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Page 2 - South Asia

Sri Lanka set to go for prez election on Sept 21, puts end to speculations

The presidential election in Sri Lanka is to take place on September 21, the independent elections commission announced today. The announcement ended months long speculation that the election would be postponed to extend the term of the incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe. The government gazette no 2394/51 issued today said in terms of article 31 (3) of the constitution the election would take place on September 21 while the nominations would be accepted on August 15. The election announcement set to end the balance term of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was ousted mid 2022 in a popular public uprising. Rajapaksa had been elected with a record near 7 million votes in November 2019 when the last presidential election was held. Tens of thousands who got into the streets early 2022 demanded Rajapaksa to step down for his failure to tackle the island's gravest economic crisis since 1948. Rajapaksa was forced to flee the country on July 9, 2022 and incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe who was

Sri Lanka set to go for prez election on Sept 21, puts end to speculations
Updated On : 26 Jul 2024 | 9:26 AM IST

The China challenge

From a military standpoint, while the regional rivalry is not insignificant, it is the territorial contestation that is more important at the moment

The China challenge
Updated On : 25 Jul 2024 | 11:58 PM IST

What Usha Vance's rise means to other South Asian, Hindu Americans

Usha Chilukuri Vance, entered the spotlight this week as the wife of JD Vance, former President Trump's running mate in the 2024 presidential election. Her rise comes at a time when, across the aisle, there's another prominent figure of South Asian descent: Vice President Kamala Harris, the nation's first woman and person of colour in her role. During its primaries, the Republican Party also saw increased South Asian representation with presidential candidates including Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley and Tulsi Gabbard. Some Indian American political empowerment groups say they're glad there's more representation. Still, they don't think Usha Vance's rise to prominence will sway more liberal South Asian American voters. Others say what needs to be examined is how the GOP responds to hate speech made about her religious identity. On Wednesday, Usha Vance introduced her husband, Ohio's junior senator, at the Republican National Convention by talking about their relationship. "I grew up

What Usha Vance's rise means to other South Asian, Hindu Americans
Updated On : 20 Jul 2024 | 7:02 AM IST

LNG imports set to slump as monsoon hits power demand: S&P analyst

The South Asian nation bought some 2.6 million tons of the fuel last month, its highest since October 2020, according to Kpler data

LNG imports set to slump as monsoon hits power demand: S&P analyst
Updated On : 04 Jul 2024 | 5:05 PM IST

Nepali Congress & CPN-UML strike deal to oust Prachanda, form new alliance

The two leaders tentatively agreed to form a new government, amend the Constitution, and work out a power-sharing formula

Nepali Congress & CPN-UML strike deal to oust Prachanda, form new alliance
Updated On : 02 Jul 2024 | 11:46 AM IST

8 Nepal ministers from CPN-UML in Dahal-government set to resign today

The latest change in the government in less than 100 days of its formation on March 4 comes amid a new agreement that was struck at midnight in between KP Sharma Oli and Sher Bahadur Deuba

8 Nepal ministers from CPN-UML in Dahal-government set to resign today
Updated On : 02 Jul 2024 | 9:57 AM IST

Sri Lanka likely to sign bilateral debt agreements: Foreign minister

The South Asian island nation defaulted on its foreign debt in May 2022 after its economy was driven to the brink by a severe fall in foreign exchange reserves

Sri Lanka likely to sign bilateral debt agreements: Foreign minister
Updated On : 25 Jun 2024 | 11:15 AM IST

PM Modi, French President discuss ways to further strengthen partnership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met French President Emmanuel Macron and believed to have discussed ways to further bolster the bilateral ties and exchanged views on global issues. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the G7 summit here in the southern resort town of Italy. It is Prime Minister Modi's first foreign trip after assuming office for a third time this month. The two leaders last met in January when the French President visited India to attend the 75th Republic Day of India. During their last meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed their shared vision for bilateral cooperation and international partnership, outlined in Horizon 2047 and other documents from the July 2023 Summit. Horizon 2047 Roadmap sets an ambitious and broad-ranging course for the bilateral relationship for 2047, the centenary year of India's independence.

PM Modi, French President discuss ways to further strengthen partnership
Updated On : 14 Jun 2024 | 4:30 PM IST

Akasa on path to profitability; will launch more int'l flights: Co-founder

Akasa Air is well on the path to profitability and will fly to more international destinations, including in South Asia and Southeast Asia, according to its Co-Founder Aditya Ghosh. In less than two years of taking to the skies, Akasa Air has a fleet of 24 planes and has more than 4,000 employees. In an interview to PTI in the national capital, Ghosh, who has donned multiple and diverse roles during his career, said that airlines are becoming more of a consumption story in India. "We will increasingly see it as consumer-focused businesses where the learnings which are there from ecommerce companies will help us address the needs and behaviour of consumers better in the transportation business," he said. Among other roles, he had served as IndiGo's President and Whole Time Director for ten years till 2018. When a customer-focused and employee-centric organisation is being built, it is also important to build a financially sustainable business, Ghosh said and emphasised that Akasa A

Akasa on path to profitability; will launch more int'l flights: Co-founder
Updated On : 09 Jun 2024 | 10:42 PM IST

Modi good not just for India but for S Asia: Pakistani-American businessman

Prime Minister Narendra Modi guarantees stability not only in India but in the entire South Asia region, a prominent Pakistani American businessman said Friday as he congratulated the people of India on the peaceful and successful conduct of the world's largest democratic exercise. I have always said that Modi's leadership is necessary for India's future stability, preventing multiple parties from coming and destabilizing the constitution. Modi's leadership is a guarantee of India's stability and future of India, Pakistani-American businessman Sajid Tarar told PTI in an interview. With Modi coming to power for a third term, people in Pakistan hope that this will result in an improvement in its relationship with India, he said. Responding to a question, Tarar said he was expecting that Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would participate in the swearing-in ceremony of Modi and added that it was "disappointing" that so far there has been no congratulatory message from him. ...Mod

Modi good not just for India but for S Asia: Pakistani-American businessman
Updated On : 08 Jun 2024 | 8:48 AM IST

India rises to 39th position in WEF index for travel, tourism development

Country top performer in South Asia and among the lower-middle-income nations

India rises to 39th position in WEF index for travel, tourism development
Updated On : 21 May 2024 | 5:17 PM IST

India set to cross 1800 MW in data centre capacity by 2026: CBRE report

Report adds that India has highest DC capacity among major APAC countries, likely to add another 850 MW in next 2 years

India set to cross 1800 MW in data centre capacity by 2026: CBRE report
Updated On : 15 May 2024 | 10:18 PM IST

Manipur violence accounted for 97% of displacements in South Asia in 2023

Conflict and violence triggered 69,000 displacements in South Asia in 2023, with Manipur violence alone accounting for 67,000, according to a new report. The report by the Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) termed it the highest number of displacements triggered by conflict and violence in India since 2018. On May 3, 2023, a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in Manipur's hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The march led to ethnic clashes between the Meitei and the Kuki communities, ultimately claiming more than 200 lives. The Manipur High Court had in March last year called for recommendations to be sent to the central government to recognise the Meitei community as a "scheduled tribe," an official status designed to protect minorities from marginalisation. The call was met with resistance from other local scheduled tribes, including the Kukis. Land disputes were also an underlying driver o

Manipur violence accounted for 97% of displacements in South Asia in 2023
Updated On : 15 May 2024 | 2:09 PM IST

Asian shares at 15-mth high on rate cut bets; RBA seen turning hawkish

Japan's Nikkei gained 1.3% and S&P 500 futures were steady after the cash index logged a 1 per cent rise overnight

Asian shares at 15-mth high on rate cut bets; RBA seen turning hawkish
Updated On : 07 May 2024 | 9:33 AM IST

Rains, floods claim 14 lives in Afghanistan, cause widespread destruction

Due to incessant rainfall, the residents in many regions have reported major financial losses, which they have to bear as a result of the floods

Rains, floods claim 14 lives in Afghanistan, cause widespread destruction
Updated On : 06 May 2024 | 7:00 AM IST

Above-normal monsoon rainfall predicted in south Asia for 2024: SASCOF

Above-normal rainfall is expected during the 2024 southwest monsoon season over most parts of south Asia, the South Asian Climate Outlook Forum said on Tuesday. The forecast follows the prediction of above-normal rain in the monsoon season in India on the back of favourable La Nina conditions, expected to set in by August-September. "Above normal rainfall is most likely during the 2024 southwest monsoon season (June-September) over most parts of south Asia, except some areas over northern, eastern, and northeastern parts of the region, where below-normal rainfall is most likely," the South Asian Climate Outlook Forum (SASCOF) said. Above-normal maximum and minimum temperatures are predicted over most parts of south Asia during the season, except a few areas over the southeastern part of the region where normal temperatures are most likely. This regional climate outlook for the 2024 southwest monsoon season has been developed by all nine National Meteorological and Hydrological ...

Above-normal monsoon rainfall predicted in south Asia for 2024: SASCOF
Updated On : 30 Apr 2024 | 4:45 PM IST

Export figures for FY04, FY14, and FY24 show interesting trends

A look at the destination of our exports shows that our shipments to our neighbours in South Asia at 5.8 per cent have stagnated in the past 10 years

Export figures for FY04, FY14, and FY24 show interesting trends
Updated On : 28 Apr 2024 | 11:05 PM IST

Sri Lanka & Bangladesh look east

The shifting sands of the South Asian trade landscape may be worthy of some serious reflection for India's regional trade strategy

Sri Lanka & Bangladesh look east
Updated On : 24 Apr 2024 | 11:12 PM IST

Myanmar's worst violence since military takeover intensifying crisis: UN

Myanmar's escalating conflict and worst violence since the military takeover in 2021 are having a devastating impact on human rights, fundamental freedoms and basic needs of millions of people as well as alarming spillover effects in the region, UN officials have said. Assistant Secretary-General for political affairs Khaled Khiari told the UN Security Council on Thursday that the civilian toll keeps rising amid reports of indiscriminate bombing by Myanmar's armed forces and artillery shelling by various parties. The nationwide armed conflict in Myanmar began after the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and suppressed widespread nonviolent protests that sought a return to democratic rule. Thousands of young people fled to jungles and mountains in remote border areas as a result of the military's suppression and made common cause with ethnic guerrilla forces battle-hardened by decades of combat with the army in pursuit of autonomy. Despite its .

Myanmar's worst violence since military takeover intensifying crisis: UN
Updated On : 05 Apr 2024 | 6:48 AM IST

Global life expectancy up 6.2 years between 1990-2021, shows Lancet report

In India, the life expectancy has increased by eight years in the past three decades

Global life expectancy up 6.2 years between 1990-2021, shows Lancet report
Updated On : 04 Apr 2024 | 11:47 AM IST