Page 5 - South Asia

India is our biggest, most-valued partner in South Asia: US official

Describing India as its biggest partner in South Asia, the Biden administration has said it is working with New Delhi to deploy a multi-billion-dollar climate infrastructure and a new fund that will include a USD 500 million investment contribution from its development finance institution. Afreen Akhter, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA), told this at a news conference organised by the Washington Foreign Press Center. With India, which of course is our biggest partner in South Asia, we launched in January of last year the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology. We call this iCET, Akhter said. The goal is to build a resilient semiconductor supply chain, elevate space cooperation, and partner on the next generation of telecommunications so, again, a really ambitious initiative to build cooperation on critical and emerging technologies with India, she said on Wednesday. The US is also advancing regional resilience to ..

World leaders congratulate India on R-Day, laud progress in bilateral ties

Presidents, Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers of several countries on Friday wished India on its 75th Republic Day and expressed their hope for progress in bilateral relations and close people-to-people ties. These leaders included those from the immediate neighbourhood in South Asia and some from far-flung nations such as Australia. Almost all of them posted their greetings on social media handles and some of them wrote letters or messages to Indian leaders. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese extended his warm wishes to the people of India on the same day as his country celebrates its national day and said, We have an opportunity to celebrate the depth of our friendship. Australia and India have never been closer. In a message to President Droupadi Murmu, the British King Charles III said he cherishes the close bond shared between the two countries. I am confident that our ties will continue to flourish in this very special seventy-fifth anniversary year of the ...

India to help Sri Lanka with upgradation of railways; to cost $91.27 mn

India and Sri Lanka have together launched multiple works costing USD 91.27 million across the island nation to upgrade the railway network which will enhance the mobility of goods and services and boost economic activity. Sri Lanka's Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Dr Bandula Gunawardena and High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha ceremonially launched the multiple works on Sunday, a release from the office of the High Commission of India said here. Minister of Transport Gunawardena thanked India for the support extended to Sri Lanka, especially in the transport sector. The Indian High Commissioner expressed happiness that as a long-standing development partner of Sri Lanka, India had executed projects for the development and rehabilitation of Sri Lanka's Northern and Southern Railway line over the past several years in line with the priorities and requirements of the Government of Sri Lanka. Jha also underscored the importance of the modernisation of ..

Sri Lanka raises fuel retail prices by Rs 20; first under new VAT hike

The Sri Lankan government raised retail fuel prices by Rs 20 effective from Monday in its monthly revision, making it the first retail price hike of any commodity under the imposition of new Value-Added Tax rates. The government revises fuel prices monthly based on the exchange rate of the US dollar and the global oil market prices. However, Monday's hike was purely a result of the new VAT rates. Sri Lanka's VAT rate has been increased by three per cent from Monday for the band, which was previously taxed at 15 per cent, while most VAT-exempt items have been brought under 18 per cent in a highly unpopular move. Last month, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the release of the second tranche worth USD 337 million to the cash-strapped island nation, bringing the value of disbursements to USD 670 million in the four-year facility. With its reforms, the IMF programme meant that the government set cost-based tariffs for utilities, while several rate hikes on electricity ...

India's inward remittances in 2023 rise 12.3% to $125 billion: World Bank

India continues to be the highest recipient of remittances globally, followed by Mexico ($67 billion) and China ($50 billion)

Shah Rukh Khan tops UK's list of top 50 Asian celebrities in the world

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, referred to as the King Khan of the Indian film industry, has topped a UK list of the Top 50 Asian Celebrities in the World' previewed in London on Wednesday. The 58-year-old actor, who had double box-office success this year with action thrillers Pathaan' and Jawaan', is currently preparing for the Christmas release of comedy drama Dunki'. Khan beat off tough competition to make it to the annual list published by UK weekly Eastern Eye' on Friday. By the time 2023 ends, King Khan will become the first leading man from the modern era to have three huge Bollywood blockbuster hits in a calendar year," said Eastern Eye' Entertainment Editor Asjad Nazir, who compiled the list. By drawing big audiences back into cinema halls with global juggernauts, the actor gave a movie industry in decline a much-needed boost and had a transformative effect. The history making superstar eclipsed everyone else with his brilliance and reminded global audiences what ...

Bangladesh to deploy Army to maintain order ahead of Jan 7 elections

Bangladesh Army said on Monday that it will deploy troops to maintain law and order as the country gears up for January 7 general elections that the opposition parties demand should be held under an interim non-partisan government. The Election Commission (EC) wants us (armed forces) to be deployed to stage a free and fair election in a healthy atmosphere. We ensured them of all-out support, the armed forces division's principal staff officer Lt Gen Wakar-uz-Zaman told a media briefing here. The announcement came after Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal and other commissioners met with concerned civil and military officials at the commission office. Zaman said the Army troops would be deployed across the country in aid of civil power for 13 days from December 29 and we will extend our support to the commission the way it wants. He said the armed forces deployment was not a new phenomenon as they were called out during past general elections as well but termed today's ...

Foreign policy no longer exists in the domain of elites: Milan Vaishnav

"Today, welfarism has become a necessary - but insufficient - condition to triumph in Indian elections"

Nepal 1st South Asian nation to officially register same-sex marriage

Five months after the Supreme Court legalised it, Nepal on Wednesday formally registered the first case of same-sex marriage, making it the first South Asian country to do so. Trans-woman Maya Gurung, 35 and Surendra Pandey, 27, a gay, got legally married and their marriage was registered at Dordi Rural Municipality of Lamjung district in Western Nepal, according to Sanjib Gurung (Pinky), president of Blue Diamond Society, an organization working for the rights and welfare of the sexual minorities in Nepal. Way back in 2007, Nepal's Supreme Court had allowed same-sex marriage. Even the Constitution of Nepal, adopted in 2015, explicitly states that there can be no discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. On June 27, 2023, the Supreme Court issued an interim order to legalise same-sex marriage in Nepal in a writ petition filed by multiple people, including Gurung. But despite the historic order to temporarily register same-sex marriage, Kathmandu District Court four months a

India to hold second Voice of Global South Summit virtually on Nov 17

The Global South refers to nations regarded as having a relatively low level of economic and industrial development, and are typically located to the south of more industrialised nations

Pak most vulnerable in South Asia to balance of payment crisis: Moody's

Pakistan and Sri Lanka have experienced significant BOP pressures because of very low exports and FDI, combined with much weaker policy management and higher political risk

Dubious agents running illicit UK visa trade in South Asia: Report

Dubious agents are operating an illicit visa appointments trade in South Asia, charging unsuspecting students and workers in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal exorbitant rates for a service that should be free, a UK media investigation has found. According to The Observer' newspaper on Sunday, brokers in some parts of South Asia are charging up to GBP 800 for biometric appointments being advertised on social media messaging services in these countries. The problem is believed to be the worst in Pakistan where the investigation found that the abuse of the visa appointment system by agents is feared to have increased significantly over the last year. "It is a massive issue. It all adds to the debt people pay to come to the UK," Rakesh Ranjan, South Asia coordinator for the migrant workers' programme at the UK-based Institute for Human Rights and Business, told the newspaper. When applying for a visa from New Delhi recently, Ranjan was quoted the equivalent of GBP 500 by an agent

India greatest trade partner in S Asia, will tap huge potential: Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said India is his country's greatest trade partner in South Asia and expressed confidence of tapping the huge potential of cooperation between the two countries. Addressing a press conference after the conclusion of the G20 leaders' summit, Erdogan also said that on the sidelines of the summit, he held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "India is our greatest trade partner in South Asia. And we will be able to tap the great potential of cooperation, primarily in the field of economy and many other sectors, after the election that took place in Turkiye earlier this year," he said. He also hailed the African Union becoming a member of the G20, saying it would revitalise the grouping.

Foxconn seeks to work with STMicro to build semiconductor factory in India

Foxconn Technology Group is teaming up with STMicroelectronics NV for a bid to build a semiconductor factory in India, seeking state backing to broaden its footprint in the South Asian country

Northeast Frontier Railway bags S Asia Award for 'Micro Project of Year'

The Northeast Frontier Railway on Saturday bagged the PMI South Asia Award for its 'Micro Project of the Year' that is, 'Intrusion Detection System' for saving elephant lives. The Intrusion Detection System (IDS) helps to detect elephants approaching the railway tracks and an alert is sent to the local pilot, station master, also station manager so the accident can be prevented.This marks the first-ever victory for a zonal railway under the Ministry of Railways since the inception of the award in 2009. This year, the NF Railway defeated BEL (Bharat Electronics) to bag this award.Last year, the micro category award was bagged by International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). Organisations like Bosch, IBM, L & T, Tata, SBI, Reliance, IOCL, BPCL, EIL, etc, participate in this prestigious annual award every year.Sabyasachi De, CPRO of NF Railway said, "For the 2023 awards, PMI South Asia took entry from organisations for projects completed by 31st March 2023. It has four gruelling

India is emerging as driving force in S Asia's maritime history: Sonowal

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday said that India is emerging as the "driving force" crafting the next chapter in South Asia's maritime history. The minister was addressing the Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS) 2023 roadshow in Goa through video link. "India is emerging as the driving force crafting the next chapter in South Asia's maritime history....This roadshow represents the strength of our cultural ties and joint determination to make a substantial regional influence, he said. Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shripad Naik was also present on the occasion. In line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat goals, GMIS 2023 fosters growth and business while staunchly supporting the government's vision, he added. Union minister Naik said that due to collaborative efforts, the Indian maritime landscape has undergone a transformative evolution. GMIS 2023 celebrates the convergence of technology, heightened infrastructure, ..

TN CM Stalin lays foundation stone for 400 MLD water desalination plant

The cutting-edge desalination process includes lamella clarifiers, a dissolved air flotation system, gravity dual media filters, reverse osmosis, and re-mineralization

China invites South Asian countries to be part of economic growth

China has urged South Asian countries to get on board its "express train" and receive a share of the dividends of its economic growth. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said this on Wednesday while addressing the opening ceremony of the 7th China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, the capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province. Wang, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs noted that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the expo and also the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the neighbourhood diplomacy featuring amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness - both proposed by President Xi Jinping. In the past decade, China and South Asian countries have consolidated solidarity and cooperation, advanced Belt and Road cooperation, deepened friendly exchanges and created a new chapter of China-South Asia friendship for the new era, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the ruling Communist Party of China Central Committee

Puneet Chandok appointed corporate VP of Microsoft India and South Asia

Tech giant Microsoft on Tuesday announced the appointment of Puneet Chandok as Corporate Vice President of Microsoft India and South Asia. Effective September 1, 2023, Chandok will assume the operational responsibilities from Anant Maheshwari, Microsoft said in a release. "Supported by a strong leadership team, Puneet will oversee the integration of Microsoft's businesses across South Asia, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, further boosting the company's presence in the region, while deepening its focus on key industries through a customer-centric approach with generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) at its core," it added.

Plus91 Labs acquires IT company Pixely to strengthen presence in S Asia

Cloud consulting and IT service provider Plus91Labs on Wednesday announced the acquisition of Pixely (Internet X Pte Ltd), which is specialized in tailored solutions for the Southeast Asian market. This strategic move aligns perfectly with Plus91Labs' long-term vision and growth strategy, enabling the company in expanding its service offerings and strengthening its presence in the region. The acquisition of Pixely brings valuable domain expertise and a deep understanding of the Southeast Asian market to Plus91Labs, the Gwalior-based company founded in 2017 said in a statement. With Pixely's founder Immanuel Gian at the helm, the company will continue to operate under its established brand name. Immanuel's industry experience and regional knowledge will be instrumental in driving Plus91Labs' expansion efforts and building strong relationships with clients in Southeast Asia, the statement said. "The acquisition of Pixely brings together a wealth of synergies and unique advantages fo