Afghanistan
Muttaqi Highlights Islamic Emirate’s Economy-Focused Diplomacy in UAE Visit-Tolo News
Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated during his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that the Islamic Emirate pursues an economy-focused policy. Muttaqi also added that the Islamic Emirate seeks positive economic and political relations with all countries. During this trip, the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs met with Vikram Misri, the Indian Foreign Secretary and reiterated that Afghanistan poses no threat to any country.Click here to read…
$50M Oil Refinery Inaugurated in Balkh to Provide Over 1,000 Jobs-Tolo News
An oil refinery with the capacity to process 600 tons of crude oil in 24 hours has started operations in Balkh province, with an investment of $50 million. This refinery, inaugurated in the presence of local officials, investors, and businessmen, has created job opportunities for over 1,000 people.Click here to read…
Over 6,000 Weapons Discovered and Seized in Badakhshan- Tolo News
The Badakhshan Police Command has reported the discovery and seizure of a weapons cache in this province. This cache was discovered in the Shahada district of the province, and more than 6,000 various types of weapons have been recovered from it.Click here to read…
Over 1,300 Afghan refugees deported from Germany in a single year-The Khaama Press
German media reports have highlighted the continued deportation of Afghan migrants from the country, with more than 1,300 Afghan asylum seekers being expelled in 2024 alone. The Deutsche Welle (DW) news network reported on Wednesday, January 8, citing the German Ministry of the Interior, that a total of 1,361 Afghan refugees were deported from Germany in 2024 to Afghanistan or other countries.Click here to read…
Bangladesh
Major trade bodies miss election deadline as reforms take centre stage – The Daily Star
Elections at major trade bodies have missed the 90-day deadline as new administrators of the business organisations seek amendments to the governing rules. In this regard, they have sent letters to the commerce ministry wing responsible for overseeing trade and business chambers, requesting the amendments to ensure only genuine businesspeople can vote.Click here to read…
Reserves drop to $20b after ACU payment – The Daily Star
Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves fell to $20 billion yesterday from $21.67 billion after the country paid $1.67 billion in regional import bills through the Asian Clearing Union (ACU). The ACU, a Tehran-based organisation, facilitates payment settlements among nine member countries: India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Iran, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.Click here to read…
Govt will not make any declaration of July Uprising -Dhaka Tribune
Reiterating its position on the July Uprising declaration, the interim government has said that the government will not issue any declaration. It will come based on the proposals of the students and the consensus of all political parties, cultural and social organizations.Click here to read…
Mirza Fakhrul slams 'unhealthy competition' to cling to power – Prothom Alo
The secretary general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, has criticised what he described as an unhealthy competition among political forces to cling to power. “Since the flight of Hasina, we are struggling to restore our confidence fully as well as maintain unity, for some uncertain reasons. It is unfortunate; what has begun nowadays, I believe, is not healthy. An unhealthy competition began to cling to power,” he said.Click here to read…
Bhutan
BHEL commissions hydroelectric project in Bhutan-Business Standard
Bharat Heavy Electricals said that it has successfully commissioned two units of the 6?170 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project (PHEP-II) in Bhutan. The said project was executed under a bilateral agreement between the Government of India and the Royal Government of Bhutan. PHEP-II is a greenfield hydroelectric project located in the Wangdue district of Western Bhutan.Click here to read…
Maldives
Discussion on extending agreements for operating helicopters and Dornier aircraft – Adhadhu
India has donated USD 4 million (MVR 62 million) worth of equipment to the Maldives National Defense The governments of Maldives and India have discussed extending the duration of the agreements for operating two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft donated to the Maldives. According to Indian media, the matter was discussed during January 8, meeting between Defense Minister Ghassan Maumoon and his counterpart Rajnath Singh. India also announced the donation of USD 4 million (MVR 62 million) worth of equipment to the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) upon a request from the Maldives government.Force (MNDF) upon a request from the Maldives government. In a statement, the Indian government said it had donated defense equipment to Maldives at the request of the Maldivian government.Click here to read…
India donates USD 4 million worth equipment to MNDF – Adhadhu
India has donated USD 4 million (MVR 62 million) worth of equipment to the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) upon a request from the Maldives government. In a statement, the Indian government said it had donated defense equipment to Maldives at the request of the Maldivian government. Indian media reported that the assistance includes vehicles and navigation equipment. The donation was announced during Defense Minister Ghassan Maumoon's first official visit to India. On Wednesday, he met Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and held bilateral talks.Click here to read…
Myanmar
Myanmar junta air strike kills 40: ethnic armed group, rescue worker – The Hindu
A Myanmar junta air strike killed at least 40 people in a village in western Rakhine state, a rescue worker and ethnic minority armed group told on January 9, 2025. The Arakan Army (AA) is engaged in a fierce fight with the military for control of Rakhine, where it has seized swathes of territory in the past year, all but cutting off the capital Sittwe. The Rakhine conflict is one element of the bloody chaos that has engulfed Myanmar since the military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government in a 2021 coup, sparking a widespread armed uprising.Click here to read…
Myanmar and Belarus foster friendship and cooperation – The Global New Light of Myanmar
Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing received Mr Maxim Ryzhenkov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, at the Credentials Hall of the Office of SAC Chairman in Nay Pyi Taw on January 9, 2024. At the meeting, they frankly discussed the improvement of friendly relations between Myanmar and Belarus and cooperation, enhancement of diplomatic relations and trade sector between the two countries. Both sides talked about on the promotion of cooperation in education, agriculture, livestock breeding, pharmaceutical, industrial and tourism sectors and other realms. They also cordially exchanged views on sending scholarship students to pursue science and technologies, enhancing cooperation in defence measures, and political progress in Myanmar, and making preparations with utmost efforts to hold a free and fair election.Click here to read…
Pakistan
Govt scraps 10,000MW projects to curb costs-Dawn
Claiming over Rs1.1 trillion in savings in revised contracts with existing independent power producers (IPPs), the government on Thursday announced a series of major decisions for reducing electricity rates, including the rejection of about 10,000MW of upcoming IPPs for being expensive and unaffordable.Click here to read…
Talks begin for economic partnership with South Korea-Dawn
South Korea’s Trade Minister Inkyo Cheong has outlined an ambitious plan to relocate Korea’s industrial base from its Northeast Asian neighbours to Pakistan following the signing of the Economic Part¬nership Agreement (EPA) between the two countries.Click here to read…
Govt-PTI talks in PPP's crosshairs-The Express Tribune
Pakistan People's Party Central Punjab General Secretary Syed Hasan Murtaza, firing a broadside at his party's allies and PTI, said that the biggest National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) in the country's history is being reached to secure the release of a prisoner.Click here to read…
Sri Lanka
Any Sri Lankan behind smuggling in Rohingyas? Probe begins – Daily Mirror
Following Rohingya arrivals and intelligence reports about plans for further 100,000 such cases, the police have begun investigations to ascertain whether any Sri Lankan is involved behind this human smuggling racket, a Minister said yesterday.Click here to read…
With eyes on China and India, Sri Lanka lifts ban on foreign research vessels – South China Morning Post
Sri Lanka is reversing a year-long ban on foreign research vessels in its waters, opting instead to draft new protocols that aim to balance India’s security concerns with China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean. The moratorium, which expired on December 31, was introduced in late 2023 after New Delhi raised alarms about the Chinese research vessel Shi Yan 6 that conducted a joint maritime survey with Sri Lanka’s maritime agency.Click here to read…
Japan, Sri Lanka boost bilateral cooperation, discuss debt restructuring, airport project – The Print
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya received Mr. Shohei Hara, Senior Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), at the Parliament of Sri Lanka yesterday. During the meeting Tuesday, Mr. Hara reaffirmed JICA’s dedication to aiding Sri Lanka’s development goals, a Sri Lankan press release stated.Click here to read…
