Author: Arif ArifArman

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Last month, as global leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Hiroshima for the G7 summit, China was hosting its inaugural ‘China-Central Asia Summit’ (C+C5) in Xi’an. At this summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasised the need to work together for a “China-Central Asia community with a shared future”. The Xi’an summit — which saw participation of heads of state of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan — was used by President Xi as an opportunity to “cement and boost its strategic cooperation with Central Asia,” said the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), a New Delhi-based think tank.…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Bhutan’s Queen Mother Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck virtually inaugurated Bhutan TSHAR Institute in Kalapang Gewog of Bhutan’s Monggar district on Sunday, The Bhutan Live reported. The institute has been established by Tarayana Foundation as part of the project “Promoting Integrated Bamboo-Based Enterprises Development among SAARC Countries,” The Bhutan Live reported. The institute has been funded by the SAARC Development Fund and it aims to provide livelihood opportunities for bamboo artisans, farmers, youth, and rural communities in Bhutan. The institute will offer training and employment prospects in the bamboo industry, with a focus on youth, women, artisans, and farmers. It…

INERNATIONAL DESK: Bangladesh, following India’s footsteps, has decided to import fertilisers from Russia, which is among the world’s top fertilizer producers. The Sheikh Hasina government has signed a deal to import 180,000 tons of muriate of potash from Russia for the year 2023-24. Bangladesh needs 750,000 tons of fertilizers annually. The deal was recently signed in Moscow between the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) and Russian Prodintorg. The Western sanctions on Russia, created difficulties for countries like Bangladesh that depend on imports of fertilizers and agricultural goods from Russia, Dhaka-based sources said. In the past Bangladesh procured 300,000 tons of…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: After having sent 40,000 MT of wheat to the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan through the land border with Pakistan, the government will provide another 20,000 MT of the grain via Iran’s Chabahar port to the landlocked country grappling with food insecurity. The first tranche of 2,500 MT of wheat sent through the Chabahar port is expected to arrive in Herat this week, according to Taliban authorities. This is the first consignment of food aid sent to Afghanistan by India this year. In a landmark decision, and a peace outreach to the Taliban that seems to have served India well, the…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: G20 delegates from Brazil, Germany, Japan, Indonesia and China on Sunday arrived at the Varanasi Airport to participate in the G20 Development Ministers’ Meeting scheduled to be held from June 11-13. Awadh’s Faruwahi dance and Kashi Vishwanath Damru Vadan Samiti gave a grand welcome to the foreign guests at the airport. The foreign guests also performed Damru Vadan and Indian dance at the airport. Among those who arrived were Australian politician Patrick Conroy, Brazil’s Ambassador to India Mauricio Lyrio, European commissioner for International partnerships Jutta Urpilainen, German minister for economic cooperation and development Svenja Schulze, Japanese Minister Shunsuke…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Former president Donald Trump used the first public appearance since his federal indictment to ratchet up attacks on the Justice Department, accusing prosecutors, without evidence, of a politically motivated campaign to keep him from the White House. Speaking on Saturday at Georgia’s state Republican convention, Trump alleged that president Joe Biden, a Democrat, orchestrated the criminal charges in order to undermine his main political rival’s presidential campaign, as well as to distract from federal and congressional investigations into Biden’s son. There is no evidence to support Trump’s allegations. The Justice Department maintains that all its investigative decisions are…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: India with 89.5 million digital transactions in the year 2022 has topped the list of five countries in digital payments, according to data from MyGovIndia. As per the data, India in the year 2022 accounting for 46 per cent of the global real-time payments, adding that the digital payment transactions in India is more than the other four leading countries combined. India keeps dominating the digital payment landscape! With innovative solutions and widespread adoption, we’re leading the way towards a cashless economy. #9YearsOfTechForGrowth #9YearsOfSeva@GoI_MeitY@AshwiniVaishnaw@Rajeev_GoI@alkesh12sharma @_DigitalIndia,” tweeted MyGovIndia. mygovindia/status/1667207266888740864?s=48&t=Fh1PdKQvAKBIi_60UwQvcA” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>https://twitter.com/mygovindia/status/1667207266888740864?s=48&t=Fh1PdKQvAKBIi_60UwQvcA Second, on the list is Brazil which amounted…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Through innovative and dynamic processes, women in Kashmir are excelling in almost every sphere. Women across the valley are showing interest in becoming economically independent and coming up with their own unique ideas of becoming entrepreneurs. The story of two young women Huzaifa Bazaz and Arifa Jan indeed provides us with the opportunity to recognise and appreciate the contributions made by women of Kashmir in all disciplines. Huzaifa Bazaz, a young entrepreneur and MBA graduate from Srinagar has started an online shopping portal with her friends and her online venture is not just a business but rather an…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Pakistan’s multiple crises have become the breeding ground for heightened faith-driven terror attacks, marking a 73 per cent rise in incidents and casualties since August 2021, according to security experts within and outside the country. Pakistani analyst Imtiaz Gul, Executive Director of the Center for Research and Security Studies, Islamabad, wrote for East Asia Forum in March that terrorist attacks peaked in 2013, averaging just under four attacks a day, with nearly 2700 total fatalities. The latest trends suggest that 2023 may be worse, with almost 200 terror-related incidents and at least 340 fatalities by March. The trend…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Sirajul Islam, a visionary farmer, has cultivated a breathtaking mango orchard in Tripura’s Udaipur under Gomati district, captivating all who lay eyes on it. Spanning a vast area along the enchanting Gomati River, this mango garden stands as a testament to nature’s beauty and agricultural prowess. Unparalleled in size within the region, Sirajul Islam’s mango orchard has become a symbol of wealth and admiration. During a conversation with the media, Sirajul Islam revealed that his garden is located in the Jamjuri Panchayat area of Kakraban Block in Udaipur, with his residence conveniently adjacent to the Jamjuri Railway Station.…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Saturday emphasized the state government’s commitment to promote an environment of ‘Jan Bhagidari’ and ‘Jan Samvad’ that encourages active participation from civil societies. During his address at the inaugural session of the C20 summit, Khandu acknowledged the invaluable contributions of civil societies, including their expertise, local knowledge, and community-driven initiatives, towards inclusive and sustainable development. He praised the C20 summit as an exceptional platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collaboration among civil society organizations worldwide, with the shared vision of promoting social and economic development, ensuring that no one is left behind. “In…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi aspires to turn India into a Vishwaguru, or ‘teacher to the world’. In a little over a decade India has built a collection of public-facing digital platforms that have transformed its citizens’ lives, according to the Economist. Once known as the ‘India Stack’, they have been rebranded ‘Digital Public Infrastructure’ (DPI) as the number and ambition of the platforms have grown. It is this DPI that India hopes to export–and in the process build its economy and influence, reports The Economist. It said it is India’s low-cost, software-based version of China’s infrastructure-led Belt and…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be back in Delhi on Wednesday after nearly a week abroad in Hiroshima, Port Moresby and Sydney, during which time he met some of the world’s most powerful leaders, as well as those from among its smallest nations. But what has seemed remarkable during this trip is the charm offensive undertaken by several of these heads of State and government towards Modi – as if they’ve come to the conclusion that in the shifting world order, he and India deserve more than their grudging respect. Why the West wants to know Modi Let’s…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called upon the Qatar University students to be the change-makers being remained focus on vision having the mentality to embrace the new and future. “Lead by example and be the change-maker,” she said while addressing a session with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the students of Qatar University on theme titled “Bangladesh: a development model: Learning from Sheikh Hasina.” The Premier, who is now on a three-day official visit to Doha to attend the Qatar Economic Forum-2023, told the students, “To represent a value, remaining focused on your vision and make concrete plans…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: US cotton can now arrive here in Bangladesh without fumigation at the port of entry, saving Bangladeshi importers millions of dollars and five days of waiting. This action, effective from May 16, follows a successful November 2022 visit to the United States by a technical delegation from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Agriculture, said the US Embassy in Dhaka on Monday. The delegation verified that U.S. cotton production and pest management strategies, followed by cotton processing techniques—ginning, lint cleaning, and bale compression—that remove any risk of boll weevil in U.S. cotton. Bangladesh is the second largest global importer of cotton,…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The specter of a potential default looms large over Pakistan’s already fragile economy, as hopes for the revival of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan program fade. The consequences of a default would be dire, with hyperinflation, a significant devaluation of the rupee, a near-halt in imports, the closure of more factories, a spike in unemployment, and the potential for social and political unrest. Economic indicators have already worsened, signaling the deepening crisis the country currently faces. The local financial system, particularly commercial banks, would face headwinds as they have heavily financed the cash-strapped government in recent years.…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: All eyes are on the 3rd G20 Tourism Working Group (TWG) meeting which is being held in Srinagar for the first time for the world to witness and experience the picturesque region of Jammu and Kashmir. Actor Ram Charan attended the meeting on Monday and shared his experience of shooting in this beautiful place. During the film Tourism for Economic Growth and Cultural Preservation discussion at the event, the ‘RRR’ star stated, “Kashmir is that kind of a place, I have been coming here because my dad (Chiranjeevi) is in the same industry. He has been working as…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Minister of State for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid today said the potential gas reserves at Shahzadpur, Bhola North and Ilisha gas fields will be 2.23 TCF as per the geological data and Drill Stem Test (DST) report. “Referring to the report about 200 billion cubic feet (BCF) gas is reserved at Elisha-1 well in Bhola. It is a big good news for the people of the country,” he told journalists at his official residence. The state minister said the average gas production rate will be 20 million cubic feet (mmcfd) per day from Elisha-1 well,…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The City of Parramatta Council in Sydney, New South Wales, has elected Councillor Sameer Pandey as its new Lord Mayor. Cr Pandey, who represents the Parramatta Ward, is the City’s first Lord Mayor of Indian origin. He was first elected to the City of Parramatta Council in September 2017, and elected as Deputy Lord Mayor in January 2022. Cr Pandey, who has a background in IT, has a lot of work on his hand particularly major projects such as the aquatic centre, town hall and Riverside Theatre redevelopments. In a statement, Cr Pandey said it was a privilege…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Saudi Arabian Ambassador in Dhaka Essa Yousef Essa Alduhailan paid a courtesy call on President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban here this noon. “During the meeting, the President said Bangladesh’s relationship with Saudi Arabia is very excellent…,” President’s press secretary Md Joynal Abedin told BSS later. The Head of the State thanked the Saudi government for facilitating the Hajj process for Bangladeshis and launching e-visa. Noting that Saudi Arabia is the biggest destination for the export of Bangladesh’s manpower, President Shahabuddin said Bangladeshi expatriates in Saudi Arabia are playing an important role in the economic development of both countries.…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: The United States has said that they maintain a “broad and deep” relationship with Bangladesh, and that they also want to advance the ties. “The United States maintains a broad and deep relationship with Bangladesh that we seek to advance,” an official at the US Embassy in Dhaka told UNB. The response came when the US Embassy’s attention was drawn to a media report that claims more US sanctions could be coming. (UNB)

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Chinese police detained a woman for posting online in support of the comedian who was punished for making a joke that authorities said insulted the Chinese military. According to state media, the 34-year-old woman, reportedly surnamed Shi, admitted to police that she had posted “inappropriate” comments about Chinese soldiers. Shi’s post was in reaction to the stiff punishment delivered to Li Haoshi, also known as House, over a joke about two dogs chasing a squirrel reminding him of one of Xi Jinping’s military slogan. After an audio recording of the joke went viral, Beijing police launched an investigation…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Describing Kashmir as the “paradise on earth” as he praised the beauty of the Union Territory, Arab influencer Amjad Taha said that this is India, and this is Kashmir where the G20 will take place. Known as “paradise on Earth,” it’s a place that has protected the Earth and may be the answer to climate change, the influencer wrote on Twitter. “This is not Switzerland or Austria; this is India, and this is Kashmir where the G20 will take place. It’s called the ‘paradise on Earth,’ a place that has preserved the Earth and can be the solution…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Amid China’s military expansion in the South China Sea and the East China Sea Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India stands for respecting sovereignty, peaceful resolution of disputes, and adherence to international law. “India stands for respecting sovereignty, peaceful resolution of disputes, and adherence to international law,” PM Modi said in an interview with Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun during his visit to Hiroshima to attend the Group of Seven (G7) summit. PM Modi was responding to a question by the Japanese publication on how India plans to address China’s military expansion in the South China Sea…