Asia

Seamless transport connectivity with India may boost Bangladesh’s income: World Bank
11Mar mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

Seamless transport connectivity with India may boost Bangladesh’s income: World Bank

A recent report by the World Bank has estimated that the transport connectivity between India and Bangladesh has the potential to increase the latter's national income by as much as 17 per cent.The report titled 'Connecting to Thrive: Challenges and Opportunities of Transport Integration in Eastern South Asia' analyses the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA), compares it with international best practices and identifies its strengths as well as gaps for seamless regional connectivity.The report states that seamless transport connectivity between India and Bangladesh has the potential to increase national income by as much as 17 per cent in Bangladesh and 8 per cent in India."Thick border slows down transport and economies and easing border restriction generat...
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India could regain status of world’s fastest-growing economy this year: Report
10Mar mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

India could regain status of world’s fastest-growing economy this year: Report

A recent report has said that India’s economy should be back to life in 2021 after a recession induced by COVID-19 and allow the country to reclaim its status as the fastest-growing major economy if the OECD projection of 12.6 per cent expansion in GDP is realized.“India’s economy plunged into recession for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century. However, it recorded a rise in GDP of 0.4 per cent in the final three months of 2020, ending its recession. For 2020 as a whole, the Indian economy contracted by about 7 per cent,” the report by CNN Business said on Tuesday.India’s gross domestic product is projected to expand by 12.6 per cent during the country’s fiscal year starting in April, according to a forecast released by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (...
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China refutes reports on cyber-attacks against India’s power grid
2Mar mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

China refutes reports on cyber-attacks against India’s power grid

China on Monday refuted claims that it had initiated cyber-attacks against India’s power grid resulting in massive power outages and said that it is ‘firmly opposed’ to such irresponsible and ill-intentioned practices.“As a staunch defender of cyber security, China firmly opposes and cracks down on all forms of cyber-attacks,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a press briefing.“Speculation and fabrication have no role to play on the issue of cyber-attacks, as it is very difficult to trace the origin of a cyber-attack. It is highly irresponsible to accuse a particular party when there is no sufficient evidence around, China is firmly opposed to such irresponsible and ill-intentioned practice,” Wang added.A report by a US-based cybersecurity firm claimed that Chinese-...
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Pakistan tightens security in Balochistan to protect CPEC projects
27Feb mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

Pakistan tightens security in Balochistan to protect CPEC projects

Pakistan military has increased the security in Balochistan province amid a rise in attacks on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.“We have raised two division-size security settlements which are dedicated to providing security to CPEC, besides that, we have increased the number of paramilitary troops’ units from one to two in the province to ensure security,” said Major General Babar Iftikhar, Director General of the military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations.The security for the CPEC has been beefed up directly and indirectly by providing more security to CPEC projects and enhancing security in the whole province to ensure smooth work at CPEC projects after recent attacks on the facility.Though Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan with ample natural res...
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India to invest 530 million for reconstruction 25 health posts in Nepal
27Feb mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

India to invest 530 million for reconstruction 25 health posts in Nepal

The Embassy of India in Nepal on Friday said that it has signed four Memorandums of Understandings (MoUs) with Nepal for the reconstruction of total 25 health posts“Twelve health posts are located in Dhading district and 13 are located in Sindhupalchowk district and these health posts, damaged during the 2015 earthquake will be reconstructed at a cost of NR 530 million,” said a release from the Indian Embassy.“On the same occasion, four Contract Agreements, award the work to successful bidders were also signed between CLPIU (Building) and Contractors,” it further added.Head of Development Partnership and Reconstruction wing of the Embassy of India, Nepal and Project Director of Central Level Project Implementation Unit (Building) of National Reconstruction Authority signed the agreement, a...
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Hong Kong govt calls for tighter supervision of city’s public broadcaster
24Feb mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, USA

Hong Kong govt calls for tighter supervision of city’s public broadcaster

In a move which is seen as an attempt to curtail freedom of the press, the Hong Kong government has called for tighter supervision of city’s public broadcaster.In a 157-page report, the Hong Kong government accused the public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) of often reporting critically on officials and lacking transparency and objectivity.The report came hours after the government announced that the head of the public broadcaster would leave his post six months before his tenure ended. However, his replacement is a civil servant from outside the broadcasting service with no journalism experience.For supporters of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement, RTHK’s troubles signalled the fate of independent journalism under an intensifying crackdown on dissent. Often compared to the B...
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China backs New Delhi’s hosting of BRICS summit; Xi Jinping may visit India
24Feb mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, China

China backs New Delhi’s hosting of BRICS summit; Xi Jinping may visit India

After months of tension between India and China due to the standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Beijing has said that it supports India’s chairmanship of the BRICS summit this year.India has assumed chairmanship of the annual summit of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) grouping of emerging economies.Chinese President Xi Jinping may visit India later this year for the summit.Asked about Xi’s possible attendance at the summit and whether the border tension would affect their multilateral cooperation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said BRICS had become an influential grouping and Beijing supported New Delhi’s efforts as host.“China attaches great importance to the BRICS mechanism,” Wang said at a regular press conference.“The Chinese side ...
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Sri Lanka seeks India’s support ahead of UNHRC session
23Feb mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

Sri Lanka seeks India’s support ahead of UNHRC session

Ahead of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session in March, Sri Lanka has sought India’s support in UNHRC’s probe in Colombia’s record in human rights and related accountability.According to media reports, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has written to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking support during the upcoming session of the UNHRC.Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage said that it was part of the president’s efforts to secure the support of the member states.“We made the first request from India. When he (Rajapaksa) meets with the envoys of the respective countries, he hands over these letters to be sent to their leaders,” the Foreign Secretary said.The core group of countries that work on Sri Lanka’s issue at the UNHRC has indicated that it will move a ...
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Relationship with China ‘complex’; ties cannot be normal without peace in border areas: Indian Foreign Secretary
19Feb mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, China

Relationship with China ‘complex’; ties cannot be normal without peace in border areas: Indian Foreign Secretary

The relationship with China is “complex”, there cannot be a normal bilateral relationship if there is no peace and tranquillity in border areas, said Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla at the Diplomatic Academy of Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.“The relationship with China is complex. It was in the 1980s where both countries decided that they would set aside our differences on the boundary,” he said.He said developments last year, in terms of the “very large number” of troops amassed on the border area, multiple transgressions along the Line of Actual Control, did create a situation that impacted the “larger relationship”.“As we mentioned to our friends in China, we cannot have (a) normal bilateral relationship if there is no peace and tranquillity in our bor...
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Mountain rescue team trains J&K police to help victims of natural disasters
12Feb mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

Mountain rescue team trains J&K police to help victims of natural disasters

The Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) is currently providing 15-day training to around 50 Jammu and Kashmir police personnel near Nad village in Samba to help them equip in helping victims of natural disasters."Initially the trainees had some fear but it was overcome when they were convinced of the sophistication of the equipment we use in the training. They get training on how to ascend and descend the mountain with or without a victim. They are also trained on how to search for a person who is lost in an avalanche. We also give them training on zip-lining and river crossing," said Mohammad Salim, instructor MRT J&K Police."Some trainees requested to be sent to the flood-affected area of Uttarakhand to be part of the rescue team there. That shows the confidence they have gained during the tr...
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