Highlights from the local media of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka |
September 23rd, 2015 | Volume: 1 - 17/9 |
BANGLADESH Power trading a solution to South Asia crunch: Asian Development BankThe Daily Star | 22nd September Cross-border power trading can help South Asian countries meet their demand for electricity and save billions of dollars, the Asian Development Bank has said. India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will enjoy a total benefit of over $4 billion annually from just six interconnections between them, for a cost less than one tenth of that amount, the ADB found in a study that analysed six projects. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina sees no chance of radicalisation BSS / Prothom Alo | 21st September "Radicalisation doesn't affect much Bangladesh as it is a secular country. Our intelligence and law enforcement agencies are very active to offset its impact," the Prime Minister said. Bangladesh and South-East Asian connectivity – Opinion The Financial Express | 23rd September There is little scope for Bangladesh in near future to get access to Thailand and other South-East Asian countries through the short route over Myanmar as road connectivity from Chittagong to Yangon is a distant dream. Sea route is, however, viable and good opportunity is also there to make it vibrant within a short period, according to an opinion published in The Financial Express. BHUTAN KUENSEL | 22nd September Bhutan would harness only about 5,000MW of electricity by 2021, half the target the country had earlier pursued to achieve by 2020. In an interview President Paranb Mukherjee had said that the 10 Indian-assisted projects in Bhutan, which include the three existing, three ongoing and four joint venture model hydroelectric projects would provide 6,476MW by around 2022. By then, it was confirmed that the 10,000MW target by 2020 was unachievable and that the target needed to be reviewed. Mutual discussions between Bhutan and GoI for huge hydropower projects under the 10,000MW target like Kurigongri, Sunkosh and Amochu are happening as well but the detailed project reports are yet to be finalised. GoI had earlier indicated that lack of fund might impede the progress of these JV projects. USD 95,000 seized at airport, four arrested KUENSEL | 22nd September In the largest foreign currency bust at Paro international airport, around Nu 6.3 million or a little more than USD 95,000 worth of foreign currencies were seized from four Bangkok-bound Bhutanese men on Saturday.Regulations require that travellers declare to customs if they are carrying foreign currencies equivalent or beyond USD 10,000 prior to departure or on arrival. The four, said to be businessmen, claimed to be taking the money for purposes like shopping, medical treatment, and education. MALDIVES More than 2000 people are expected to participate in a week-long series of activities aimed at increasing public awareness about democracy, Elections Commission announced on Tuesday. “We too have a responsibility in the efforts being undertaken by various stakeholders to consolidate our democracy. One important part of those efforts should be increasing public awareness,” Commissioner Ahmed Akram said, during the press conference at the commission’s secretariat. Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services: Tidal flooding likely in Maldives from 25 to 30 Sept Sun Online | 22nd September The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has issued an alert warning for tidal flooding from 25 to 30 September 2015 in connection with the perigean spring tide, also called Supermoon or King Tide, of 28 September 2015. The authority said that since the tidal range would be higher than that seen during the normal spring tides, there could be flooding during the flood tide, as well as retreat of the water level further offshore during the ebb tide. PAKISTAN Pakistani PM leaves for US to attend 70th UNGA sessionDawn| 22th September Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif departed on Tuesday for the United States (US) to attend the 70th Session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Key promotions, postings and transfers in Pakistan Army The News International| 22th September Four serving Major-Generals of the Pakistan Army have been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, the military's PR wing Inter-Services Public Relations announced on Tuesday. Dialogue process to be reinitiated after Eid: Balochistan CM Abdul Malik Baloch Pakistan Observer| 22th September Chief Minister of Balochistan Abdul Malik Baloch on Monday hinted at reinitiating the dialogue process after Eidul Azha with exiled and disgruntled Baloch leaders to bring an end to unrest in the country’s largest province. Pakistan’s ISIS dilemma – OpinionThe Nation| 22th September On a recent visit to Pakistan, Susan Rice held talks with Pakistani officials on a broad range of topics, including ‘Sahel to South Asia’ - a military alliance currently under development for the purpose of fighting ISIS. SRI LANKA PM Ranil Wickresmsinghe confident of China, Russia, India supportColombo Gazette | 22nd September Prime Minister Ranil Wickresmsinghe briefed Parliament on the latest developments taking place in Geneva with regards to Sri Lanka and said that he had urged the United States to obtain the support of all countries for the resolution which will be tabled this week. India and Sri Lanka agree to expand defence ties Colombo Gazette | 22nd September At the invitation of the Defence Secretary of India, Shri G Mohan Kumar, Defence Ministry Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi undertook an official visit to India yesterday with a view of participating at the 3rd Indo – Sri Lanka Defence Dialogue held in New Delhi. Hundreds arrested in India during Lanka protests Colombo Gazette | 22nd September The Indian police have arrested hundreds of cadre of the Tamilaga Valvurimai Katchi (TVK) when they attempted to picket the trains in Salem city and two other centres in the district in Tamil Nadu yesterday demanding an international probe into the alleged massacre of innocent Tamils during the military offensive by the Sri Lankan Government in 2009. Sri Lanka Navy arrests 15 Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters Colombo Page | 22nd September Sri Lanka Navy said it assisted the Coast Guard to arrest the Indian fishermen along with two Indian steel fishing trawlers poaching in Sri Lankan waters in the seas North-East of Point Pedro on 21st September 2015. Germany will be a reliable partner of Sri Lankan people - German Foreign Minister Colombo Page | 22nd September Germany is ready to assist Sri Lanka to deal with its painful past and to open a fresh chapter in the history of the country, visiting German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said. Sri Lanka, Germany agree to prioritize close economic cooperation Colombo Page | 22nd September The two countries agreed to have regular high level interactions and find ways to take the "close and friendly relations" to greater heights when the visiting German Foreign Minister Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier met with his Sri Lankan counterpart Minister Mangala Samaraweera at the Foreign Ministry. Sri Lanka to host 'Galle Dialogue' International Maritime Conference in November Colombo Page | 22nd September The Galle Dialogue 2015 International Maritime Conference is scheduled to be held from 23rd to 24th November 2015 at the Lighthouse Hotel in the port city of Galle. The "Galle Dialogue" initiative, inaugurated in 2010, created a forum to discuss and exchange views on regional maritime security concerns. Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa tells government to reject the OHCHR report Colombo Page | 22nd September In a statement to media, the former President and current parliamentarian said his government did not cooperate with the OHCHR investigation for many reasons, mostly because it was instituted outside the established procedure of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Ceylon Chamber and Beijing Chamber sign MOU to promote trade Colombo Page | 22nd September The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the Beijing Chamber of International Commerce on September 21 signed an MOU to work together to promote trade and commercial ties between the two countries. |
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