Author: Arif ArifArman

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The prospect of hosting a G20 summit in Jammu and Kashmir presents unparalleled opportunities for the region, instilling hope for renewed stability and prosperity. The G20, an international forum comprising of 20 major economies, focuses on policy discussions and financial stability. The G20 countries, which are the world’s largest economies, collectively account for a significant share of the world economy. According to the World Bank data for the year 2020, the G20 countries had a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of approximately USD 82.8 trillion, which represents around 74 per cent of the world’s total GDP of approximately…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Pakistan in 2022 remained among the world’s worst performers in terms of internet access and digital governance, according to a report released on Monday. Titled “Pakistan’s Internet Landscape 2022”, the report was released by Bytes For All – a human rights and advocacy organisation which explores in detail the relationship between human rights and information and communication technologies in Pakistan last year. “In terms of internet access and overall governance, Pakistan made some gains, but in the context of the world, the country remains among the worst performers, even within just Asia,” according to the report. It highlights…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: In a major development, the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir has brought transparency into the region’s financial system and led to the growth in the economy. After August 5, 2019, the move, which saw the special status of J-K being scrapped and the region bifurcated it into two Union Territories, has brought about unprecedented transparency in governance. Under the new system, the government procurement, recruitment, spending of its resources, taxation or deployment of resources are all available online 24×7, making the entire process more transparent. The reforms have ensured that every rupee spent on the…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Bhutan and Bangladesh are close to sign a Memorandum of Understanding( MoU) on cooperation in hydropower between the two neighbouring countries. Ambassador of Bhutan Rinchen Keuntsy said this during a courtesy meeting with President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban on Tuesday. Press secretary to the president Joynal Abedin briefed reporters after the meeting. President Shahabuddin said signing a bilateral MoU on cooperation in hydropower will strengthen the relationship between the two countries. The president recalled the unwavering support of the people of Bhutan during Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. He said Dhaka gives special importance to the relationship with…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The Pakistani Zaireen (pilgrims), accompanied by Charge d’Affaires Salman Sharif, visited the shrine of Hazrat Amir Khusro (RA) in New Delhi on Monday and laid the traditional chaddar on behalf of the Government and people of Pakistan. A group of 104 Pakistani pilgrims is visiting New Delhi to participate in the 719th Urs of Hazrat Amir Khusro. The Charge d’Affaires and the Pakistani pilgrims were welcomed at the Dargah by Sajjadah Nasheen Dewan Tahir Nizami. Other members of the Dargah Committee were also present on the occasion. After laying the traditional chaddar at Hazrat Amir Khusro’s shrine, the…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The J-K Students Association thanked the Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha-led government for safely evacuating the students who were stranded in violence-hit Manipur. In a statement, the association’s national convenor, Nasir Kahuihami, thanked the Jammu and Kashmir administrations for facilitating the evacuation of Kashmiri students from Manipur, which is grappling with violence and unrest. Kahuihami acknowledged that all the students from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir who were studying in Manipur and were stranded due to the escalating violence have safely returned to their home country J-KUT via flights. He praised both the J-K and Manipur authorities…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Chinese police have detained a man for allegedly generating fake news of a train crash and disseminating it online using artificial intelligence technology to “concoct information” and post it on multiple accounts, in what was reported to be China’s first arrest for misuse of ChatGPT. Police in northwestern Gansu province said in a statement on Sunday that a suspect surnamed Hong had been detained for “using artificial intelligence technology to concoct false and untrue information”. The case first caught the attention of the cyber division of a county police bureau when they spotted a fake news article that…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Arsht-Rock, a Washington-based non-profit, has confirmed the appointment of social entrepreneur Bushra Afreen as its chief heat officer who will work in Dhaka North City Corporation area but will not draw any salary from it. “No DNCC funding will go to Ms. Afreen,” a spokesperson at Arsht-Rock told UNB in reply to an e-mail on Monday, noting that Arsht-Rock appointed Bushra to be chief heat officer and have chosen Dhaka North as the first city in Asia for extreme heat management intervention. Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center (Arsht-Rock)  set out to reach one billion people worldwide with resilience…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Jammu and Kashmir is set to become prime destination for the film industry as the government has identified around 300 unexplored destinations for film shootings. The Union Territory government and Tourism Department have taken this initiative to promote the beauty of Jammu and Kashmir, which was once a prime destination for filmmakers during the 1960s and 1970s. With the revival of film tourism in the state, J-K aims to attract production houses and filmmakers to shoot their movies, web series, and serials in the state. “We are projecting 300 destinations for film shooting so that the production houses…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Bhutanese contemporary art is now finding a place on the international stage with exhibitions of several Bhutanese artists being held in Europe last year and in Taiwan, this year, The Bhutan Live reported. According to The Bhutan Live, the three Bhutanese artists, including Bhutan’s foremost contemporary artist, Kama Wangdi, who is popularly known as Asha Kama, opened their solo exhibitions in Taiwan recently. 65-year-old Kama Wangdi’s solo art exhibition titled “Sacred Present” is ongoing at the Dr Sun Yat Sen National Memorial Hall in Taipei. It will end on Wednesday, according to The Bhutan Live. His exhibition includes…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen has said his country is encouraged to see Bangladesh’s rapid development, noting that the South Asian country will see further progress as it has a “strong leader” like Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “Our final objective is common development,” he said, adding that Bangladesh is already a model for many countries in the world in terms of development. Ambassador Yao was speaking at the pre-departure reception on Sunday evening in honour of the Bangladeshi participants attending 2023 Chinese government training programmes. He said the participants of the first batch of the training are…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: In recent years, the Kashmir valley has witnessed an unprecedented rise in tourism, thanks to the scenic beauty and the culture of the region. However, the people of Kashmir have always hoped for more. With the news of a G20 tourism working group meeting to be held between May 22 and 24 in Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, the people of the region are ecstatic. They hope that the meeting will bring about more employment opportunities and help in the development of the region The G20 meeting is a platform for the world’s largest economies to…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Australia strongly supports India’s G-20 presidency because of its understanding of the need to deliver equitable, sustainable growth across the world, High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell said on Monday. In an interview with ANI, Farrell said, “Why the G-20 is so important this year and one of the reasons that Australia so strongly supports India’s G-20 presidency is because of its understanding of the need to deliver equitable, sustainable growth across the world.” “And India’s focus on sustainable development goals as part of its G-20 presidency is something that Australia welcomes, something that Australia is working hard…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Surrounded by rolling hills at the head of the Khangchendzonga National Park, the maiden edition of the Sikkim Arts and Literature Festival (SALF) started in the tranquil Yuksom village with calls for world peace and promoting the state’s culture. Organised by the state government and Teamwork Arts at the historical site Norbugang, the festival will see discussions on wide-ranging topics, including climate change, wildlife conservation, history, culture and ethnicity, poetry, architecture, folklore, mental health and writings from the northeast. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony on Saturday, Sikkim’s education minister Kunga Nima Lepcha said art and literature can unite…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: The visiting team of International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said that despite many challenges, Bangladesh’s growth is progressive. In a statement released on Sunday, Rahul Anand, IMF Mission Chief for Bangladesh, said: “Against a challenging economic backdrop, Bangladesh remains one of the fastest growing economies in the Asia-Pacific region. However, persistent inflationary pressures, elevated volatility of global financial conditions, and slowdown in major advanced trading partners continue to weigh on growth, foreign currency reserves, and the Taka.” The team led by Anand arrived in Dhaka on April 25 to discuss recent macroeconomic and financial sector developments. The delegation…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The government and people are equally participating in the preparations to host the G20 tourism working group meeting in Srinagar on May 23 and 24, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, a report said. Preparations are in full swing. Efforts are being made to bring Srinagar into the centre stage as a global city, and to welcome international delegates. According to the report, residents of Srinagar are supporting all the efforts of the government to revamp the city. “Despite facing hardships due to ongoing development works they are not complaining. People are cooperating as they have understood…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: A fresh coat of yellow paint, newly done seat cushions, and a fresh supply of the latest-design silver trinkets. For Rafiq, the last two weeks have been hectic as he prepares, in excited anticipation, to welcome the masses expected to descend to Jammu & Kashmir’s capital Srinagar for the first international meet in decades. He is not the only one. The entire city, known for its lakes and gardens, is abuzz with activity and excitement. Shikaras and houseboats are being spruced up. Paper mâché handicraft sellers on the lake are frantically loading up supplies, and eateries stocking up…

Tahir Majeed: As a citizen of Kashmir Valley, I have been closely following the developments in respect with the preparations of G2O Presidency in Kashmir, and I am convinced that it can bring about significant benefits to the region. The G2O Presidency is a platform for global economic cooperation, and its focus on promoting economic growth, political stability, and environmental sustainability makes it an ideal partner for the region. In this article, I will discuss the multi-faceted advantages of G2O Presidency in Kashmir. The G2O Presidency is a platform for global economic cooperation, bringing together the world’s largest economies to…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Ambassador of China to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Saturday (May 06, 2023) said Bangladesh and China “should deepen the strategic partnership” for cooperation and explore new growth points. “China is willing to work with Bangladesh to continue exploring cooperation opportunities under the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI),” he said. In particular, the ambassador said, they are willing to promote upgrading of industries and digitalization process in Bangladesh, and to improve the quality and competitiveness of “Made in Bangladesh”. He was delivering keynote speech at a symposium as part…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The death toll in the Manipur carnage increased to 54, officials said even as unofficial sources put the figure at several scores. Life returned to a wary normalcy in Imphal Valley on Saturday as shops and markets reopened and cars started plying on the roads. Security presence which has been bolstered by flying in more army troops and rapid action force and central police forces was clearly visible at all major areas and roads. Manipur Violence: Situation Improved After Security Forces Intervention, Says State DGP P Doungel (Watch Video). Most shops and markets in Imphal town and other…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: The latest report of the Internal Monetary Fund (IMF) on Asia-Pacific region forecasts that Bangladesh’s GDP growth rate in the current fiscal year will overtake that of China. The report also predicts that Bangladesh will be in second place, after Vietnam, in terms of GDP growth rate in Asia-Pacific in the next fiscal year. According to the IMF’s Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and Pacific May 2023 report, Bangladesh is expected to surpass both China and India in terms of growth in 2024. In Bangladesh, GDP growth rate will slow down to 5.5 percent in 2023 because of…

Sajid Yousuf Shah: The Group of Twenty (G20) is now “the premier forum for international economic cooperation.” The G20 comprises 19 countries and the European Union. Founded in 1999 and upgraded after the 2007-08 financial crisis, “it plays an important role in shaping and strengthening global architecture and governance on all major international economic issues.” Most in the US and many in the West are unaware that India holds the presidency of the G20 from 1 December 2022 to 30 November 2023. This is a matter of great importance for a diverse democracy of over 1.4 billion people. Kristalina Georgieva,…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The Chinese surveillance balloon that the United States blew up earlier this year may have kicked off, at least from China’s point of view, a new superpower competition in ‘near space’. That’s a part of airspace 60,000 to 330,000 feet from the ground, just before the beginning of outer space — and historically overlooked by militaries, until recently. Satellite data company BlackSky has information using which researchers claim to have located a massive hangar in a remote area of Xinjiang, China which looked like the infrastructure needed to deploy some kind of lighter-than-air vehicle. This collection of buildings…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: This morning His Holiness the Dalai Lama attended a gathering in the Tsuglagkhang courtyard to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch (BTSM), a pan-Indian Tibet support group. He was met at the gate to his residence by Dr Indresh Kumar, Chief Patron of the organisation, and then stood for a moment while photographs were taken of members with him. As part of an Indian welcome His Holiness was presented with flowers and a lamp, and offered a tilak on his forehead. He was then given a traditional Tibetan welcome that included…