Highlights from the local media of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka

December 29th, 2015 | Volume: 1 – 20/12

AFGHANISTAN One killed, 31 injured in Kabul blast Afghanistan Times | 28th December A suicide car bomber targeted a foreign convoy on the Hamid Karzai International Airport road in Kabul on Monday morning. A civilian was killed and 31 others were injured, said officials. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. Afghan Air Force to receive additional combat aircraft in 3 weeks: President Ghani Khaama Press | 28th December President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said Monday that the Afghan Air Force (AAF) will receive additional combat aircraft within the next three weeks. In his speech during the inauguration of the new compound of Ministry of Defense, President Ghani thanked India for the delivery of Mi-25 gunships, calling the close-air support for the Afghan forces a critical need durig the current situation. BANGLADESH Japan to assess scope to fund Dhaka airport expansion project Bdnews 24 | 27th December Japan says it is planning a supplemental survey to explore the possibility of funding a project to build a second runway and a third terminal at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) recently wrote to Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon on the matter. BNP will stay in municipal polls: Khaleda Zia The Financial Express | 28th December BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia insisted that her party will stay in Wednesday’s municipal polls. At a press briefing on Monday, she once again demanded the deployment of the army. BHUTAN New procedure after September de-boarding incident KUENSEL | 28th December Following the September incident when an ailing passenger had to be de-boarded from a Drukair flight which subsequently caused a public backlash, the national airline has introduced a new procedure for medical patients wanting to fly. The airline will now require information based on International Air Transport Association (IATA) requirements from both the patient and a physician. MALDIVES China to loan USD 373 mln for Maldives airport’s new runway Haveeru Online | 27th December Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of China has agreed to loan USD 373 million for the development of Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA)’s new runway, announced tourism minister Moosa Zameer on Sunday. Minister of Foreign Affairs Dunya Maumoon: Challenges remain for Maldives in eliminating human trafficking Sun Online | 28th December Minister of Foreign Affairs Dunya Maumoon has said that Maldives still faces a multitude of challenges in eliminating human trafficking. Dunya made this remark at a ceremony at Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, 28 December 2015, for the signing of the instrument of accession to the ‘Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children’, supplementing the United Nations Conventions against Transnational Organised Crime. MYANMAR Fighting Flares Between Arakan Army and Govt Troops The Irrawaddy | 28th December Fighting broke out on Sunday between the Arakan Army (AA) and government troops in Kyauktaw Township of northern Arakan State, according to the ethnic armed group, which released information on the skirmish on Monday. The fighting took place near the Sittwe-Rangoon highway in Kyauktaw Township, around 6 km from the Mahamuni Pagoda, and continued on Monday morning when government troops called in reinforcements. Myanmar army chief asks Thailand for death sentence review AFP / Mizzima | 28th December Myanmar’s army chief has called on Thailand to review the sentencing of two countrymen to death for murdering a pair of British backpackers after a controversial trial that sparked protests. General Min Aung Hlaing, head of the country’s influential military, has asked Thailand for a “review of the evidence” against the two men, the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Sunday. NEPAL Clashes in Janakpur leave at least 35 hurt The Kathmandu Post | 29th December At least 35 persons, including security personnel, were injured in clashes between activists of the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) and police at various places of Janakpur in Dhanusha district, on Monday. Done no wrong on rights issue: Home Minister Shakti Basnet The Kathmandu Post | 29th December Home Minister Shakti Basnet on Monday defended government record on human rights, particularly in dealing with protests in the Tarai, saying that the government has done no wrong when it came to rights issues. He argued that keeping the supply line open and protecting life and public and private property are government priorities. The National Human Rights Commission had sought information from Minister Basnet and Home Secretary Narayan Gopal Malego on government response to Tarai protests and earthquake victims. Three parties dwell on ways to end Tarai crisis Himalayan News Service / The Himalayan Times | 29th December The meeting of three major parties Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Unified CPN-Maoist decided to come up with another common stance after the agitating Madhesi parties rejected their three-point proposal. PAKISTAN IS cell busted in Sialkot, claim officials DAWN | 29th December The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) claimed on Monday that it had busted a cell of the militant Islamic State group operating in Sialkot, arrested eight suspects and seized weapons, explosives and laptops, as well as a large number of compact discs containing publicity material. PM Modi’s visit will help improve atmosphere for talks: Sartaj Aziz The Nation | 28th December Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Pakistan will help improve atmosphere for the upcoming foreign secretary level talks, between the two countries on January 15. SRI LANKA Tamil People’s Council to present suggestions on Tamil cause to Sri Lanka’s proposed constitution Colombo Page | 28th December The Tamil People’s Council will present suggestions on the aspirations of the Tamil people to the new constitution of Sri Lanka, the Chief Minister of the Northern Province, C.V. Wigneswaran, said on Sunday. He said the TPC expects to introduce suggestions to ensure that Tamil people’s rights are safeguarded in the new constitution proposed to be drafted next year. China to have talks with Sri Lanka on FTA Colombo Gazette | 29th December The Chinese Government says it will have talks with Sri Lanka next year on the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Gao Hucheng, the minister of commerce in China, said that China will step up negotiations next year on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, as well as the free trade agreement between China, South Korea and Japan, and the country’s proposed FTAs with Sri Lanka and Maldives, to build stronger trade and investment ties with global partners, the Xinhua news agency reported.

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DECEMBER 29, 2015 | EDIT

The Economist

3 hrs ·

London didn’t make the top 30 friendly cities in the world. We’re not surprised

The world’s most unfriendly cities

A survey ranks cities on their warmth towards visitors

ECON.ST

1.2k Likes99 Comments282 Shares

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DECEMBER 29, 2015 | EDIT

RELEASE OF IRS-CG RULES 2015 ON 28 DEC 15

DECEMBER 29, 2015 | EDIT

PRESS RELEASE ON THE OCCASION OF

RELEASE OF IRS-CG RULES 2015 ON 28 DEC 15

Vice Admiral HCS Bisht, AVSM, Director General Indian Coast Guard released

IRS-CG Rules 2015 on 28 Dec 2015 at Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi. These

rules will facilitate design, construction and trials of ICG ships meeting International

Standards. The IRS has been involved with construction of a majority of Coast Guard

ships. The services of IRS are also being utilized by Coast Guard during refit of ships.

The IRS-CG Rules were initially formulated and released in 2008. The rules have been

revised based on the experience gained in ship building by Indian Coast Guard and

IRS. With emphasis on Make in India by GoI, these rules will help in supporting

indigenous ship building in India, with prominence on excellence in design and quality

construction of ICG ships. The rules release function was attended by senior officials of

Indian Coast Guard and IRS including Additional Director General Rajendra Singh,

PTM, TM, Indian Coast Guard, Inspector General SK Goyal, PTM, TM Deputy Director

General (Material & Maintenance), Shri. Arun Sharma, Chairman & Managing Director,

IRS and Vice Admiral (IN Retd) BS Randhawa, Principal Advisor Navy, IRS were also

present.

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For those who wants to attend 2016 Growth Net in New Delhi.

DECEMBER 29, 2015 | EDIT

For those who wants to attend 2016 Growth Net in New Delhi. Please complete the attached registration form and return with your bio and a picture. Payment can be secured with a credit card on the attached registration form, or we will be offering on-line payment options shortly. We are at your disposal should you need any assistance or have any questions.

Looking forward to welcoming you in New Delhi.

All best,

Yael Smadja
President
Smadja & Smadja USA
404 East 76th street
New York, NY 10021Tel. +1 212 759 6000

• TGN15_RegForm_Based_in_India.pdf

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Shashi Tharoor on Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code

DECEMBER 29, 2015 | EDIT

Dear Naresh, “Your sexual preferences, sexuality, and partner should be your choice… Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code gives the state the authority to investigate what’s happening in your bedroom” Sign Shashi Tharoor’s petition asking for section 377 to be amended. Shri Narendra Modi: Decriminalise Homosexuality Shashi Tharoor  New Delhi, India Sign Shashi Tharoor’s petition Your sexual preferences, sexuality, and partner should be your choice. Unfortunately Indian law doesn’t think so.Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code gives the state theauthority to investigate what’s happening in your bedroom. Section 377 makes any sex apart from penile-vaginal intercourse between a man and a woman illegal. It impacts the LGBTQ community, it even impacts married heterosexual couples. It’s a law that can be used to oppress and harass. The Indian government is reluctant to amend the law. My Private Member’s Bill was recently defeated in Parliament, but I’m not giving up. Section 377 should be amended so that all consensual sex between consenting adults irrespective of gender and sexuality is legal. But it should not legitimise forced sex, pedophilia or pederasty. Sign my petition and help me show the Prime Ministerthat Indians want Section 377 to be amended. Section 377 is a British relic, drafted in 1860 and based on outdated Victorian morals. It has no place in a modern nation like India. In amending Section 377, I am upholding the values of our Constitution. The Bill supports our constitutional freedoms – theRight to Privacy and Dignity under Article 21, the Right to Equality under Article 14, and the Right against Discriminationunder Article 15. Sign my petition and help me build support to amend Section 377. If enough of us speak up, we can make the Prime Minister rethink Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Sign Shashi Tharoor’s petition Want to change something? Start a petition. The person (or organisation) who started this petition is not affiliated with Change.org. Change.org did not create this petition and is not responsible for the petition content.

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DECEMBER 29, 2015 | EDIT

JAN 04 CPR is pleased to invite you to a talk on Religion, Constitutionalism and Modernity: Tensions and Resolutions Monday, 4 January 2016, 4:30 p.m. Noah Feldman, Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law, Harvard Law School Chair: Dr Pratap Bhanu Mehta Multipurpose Hall, Kamaladevi Complex, India International Centre, 40 Max Mueller Marg, New Delhi 110003 It’s often thought that modern constitutions are necessarily secular. But if national identity and values religiously-derived, applying this principle might lead to a constitution bereft of cultural and moral significance to the very people who are enacting it. How is this potential conflict between universal and  particularized constitutionalism to be resolved – if at all? This talk will be chaired by Dr Pratap Bhanu Mehta.Noah Feldman specializes in constitutional studies, with particular emphasis on the relationship between law and religion, constitutional design, and the history of legal theory. Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, he is also a Senior Fellow of the Society of Fellows at Harvard. In 2003 he served as senior constitutional advisor to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, and subsequently advised members of the Iraqi Governing Council on the drafting of the Transitional Administrative Law or interim constitution. He received his A.B. summa cum laude in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University in 1992. Selected as a Rhodes Scholar, he earned a D.Phil. in Oriental Studies from Oxford University in 1994.  From 1999 to 2002, he was a Junior Fellow of the Society of Fellows at Harvard.  Before that he served as a law clerk to Justice David H. Souter of the U.S. Supreme Court (1998 to 1999) and to Chief Judge Harry T. Edwards of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (1997 to 1998).He received his J.D. from Yale Law School in 1997, serving as Book Reviews Editor of the Yale Law Journal. He is the author of seven books: Cool War: The Future of Global Competition (Random House, 2013); Scorpions: The Battles and Triumphs of FDR’s Great Supreme Court Justices (Twelve Publishing, 2010); The Fall and Rise of the Islamic State (Princeton University Press, 2008); Divided By God: America’s Church-State Problem and What We Should Do About It (Farrar, Straus & Giroux 2005); What We Owe Iraq: War and the Ethics of Nation building (Princeton University Press 2004); and After Jihad: America and the Struggle for Islamic Democracy (Farrar, Straus & Giroux 2003. He most recently co-authored Constitutional Law, Eighteenth Edition (Foundation Press, 2013) with Kathleen Sullivan. This lecture is being sponsored with the help of Infosys Science Foundation.

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CPA ANNUAL LECTURE INVITE -16th January 2016

DECEMBER 29, 2015 | EDIT

From: Centre for Policy Analysis <pallaviagrwalcpa@gmail.com> Mon, 28 Dec ’15 3:34p

To: You

Show full Headers

Dear Naresh,

The Centre for Policy Analysis is pleased to announce the inauguration of its Annual Lecture Series.

The first Lecture will be delivered by Pakistani scholar Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy, a reputed nuclear physicist who has taken strong positions on nuclear disarmament. He has written and spoken on Pakistan, India-Pakistan relations, Rationality and Reason, and the political dynamics that determine equations and relations in South Asia.

​Please do join us for the event on January 16, 2016 at the Kamladevi Block, First Floor, India International Centre, Lodhi Road at 5.30 PM.

A line in confirmation is highly appreciated.

BRIEF PROFILE OF THE SPEAKER  

Pervez Amirali Hoodbhoy is a Pakistani nuclear physicist, essayist, a national securityanalyst. Dr. Hoodbhoy is currently tenuring as the visiting professor of Physics at Lahore University of Management Sciences where he is working on topics in theoretical applications in the topological insulators, various Hall effects and Graphene. He was the head of the Physics Department at the Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) and has held visiting professorships at MIT, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Maryland. He has received the IEEE Baker Award for Electronics in 1968, the Abdus Salam Prize for Mathematics in 1984, the UNESCO Kalinga Prize for the popularization of science in 2003,  the Joseph A. Burton Award in 2010 from the American Physical Society and the Jean Meyer Award from Tufts University. Recognizing his influence on the public imagination, he was included in the list of 100 most influential global thinkers by Foreign Policy magazine in 2001. In 2013, he was made a member of the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament.

Dr. Hoodbhoy is the author of Islam and Science: Religious Orthodoxy and the Battle for Rationality, now in eight languages. He created and anchored a series of TV programmes on Pakistan’s education system and two other series that were aimed at bringing scientific concepts to ordinary members of the public. He is also a prominent environmental and social activist and regularly writes on a wide range of social, cultural and environmental issues. He is a strong and avid supporter for peaceful use of nuclear technology in Pakistan, nuclear non-proliferation, and nuclear disarmament

The program is as follows:

High Tea: 5.30 PM

Lecture: 6-7 PM

Interaction with the audience: 7-7.30 PM​

RSVP

Mobile: 9811053938; 9953553048

Email: mahalingamcpa@gmail.com

We look forward to your presence.

Regards,

Pallavi Agrawal

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‘Lala Lajpat Rai and the Indian National Movement’

DECEMBER 29, 2015 | EDIT

Nehru Memorial Museum and Library

invites you to a Special Lecture and Conference

as part of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai

at 10.00 a.m. on Wednesday, 30th December, 2015

in the Seminar Room, First Floor, Library Building

on

‘Lala Lajpat Rai and the Indian National Movement’

    Programme Schedule

	Wednesday, 30 December 2015
10.00 a.m.– 10.05 a.m.	WelcomeShri Sanjiv Mittal, Director, NMML
10.05 a.m. to 11.00a.m.  Chair: Speaker:	Special Lecture  Prof. Makhan Lal, Delhi Institute of Heritage and Research Management, New Delhi Prof. Kapil Kumar, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi ‘Re-visiting Punjab: Lala Lajpat Rai and Nationalism’
11:00 a.m. – 11.15a.m.  11:15 a.m. – 1.30p.m.	Tea/Coffee  Session I
Chair:	Dr. Vasudha Pande,Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi, Delhi
Speakers:	Dr. Himanshu Roy,Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, University of Delhi, Delhi ‘Hindu Nationalism and Lajpat Rai’                          Dr. Amrit Varsha Gandhi, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla ‘Revisiting Ideas of a Nationalist Crusader:  ‘The Lion of the Punjab’’ Shri Sunny Kumar, Miranda House, University of Delhi, Delhi ‘The Enigmatic Relationship between Lala Lajpat Rai and Militant Nationalists of early 20th Century Punjab’
01.30p.m.-02-.30 p.m.	Lunch
02.30p.m. -04.45 p.m.	Session II
Chair:	Dr. Amrit Kaur Basra, Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi, Delhi
Speakers:	Dr. Smita Chandra, Shri Guru Nanak Girls Degree College, Lucknow ‘Lala Lajpat Rai and Communal Politics’ Dr. Anil Joshi, Kumaun  University, Almora ‘Footprints of Lala Lajpat Rai in British Kumaun: Political Awareness and Social Change’ Dr. Manoj Sharma, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, Delhi ‘Lala Lajpat Rai and Hindi Cinema’

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BJP is misleading the nation on the DDCA scam

DECEMBER 29, 2015 | EDIT

From: Media Cell Aap <mediacellaap@gmail.com> Mon, 28 Dec ’15 6:00p

To: undisclosed-recipients:;

Show full Headers

Press release

The Aam Aadmi Party today slammed the BJP for misleading the country over DDCA scam. Addressing a press conference, party leaders Ashutosh and Dilip Pandey said that no agency or committee has ever given a clean chit to Arun Jaitley in the DDCA scam, but for a two-member BJP spokespersons committee which held a press conference 27 December, 2015.

“It’s amazing that BJP spokespersons are manufacturing clean chits for Mr. Jaitley even when the SFIO, two judges committee appointed by the court, Fact Finding Committee of the DDCA have found massive scam in the dealings of the DDCA. If there is nothing to hide, why doesn’t Mr. jaitely faces the probe and cooperates with the Commission of Inquiry set up by the Delhi Government,” said Ashutosh.

“Noted jurist and former Solicitor General Shri Gopal Subramaniam has given his consent for heading the Commission of Inquiry set up to probe irregularities in the DDCA. In the letter written to the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Mr. Subramaniam has said that Government of Delhi is well within its rights to set up the Commission. We sincerely hope that the Modi Government, which had written to AAP government in Delhi to probe irregularities in the DDCA, will not now drag his feet and become laughing stock,” added Ashutosh.

Ashutosh also said that former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju has demolished Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung’s argument that Delhi is not a full state, and thus, does not have powers to set up the Commission of Inquiry. “The Delhi High Court, in its order dated September 23, had refused to stay the proceedings of Commission of Inquiry in the CNG Fitness Scam. Thus it’s beyond the jurisdiction of the Union Government and it should not interfere in the functioning of the Commission of Inquiry in the DDCA scam,” said Ashutosh.

Delhi State Convenor Dilip Pandey said, “Mr. jaitley had claimed credit for turning Feroze Shah Kotla into a world class stadium. Now he will have to take blame for corruption in it. He cannot take credit and shift the blame at the same. Mr. Jaitley should cooperate with  Commission of Inquiry appear before it and plead innocence instead of surviving on clean chits by party spokespersons.”

“Mr. Jaitley has been telling lies right from the beginning and giving bizarre explanations. We put forth five fore question from him and expect straight forward answers to these questions:

1. Mr. jaitley, there is an on-going CBI inquiry in the DDCA scam. You were DDCA President for 14 years and this scam took place when you were at the help of affairs of the DDCA. How can you claim to have been given a clean chit, when the PE is conducted by the CBI?

2. DDCA Fact Finding Report, Internal Audit Report, SFIO report, two-judges committee report; all point towards major corruption in the DDCA. Mr. Jaitely, when you were President of the DDCA, fictitious companies were floated, crores of rupees were paid to those companies, agarbatti sellers lent their expertise to make your world-class stadium, how can you plead innocence?

3. Mr. Jaitley, in the Annual General Meeting of the DDCA in the year 2011-12, you are seen saying,”I am duty bound to defend my office bearers if criminal cases are lodged against them.” Mr. jaitley, is it not a clear case of connivance?

4. Mr. Jaitley, you have been Law Minister of the country and currently you are Finance Minister. You know it only too well that thye mandate of the Chetan Sanghi Committee was to recommend further action in the matter, not fixing responsibilities. Why you and your party are spreading rumour about your exoneration?

5. Mr. Jaitley, now, since a Commission of Inquiry has been set up, why don’t you come forward and welcome the move and participate in its proceedings, especially because you are so confident of your innocence?

Thanks

Regards,

AAP Media Cell

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Gopal Subramanium pitches for live telecast of DDCA probe proceedings

DECEMBER 28, 2015 | EDIT

Former Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium has pitched for live telecast of the proceedings of the Commission of Inquiry probing alleged irregularities in DDCA affairs to make it transparent. Mr Subramanium who is heading the Commission said, he would like anybody in the world to watch how the Commission is proceeding to deal with this matter.

In a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, he said, he always believed that the judiciary has gained by televised court proceedings. Mr Subramanium said in view of the resolution passed by Delhi Assembly to form the Commission, it was incumbent upon the city government to set up the same as the House was a State legislature for all practical purposes.