Asia

EU Council condemns military coup in Myanmar, ready to impose sanctions
Asia, World

EU Council condemns military coup in Myanmar, ready to impose sanctions

As incidents of brutal violence against peaceful protestors come forth in Myanmar, the European Union (EU) Council on Monday condemned the military coup and said that it is considering sanctions against the individuals responsible for ousting the country’s civilian government.“The European Union calls for de-escalation of the current crisis through an immediate end to the state of emergency, the restoration of the legitimate civilian government and the opening of the newly elected parliament,” the Council said in a statement.The council called for the results of the democratic elections held on November 9, last year to be respected and demanded that the military must renounce its action.The European Union is “deeply concerned about reports of intimidation”.The EU Council also added that it
India, China affirm ‘completion of Pangong disengagement’, agree to continue dialogue to resolve remaining issues along LAC
Asia, China

India, China affirm ‘completion of Pangong disengagement’, agree to continue dialogue to resolve remaining issues along LAC

In the tenth round of the India-China Corps Commander level meeting, both countries “positively appraised” the smooth completion of disengagement of frontline troops in the Pangong Lake area.During the meeting, which was held on the Chinese side of the Moldo/Chushul border meeting point on Saturday, India and China also agreed to continue their communication and push for a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector.The Indian Ministry of Defence said the two sides had a “candid and in-depth” exchange of views on other issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector.The tenth round of Corps commander level talks between India and China concluded after 16 hours as the discussion focused on further di
Nepal receives another shipment of 1 million MadeIndia COVID-19 vaccines
Asia, Business

Nepal receives another shipment of 1 million MadeIndia COVID-19 vaccines

To continue its fight against coronavirus pandemic, Nepal on Sunday received another shipment of one million doses of Made-in-India covid-19 vaccines.The Oxford-Astra Zeneca vaccine manufactured in India by Serum Institute of India (SII), under the name Covishield, arrived at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on Sunday afternoon.The vaccines will be stored at the cold storage unit in Teku. This lot of vaccines would be used to inoculate people above 60 years of age, which is 8.73 per cent of Nepal’s population, in the vaccination drive that will begin on March 7.According to the Nepali Ministry of Health and Population, there are 2,652,258 elderly people above 60 years in the country.The remaining doses of the vaccines will be obtained according to the agreement with the vac
Asia, Conflict, Politics, World

How Sri Lankan Muslims are suffering and Pakistan has nothing to say

At the beginning of this New Year, in January 2021, a team of UN Human Rights activists fervently appealed to the Sri Lankan government to scrap its policy of forced cremation of bodies of coronavirus victims belonging to Muslim/ other minorities. The Sri Lankan Government was requested to abstain from actions that were seemingly in contravention to the established practices of different religious groups. The decision of the authorities was seen as a catalyst capable of fomenting prejudice, intolerance and violence in an already divided society that is yet to put its pieces together post the LTTE conflict. In Geneva, Special Rapporteurs Ahmed Shaheed, Fernand de Varennes, Clement Nyaletsossi Voule and Tlaleng Mofokeng claimed that there was no medical or scientific evidence provin...
Indian Housing Project commences in Sri Lanka’s Galle
Asia

Indian Housing Project commences in Sri Lanka’s Galle

Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Gopal Baglay laid the foundation stone for constructing 50 houses at the Walahanduwa Estate in Sri Lanka’s Galle city under Indian Housing Project.He was accompanied by Estate Housing and Community Infrastructure State Minister Jeevan Thondaman and Plantation Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana.In a special video message, High Commissioner Baglay addressed the gathering and said that India will continue to support Sri Lanka during these challenging times within the limits of its capacity.He said that India is committed to assist Sri Lanka in its’ overall socio-economic development focusing on the priority areas of the Government.The High Commissioner said that the project to construct 10,000 houses for the plantation area, promised by Indian Prime Minister
J&K: Exhibition organised in Srinagar to motivate young entrepreneurs
Asia, Business

J&K: Exhibition organised in Srinagar to motivate young entrepreneurs

In the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the government, along with the Ereignis Management Private Limited has organised an exhibition in Srinagar to motivate the young entrepreneurs of Kashmir.Various stalls dedicated to the culture of Kashmir including Kashmiri arts, handlooms, handicrafts and traditional foods have been installed at the exhibition.Despite the recent snowfall, several young entrepreneurs participated in the exhibition.Maria Shahmiri, the organiser of the event, said, “Such events are important for the valley as this will help to provide employment to the youths here.”“The people have been staying indoors for a very long time now. Firstly, the pandemic forced them to be indoors and then the winters. Visiting such events will be fun for them,” Shahmiri said.Asm
J&K Police foils terror plot, arrests terrorists associated with JeM, LeT
Asia

J&K Police foils terror plot, arrests terrorists associated with JeM, LeT

In the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the police recently arrested terrorists associated with Pakistani terror groups Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and avoided a terror attack."Police recently arrested the chiefs of Pakistani terror groups Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed's India-based outfits- The Resistance Front and Lashkar-e-Mustafa respectively," said Jammu and Kashmir's Director General of Police (DGP), Dilbagh Singh on Sunday.Addressing the media after the police foiled a major terror attack in with the recovery of an IED of 6-6.5 kilogram in Jammu, Singh said that both outfits -- The Resistance Front and Lashkar-e-Mustafa -- were involved in multiple terror-related activities in the country in past few years."Lashkar-e-Mustafa became active in A...
10th commander level talks to take place between India, China 48 hrs post disengagement along LAC: MEA
Asia, China

10th commander level talks to take place between India, China 48 hrs post disengagement along LAC: MEA

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said that Chinese and Indian troops’ disengagement from the Line of Actual Control was reached after sustained negotiations at the military and diplomatic level and that the tenth round of senior commanders meeting would take place 48 hours after complete disengagement.In a weekly briefing, MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, “This agreement was reached after several rounds of sustained negotiations at the military and diplomatic level.He further informed that that the next steps post disengagement have been “clearly spelt out” by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during his speech in the Parliament on Thursday.“India’s strategy and approach during disengagement talks with China is based on directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi th
India to fund reconstruction of three cultural heritages in Nepal
Asia

India to fund reconstruction of three cultural heritages in Nepal

India and Nepal signed agreements on Thursday under which India will be funding a total of Nepali Rs 142 million for the reconstruction of three cultural heritage projects in Nepal.“Contracts were signed on Thursday for conservation and retrofitting of Seto Machindranath Temple, Construction of Dharmashalaat Budhanikantha Temple and conservation as well as the development of Kumari Chhen and Kumari Niwas,” said the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.The signing event was witnessed by the Head of Development Partnership & Reconstruction Wing of the Indian Embassy, Project Consultant INTACH, officials from CLPIU (Building), Mayor of Lalitpur, Mathadish of Budhaneelkantha Temple, Ward Chairman of ward number 25 of Kathmandu, and representatives of User Committees of the Project.“At times there o
Chinese, Indian troops start ‘synchronised’ disengagement in eastern Ladakh: China’s Defence Ministry
Asia, China, Conflict

Chinese, Indian troops start ‘synchronised’ disengagement in eastern Ladakh: China’s Defence Ministry

China’s defence ministry on Wednesday said that the frontline troops of both China and India at the south and north banks of the Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh started “synchronised and organised” disengagement from today (Wednesday).Although there was no official comment by either the Indian defence ministry or the Indian Army, people familiar with the development said both sides are in the process of pulling back their armoured units like tanks and armoured personnel carriers.According to sources, specific steps like the withdrawal of armoured elements from the friction points were discussed threadbare at the ninth round of high-level military talks on January 24 that lasted for around 16 hours.Meanwhile, the office of Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted that he will make a sta