Afghanistan
Al-Qaeda, LeT, JeM in Afghanistan a ‘ticking bomb’: EU special representative – Hindustan Times
Tomas Niklasson, who was in New Delhi this week for consultations with Indian officials and experts, said in an interview the Taliban set up in Kabul is serious about tackling IS-KP, though questions remain about its capacity to do so, as well as its commitment to tackling al-Qaeda, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other terror groupsClick here to read...
Russia to build a thermal power plant in northern Afghanistan – Oreanda News
Russia is going to build a thermal power plant in the north of Afghanistan. A memorandum on this was signed a few days ago in Kabul. This was announced by the Russian ambassador to Afghanistan Dmitry Zhirnov. "Our business is still testing Islamic financial norms that are being implemented by the Taliban (the Taliban movement is recognized as a terrorist in Russia and is prohibited), but does not stand still. Just a few days ago, a memorandum on the construction of a thermal power plant in the north of Afghanistan was signed in Kabul," Dmitry Zhirnov said on the Rossiya 24 TV channel. Click here to read...
Universities in Afghanistan threatened by economic crisis, risking closure – Financial Express
Most universities in Afghanistan are in danger of closing due to financial difficulties, according to the union representing public and private universities. With 35 universities set to shut down, the union warns that the ban on female education imposed by the Taliban is exacerbating the economic crisis. Click here to read...
Afghanistan: BIG steps proposed at Moscow NSA meet – Firstpost
Issues of international security with an emphasis on resolving the situation in Afghanistan were discussed during the consultations. According to a statement by the Security Council of the Russian Federation, these issues included the importance of fulfilling the international obligations assumed by the Taliban regime of Afghanistan to counter terrorism and extremism, drug trafficking, as well as to form an ethno-politically balanced government. Click here to read...
Afghanistan women rights activist picked for Nobel Prize – The Tribune
When the Taliban seized power in August 2021, hundreds of women’s rights activists fled Afghanistan, fearing reprisals from the militant group. But Mahbouba Seraj, one of the most prominent rights campaigners in the country, refused to leave, even though she holds a US passport, the media reported. Click here to read...
Bangladesh
Who is Shahabuddin Chuppu, the next president of Bangladesh? – Dhaka Tribune
Awami League leader Md Shahabuddin Chuppu is all set to become the next occupant of Bangabhaban as the 19th president of Bangladesh. The Awami League Parliamentary Party had nominated Shahabuddin Chuppu, a former commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission, a retired district and sessions judge, and a freedom fighter, to run for president, General Secretary Obaidul Quader told the media on Sunday. The deadline for the submission ended at 4pm, and Shahabuddin Chuppu became the president-elect by default as no other party had picked a candidate for the election. Click here to read...
Bangladesh withdraws school books after anti-LGBTQ backlash – The Hindu
Bangladesh said on Saturday it had withdrawn two new school textbooks after protests from Islamist groups incensed by a curriculum overhaul to recognise transgender identities, same-sex relationships and secular science. The state-run NCTB said it took the decision to withdraw the books "due to some criticisms and to reduce reading load on students".Click here to read...
AL lawmaker makes local body reps swear on Qur’an – New Age
The ruling Awami League lawmaker from the Rajshahi-1 constituency, Omor Faruk Chowdhury, administered an oath to the elected representatives of the local government in Godgari upazila, making them swear on the Qur’an to work for him and the party throughout their lives. Omor Faruk, also a former president of Rajshahi district Awami League, administered the oath to 11 elected representatives, making them swear on the Qur’an at his own flat in the NAM Building in the capital Dhaka on Saturday. Click here to read...
Bhutan
ACC allows 17 business entities to resume business – Kuensel
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will hereon suspend a business licence only if there is a prima facie case of corruption in obtaining the business licence, according to its new Guideline on Suspension of Business Licence 2022. Click here to read...
DeSuung Water Project to solve water issues in Bhutan’s Martshala Gewog – The Print
DeSuung Water Project, which is expected to start its water supply soon, will solve the water issue in Bhutan’s Martshala Gewog, a village block of Samdrup Jongkhar District, The Bhutan Live reported. Today, Bhutan inaugurated the DeSuung Water Project with a groundbreaking ceremony in Martshala Gewog. Click here to read...
Bhutan: Social media platforms a way for locals to earn money – Devdiscourse
Social media users in Bhutan are facing difficulties in withdrawing their social media income. Even then the locals are ready to show their talent on the national and international stage. Click here to read...
Maldives
Political turmoil in Maldives ultimately benefits China: Report – Devdiscourse
The political rivalry between Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the current President of Maldives and Mohamed Nasheed both belonging to the same party is making the country suffer and China is becoming the ultimate benefactor, reported Maldives Voice. Solih won the presidential election with a 22 per cent margin. Although these elections were questioned by Nasheed and his allies of being rigged by Solih. The former government under Abdulla Yameen had charged Nasheed with terrorism and he was sentenced to a 13-year jail term in March 2015. Click here to read...
Maldives welcomes 42,449 tourists within first week of February – Raajje
Maldives has welcomed more than 42,000 tourists so far in February. This was revealed by the Ministry of Tourism in its latest daily statistics, publicized on Wednesday. Since the new year began, Maldives has welcomed a total of 214,985 visitors. This includes 172,536 tourists welcomed during January and 42,449 tourists welcomed on from in the first week of February. Click here to read...
Myanmar
What Can India Do To Move Myanmar Away From Further Violence? – The Wire Post
For India to depend on the Tatmadaw to contain China is even more questionable. As an independent middle power throughout history until the advent of the British, Myanmar’s default reaction to big powers – China, India and the US – has been to keep them at a distance and pursue a neutral policy. This is understandable. Click here to read...
Myanmar regime to let 'loyal' civilians carry licensed arms – Firstpost
Experts worry that allowing civilians to carry guns would empower pro-junta groups and only serve to escalate the violence and near-daily clashes between the military and armed resistance forces that have raged nationwide. Click here to read...
Uncertainty Looms Over Myanmar Economy: World Bank – Irrawaddy
Myanmar’s economy remains subject to significant uncertainty, with ongoing conflict disrupting businesses, according to a World Bank report. The Myanmar Economic Monitor published on January 30 said while some firms show signs of resilience, household incomes remain weak and Myanmar’s potential for growth has been severely weakened by recent shocks. “Although business conditions improved toward the end of 2022, the recent economic indicators are mixed,” said Mariam Sherman, the World Bank’s country director. Click here to read...
Nepal
Why the sudden need to ‘strengthen’ coalition? – The Kathmandu Post
As differences persist between the CPN (Maoist Centre) and the CPN-UML over the candidate for President, ruling alliance parties have started doubting the longevity of their partnership. A meeting of the ruling parties held at the prime minister’s residence at Baluwatar on Sunday failed to make any headway in the dispute with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal sticking to his proposal of finding a consensus candidate for new President. Click here to read...
Nepal govt reduces size of budget for current fiscal by 14 per cent - ANI
Nepal's Finance Minister published the mid-term budget review report in the House of Representatives on Sunday, with the government this year reducing the size of the budget by 14 per cent. The fiscal budget of 2079/80 presented by Nepal's former Finance Minister Janardan Sharma, which stood at NRs 1.793 trillion, was reduced by his successor Bishnu Paudel. It now stands at NRs 1.549 trillion. Click here to read...
India’s neighbourhood concern: The Uncle Sam factor in Nepal – The Telegraph Online
Kathmandu is emerging as a geopolitical theatre of the superpowers, requiring India to be nimble-footed to ensure that it is not elbowed out by the big boys. Indian foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra is scheduled to reach the Nepal capital on Monday in an outreach that marks the first high-level visit from New Delhi after Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) took over as Prime Minister late last year and at a time the Himalayan country is preparing to host a third senior US official in less than three weeks. Click here to read...
Pakistan
8 injured in attack at police officer's house in Pakistan's north Waziristan – The Hindu
Some unknown militants on February 12 stormed the house of a police officer and opened indiscriminate firing, injuring eight persons in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, local police said. The militants attacked the house of the police Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) in the Ghulam Khan area of the tribal district of north Waziristan bordering Afghanistan, and injured eight people, including the ASI and two women, the Police said. Click here to read...
Pakistan-US defence talks begin today – Dawn
The second round of US-Pakistan mid-level defence dialogue begins in Washington on Monday (today) to consider various options for strengthening ties between the two establishments. The Pakistani team, headed by the Chief of General Staff (CGS), Lt Gen Mohammed Saeed, reached the US capital on Sunday afternoon. Click here to read...
Pakistan to provide military supplies to Ukraine via German port: report – Wion News
Pakistan will be providing military supplies to Ukraine through a German port, concurrently with the Poland route, for transferring rockets which will be used in multi-barrel rocket launchers, according to a report published by the Economic Times. Click here to read...
Pakistan to impose taxes worth Rs 170 billion for IMF's $7 bn bailout – The Economic Times
Pakistan is seeking a USD 7 billion bailout package from the IMF to prevent the collapse of the economy. While the visiting IMF delegation is asking for several reforms and compliance with its conditionality. The IMF mission, led by Nathan Porter, began talks on January 31 with the Pakistan government represented by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for the ninth review of the assistance package. Click here to read...
Sri Lanka
Indian support helped overcome debt trap, says Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe - Wion
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe praised India's support for his country amid the economic crisis at the opening of the Jaffna Cultural Centre (JCC). "We appreciate the support extended by the Indian government to Sri Lanka to overcome the debt trap during the economic crisis," he said on Saturday. The president highlighted the ongoing discussions between the two nations on economic development projects in the Northern Province, development projects in the Trincomalee Port, and the energy sector. The Jaffna Cultural Centre, built with funding from the Indian government, was officially opened Saturday. Click here to read...
India dedicates Jaffna Cultural Centre to people of Sri Lanka – The Print
India on Saturday dedicated to the people of Sri Lanka the state-of-the-art Jaffna Cultural Centre which was built with India’s assistance and is a magnificent example of the bilateral development partnership. The centre, whose foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March 2015, was dedicated to the people of Sri Lanka after a colourful cultural show that projected the diversity and richness of Sri Lankan culture. Click here to read...
Sri Lanka seeks Canadian help to win over Tamil Diaspora - Island
Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Ottawa, Harsha Kumara Navaratne has sought Canadian support to make peace with overseas Tamil brothers and sisters in spite of the challenges. He also stressed the need to sign the MoU on bilateral consultations as it would provide a structured basis in the form of annual consultations to discuss all concerns bilaterally so that Canada and Sri Lanka could mutually resolve any concerns. Click here to read...
