President Muizzu ready to implement China-Maldives Free Trade Agreement
The Edition | 9th January
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that he is ready to immediately implement the Free Trade Agreement signed between China and the Maldives.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Maldives Business Forum in Fujian Province as part of his first state visit to China, the President said that the country’s vision fordevelopment is based on strong partnerships with multiple stakeholders.
“I have no doubt that China will be our biggest development partner,” President Muizzu said at the forum, which is attended by approximately 300 participants.
India spent over USD one bn to upgrade railway sector here – Indian HC Colombo
The Island | 9th January
The Indian High Commission on Sunday (07) declared that in spite of the debt repayment suspension announced by Sri Lanka in April 2022, the Modi government continued to extend assistance to the southern neighbour under various Lines of Credit (LOCs).
In September 2023, the Ministry of Transport and Highways of Sri Lanka and IRCON International signed a new Contract for design, installation, testing, and commissioning of a Signalling system for Sri Lanka Railways, from Maho to Anuradhapura, at a cost of USD 14.90 million under an Indian LOC, the HC stated.
Pakistan’s economy to reel under global challenges in 2024, says UN report
Dawn | 6th January
The UN’s World Economic Situation and Prospects report for 2024 outlines a nuanced economic outlook for Pakistan, projecting a modest GDP growth of two per cent in 2024 and a slightly improved 2.4pc in 2025.
However, this trend is overshadowed by concerning indicators. Last year’s robust global economic recovery post-Covid, which contributed to GDP growth across the world, conceals latent risks and structural vulnerabilities in the world economy.
South Asia’s major economies, including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, find themselves categorised as lower-middle-income countries, according to the report.
PAKISTAN
‘Afghan soil will not be used against anyone’, Taliban govt assures Fazl
The News | 8th January
Afghanistan’s acting Deputy Prime Minister Maulvi Abdul Kabir, in his meeting with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) supremo Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Sunday, reiterated that the Taliban government would not allow Afghan soil to be used against anyone amid Pakistan’s accusation of cross-border attacks.
The development came during Maulana Fazl’s meeting with Maulvi Kabir and other cabinet members.
In a declaration issued by the Fazl-led party today, the Afghan deputy PM welcomed Maulana Fazl upon his arrival in Kabul.
Pakistan aims to stay away from bloc politics
The Nation | 8th January
Pakistan has once again decided to stay away from bloc politics and concentrate on economic and diplo¬matic progress. The just concluded three-day envoys confer¬ence in Islamabad has marked a sig¬nificant focus on two pivotal aspects economic diplomacy and regional connectivity. The primary goal was to not only bolster trade but also safeguard Pakistan’s vital investment interests.
Bringing together Pakistani diplomats serving in important countries, the conference served as a platform for sharing insights and perspectives on the country’s foreign policy.
SRI LANKA
IMF team expected in Colombo next week
Daily Mirror | 6th January
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) would evaluate Sri Lanka’s economic progress next week, with a team of officials expected to arrive in the country, the Finance Ministry said.
Finance State Minister Shehan Semasinghe yesterday told Mirror Business that a team from the IMF would be in Colombo and would engage in technical meetings. The team will also meet with President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The visit will be the first for the year 2024.
While unsure of the duration of their stay in the country, Semasinghe shared that the team would evaluate the progress made thus far in the IMF-backed reform programme.
SL to lure 1mn Chinese tourists under ‘Ni Hao Zhong Guo’ programme
Daily Mirror | 9th January
Sri Lanka is actively working towards increasing the influx of international visitors from China, with plans underway to lure one million tourists in 2025, under the ‘Ni Hao Zhong Guo’ programme.
To capitalise on Sri Lanka being identified as one of the best 20 destinations for tourism by China, discussions and efforts are being rolled out to rapidly increase the tourist arrival rate from that country, so that the island nation can obtain a financial benefit of Rs.225 billion, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman Priantha Fernando told Mirror Business.
AFGHANISTAN
Saffron worth $27 million exported from Afghanistan in past 8 months
The Khaama Press | 8th January
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Afghanistan has reported exporting saffron worth 27 million dollars in the past eight months.
Abdulsalam Javad Akhundza, the spokesperson for this ministry, told the media that the total amount of saffron exceeded 28,000 kilograms and has been exported to various countries worldwide.
According to him, saffron exports during the eight months of the year have reached approximately 28,620 kilograms, with a value of 27 million dollars. Most of these exports have gone to countries such as India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Indonesia, Spain, Germany, the United States, and England.
Taliban arrest women in first dress code crackdown
Afghanistan Times | 5th January
In an unprecedented move, the Taliban have arrested women in Kabul for not adhering to the prescribed dress code, particularly for wearing “bad hijab.” This marks the first instance of a crackdown on women’s attire since the Taliban regained power in 2021.
Taliban’s vice and virtue ministry spokesman, Abdul Ghafar Farooq, said the arrested women were taken into custody three days ago. While the exact number of arrests and the criteria for a “bad hijab” were not disclosed, Farooq mentioned that the ministry had been receiving complaints about improper hijab for nearly two-and-a-half years.
Afghanistan Exposed to Worst Drought in 30 Years: OCHA
TOLO News | 8th January
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in a report said Afghanistan endured its worst drought in 30 years last year.
According to the report, the repercussions of climate change in Afghanistan extend far beyond rising temperatures. Agriculture, water, energy, health, forestation, biodiversity, ecosystems, livelihoods, and the economy are all affected.
The report said: “Afghanistan endured its worst drought in 30 years last year, compounding the challenges it now faces in its third consecutive year of drought-like conditions, something which has kept levels of food insecurity in Afghanistan among the highest in the world.”
BANGLADESH
India greets PM Sheikh Hasina, hopes stronger ties with Bangladesh
Dhaka Tribune | 8th January
Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma on Monday met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and greeted her on the election victory in the 12th national parliamentary polls.
During his call on at Ganabhaban in the capital, the envoy on behalf of the government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed warm greetings and congratulations on her election victory.
He greeted her with a flower bouquet.
The envoy expressed hope that during the new term of her government, there will be even stronger momentum and growth in the bilateral partnership in support of each other’s national development.
Bangladesh Post | 8th January
Awami League won a landslide victory in the 12th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) elections held on Sunday braving all hurdles and challenges.
This is the fourth straight consecutive victory of the party with absolute majority.
Election observers from different countries termed the election free, fair and impartial.
After the victory, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the victory attained by the Awami League in this election is a triumph for the people.
Meanwhile, envoys from different countries staying in Dhaka, including India, Russia and China, on Monday greeted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her party Awami League’s absolutely victory, pledging continued support for Bangladesh.
Bangladeshis exercised electoral rights peacefully: Indian observers
Prothom Alo | 9th January
The Indian election observer team has said the citizens of Bangladesh exercised their electoral rights peacefully.
They made their observation in a press note issued by the Election Commission of India on Monday.
A 3-member International Observers’ Delegation from the Election Commission of India visited Bangladesh to monitor the 12th parliament elections.
Dharmendra Sharma, senior deputy election commissioner, led the delegation while the two other delegates were B Narayanan, director general and Mohammed Umar, principal secretary.
BHUTAN
Bhutan’s varied poverty landscape
Kuensel | 8th January
Bhutan’s overall poverty rate stands at 12.4 percent, signifying that 12 out of every 100 individuals belong to households with monthly per capita real expenditure below the upper-bound poverty line of Ngultrum 6,204.
This is according to the recently released Small Area Estimation (SAE) report released by the National Statistics Bureau (NSB) studied between April and June 2022.
The findings shed light on the nuanced distribution of poverty across dzongkhags and gewogs.
Delving deeper, the study reveals a concentration of poverty in rural areas, encompassing 87 percent of all impoverished individuals in the country.
Revolutionizing Bhutan’s health sector: a closer look at the health sector landmarks in 2023
Business Bhutan | 4th January
The Ministry of Health (MoH) launched the Health Sector Transformation on 9th January 2023. On the same day, a new agency named National Medical Services was formed aiming at providing a singular and renewed stewardship for clinical services management in the country.
In addition to the two departments in the Ministry of Health (MoH), the three regulatory bodies of the Ministry of Health, namely Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority, Bhutan Narcotic Control Authority, and Drug Regulatory Authority were combined into one agency which was named Bhutan Food and Drug Authority.
MALDIVES
Maldives summons Indian envoy to ‘explain’ amid diplomatic row
Sun | 8th January
Maldivian Foreign Ministry summoned the Indian ambassador in Male’ to “explain” Maldives’ side on Monday, after three Maldivian deputy ministers posted derogatory remarks against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media, creating a diplomatic row.
India’s top diplomat in Male’, Munu Mahawar has been asked to come in for a meeting at the Foreign Ministry at 12:00 pm Monday, confirmed a top government official.
The move comes after Ibrahim Shaheeb, the Maldivian ambassador in New Delhi, was summoned by India’s External Affairs Ministry earlier on Monday.
Maldives’ vision for development is one of focused delivery: Muizzu
Raajje | 9th January
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has said that the vision of the Maldives for development is one of engagement, partnership building, and focused delivery.
He said this while delivering a statement at the Invest Maldives Forum at the Fuzhou Strait International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Fuzhou, China.
He took part in the forum as part of the Maldivian first couple’s ongoing state visit to China.
Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed departed to the People’s Republic of China on a state visit on Sunday night.
The state visit is being conducted upon an official invitation from the President of China, Xi Jinping.
MYANMAR
Myanmar Border Trade Falls $100 Million in April-December Amid Clashes
The Irrawaddy | 9th January
The value of Myanmar’s border trade, which accounts for the majority of the country’s foreign trade, dropped by over US$100 million in the first nine months of the current fiscal year compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year, according to data from the junta’s Commerce Ministry.
Myanmar recorded border trade value of $6,062.554 million from April 1 to Dec. 29, 2023, a decline of $121.995 million compared to the same period in 2022, according to Commerce Ministry data.
Myanmar’s border trade fell with all five of its neighbors—China, Thailand, Bangladesh, India and Laos. Total export value to those countries declined by $351.617 million.
Senior Chinese Envoys Meet Myanmar Junta Boss After Shell Mishap
The Irrawaddy | 6th January
Myanmar’s junta boss Min Aung Hlaing has met senior Chinese representatives after a rogue shell from the Kokang enclave in northern Shan State injured Chinese citizens in Yunnan Province on Wednesday.
The shell hit Nansan town, sparking “strong dissatisfaction” from Beijing, which said it would take measures to protect its citizens. Only Myanmar’s junta uses artillery.
Deputy foreign minister Sun Weidong, ambassador Chen Hai and regional special envoy Deng Xijun met Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyitaw on Friday, according to the regime.
NEPAL
Nepal and India agree on strengthening transmission lines
Onlinekhabar | 7th January
Nepal and India engaged in discussions and reached a consensus on eight different topics within the energy sector.
The 11th meeting of the Nepal-India Energy Secretary-level Joint Steering Committee, which concluded in Chitwan on Sunday, specifically focused on enhancing the electricity transmission system.
Nabin Raj Singh, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, said the meeting discussed various agendas prepared by the Joint-secretary level Joint Taskforce.
Nepal-India Joint Commission meeting begins
The Himalayan Times | 4th January
The 7th meeting of Nepal-India Joint Commission is now in progress. Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud and External Affairs Minister of India, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar have been leading the delegations of their respective countries in the meeting. It is said review and discussion would be held on various issues of bilateral collaboration and mutual interest in the meeting. Indian External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar arrived here today in course of two-day visit.
The Kathmandu Post | 8th January
Nepal on Monday confirmed the spread of the JN.1 sub-variant of the coronavirus in the country.
Of the 16 swab samples on which whole-genome sequencing was carried out at the National Public Health Laboratory, the JN.1 sub-variant was detected in seven samples, which is around 44 percent of the total.
Whole-genome sequencing is a comprehensive method of analysing the entire DNA sequence of an organism’s genes. Researchers believe that whole-genome sequencing of coronavirus could be instrumental in tracking the severity and properties of the virus.
