Afghanistan
India among 10 countries to participate in meeting convened by Taliban in Kabul- Hindustan Times
India was among 10 regional countries that participated in a meeting of diplomatic representatives convened by the Taliban setup in Kabul on Monday, reflecting the growing engagement with a regime that isn’t officially recognised by New Delhi. Click here to read...
Amu Darya’s daily oil extraction will surpass 2,000 tons, says Chinese company-The Khama Press
Chinese company Afg-Chin Oil and Gas Limited has announced plans to activate 24 new wells in the Amu Darya basin in 2024, aiming to increase daily oil extraction to over 2,000 tons. Click here to read...
Bangladesh
Independent MPs take centre stage as 12th parliament goes into session – Dhaka Tribune
The inaugural session of the 12th parliament commences on Tuesday, starting with President Mohammed Shahabuddin's address at 3pm. Notably, this time there is a significant presence of independent parliamentarians–with 62 in total, but 59 of them align with the Awami League politics and will play an opposition role. Click here to read...
AL’s Jan 30 Tejgaon rally postponed - The Daily Star
Awami League's Dhaka north city unit has postponed its peace rally planned for January 30 in Dhaka's Tejgaon "due to unavoidable reasons". Click here to read...
Bangladesh's power purchase supercharges Adani revenue – the Daily star
Bangladesh's power purchase from Adani Power contributed to the massive profit the Indian conglomerate made in the first nine months of the 2023-24 fiscal year. Click here to read...
Bhutan
Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra calls on Bhutanese Prime Minister Tobgay, discusses bilateral ties – Hindustan Times
The Prime Minister also hosted a dinner for the Foreign Secretary and his delegation at his residence. Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Monday called on Bhutan's new Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and discussed areas of mutual interest and multifaceted cooperation to further boost India's relations with the Himalayan nation. Click here to read...
Is Bhutan’s economy growing more efficiently? – Kuensel
The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) shows the health of a country’s economy and where it is headed. However, it does not tell how efficiently it is using the resources. Incremental capital output ratio (ICOR) explains the relationship between the level of investment made in the economy and subsequent increase in the GDP. Click here to read...
Maldives
MDP readies to file impeachment motion against President Muizzu– Sun International
The main opposition Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) – which holds a majority in the Parliament – has gathered enough signatures to submit a motion to impeach President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. MDP stated on January 29 that the MDP, in partnership with the Democrats, have gathered enough signatures for an impeachment motion against President Muizzu. The Parliament had recently amended its standing orders to make it easier to submit an impeachment motion. The MDP and Democrats, together, have 56 MPs between them; 43 MPs from MDP, and 13 from Democrats. Click here to read...
Will not allow removal of President: PPM/PNC – The Edition
In a press conference held today, PPM Parliamentary Group (PG) Leader Eydhafushi constituency MP Ahmed Saleem (Redwave Saleem) stated that the coalition would stop any efforts from MDP to remove President Dr Muizzu from his office. Article 100 of the Constitution states that the parliament can remove the President through a resolution if it is submitted by at least one third of the total number of parliamentarians and specifies the reasons for the request. MDP has as of yet not specified their justification behind initiating the President's removal. Click here to read...
India drops to 5th position on Maldives' top 10 tourism markets amid diplomatic row, China at 3 – Hindustan Times
Maldives tourism sees decline in India's share amid diplomatic tensions over the derogatory remarks by some Maldivian ministers against Prime Minister Modi. Indian tourists have long been a key demographic for the Maldives, comprising nearly 11% of its tourism market in 2023. According to the Maldives tourism website, India started 2024 as the third largest contributor to its tourism with a 7.1 per cent market share while China was not even in the top 10 markets list. Click here to read...
Myanmar
India-Myanmar: Why Delhi wants to fence the 'troubled' border-BBC News
Just over a week ago, India's federal home ministry announced a plan to fence the open border with neighbouring Myanmar. The move to fence the border - involving the four north-eastern Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram appears to have come against the backdrop several major developments. Click here to read...
Sniper Shoots Dead Top Myanmar Army Official In Helicopter- NDTV
Four members of the Myanmar security services including a brigadier-general were shot dead by sniper fire on Monday as their helicopter prepared to land, a military source told AFP. Click here to read...
Nepal
Saud stresses political consensus to settle India border dispute – Kathmandu Post
Nepal's Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud has stated that political consensus is needed to resolve boundary disputes with India. Speaking at a function in Kathmandu on January 29 Monday on the occasion of 75th Republic Day of India, Minister Saud said once the administrative-level mechanism completes its work on the ground, boundary disputes with India should be resolved through political consensus. Click here to read...
Nepal asks Russia to send back Nepalis recruited to fight in Ukraine and the bodies of those killed – The Himalayan Times
Nepal has asked Russia to send back hundreds of Nepali nationals who were recruited to fight against Ukraine and repatriate the bodies of those who died in the conflict, Nepal's top diplomat said. The Russian army is estimated to have recruited more than 200 Nepali nationals to fight in Ukraine and at least 14 of them have died there, Nepal's Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud said in an interview with The Associated Press. Click here to read...
Pakistan
Pakistan and Iran agree to work together to improve security after tit-for-tat airstrikes – The Hindu
Pakistan and Iran on January 29 agreed to work together to improve security cooperation in the wake of deadly airstrikes by Tehran and Islamabad earlier this month that killed at least 11 people, marking a significant escalation in fraught relations between the neighbors. Click here to read...
Indian Navy rescues 19 Pakistani nationals from Somali pirates – Deccan Herald
The Indian Navy vessel INS Sumitra rescued 19 crew members and a vessel from armed Somali pirates, a statement from the navy read. It rescued the fishing vessel Al Naeemi and her crew of 19 Pakistani nationals from 11 Somali pirates. Click here to read...
Over 50 percent of Pakistan poll stations declared sensitive ahead of February 8 general elections – The Telegraph Online
Over 50 per cent of polling stations for the February 8 general elections in Pakistan have been declared "sensitive", officials said on Monday. According to officials, a total of 90,675 polling stations are being set up across the country, and 46,000 have been declared sensitive. Over 18,000 of them have been declared "highly sensitive". Click here to read...
Sri Lanka
Will defy all laws and begin another Aragalaya tomorrow: SJB - Daily Mirror Online
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will not take notice of any restrictions but will take to the streets tomorrow and fire the first shot towards overthrowing the present government, SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said today. Click here to read...
Seychelles rescues Sri Lankan crew abducted by Somali pirates- The Island Online
The Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) with the Seychelles Coast Guard led an operation to regain control of a Sri Lankan fishing vessel abducted by armed Somali pirates, State House said on Monday. Click here to read...
