “It’s not a political party but, it’s a movement to bring the potential candidates out,” said Nipun Tharaka, a convenor of Aragalaya XCore. Click here to read…

Navy Chief to visit Sri Lanka, focus on maritime cooperation – Financial Express

Amidst growing concerns in India over China’s attempts to expand influence over Sri Lanka, Chief of the Indian Navy Admiral R Hari Kumar will begin a four-day visit to Sri Lanka starting December 13. The aim of the visit is to further strengthen overall bilateral maritime cooperation and other bilateral cooperation activities between the navies of both sides. During his three-day visit the Naval chief is the chief guest and reviewing officer for the Commissioning Parade at the Naval and Maritime Academy (NMA), Trincomalee, which is scheduled on December 15, 2022. Later he will interact with the top political as well as defence leadership of that country. He will also be visiting other defence establishments of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Facing Intl Condemnation, Islamic Emirate Defends Sharia Executions: Tolo News

Following widespread reactions over a recent execution, the Islamic Emirate said that the execution of guilty people is a divine command and that no one should be concerned about it. A spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, Bilal Karimi, said that the execution, which happened on Wednesday in the western province of Farah, was carried out after many investigations and assessments.

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Afghanistan Needs Further International Aid to Avoid Economic Crisis: The Khaama Press

According to an official statement by the Taliban Central Bank, the Afghan interim administration so far has received more than 1 billion and 700 million USD in cash mostly in the format of international aid. “Due to the prevailing worsening economic and humanitarian situations, the aforementioned amount is not enough to alleviate the negative impacts of the existing conditions on ordinary people’s lives. Therefore, more international aid is required to cope with the ongoing economic challenges,” the Central Bank’s spokesperson said.

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Bangladesh

Making Bangladesh more investor-friendly – Daka Tribune

It is undeniable that Bangladesh has made exceptional progress over the last many years, especially considering its status as a least developing country. As we move closer to graduating from that status, however, we must acknowledge the need — now, more than ever — for foreign investment, in order to boost our economy further.’
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India and its neighbours: New direction in South Asia? – Dhaka Tribune

India’s influence on Bangladesh and the rest of South Asia only looks to be increasing…Along with the growth of the Indian economy, the strategic balance will also increase. China, however, is likely to be against India’s economic growth.Any potentially offensive action by China is likely to destabilize the Indian growth trajectory.
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A competition of errors – The Daily Star

After 51 years of Bangladesh’s existence and 32 years of unbroken democratic rule – however flawed – we are proving to ourselves and to the world that we, as a polity, have not matured enough to settle even minor disputes peacefully with those who oppose us. An otherwise simple issue of where BNP should hold its rally has transformed itself into a situation where the public is in full uncertainty as to how the immediate future will unfold.
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Bhutan

Wasting no time on waste – Kuensel Online

Waste is the biggest problem facing the country today. As a country that has been recognised as environment-conscious, the amount of waste fly around is ironic, and, embarrassing. Waste is an issue in Bhutan because of the deeply-seated culture. Waste is an issue of serious concern because a large number of our people are uneducated. Waste also deserves sober treatment because more than laws, rules, and regulations, we need practical solutions.
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FAO supports projects to strengthen food systems and water management – Kuensel Online

High dependency on food imports, constraints to agriculture production, strong rural-urban migration and increasing fallow land are some aspects of Bhutan’s current food system. The food systems project aims to transform agri-food systems at the farm, landscape and value-chain levels.
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Maldives

Maldives will uphold the principles of the SAARC Charter: Pres Solih – Avas

The government has assured that the Maldives will always uphold the principles of the SAARC Charter. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih gave the assurance in a message to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)’s Secretary-General Esala Ruwan Weerakoon on the occasion of SAARC Charter Day. SAARC Charter Day is celebrated on December 8 every year.
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RBI signs Currency Swap Agreement with Maldives Monetary Authority – News Deal

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has signed a Currency Swap Agreement with the Maldives Monetary Authority under the SAARC Currency Swap Framework. This agreement will enable the Maldives authority to make drawals in multiple tranches up to a maximum of 200 million dollars from the RBI. The agreement will provide swap support as a backstop line of funding for short-term foreign exchange liquidity requirements.
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Myanmar

Myanmar Junta Receives New Thai Ambassador – The Irrawaddy

Thailand’s new ambassador to Myanmar Mongkol Visitstump presented his credentials to junta boss Min Aung Hlaing on Thursday before holding separate talks with deputy junta leader Soe Win and foreign minister Wunna Maung Lwin. The new Thai ambassador and Min Aung Hlaing discussed cooperation to boost border trade and investment in Myanmar, and development of its tourism industry, according to junta media.
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UN urges Southeast Asia governments to rescue stranded Rohingya – Aljazeera

The United Nations Refugee Agency has urged countries in Southeast Asia to rescue some 200 Rohingya refugees whose unseaworthy boat has been reported drifting in the Andaman Sea. The UNCHR said in a statement on Thursday that it had received reports that the Rohingya had been stranded on a boat off the coast of Thailand since its engines failed on December 1.
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15 killed in a shootout between drug gang and Thai security forces at Thai-Myanmar border – BNI Online

Thai border security forces reported that they intercepted a drug- trafficking gang and a 10minute shoot-out occurred along the Thai- Shan State border, killing 15 gang members according to a report in the Chiang Mai News. Thai border security were conducting inspections at Mumt Pin Gate No.12 in Phan township of Chiang Mai municipality (opposite side of Poung Par Khem sub-township of Mongton township in eastern Shan State) on the early morning of December 8. The drug smuggling gang, composed of more than 20 men, infiltrated through theforest passages on the Myanmar side.
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Source to VOA: US to Downgrade Relations with Myanmar – VOA News

A diplomatic source has told VOA Burmese that the U.S. will downgrade its diplomatic relations with Myanmar upon the departure of the current U.S. ambassador, Thomas Vajda, whose assignment is scheduled to conclude at the end of this month. The administration of President Joe Biden has decided not to send a successor, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a matter not yet officially announced by the State Department. “Deputy Chief of Mission Deborah Lynn will assume duties as charge d’affaires at [the] U.S. Embassy Rangoon after Ambassador Vajda’s departure,” the source said. The previous U.S. ambassador to Myanmar, Scot Marciel, told VOA that the U.S. doesn’t want to present credentials to the ruling military junta, formally known as the State Administrative Council (SAC).
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Nepal

UML trying every trick in the book to break five-party bond – The Kathmandu Post

Some leaders said breaking the ruling coalition is proving to be a hard nut to crack, at least for now. This is why the party may decide to be a strong opposition should their efforts to break the alliance fail. According to UML insiders, of late, been meeting leaders of the Maoist Centre including its general secretary, Dev Prasad Gurung.
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India’s Agnipath Scheme and the Impact on Ties with Nepal – ORF Online

Altering its military recruitment policy is undisputedly India’s prerogative, but this is certain to have a direct fallout on Nepal’s military labour migration to the Indian Army. Still, youth from Nepal’s financially marginalised sections may be interested in joining the Indian Army under Agnipath. However, more prominent Gorkha families will likely push their offspring to join the British or Nepali armies because they view military recruitment as a matter of prestige and not from the lens of monetary gain.
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Nepal need not import electricity in two years from now: Kulman Ghising – Khabarhub

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Managing Director Kulman Ghising has claimed that the authority’s investment is focused on the development of electrical infrastructure to increase electricity consumption and Nepal will be fully independent in electricity in two years from now. He mentioned that various EV Expos are being held to increase the consumption of electricity produced in Nepal.
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Sweden, Nepal study India’s digital rollout of health assurance scheme – Mint

Two countries on opposing ends of the development scale— one a much-praised welfare state and the other among the world’s poorest nations—have been studying India’s AB PM-JAY, intrigued by the ambitions of the world’s largest health assurance scheme. The Swedish health delegation came as part of a visit by joint working groups (JWG) of the Sweden-India Health MoU. The idea of the meeting with the NHA was to have an introduction to its work, and the role it plays in public health.
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Darjeeling’s tea gardens at risk due to climate, cheap Nepal tea – Goa Chronicle

The tea plantations of Darjeeling, which had been developed in the 19th century under the British Raj to reduce dependence on China for tea, are now suffering from an economic crisis, and more than half of the tea plantation owners are on the verge of becoming bankrupt. At the same time, the production cost of the authentic Darjeeling tea from West Bengal is more as compared to Nepal’s tea.
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Pakistan

Bilawal calls for people-centric democracy: The Express Tribune

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Thursday that democracy was the foundation of an emancipated society and underscored the importance of democracies in the developing countries to collaborate in responding to common challenges. Addressing the 15th Bali Democracy Forum held in the Indonesian holiday resort of Bali, the foreign minister called for reform of international financial institutions. He said that the people of Pakistan always strove for a people-centric democracy.

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Govt considers Rs60b mini-budget: The Express Tribune

The government may slap 17% sales tax on high-grade petrol as it is considering imposing more taxes on imports to cover a projected shortfall of Rs100 billion in customs duty collection. Tax authorities have recently shared options with the government to bridge the shortfall by imposing taxes on duty-free imports and raising the additional customs duty to collect roughly Rs60 billion in taxes, according to sources in the Ministry of Finance.

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TIP releases NCPS 2022 report: Police, judiciary among top three most corrupt institutions: The News

The NCPS 2022 released at 01:00am on Friday also showed no-confidence in anti-corruption entities including NAB. At the national level, the majority of people considered anti-corruption institutions’ role as ‘ineffective’ in curbing corruption in Pakistan, the report said. The following are the key findings of the NCPS 2022: Police remain the most corrupt sector, tendering and contracting was seen as the 2nd most corrupt, judiciary 3rd most corrupt while education has climbed to become 4th most corrupt since the last NCPS 2021. The provincial breakdown of the three most corrupt sectors reveals the following:

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Sri Lanka

Unpopular decisions have to be taken for benefit of country’s future, President – Daily News.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the country has had to face adverse repercussions today due to the short-sighted popular decisions taken in the past and unpopular decisions have had to be taken for the future prospects of the country. The President made this observation yesterday (08) taking part in the Third Reading debate of the Budget proposals for the financial year 2023. He said further that a Parliamentary Select Committee will be established on a resolution by the Parliament to look into those who led the economy to bankruptcy with their incorrect fiscal policies.
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Economic support to Sri Lanka not based on communal approach, Jaishankar – Daily News

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday justified the government’s support to Sri Lanka, saying India would be shirking its responsibility if it did not step forward to support a crisis-hit neighbour. The economic support that India offered to Sri Lanka during its worst post-independence economic crisis was for the entire country and not based on any communal approach, he said.On the issue of Palestine, he said India stands for a two-state solution, with the two states living peacefully side-by-side.
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Six companies express interest to invest in ‘Colombo Port City’ project – Daily News

Investment Promotion State Minister Dilum Amunugama told Parliament yesterday that six companies have already expressed their interest to invest in the ‘Colombo Port City’ project. The State Minister was speaking during the Committee Stage debate on Expenditure Heads of Finance, Economic Stabilization, and National Policies Ministry.
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