Afghanistan

‘Efforts Continue to Resume World Bank Projects in Afghanistan’: MoF – Tolo News

The Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Finance said that efforts are being made to resume World Bank projects in Afghanistan following David Malpas, the president of the World Bank, announcing that he will leave his position in June. The World Bank supports programs in Afghanistan in the areas of health, agriculture, rural development, and other sectors, the ministry said, adding that the bank has begun working on a number of these projects. Click here to read…

Taliban replacing civil laws with Islamic ones – Devdiscourse

Afghanistan’s new rulers- Taliban have launched a “purification” campaign across the country to replace civil laws with Islamic ones, writes Susannah George in The Washington Post When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, the group quickly launched what officials called a “purification” campaign aimed at stripping the country of civil laws and institutions to build an entirely Islamic society. Click here to read…

Taliban aims to create special economic zones out of abandoned foreign outposts -Firstpost

The Taliban administration will move ahead with plans to turn former foreign military bases into special economic zones for businesses, the acting deputy prime minister for economic affairs said in a statement on Sunday. The acting commerce minister had told Reuters in December that his ministry was working on the plan for former American bases and would submit it to both the economic committee led by acting deputy PM Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and to the cabinet for approval. Click here to read…

FM Bilawal warns terrorism will go beyond Pakistan if Afghanistan doesn’t act against militant groups – Dawn

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday said that it would not take much time for terrorism to go to other places beyond Pakistan if the interim Afghan government did not demonstrate the “will and capacity” to take on militant groups operating from its territory. Click here to read…

After Temporary Suspension, What’s Next for the Trans-Afghan Railway? – The Diplomat

A temporary suspension of the transit of freight wagons from the Galaba railway station in the city of Termez, Uzbekistan to the Hairatan railway station in Afghanistan just across the river was lifted on February 10. A few days later a new agreement was signed between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Bangladesh to procure 100 electric buses from India this year: Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader – NewsOnAir

The government of Bangladesh has requested India to supply 100 electric buses for use in Dhaka and Chattogram this year. The request was made during a meeting between the Deputy High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Dr. Binoy Geogre and Bangladesh Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader at his office on Sunday. Click here to read…

Bangladesh – UK Trade and Investment Dialogue 2023 – Gov.UK

The second Bangladesh – UK Trade and Investment Dialogue was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 19 February 2023. Both countries agreed to convene the Dialogue annually and its Joint Working Group (JWG) regularly. The JWG would cover a broad range of trade and investment issues, including mutual barriers to market access and trade, with an agenda agreed between the UK and Bangladesh in advance. Both countries underscored the importance of the Dialogue and agreed to enhance the bilateral trading partnership to increase mutual prosperity ahead of and after Bangladesh’s graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status. Click here to read…

Bangladesh will get to pick new SAARC secretary general – The Kathmandu Post

Ending months-long confusion and speculation, seven of eight member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc), barring Afghanistan, have agreed to nominate a new secretary general of the regional grouping from Bangladesh. With the incumbent general secretary, Esala Ruwan Weerakoon of Sri Lanka, set to complete his term in March 2023, there was a confusion as to who would replace him, because as per the alphabetic order it is Afghanistan’s turn to nominate a new secretary general. Click here to read…

Bhutan

RMA encourages inward remittance inflow – Kuensel

Bhutan’s inward remittances have become an important contributor to the country’s foreign currency reserves in recent years. From January 2016 to December 2022, the economy received a total of USD 439.27 million (M) in remittances, according to the Royal Monetary Authority (RMA). Its contribution to convertible currency inflow in the country was 14 percent as of November last year. Click here to read…

Govt. revises foreign currency reserves requirement – Kuensel

The government has revised foreign currency reserve to meet the 12 months of essential imports. This comes after the Cabinet endorsed the revision of the essential import value of 2017 on February 13 upon the recommendations submitted by the independent review committee. Click here to read…

Bhutan must not let China gain foothold – The Tribune

Considering the historical and geopolitical backdrop, the Bhutan Government should not allow China to open an embassy in Thimphu. That one act, however well-meaning and bona fide, may ruin sovereign Bhutan, like Tibet in 1950, and also cause a cartographic upheaval in India’s neighbourhood, thereby paving the way for the possible creation of ‘Greater Burma’, ‘Greater China’ and ‘Greater Nepal’ in the east. Click here to read…

Maldives

Rift in the ruling political party of Maldives must worry India – News Drum

President Solih retains the ticket for the nest presidential candidate. However, Nasheed maintains distance. If it continues, the Pro-Chinese opposition alliance, which is quite frail, may take advantage. Click here to read…

IS module ‘received funds from Maldives – Economic Times

A National Investigation Agency (NIA) charge sheet said the Islamic State (IS) inspired module run by Mohammad Mohsin Ahmad, a native of Patna, received funds from Maldives to further ISIS activities. It said the funds were routed through bitcoin exchange Wazir X to Syria via another account in Canara Bank. A person identified as Afsha wired money to Ahmad in US dollars on December 7, 2021, and the funds were transferred using bitcoins to Syria after ten days, it said. Click here to read…

Discussions held on visa exemption agreement between Maldives, Mongolia – Raajje

Discussions have been held on the signing of a visa exemption agreement between Maldives and Mongolia. This was done during a courtesy call Ambassador of Mongolia to the Maldives Ganbold Dambajav paid on Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid on Sunday. Dambajav presented his Letter of Credence to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih as the newly appointed Ambassador of Mongolia to Maldives on Sunday. Following the credentials ceremony, the new Mongolian Ambassador paid a courtesy call on FM Shahid where he expressed commitment to work to continue working closely in the multilateral arena. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Once Myanmar Road Is Complete, Imphal to Bangkok by Road in 16-18 Hours: CM N Biren Singh – Outlook

Once the Asian Highway project in Myanmar is complete, a person can reach from Imphal to Bangkok by road in 16-18 hours, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said on Friday, stating that the Northeastern state is the gateway of India for South East Asian countries. Addressing the CII-organised B-20 conference here, Singh said plans are afoot to start international flights from Imphal to Mandalay in Myanmar and Bangkok in Thailand. “Manipur has the perfect setting for the implementation of the country’s Act East Policy,” he said. Click here to read…

India wary of instability in Myanmar – Tribune

THERE are not many countries that opt to employ their air power against their own citizens. Pakistan has had no qualms about using its air force against terror elements in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). According to British media reports, the Myanmar air force recently carried out a MiG-29 airstrike on Camp Victoria, the military headquarters of the Chin National Army, near the Mizoram border. Indian government sources have categorically stated that no bombing took place over Indian territory. India’s concern amid the unstable situation in Myanmar since the military coup in February 2021, and the standoff between pro-democracy forces and the military junta is the large number of Myanmar rebel elements (50,000 by one account) fleeing to Mizoram. Click here to read…

Chin Resistance: Myanmar Junta Trying to Retake Thantlang – Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s junta is attempting to seize back Thantlang with daily airstrikes, according to the Chin National Army (CNA), the armed wing of the Chin National Front (CNF). “Since we seized the town’s police station jets have dropped bombs every day,” said Salai Htet Ni, the CNF’s spokesman. He said at least 20 bombs were dropped by two jet fighters and also attacked with Mi-35 helicopters on Thursday. Two resistance fighters were killed and four injured, the spokesman said. However, he said junta troops could not attack the town on the ground and CNA troops were in control of the town. Click here to read…

Nepal

As Dahal, Oli spar over presidential candidate, Congress sees chance to revive its old alliance – The Kathmandu Post

With the crucial presidential election scheduled early next month, candid talks and serious bargaining are going on between major parties, particularly the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and the CPN (Maoist Center). Meanwhile, Congress leaders have reportedly met Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and offered to revive their pre-election alliance after the presidential election slated for March 9. Click here to read…

Rastriya Swatantra Party not to join government immediately – The Kathmandu Post

The Rastriya Swatantra Party has decided not to join the government immediately. A joint meeting of the central committee and parliamentary party held at its central office in Basundhara on Monday took the decision to this effect. Click here to read…

The economic crisis in Nepal: Is it going to be the next Sri Lanka? – ORF

For quite some time, the economy of Nepal is taking a downward turn. The previous government under Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and the present government under Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ adopted certain measures to revitalise the economy. Click here to read…

India, Nepal agree to add 200 MW to Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur transmission line – Business Standard

Nepal and India have inked an agreement to increase the power import and export capacity through the Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur transmission line from 600 megawatts to 800 megawatts, authorities here said on Sunday. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Dialogue with India on levels other than military ‘need of Pakistan’, says former DG ISPR Athar Abbas – Dawn

Former Director General (DG) of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General (retd) Athar Abbas, said on Sunday that dialogue with India on levels other than the security establishment’s is “a need of Pakistan”. He made the remarks during a panel discussion — titled Search for peace and security among neighbours — on the final day of the 14th Karachi Literature Festival held at Karachi’s Beach Luxury Hotel. Click here to read…

Pakistan President Alvi slammed for allegedly pressuring Election Commission to announce poll dates – The Hindu

Pakistan President Arif Alvi has come under scathing attack from ministers of the ruling coalition for allegedly acting on former premier Imran Khan’s advice to put pressure on the country’s electoral watchdog to announce poll dates for provincial assemblies in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. Click here to read…

Inflation surges to nearly 40 per cent in crisis-hit Pakistan – The Economic Times

Pakistan is trying hard to contain inflation in the last few weeks, but with little success. The recent hike in inflation comes even as the Pakistan government imposed new taxes and increased petroleum prices to fulfill the demand of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before releasing USD 1.1 billion dollars under an already agreed USD 7 billion deal. Click here to read…

At least four killed as Pakistani Taliban militants storm police HQ in Karachi – The Guardian

Militants launched a deadly suicide attack on the police headquarters of Pakistan’s largest city on Friday, with the sound of gunfire and explosions rocking the heart of Karachi for several hours. Two police officers, a ranger and a civilian were killed and 14 others wounded, said Murtaza Wahab, a government spokesman in Sindh province, where Karachi is located. Two suicide bombers were killed and at least one blew himself up after entering the police building, officials said. Click here to read…

Pakistan sent back same relief goods to earthquake-hit Turkey it received in 2022: Report – Business Today

A Pakistan-based journalist said that recently Islamabad had sent C-130 planes with relief supplies and rescue personnel to the quake-hit areas of Turkey. The relief materials sent by Pakistan were the ones that Turkey sent to the Sindh province when the region was hit by floods in 2022. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: The looming question of police powers under 13A – ORF

Any discourse on power devolution for the Tamil community in Sri Lanka ends up in a deadlock, invariably on the question of ‘police powers’ for the provinces. It has already been guaranteed under the India-facilitated Thirteenth Amendment to the nation’s Constitution, which was incorporated in 1987 but has not been enforced. All of it only went on to show that police powers as per the Indian scheme, and adopted in 13A is neither diarchic nor dysfunctional, as is being made out to be. Instead, it is a vibrant arrangement, with the dynamism of democracy working full throttle and ensuring that neither the rider nor the mount is derailed – now, or ever. Click here to read…

Germany raises the red flag – Daily Mirror

Germany has raised the red flag on multiple issues with Sri Lanka, particularly the import ban and the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The Germans have also sought Sri Lanka’s support for a resolution at the United Nations against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Some German companies operating in Sri Lanka have warned that they will be compelled to consider withdrawing from the country if the import ban continues. Sri Lanka has slapped an import ban on several items owing to the shortage of US dollars, but Germany has urged the Government to relax the ban. Click here to read…

Pali and Buddhist Uni. will be converted to an international centre of Buddhist studies – Daily News

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he has given his consent to several requests made by the Maha Nayaka Theras of the Malwathu and Asgiri Chapters, during a discussion held yesterday (19) between the Sanga Committee members and the President at the President’s House in Kandy. The President stated that he will urgently work to appoint a competent authority to the Pali and Buddhist University and to turn it into an “International Centre of Buddhist Studies”. This proposal made by the Sangha Committee members is essential and will definitely be implemented to raise the quality of Piriven education. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

US to keep working with Bangladesh in different areas: Biden – New Age

United States president Joe Biden has said that his country acknowledges their enduring partnership with Dhaka and termed Bangladesh’s economic growth in the past 50 years as a ‘remarkable story’. ‘I hope our nations will continue to work on democratic governance, climate change, refugees, and maritime security. We are invested in your success and support the ability of all Bangladeshis to freely participate in and contribute to their country’s development,’ he said. Click here to read…

US National Security Council delegation visits Rohingya camps – Daily Star

Additional Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Shamsuddouza Nayan told our Cox’s Bazar staff correspondent that a 10-member delegation visited various Rohingya camps located in Ukhiya upazila. Click here to read…

10 lakh Bangladeshis get Indian visas in 8 months last year – TBS

Over 10 lakh Bangladeshis received Indian visas, including 2.73 lakh medical visas, in eight months last year (from January to November) for travelling to the neighbouring country, according to the data provided by the Indian High Commission, Dhaka. Click here to read…

India-Bangladesh pipeline: energy transport likely to start by Feb – Daily Star

The much-awaited 130-km India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline (IBFPL) for cross-border transportation of energy is likely to start by February, Indian officials were quoted as saying. The Rs 337.08 crore pipeline will carry fuel from state-owned Numaligarh Refinery Ltd’s (NRL) marketing terminal at Siliguri in West Bengal to the Parbatipur depot of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC). Click here to read…

Bhutan

China lens on Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim and India -Telegraph

Shedding some of the subtleties known for its diplomatic approach, China under President Xi Jinping has made a series of uncharacteristically candid comments and in-depth reportage seeking to alert Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim against foreign forces trying to use them as geostrategic pawns, while sternly warning India against the United States’ moves termed “China containment”. Click here to read…

What’s brewing in Bhutan? Japan eyes sake production after symposium in Thimphu – Mainichi

Following a symposium on sake in Bhutan in late October, which was presented by a brewer from this east Japan prefecture, the industry sees a bright future for the production of its famed beverage in the south Asian country. Click here to read…

Melting glaciers of Tibet may impact regional security in S Asia: Report – Business Standard

Melting glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau can result in excess water in some places and shortages in others, says a report in Hamrakura, adding that the melting of glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau could impact regional security. Click here to read…

Maldives

Maldives ends first week of 2023 with 37,209 tourist arrivals – Raajje

Maldives has welcomed more than 37,000 tourists during the first week of 2023. Statistics publicized by the Ministry of Tourism shows that Maldives has welcomed, 37,209 tourists between 01 January 2023 and 07 January 2023. As such, 4,625 tourists were welcomed on 01 January, followed by 6,487 tourists on 02 January and 6,232 tourists on 03 January. Click here to read…

“Maldives will not stop advocating for the rights of Palestine” – Raajje

Maldives will not stop advocating for the rights of Palestine, says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Maldives. The Ministry stated this in their statement made public, condemning the action of the Israeli National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, visiting the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex on 03 January. Foreign Ministry’s statement went on to highlight that this action of the Israeli National Security Minister is against all the international laws and regulations and the agreements that have been signed. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Myanmar’s domestic fuel prices fall slightly – Mizzima

Domestic fuel prices in Myanmar were stable last week at around 2,100 kyat per liter and now it is learned that they fell slightly to below 2,000 kyat on 5 January. The fuel price fell by about 100 kyat per litre as per the reference price set by the Fuel Import, Storage and Distribution Supervisory Committee on 5 January. The reference petrol retail price for one week in Yangon starting from 5 January is 1,975 kyat per litre for 92 Ron and 2,045 kyat per litre for 95 Ron. Click here to read…

New hope for India-Myanmar transit Kaladan project with new consultant – New Indian Express

Hope of the completion of the last 109 km of Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport (KMMTT) project has been rekindled after IRCON was recently appointed at the Project Management Consultant (PMC). This ambitious project would link India and Myanmar via the Bay of Bengal. Click here to read…

ASEAN needs to look beyond Myanmar’s Five-Point Consensus – The Jakarta Post

Patience has its limits, even for ASEAN, famous or notorious, some argue, for its tardiness in taking action. The regional group must do something drastic soon in its dealing with Myanmar, the belligerent member which has defied its promise to end violence in the country. Failing that, the Myanmar issue is dragging the entire group down. Click here to read…

USDP chairperson meets 37 political parties in Naypyitaw – Mizzima

Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) chairperson Khin Yi held an informal meeting with 37 political parties on 5 January at the USDP headquarters in Naypyitaw. The pro-junta USDP chairperson Khin Yi had not yet held a meeting with other political organizations since he took over the party’s chairperson position, so he organized the meeting, said a central executive of the USDP. “One thing he [Khin Yi] said was to help the nation all around with the power of consolidation. This is his main point,” said National United Democratic (NUD) Party leader Sein Win, who attended the meeting. Click here to read…

Nepal

UML set to govern 3 provinces, Maoists 1, 3 CMs to be rotated – Kathmandu Post

According to a leader present at the meeting, the ruling coalition has decided to divide the chief ministers of the seven provinces—Province 1, Gandaki and Lumbini going to the UML and Karnali to the Maoist Centre. The two parties will head governments in Bagmati and Sudurpaschim by turns. As per the deal, the Maoist Centre will lead the Bagmati government in the first half of the five years, while the UML will lead the Sudurpaschim government first. Click here to read…

Nepal says it’s making efforts to activate SAARC – Economic Times

Nepal on Sunday said it was making efforts to activate the eight-member regional grouping SAARC, which has not been very effective since 2016. Speaking at a meeting of the National Concern and Coordination Committee under the National Assembly, Secretary and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bharat Raj Paudel said the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) could not be made effective due to the lack of consensus among all member states. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

India provides 75 buses to Sri Lanka to support public transport system – The Hindu

India has handed 75 passenger buses to Sri Lanka as part of its assistance towards strengthening public transport infrastructure in the cash-strapped country. As part of its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, India has extended multi-pronged assistance to Sri Lanka to help the country tide over its worst economic and humanitarian crisis since its independence from Great Britain in 1948. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka to restart trade deal talks with India, China and Thailand, says official – DeccanHerald

Sri Lanka will restart negotiations on trade pacts with India, China and Thailand after a four-hear hiatus, an official said on Thursday, as the crisis-hit country races to seal deals to help it rebuild its economy. Click here to read…

Choking on politics – The News International

The vicious cycle in Sri Lanka started with a ‘currency crisis’ followed by devaluation, hyperinflation, fuel shortages, food shortages, loadshedding, medicine shortages followed by violent street protests and then troop deployment. The three things that take place in a ‘normal’ state are: politics, a security policy and an economic policy. We have become an ‘abnormal’ state in the sense that the only thing that takes place in our country is politics. 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…