Asia

Important step towards security, stability: UAE on India, Pak ceasefire agreement
1Mar By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Asia, World

Important step towards security, stability: UAE on India, Pak ceasefire agreement

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday said that the declaration of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) is an “important step” towards achieving security, stability and prosperity in the region.In a statement, the UAE foreign ministry said that Abu Dhabi has close historical ties with New Delhi and Islamabad and that it commends the efforts of the two countries to reach this achievement.Last week, Indian and Pakistani armies announced that they have agreed to a ceasefire along the Line of Actual Control (LoC) starting from February 25.The agreement on ceasefire was reached during a meeting between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan.“The UAE has welcomed the declaration of a ceasefire between the Indian and Pakista
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Compulsory Arabic can lead to more conflicts in Pakistan
1Mar By Our NewsroomNo Comments
Asia, Conflict, World

Compulsory Arabic can lead to more conflicts in Pakistan

The Imran Khan government’s decision to make Arabic compulsory subject in primary schools is yet another step in Pakistan’s march towards becoming a theological Sunni state, contrary to what its founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, had envisioned. Jinnah’s Pakistan was for all hues of Muslims and minorities who had the courage to adopt the land of their birth as their nation. But that is not the Pakistan what the mullahs and military wanted—they wanted a Sunni state where other sects and religion had no place. The process of making this happen began within years of Jinnah’s demise. First the Ahmadis and then the Bengali speaking Muslims from east Pakistan became the `other`. The state actively discouraged and marginalised countless dialects in a bid to create a uniform linguistic i
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India-Pakistan ceasefire pact won’t affect counter-terrorism operations in J&K: Indian Army
28Feb By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

India-Pakistan ceasefire pact won’t affect counter-terrorism operations in J&K: Indian Army

The counter-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir won’t be stopped by the agreement between India and Pakistan to strictly adhere to the ceasefire pact along the Line of Control (LoC), Indian Army’s northern commander Lt Gen Y K Joshi said.“Recently, the Director General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan have announced an agreement to uphold ceasefire along the LoC from February 24 and 25 midnight. I want to assure that this ceasefire will have no bearing on the counter-terrorist operations and we will maintain our alertness,” Lt Gen Joshi said at the northern command investiture ceremony.He said the northern command, which looks after the security of the twin union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, remained on the highest alert and made possible what was
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Border residents in J-K’s Baramulla relieved after ceasefire agreement
28Feb By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Border residents in J-K’s Baramulla relieved after ceasefire agreement

The agreement between India and Pakistan to cease firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir has brought relief among residents in the border areas of Nabila village in the Uri Sector in Baramulla.“We are very happy that the Commanders from both sides have agreed to observe the ceasefire. Cross-border firings cause big problems in the lives of people living along the border. We used to face all kinds of troubles and difficulties. We are thankful to the government for this step. Now, we can live in peace,” said Abdul Razzak, a border resident.“I am a resident of Nabila. The ceasefire observance decision has brought great relief to all of us living along the border. Our children could not go to school earlier. We had to face difficulties in our daily life. I want to thank th
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India committed to sharing resources: PM Modi to WHO Chief
28Feb By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Asia, World

India committed to sharing resources: PM Modi to WHO Chief

After WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus thanked India for its support in distributing covid-19 vaccine to developing countries, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the country is committed to sharing resources, experiences and knowledge for global good.World Health Organisation Director-General in a tweet on Thursday said: "Thanks India & Prime Minister @narendramodi for supporting Vaccine Equity. Your commitment to COVAX and sharing COVID-19 vaccine doses is helping 60+ countries start vaccinating their health workers and other priority groups. I hope other countries will follow your example".Responding to the tweet, PM Modi said, "Thank you @DrTedros. We are all together in the fight against this pandemic. India is committed to sharing resources, experiences, ...
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India donates funds to Taiwan to boost cooperation on traditional medicine
28Feb By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Asia, World

India donates funds to Taiwan to boost cooperation on traditional medicine

In order to boost cooperation in traditional medicine, India on Friday donated Rs 1.5 million (NTD 570,000) to Taiwan’s National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine (NRICM).This is the first time the Indian government made a donation to a Taiwanese government institution, as the NRICM resorts under the Ministry of Health and Welfare.Taiwan’s representative office in the South Asian country spent years promoting exchanges between the traditional medicine sectors of the two sides. India is one of 18 countries targeted by Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy, which was introduced in 2016.India has already set up a permanent “AYUSH Information Cell” providing data about traditional Indian medicine and managing exchanges with the Chinese medicine community in Taiwan.The Ministry of Ayush and the W
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India’s Bharat Biotech confirms deal with Brazil to supply 20 million covid-19 vaccine doses
27Feb By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Asia, World

India’s Bharat Biotech confirms deal with Brazil to supply 20 million covid-19 vaccine doses

India’s Bharat Biotech International Limited on Friday confirmed an agreement with Brazil for the supply of 20 million doses of India manufactured covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin.“The company is delighted to partner with Brazil in its battle against Covid-19 and aid its immunization program against the virus. It has signed an agreement for delivery of COVAXIN during Q2 (April to June) and Q3 (July to September) (of) 2021,” the company said in a statement.“There is a strong interest in Covaxin from many countries around the world, and the company is fully committed to ensuring supplies promptly and efficiently,” it added.Covaxin is one of the two Covid-19 vaccines approved for emergency use in India. The other one is Covishield (the local name for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine developed in the U
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India, China must cherish ‘hard won’ progress at LAC: Beijing
27Feb By Nectar GanNo Comments
Asia, China, Politics

India, China must cherish ‘hard won’ progress at LAC: Beijing

Referring to the disengagement of troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Chinese foreign ministry on Friday said that India and China must cherish the “hard-won” progress“New Delhi and Beijing should cherish the hard-won result and consolidate current progress made at the border,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin at a press briefing.“Chinese and Indian front-line troops have completed disengagement in the Pangong Lake area, and the situation on the ground is getting much better,” Wang said.“Both sides should cherish the hard-won result, consolidate current progress, keep the momentum of talks, further ease tensions, improve the border management and control mechanism, advance border negotiations and enhance mutual trust, so as to ensure peace and tranquili
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Nepal: Reconstruction work of 66th school under Indian aid begins
25Feb By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Nepal: Reconstruction work of 66th school under Indian aid begins

The Embassy of India in Nepal on Wednesday informed that under the Indian grant assistance, the reconstruction work of the 66th school in Nepal has started in Dakshinkali Municipality.“This is the 66th school being reconstructed under the Government of India grant assistance for reconstruction in the education sector. India has committed USD 50 million for the reconstruction of total 71 educational institutions in 8 districts of Nepal,” the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu said in a press release.India has also committed a grant of another USD 200 million for reconstruction projects in the health, cultural heritage and housing sectors.Champa Devi Secondary School is being reconstructed at a cost of Nepalese Rs 68.5 million and will be built as per earthquake-resilient reconstruction norms of th
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EU-China investment deal faces flak in European Parliament
25Feb By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Asia, China, World

EU-China investment deal faces flak in European Parliament

In a session of the European Parliament on international trade on Wednesday, the Ministers of the Parliament (MEPs) lashed out at the European Commission on its investment deal with China overlooking human rights conditions in China and Hong Kong.According to media reports, MEPs accused Brussels of overlooking concerns over the prevailing human rights conditions in China, glossing over Beijing’s crackdown in Hong Kong, and not bothering about the Biden administration.The Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) was signed in December last year, however, it still needs to be ratified by the European Parliament and approved by the EU Council.German MEP Reinhard Butikofer, who chairs the parliament’s delegation for relations with China, said the deal was a “Christmas present for (Chinese P
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