U.S. picking up Taliban interest in Afghan peace talks: Mattis
Published: The Indian Express
13 Mar 2018

The United States is picking up signs of interest from Taliban elements in exploring the possibility of talks with Kabul to end the more than 16-year-old war, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Tuesday as he made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan. “There is interest that we’ve picked up from the Taliban side,” Mattis told reporters before landing in Kabul, saying the signs dated back several months. Click here to read...

Xi shakes up Chinese government to cut bureaucracy, end turf wars
Published: South China Morning Post
13 Mar 2018

China unveiled an ambitious plan to revamp its central government structure, with more than two dozen ministries and organisations affected, two days after President Xi Jinping secured the right to stay in power indefinitely.

The sweeping institutional changes are part of Xi’s plan to improve the Communist Party’s governing efficiency by shaking up vested interests among agencies. They include the merger of the banking and insurance regulators, and the setting up of special agencies to oversee issues related to immigration and military veterans. Click here to read...

US, India pose challenge in resolving problems in S.China Sea: observer
Published: Global times
12 Mar 2018

China should strengthen its cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to maintain peace in the South China Sea, analysts said, after ASEAN military chiefs urged peace in the region.

Military chiefs of the ten nations reaffirmed in a joint statement "the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety, and freedom of navigation in and over-flight above the South China Sea, as well as the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities and avoid actions that may complicate the situation," the Philippines-based online news outlet Rappler reported Sunday. Click here to read...

Japan sending military adviser to Malaysia, boosting regional presence in face of assertive China
Published: South China Morning Post
13 Mar 2018

Japan is beefing up its military and diplomatic presence in Southeast Asia by sending an extra defence attaché to its embassy in Kuala Lumpur, adding to military officers sent to embassies in the Philippines and Vietnam last year.

A spokesman for the ministry confirmed the Malaysian appointment, funded in the 2018 budget, but declined to explain why Japan is stepping up military advisory and intelligence-gathering capabilities in Southeast Asia. Click here to read...

Maldives govt reveals 'secret talks' with Nasheed over crisis
Published: AVAS online
12 Mar 2018

Maldives government on Monday claimed to have held secret talks with self-exiled former president Mohamed Nasheed over the ongoing political strife in the archipelago.

In response to the letter sent on behalf of the three political parties along with former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom to embattled president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom outlining the opposition's pre-conditions for the all party talks, chief government representative for the talks Dr Mohamed Shainee claimed to have engaged in dialogue with key opposition officials through "prominent foreign mediators." Click here to read...

9 CRPF jawans killed as Maoists blow up security vehicle in C'garh's Sukma
Published: The Asian Age
13 Mar 2018
Nine personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed and a few others injured when suspected Maoists blew up their mine-protected vehicle (MPV) in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Tuesday, an official said. The blast occurred when a team of CRPF's 212th battalion was patrolling in a forest in Kistaram area of Sukma, located around 500 kms from here, a paramilitary official told PTI. Click here to read...