South Asia strategy in Afghanistan shows results, Army Gen. Nicholson says
Published: DoD News
31 May 2018
The South Asia strategy in Afghanistan has spawned intensified dialogue and a drop in Taliban violence, Army Gen. John W. Nicholson, commander of NATO's Resolute Support mission and U.S. Forces - Afghanistan, told reporters yesterday. Speaking to Pentagon media via teleconference from Kabul, Afghanistan, the commander said the goal of the South Asia strategy is reconciliation, and Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani has called it a game changer. Click here to read...
China places 10 seismometers in Indian Ocean
Published: The Week
31 May 2018
China has successfully placed in the Indian Ocean ten ocean seismometers which are used to measure earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or the use of explosives. China's 49th ocean expedition team on Sundayplaced ocean-bottom seismometers in the southwest Indian Ocean, with five more planned, state-run Global Times reported. Fifteen ocean-bottom seismometers will be retrieved in the coming year, Science and Technology Daily reported on Monday. Click here to read...
Trade status for India delayed due to chill in ties: Pakistan
Published: The Financial Express
01 Jun 2018
Pakistan’s outgoing defence and foreign minister said today that positive developments had been made in giving India non-discriminatory market access (NDMA) on the pattern of most-favoured nation status but the decision was delayed due to the regional situation. Khurram Dastagir Khan was addressing the media in the Foreign Office here on the last day of the current PML-N government. Click here to read...
The telltale signs of untapped natural gas in southern Bangladesh
Published: The Daily Star
01 Jun 2018
Bangladesh has proved one of its areas, the “Sylhet basin” as it is called geologically, as a very rich gas province. Several very large to giant gas fields have been discovered in close proximity and the success ratio is abnormally high, almost 1:1, meaning success in every one well drilled. The Sylhet basin holds almost 90 percent of the total gas reserve in Bangladesh and includes Bibiyana, Titas, Rashidpur, Habiganj, Kailashtila, Jalallabad and other gas fields. These gas fields are the backbone of the installations supplying gas to the national grid. The question remains: what are the possibilities of other parts of the country having comparable gas reserve? Click here to read...
India gives nod to 14 projects
Published: The Daily Star
01 Jun 2018
India has approved 14 of the 16 projects forwarded by Bangladesh for implementation under the second line of credit worth $2 billion, said officials of the Economic Relations Division. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council has approved the detailed plans of all 14 projects, said Md Zahidul Haque, additional secretary of the ERD. Click here to read...
China's free trade talks with Sri Lanka hit major hurdles
Published: The Economic Times
31 May 2018
Talks between China and Sri Lanka for a free trade agreement have hit major hurdles, mainly because Beijing will not agree to Colombo's demand for a review of the deal after 10 years, Sri Lanka's top negotiator said. Click here to read...
Sri Lanka releases new map with China-backed port city projects
Published: The Times of India
31 May 2018
Sri Lanka on Thursday released its new map by incorporating major development projects undertaken in the island country over the past few years, including the Chinese built port city and the strategically-important Hambantota port. The map was released by the Department of Survey General in the presence of the Minister of Lands and Parliamentary Reforms Gayantha Karunathilake. Click here to read...
