Start-up India, Stand-up India' to be unveiled on Jan 16: PM |
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, the Action Plan of the 'Start-up India, Stand-up India' will be unveiled on the 16th of next month. In his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' programme on All India Radio, Mr Modi urged the states to help spread this campaign across the country's nook and corner. He said, the programme will be designed to suit Indian conditions and focus would be on ensuring benefits for the youth from the lowest strata of the society. The Prime Minister also expressed satisfaction over the successful implementation of Direct Benefit Transfer scheme. |
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka |
December 28th, 2015 | Volume: 1 – 19/12 |
AFGHANISTAN
President Ghani and PM Modi inaugurate new Afghan parliament building
Khaama Press | 25th December The Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the newly-built Afghan parliament building. President Ghani and PM Modi took a tour of the parliament building and arrived at the main session hall in the presence of the guests including Afghan parliament members. Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament (Wolesi Jirga) Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi thanked the government of India and the Indian people for the gift of the new parliament building.
President Ghani hails India for the delivery of three Mi-25 gunships
Khaama Press | 25th December The Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani hailed India for the delivery of three Mi-25 gunship helicopters, calling it a major step towards the stability of Afghanistan as India is having a major contribution in the reconstruction of the country.
Gen. Raheel Meets Afghan Leaders, Discusses Bilateral Ties, Terrorism
Tolo News / Daily Outlook Afghanistan | 28th December Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Gen. Raheel Sharif on Sunday held talks with President Ashraf Ghani and CEO Abdullah Abdullah on bilateral cooperation between the two countries, counter terrorism and peace in Afghanistan. According to a source close to Ghani, the president and Sharif reportedly discussed three issues – Afghanistan-Pakistan security, peace talks and counter terrorism initiatives.
Ghani-Erdogan Discuss Afghanistan, War on Terror, Bilateral Ties
Tolonews | Daily Outlook Afghanistan | 26th December President Ashraf Ghani has said that regional efforts must be stepped up to counter ongoing insurgency and terrorism in the region, after holding talks with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Thursday. He said a stable Afghanistan was in the interests of regional peace and stability. Meanwhile, Turkish president Erdogan has warned the international community against repeating mistakes in Afghanistan, calling on the world to remain involved in Afghanistan and to not push the war-hit country to the sidelines.
BANGLADESH
Khaleda Zia sued for sedition
The Daily Star | 28th December A Dhaka court yesterday ordered an investigation into a sedition charge filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for her comments on the number of 1971 martyrs. The court also asked officer-in-charge of Shahbagh Police Station to take legal action against Khaleda after probing the matter.
Eight including former Jamaat MP charged with war crimes
Bdnews 24 | 27th December The Investigating Agency of the International Crimes Tribunal have finalised charges against eight persons, including former Jamaat-e-Islami MP Abu Saleh Mohammad Abdul Aziz Mia aka Ghoramarha Aziz. They have been charged with genocide, murder, illegal confinement, loot, arson, torture and other heinous crimes during the Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971.
World Bank to finance Siddhirganj power project
The Financial Express | 27th December Bangladesh on Sunday signed a $177 million additional financing agreement with International Development Association (IDA) to complete the ongoing construction of a 335-megawatt combined cycle power plant in Siddhirganj, near Dhaka city. The power plant will account for 6.0 per cent of the total electricity delivered to the national grid.
BHUTAN
Conference calls for better political finance regulation
KUENSEL | 26th December Countries, including Bhutan, should formulate political finance regulations to curb abuse of money power in electoral frays and provide a level playing field for political parties and candidates. This recommendation was the culmination of a two-day regional conference on “The Use of Money in Politics and Its Effects on People’s Representation” held last week in New Delhi, India.
Asian Development Bank likely to fund Amochhu land reclamation
KUENSEL | 26th December Amochhu Land Reclamation and Township Project (ALRT) in Phuentsholing could begin by 2017. Asian Development Bank (ADB) has shown special interest on the project.
MALDIVES
Maldives minister claims drop in serious crimes
Haveeru Online | 28th December President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s government has brought peace and stability to the streets of the archipelago where the country has witnessed a drop in serious crimes, home minister Umar Naseer said Sunday.
Police denies dropping suspicions against Adheeb in the Presidential Launch explosion
Sun Online | 27th December Refuting lawyer Shameem’s statement about Adheeb being cleared of suspicion in the explosion, Police said that they have not informed anyone that any change has come to the suspicions against the former Vice President and that they are still investigating the Presidential Launch explosion.
MYANMAR
Suu Kyi Thanks Trishaw Drivers for Election Support in Rangoon
The Irrawaddy | 26th December Top leaders of the National League for Democracy (NLD), including Aung San Suu Kyi, met with around 170 trishaw drivers in Rangoon on Saturday to convey the party’s appreciation for their support during the election campaign. Suu Kyi praised the drivers’ spirited backing during the party’s ultimately successful election campaign, during which trishaw drivers, many sporting NLD flags or other party paraphernalia, were a ubiquitous presence on the streets of the commercial capital and at various political rallies.
88 Gen calls on Thai PM for justice over ‘death row’ Myanmar migrant workers
Mizzima | 26th December A Myanmar NGO has written a letter to Thailand’s prime minister to call for justice and a review of the case of two Myanmar migrant workers who have been sentenced to death for the murder of two British tourists on Koh Tao island. Min Ko Naing, writing on behalf of the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, has called on Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to review the case and the verdict.
NEPAL
Govt fails to sign fuel deal with China
The Himalayan Times | 28th December The much-awaited Nepal-China petroleum trade deal could not be signed at the government-level during the official visit of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Kamal Thapa to Beijing last week, as the Chinese authorities failed to decide on Nepal’s proposal to waive tax on fuel export.
Writ at SC against govt decision to increase ministries
The Kathmandu Post | 27th December The Supreme Court has been asked to reverse the KP Oli-led government’s decision to increase the number of ministries in the country. Advocate Kanchan Krishna Neupane on Sunday filed a writ at the SC and sought its wisdom on government’s decision of December 24, citing it is against the constitution.
PAKISTAN
Islamabad, Kabul agree upon steps for Taliban talks
DAWN | 28th December Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed on Sunday to take first formal steps towards the resumption of reconciliation talks between the Afghan government and Taliban by convening a meeting in the first week of next month under the recently formed ‘quadrilateral framework’ that also involves China and the United States.
Indian PM Modi makes surprise visit to Pakistan
Reuters / The News | 25th December Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise stopover in Pakistan on Friday to meet his counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, the first time an Indian premier has visited in over a decade. Pakistan’s PM House spokesman said the two leaders discussed a range of bilateral issues.
Next Nawaz-Modi meeting likely in Washington
The News | 27th December The next meeting of Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi is expected to be held in Washington, as US president Barack Obama has invited both the leaders to the Nuclear Security Summit scheduled for March 31-April 4.
SRI LANKA
Sri Lankan Parliament to convene as a Constitutional Assembly on January 9
Colombo Page | 27th December Sri Lanka’s parliament will function as a Constituent Assembly when it reconvenes in the new year after the holidays on January 9, according to report in the state-run English weekly Sunday Observer.
Sri Lanka to bring a law to introduce a National Minimum Wage for private sector
Colombo Page | 26th December The Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting approved a proposal put forward by the Acting Minister of Labor and Trade Union Relations Ravindra Samaraweera to obtain the approval for the Bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman regarding the introduction of a national minimum wage for private sector employees.
Nawaz Sharif to visit SL next month
Daily Mirror | 27th December Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will visit Sri Lanka next month during which the two sides will sign several agreements including a pact on combating money laundering and terrorism financing, officials said. |