SCA MORNING PRESS CLIPS
Prepared for the U.S. Department of State
Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs
TO: | SCA & Staff |
DATE: | Thursday, November 14, 2024 6:30 AM ET |
Afghanistan
Atlanta man wrongfully held by Taliban for 2 years sends new plea for release to Biden (WSB-TV 2 Atlanta)
WSB-TV 2 Atlanta [11/14/2024 12:05 AM, Staff, Neutral]
The Taliban detained American citizen George Glezmann almost two years ago.
His wife, Aleksandra Glezmann, told Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Mark Winne that George was a Delta Air Lines mechanic at the time he was wrongfully detained in Afghanistan where he was traveling as a tourist.
Aleksandra Glezmann desperately hopes her husband will be back in Atlanta as soon as possible.
George Glezmann has made a plea to President Joe Biden aimed at making that happen before his presidency is over.
He made his comments to Biden during a phone call on October 31 before President-elect Donald Trump won the election.“I received a brief phone call from George where he sounded very desperate and had a lot of fear and pain. And he wanted me to record this message for President Biden,” Aleksandra said.“Just get us out, please, before you go out. I’m afraid they, um, the elections are going to happen. And then the, the, the inauguration and a new government is going to come in and everything is going to start all over again,” George Glezmann said in the recorded message to Biden.
Aleksandra Glezmann said in the call, her husband also alluded to Ryan Corbett, held in the same facility in Kabul.
Corbett is another innocent American unjustly held by the Taliban in Afghanistan for the last two years.“Please, President Biden, release me, release us. We’re two Americans here,” George Glezmann said on the recording. “I cannot do another year. I cannot do another three months, six months, or whatever.”“He’s in a really dark place, mentally and emotionally,” Aleksandra Glezmann said. “I remind him of all the beautiful moments that we had together and I ask him to pray. And I ask him to think of the time when we will be reunited and we will move on.”“I would like to also thank my lawyer, Delta Air Lines, my boss, the CEO Ed Bastian, and George Taylor for the job they’re doing,” George Glezmann said.
Winne contacted the Biden administration for a reaction to Glezmann’s pleas.
In the past, he was told: “The Biden-Harris administration is working around the clock to ensure George’s safe return.”
Delta indicates it continues to support the US government’s efforts to return George safely home and that although his employment was terminated in 2023 after an extended absence from work, the airline has a formal process to engage with him relative to his employment upon his safe return home. Taliban Carries Out Sixth Public Execution Since Returning To Power (Radio Free Europe)
Radio Free Europe [11/13/2024 4:14 PM, Staff, 235K, Negative]
The Taliban on November 13 executed a man convicted of murder in a sports stadium -- the sixth public execution since the radical Islamist group returned to power in 2022.
The execution was carried with a gun fired by a member of the victim’s family in the city of Gardez, the capital of the eastern Paktia Province.
The practice of "qisas," or retributive Islamic punishments, which can include public killings at the hands of victims’ families, were a trademark of the Taliban’s first stint in power in Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.
The Taliban’s Supreme Court said in a statement on X that a "murderer was sentenced to retaliation punishment," naming the condemned as Muhammad Ayaz Asad.
Media reports said Ayaz Asad was executed with three bullets to his chest.
The statement said Asad, a native of Paktia’s Mirzak district, had killed a man named Saif-ul-Qatal using a Kalashnikov rifle. It was not clear whether Ayaz Asad had pleaded guilty or innocent to the charges.
The death sentence was approved by the Taliban Supreme Leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada following "careful consideration" by three Taliban military courts, it said.Senior members of the Taliban government, including acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, attended the execution.
Haqqani is the leader of the Haqqani network, a U.S.-designated terrorist group considered one of Afghanistan’s most violent factions.
The Taliban has revived the practice of "qisas" since the extremist group’s return to power in August 2022 following the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces from the war-wracked country after more than two decades.
In February, three men were executed publicly.
Two, Syed Jamaluddin and Gul Khan, were shot dead inside a soccer stadium in the southeastern province of Ghazni.
At a separate execution, an unidentified man shot Nazar Mohammad inside a sports stadium in the northern province of Jawzjan. The shooter was said to be avenging the death of his brother, Khal Mohammad, two years earlier.
Such practices have been condemned by Afghans and the international community, while experts have questioned their validity under Islamic law, saying they are mainly meant to instill fear.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said the executions "are contrary to Afghanistan’s international human rights obligations, and must cease."
"UNAMA urges Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to establish an immediate moratorium on all executions with a view to abolition of the death penalty. We also call for respect for due process and fair trial rights, in particular access to legal representation," the agency said in a post on X. Afghan Taliban carry out sixth public execution since 2021 (Agence France-Presse)
Agence France-Presse [11/13/2024 8:04 AM, Staff, 88008K, Negative]
Taliban authorities in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday executed a convicted murderer by gunfire at a sports stadium, the sixth public execution since their return to power.
The condemned man was shot with three bullets to the chest by a member of the victim’s family in front of thousands of spectators in Gardez, the capital of Paktia province, according to an AFP journalist at the scene.
The evening before the execution the governor’s office called on officials and residents to "attend this event" on social media.
"A murderer was sentenced to retaliation punishment," said a statement from Afghanistan’s supreme court which named the condemned as Mohammad Ayaz Asad.
The execution order was signed by the Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, the court said.
The convict had been in detention since before the Taliban came to power for killing another man, Habibullah Saif-ul-Qatal, and the case was "examined very precisely and repeatedly" by three military courts, the statement said.
The victim’s family was given the opportunity to stay the execution, but they refused, the statement added.
Among the crowd at the execution were several high-level officials, including the powerful Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani.
Public executions were common during the Taliban’s first rule from 1996 to 2001, but according to an AFP tally only a handful have been carried out since their return to power in August 2021.
In 2022, Akhundzada ordered judges to fully implement all aspects of the Taliban government’s interpretation of Islamic law -- including "eye for an eye" punishments known as "qisas", allowing for the death penalty in retribution for the crime of murder.
"Qisas is the order of God, we are Muslims so we need to practice it," said one witness to the execution who gave his name as Sayedulluh.
"Before it was not practiced, things were not in order... now thankfully, it’s an Islamic system," he added.
Another spectator, Mobin, told AFP qisas was beneficial as then "no one will be prepared to commit murder, and they will not kill".
Rare executions were carried out under the foreign-backed government ousted by the Taliban.
In February, three public executions were carried out within a week.
Two men were executed by multiple gunshots to the back in front of a large crowd in eastern Ghazni city, followed days later by a similar public execution in northern Jowzjan province.
Corporal punishments -- mainly flogging -- have been common under the Taliban authorities and employed for crimes including theft, adultery and alcohol consumption.
Law and order is central to the severe ideology of the Taliban, which emerged from the chaos of a civil war following the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan in 1989.
One of the most infamous images from that era depicted the 1999 execution of a woman wearing an all-covering burqa in a Kabul stadium. She had been accused of killing her husband.
The United Nations and rights groups such as Amnesty International have condemned the Taliban government’s use of corporal punishment and the death penalty.
The UN mission for Afghanistan, UNAMA, on Wednesday said public executions in the country "must cease" and called for "respect for due process and fair trial rights, in particular access to legal representation".China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United States were respectively ranked the world’s most prolific practitioners of the death penalty in 2022, according to Amnesty. What does Trump’s election win mean for Afghanistan? (Deutsche Welle)
Deutsche Welle [11/13/2024 10:57 AM, Masood Saifullah, 16637K, Neutral]
Donald Trump once described the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan as "the most embarrassing moment in the history of our country.".
The pullout was completed in 2021 under the administration led by Trump’s successor and rival Joe Biden.
Since leaving the White House, Trump insisted he would have dealt with the Taliban and the US withdrawal in a different manner. However, many Trump critics see the US-Taliban deal in Doha, concluded near the end of Trump’s first term in 2020, as paving the way for the Taliban to return to power.
What Trump and his critics agree on is that the Doha deal was never fully implemented. The Taliban did not keep most of the promises they had made in Qatar, including those on forming an inclusive government and engaging in talks with other Afghan leaders.
Trump threatened to ‘bomb the hell out’ of Afghanistan.
One of his ideas is that the US should have kept the Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan instead of letting the Taliban claim "$85 billion (€80.5 billion) worth of military equipment.".
This monetary estimate is incorrectly based on the total funds spent by the US on Afghan security forces since the invasion, a 2022 probe by the US Department of Defense put the value of the abandoned equipment at around $7 billion, as reported by US media.
Shortly after the Taliban takeover in August 2021, Trump said "every penny" of the $85 billion should be returned to the US, and if not, "we should either go in with unequivocal Military force ... and get it, or at least bomb the hell out of it.".
Taliban hope for ‘tangible advancement’.
Tensions seem to be running far lower following Donald Trump’s electoral victory last week. Zalmay Khalilzad, who brokered the US-Taliban deal in Doha for the Trump administration, recently called for the revival of the Doha Agreement.
"With Trump’s return to the US presidency, there is an opportunity for the full implementation of all the elements of the Doha Agreement in Afghanistan," said Khalilzad, who has previously served as the US ambassador to Afghanistan and Iraq.
The Taliban also responded to Trump’s political return with cautious optimism, hoping he would "adopt a pragmatic approach to ensure tangible advancement in bilateral relations, allowing both nations to open a new chapter of relations grounded in mutual engagement.".
Will the US change its stance on Taliban under Trump?
Trump has reportedly is keen to make Marco Rubio his US Secretary of State and Michael Waltz his National Security Advisor. Both politicians have been critical of the Taliban in the past three years and have called for more pressure on the Islamic fundamentalist group.
Trump himself has criticized the Taliban and signaled he would deal with them from a position of power. However, experts believe his approach to Afghanistan will depend on his overall foreign policy.
"Mr. Trump’s administration could restart negotiations on the Doha deal, or his team could start working on a completely new agreement," former Afghan diplomat Omar Samad told DW, adding that the new US administration could also adopt a mix of the two options based on the "ground realities of Afghanistan.".
"At this point, we do not know how the president-elect will deal with Afghanistan," Samad added.
Afghanistan not a priority for Trump
Other experts and people involved in talks with the Taliban before their 2021 takeover say Washington cannot afford to ignore Afghanistan for long.
Mohammad Natiqi, a member of the former Afghan government’s negotiating team with the Taliban, believes that the situation in Afghanistan can have an impact on regional security; therefore, the new US administration would have to act.
"The human rights situation and poverty in Afghanistan give the international community and the US new responsibilities in Afghanistan," Natiqi told DW. At the same time, the expert warns that Afghanistan is not Trump’s priority.
Ukraine, Middle East still center stage
The ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are seen as more urgent tasks for Trump and his new administration. During his campaign, Trump has repeatedly stated that he would resolve the conflict in Ukraine even before taking office. While it remains to be seen if the Ukraine war will be wrapped up by the presidential inauguration in January, any changes in Washington’s approach to Kabul would only come after the existing crises have been dealt with, said Jahangir Khattak, the director of communications at the Center for Community Media in New York.
"Trump will focus on the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and will not start something new before those two are resolved," Khattak told DW.
"It is important that Mr. Trump does not see Afghanistan as a country which could turn into a safe haven for terrorists," Khattak said, noting that the Taliban have so far managed to reassure the international community that this was not the case. How the Taliban are erasing Afghanistan’s women – photo essay (The Guardian – opinion)
The Guardian [11/14/2024 1:00 AM, Staff, 92.4M, Neutral]
Earlier this year, I spent 10 weeks travelling with the photographer Kiana Hayeri across seven provinces of Afghanistan, speaking to more than 100 Afghan women and girls about how their lives had changed since the Taliban swept back to power three years ago.
Hayeri and I both lived in Afghanistan for years, and remained here after the Taliban took control in August 2021. In the past few years, we have seen women’s rights and freedoms, already severely curtailed, swept away as Taliban edicts have fallen like hammer blows.
In just over three years, Afghan women have been banned from nearly every aspect of public life: schools, universities, most workplaces – even parks and bathhouses. From Kandahar, the birthplace and political headquarters of the Taliban, the group’s leaders have dictated that women must cover their faces in public, always be accompanied by a man and never let their voices be heard in public.
As foreign women, we still carried the rare privilege of freedom of movement (although I doubt we could now travel as we did at the beginning of this year), which has nearly disappeared for the 14 million Afghan women and girls across the country. Meeting women while ensuring their security was a daily challenge.
Each province we travelled to revealed different shades of oppression. In some areas – in the south and east in particular – women were already living under very restricted conditions before the Taliban’s official return, with many saying that now, at least, there was no more violence. In other places, the sudden loss of freedom has been devastating.
For many, the Taliban’s refusal to allow girls to attend secondary education has been the hardest blow.
We met Gulsom, 17, who survived a suicide attack on her school just a few months before the Taliban came back into power. Severely wounded and left unable to walk, she must now use a wheelchair and had to continue her studies at an underground school.
But Gulsom insisted: “My will to study and work hard has increased.”
Yet her younger sister, who is 14, seems to have lost hope. She has left the house only a few times in more than two years.
Gulsom said: “[In 2021] she went to school on the day they were supposed to open, but she returned crying. [The Taliban] fired [shots] to disperse the girls, as they were asking when will the schools would open. She said the Taliban beat two girls and warned them not to leave their homes.”
Since then, she has sunk into a deep depression. Gulsom said: “She always asks me, ‘What is the use of studying this much? At the end you will die. I don’t work hard, I will die; and you work hard, you will die too. I want to die in peace.’”
We spoke to many girls who no longer see the value of trying to continue their education at home when they cannot graduate from school, cannot work and cannot imagine a future for themselves.
For some of the young women we met, being barred from school now means they have to try to find a job or get married, like the young women in one province who spend their days sewing school uniforms for the young girls still allowed into the primary classroom.
We also saw how the economic crisis gripping the country since the Taliban took power has proved catastrophic for many girls and women.
At only 14, Maryam has been forced to become engaged to her landlord’s son in exchange for a well and solar panels, after her family could not find work.
Her family was part of the wave of returnees expelled from Pakistan in late 2023. As undocumented refugees, they were harassed into leaving by the Pakistani police. They are now struggling to rebuild their lives, with few job prospects and virtually no social security assistance.“I went to a madrasa in Pakistan, but here I cannot go,” she told us. “I’m good at reading and writing. When I heard that we were coming back to Afghanistan, we were very happy and excited, but I’d rather live in Pakistan – there I could at least pursue my education.”
In Zabul and Kabul, we visited hospitals and saw how malnutrition was one of the most corrosive effects of the poverty faced by many Afghan women and their families.
Fatima is only two and a half years old, and weighs 5kg (11lb). When we met her in a malnutrition ward in the suburbs of Kabul, she had been admitted to hospital for the third time because her family did not have enough money to buy food.
Gender inequality is fuelling this crisis: nurses told us that they were treating more female children because when food is scarce, families prioritised feeding the boys.
It was important for us to look beyond the traditional representations of Afghan women as passive victims of the Taliban and show them as active players in their own lives.
We wanted to show their strength in the face of this absurd and brutal regime, including through acts of resistance: attending underground education networks or creating informal gatherings – whether it is a snowball fight, a birthday party, art classes or henna painting.
These acts, though small, are profound forms of resistance against the Taliban’s efforts to strip away and deny their humanity – perhaps the deepest form of violence that is being inflicted against millions of women and girls across the country.
Many are battling against a rising tide of despair. Zahra, a young women’s rights activist, organised online protests after the Taliban began brutally repressing demonstrations: “Since we cannot protest in the streets any more, we do it from home: with the masks, with the hijab, in front of the camera.“Five to 10 women do these videos, and we then send them to the media, in order to still raise our voices,” she told us.
Yet in the months since we interviewed her in Kabul, she has lost hope that her activism could change anything and has left the country to live in exile. “Now I see there is no way to stay here; I would waste my time, waste my life,” she says. “There is no improvement possible. I cannot be a human being here. There is nothing.”
After 10 weeks of listening to women’s stories, we came away from Afghanistan certain that what is happening there is more than repression: it is an attempt to erase women completely.
On 18 June, Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, backed calls to codify gender apartheid in Afghanistan as a crime under international law, defining what was happening as “a profound rejection of the full humanity of women and girls” based on their gender alone.
Even in those provinces where more sympathetic Taliban commanders looked the other way, allowing underground schools to continue and for women to work and move around the streets more easily, their freedom is still dependant on the decisions and whims of men in power.
In Afghanistan, where women’s every freedom has been repressed, where they cannot show their faces any longer or make their voices heard in public, it is more important than ever to carry their voices, ensuring they do not disappear into silence.
Today, their hearts are tightened not only by the weight of repression but by the indifference of a world that seems to have forgotten them. Their stories deserve to be heard. Pakistan
Pakistan Court Rejects Ex-PM Khan Acquittal Request in Case (Bloomberg)
Bloomberg [11/14/2024 2:04 AM, Kamran Haider, 5.2M, Neutral]
A Pakistani court rejected former prime minister Imran Khan’s request for lifting charges for hiding income from the sale of gifts obtained from foreign leaders during his time in power.
A judge of a special court announced the ruling at a hearing in the prison near capital Islamabad where Khan has been held for more than a year in other cases, Khan’s lawyer, Shoaib Shaheen, said in a text message. The court will now formally frame charges.
The ruling comes days before Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf party plans a protest for his release on November 24. Pakistan employs new measures to deal with nearly 70,000 people affected daily by hazardous smog (AP)
AP [11/13/2024 12:37 PM, Asim Tanveer, 31638K, Neutral]
Pakistani authorities introduced mobile clinics and added more beds in hospitals to treat the nearly 70,000 patients received daily with respiratory-related diseases as hazardous smog continued to shroud the country’s east, officials said Wednesday.Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province with 127 million residents, has been hit by a record-high ongoing wave of pollution since October. The U.N. children’s agency on Monday warned that the health of 11 million children there was at risk.
Lahore and Multan, the province’s two main cities hit by smog, remained the two most polluted cities in the world on Wednesday, with air quality index readings of about 400, according to the Environmental Protection Department. Anything over 300 is considered hazardous to health.
The dangerous smog is a byproduct of large numbers of vehicles, construction and industrial work as well as burning crops at the start of the winter wheat-planting season, experts say.
Meanwhile, more than 200 clinics on board vehicles have been roaming the smog-hit province of Punjab since last week in search of people who can’t afford treatment and the elderly who can’t make it to hospitals, a top government official at the Health Department, Aun Abbas, said.
Abbas said the mobile clinics are equipped to handle basic laboratory tests and doctors onboard can prescribe medication as needed.
Uzma Bukhari, a spokesperson for the Punjab provincial government, said more than 2.1 million patients affected by smog have so far been treated at state-owned hospitals, adding the number is expected to grow.
Schools in the province have been ordered to shut down until Nov. 17, to protect children, and all parks and museums until Nov. 18. Doctors have urged people to avoid unnecessary travel and wear face masks.
"Most patients with respiratory-related diseases are coming to hospitals because they did not wear face masks," said Azam Mushtaq, a medical specialist at Nishtar Hospital in Multan told The Associated Press.
Asthma patients seemed to suffer the most as they had a hard time breathing even after being admitted and provided with oxygen support, according to an AP reporter on the scene.
However, many violate the mask mandate and are being fined by authorities. Traffic police also penalize drivers whose vehicles emit smoke.
Weather forecasters predict light rain in some of the areas in Punjab, which can help improve air quality. The government has also said it is looking into methods to induce artificial rainfall to combat the pollution in Punjab. Pakistan’s smog is visible from space. This activist is ‘frustrated’ but won’t give up (NPR)
NPR [11/13/2024 7:41 AM, Kamala Thiagarajan, 40123K, Neutral]
A thick, toxic smog has shut down life in Pakistan’s second largest city, Lahore, home to more than 14 million residents.
Schools, offices and public spaces are closed.
That came after a senior provincial minister called for a "green lockdown." The minister, Marriyum Aurangzeb, is in charge of environmental protection and climate change in Pakistan’s most populous province, Punjab. She said the lockdown was in response to "severe smog" — so bad that UNICEF’s representative in Pakistan, Abdullah Fadil, said the smog was visible from space. He estimated that more than 11 million children under 5 years old were in the worst impacted areas and said that the air pollution would "have devastating effects.".
In a statement, he said, "Young children are most affected by air pollution because they have smaller lungs and lack the immunities that come with age. They also breathe twice as fast as adults and take in more air, often through the mouth, along with pollutants, leading to life-threatening respiratory diseases.".
Authorities cracked down on many sources of pollution. Cars and trucks were checked to measure their engine exhaust emissions. Brick kilns were shut down — they emit plumes of black smoke through chimneys — as were plastic-melting plants. Local media reported that several food outlets in a part of Lahore called Model Town were shuttered because they were emitting what authorities said was excessive smoke. An official notification warned that violators would be punished.
The lockdown is expected to last until November 17, when it will be re-assessed.
In addition to the lockdown, Aurangazeb, the minister, called on neighboring India to participate in a smog mitigation plan for the first time; the local press is calling it "smog diplomacy." That’s because some of the smog that has settled across Pakistan was blown in from India. Farmers on both sides of the border burn the stubble off their harvested fields throughout the winter to make way for new planting, and that smoke provides the basis for smog. But critics say Pakistan’s governments have used that smoke-laden wind from their neighbor as an excuse to not take serious action against air pollution, which typically comes from local emissions.
If you want to size up this crisis by the numbers, consider this: According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, an air quality index of 300 to 500 is hazardous; at levels that high, people should stay indoors to protect their lungs. The Air Quality index, or AQI, measures fine particulate matter in the air — the grit that makes the air go grey, even black. On November 5, in Lahore, the AQI surged to over 1,000. On November 8 in the southern Pakistani city of Multan — more than two hundred miles from Lahore — the AQI exceeded 2,000.
Ahmad Rafay Alam is an environmental lawyer in Lahore and has long been at the forefront of clean air activism in Pakistan. In 2003, he co-founded Saleem, Alam & Co., a law consultancy firm that specializes in sustainable energy, water and natural resources in urban areas. He advises Pakistan’s provincial governments, the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, International Finance Corporation and international non-profits on environmental policy and sustainability.
Alam spoke to NPR about the stifling smog over a video call. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
News reports have referred to the rising levels of air pollution in Lahore as "apocalyptic smog that is baffling authorities." Are these reports true? And what is baffling about it?
Yes, the reports are true. My city is unlivable and I’m still digesting that news. It’s painful.
As an environmental lawyer, I’ve been looking at air pollution in Lahore and other Pakistani cities for close to 10 years now. And to see it gradually get worse and worse to a point where it’s now at the worst I’ve ever seen it -- it’s a tragedy.
How can we get people in other countries to relate to how this feels like? What is it like to live in a city where the AQI regularly exceeds 1,000?
It’s terrible. Your eyes water all the time.
When you look out the window, you can’t see very far. You can’t even see a blue sky. But you can see the pollution [that] hangs thick in the air. It smells acrid. It’s like inhaling traces of charcoal.
Life as you know it, shuts down. There have been notifications issued to shut down schools. You can’t go to any public places. The parks and recreational areas have been closed.
Yesterday the motorway between Lahore and Islamabad was shut because the pollution is so widespread throughout the province that it was unsafe to drive [because of low visibility].
I had to go out with my 18-year-old daughter yesterday. We went to some of the Lahore Biennale venues, which is a contemporary art exhibit and it was the last weekend before it concluded. This year’s Biennale was titled "Of the Mountains and Seas" and focused on ecologies and climate change. It was ironic that its last weekend concluded with elevated air pollution levels. Within 15 minutes of our stepping outside, my daughter complained of a headache. Some people find it difficult to breathe. And you can tell, I’m a bit congested myself right now. I’ve got an air purifier working constantly in my office.
In January this year, over 240 children in Pakistan’s Punjab province died of pneumonia. And pneumonia is a respiratory disease.
Would you agree that the poor bear much of this burden?
Yes, it’s poor people that are facing the brunt of the air pollution crisis because they have no means to protect themselves from it.
What are the primary sources of the pollution in and around Lahore? Are there any short-term and long-term solutions?
Given the scarce data we have in Pakistan, there are several reports that crunch numbers and suggest that 45% of the year-round air pollution comes from tailpipe emissions — the automobile emissions from motor cars, trucks and rickshaws and motorbikes. Much of it is because of the low-quality fuel that we use in our transport sector. These reports suggest that another approximately 40% of the air pollution comes from industrial emissions and energy production.
If this is correct, then we have to improve fuel quality by upgrading refineries, improving engine standards, moving to renewable energy. None of that is cheap nor is it short-term.
It takes years to upgrade refineries, to move on to renewables, to get industry involved.
And of course, we must regulate and deal with seasonal crop burning that takes place as well, which adds to the pollution. So far, changing the attitudes of farmers who believe that stubble burning is still the most effective and cost-efficient way [to clear their fields and get them ready for the next planting season] has been hard too.
So everything has to happen at once and over the course of years before we’re going to see any difference.
The only short-term solution is: Pray for rain.
As you note, there are many sources of pollution. If the main sources of pollution happen all year through, what is causing the spike this season? Is that what’s baffling authorities?
Yes, we’re still trying to understand the mix of factors that causes this.
What are the theories about this year’s unprecedented smog?
For one, the change of seasons has an impact on pollution.
In [April and May], hot air rises and the cooler air sinks, easing pollution. Then you’ve got the monsoon [from June to September] that washes away a lot of the pollution too.
But once the monsoon ends, there’s no longer a way to mitigate the smog?
That’s right. [From late October to March] when temperatures start getting lower, the current crisis begins. Hot air doesn’t rise anymore. The pollution sticks closer to the ground than it normally would. You can see it and its intensity is a lot more.
The burning of leftover paddy stalks by rice farmers, to clear their fields in order to plant wheat, is an age-old — and stubbornly persistent — problem. Farmers in both India and Pakistan tend to do this. What can be done about this?
Solutions — like a concoction of fungi that dissolve the stalks — exist, but it’s challenging to implement on a large scale.
India has tried subsidies [to farmers], moving people to millet diets to lessen demand for rice and wheat, [and] seeing if you can use the crop residue as biomass fuel. We’ve tried arresting farmers, subsidizing them, providing Happy Seeders [special tractors that can pulp the residue and clear fields faster]. It’s a significant problem which requires focus and attention to address. And I think that’s lacking when it comes to addressing [air] pollution as a whole as well. No one solution will work. It will take a number of initiatives, rolled out at the same time, over years, to resolve this issue.
Can governance and official policies make a difference?Absolutely. In both India and Pakistan, air pollution is evidence of poor governance -- the inability of lawmakers to keep up with what’s happening and to address the different types of pollution.
And we need more than policy measures to address it.
Like I said, the solutions to air pollution, given the limited information that we have, are long-term. [It] will take time and money. It’ll take longer than 5-year election cycle. And I don’t see that happening, especially given Pakistan’s fractured politics present.
We’ve had politicians fighting for their liberties because there’s infighting and interference [from the military] in our democratic system. And that prevents politicians from responding to the needs of their electorate. Their attention is on trying to save themselves.
Do you think this is something that Pakistan can resolve on its own? Or would some kind of collaboration with neighboring countries be beneficial?
When you look at satellite data, especially at this time of year, you see a blanket of haze from Kabul [in Afghanistan] to Dhaka [in Bangladesh]. It’s really a problem. And it’s a regional issue.
When you look at it that way, it raises questions of how countries could collaborate on improving air quality. In 1998, there was the SAARC Malé Declaration on Control and Prevention of Air Pollution, where South Asian countries were supposed to come together, collaborate, improve their monitoring and share data on air pollution. That hasn’t gone anywhere. And it’s difficult to envisage what an air pollution agreement between India and Pakistan would look like. And right now, with the [strained] relations between Delhi and Islamabad, I don’t see much hope for a regional agreement on air pollution.
What describes your attitude best? Deeply pessimistic about things ever changing? Guardedly optimistic? You say you don’t see change happening easily. Yet you’re still pushing for policy measures.
Well, I try not to take it personally. We as a group [of concerned citizens and activists] — my associates, my colleagues, the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative [a citizen’s movement against air pollution] — they’re all heroes. And we have written articles in newspapers, we’ve been on TV and done blogs. Friends of ours have produced a feature length documentary. We’ve held protests, we’ve had sit-ins and rallies. I’ve filed public interest litigations in the High Court. We’ve been to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, we’ve spoken to the Senate and National assembly standing committees on climate change and human rights. And nothing has changed. So I’m mildly frustrated.
Only mildly frustrated?
That must be the understatement of the year. I have learnt not to take activism personally. One just keeps going. It’s frustrating when things don’t work the way they’re supposed to.
But I’m not going to give up. Pakistani security forces kill 12 insurgents in 2 raids hours apart (AP)
AP [11/13/2024 2:34 PM, Staff, 31638K, Negative]
Pakistani security forces faced off with insurgents in two separate raids hours apart on their hideouts in two troubled areas in the country killing 12 militants and wounding six others, the military said Wednesday.
Four insurgents were killed in the first raid in Kech, a district in the restive southwestern Balochistan province, it said in a statement.
The raid in Balochistan came days after a suicide bomber blew himself up at a train station in the capital, Quetta, killing at least 26 people, including soldiers and railway staff, and wounding about 62 others, some critically.
A separatist group, the Balochistan Liberation Army, claimed Saturday’s attack, saying the bomber targeted troops present at the railway station.
The outlawed BLA has long waged an insurgency seeking independence from Islamabad, and authorities had vowed to eliminate it.
Also early Wednesday, troops raided a militant hideout of the Pakistani Taliban in North Waziristan, killing eight militants and wounding six, the military said in a separate statement.
The insurgents killed were members of the outlawed Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO troops were in the final stages of their pullout from the country after 20 years of war. India
India’s Top Court Bans ‘Bulldozer Justice’ Often Used Against Muslims (New York Times)
New York Times [11/13/2024 4:14 PM, Pragati K.B., 831K, Neutral]
India’s Supreme Court on Wednesday outlawed a practice widely called bulldozer justice, in which state governments raze the homes and businesses of people — most often Muslims — as rapid retribution after communal conflicts or acts of political dissent.
The demolitions have steadily increased for years in India, and are especially common in states controlled by the Hindu-nationalist party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They are carried out even before the law can take its course after accusations of a crime.
The authorities often cite illegal construction as justification for razing the businesses or homes of political opponents or members of minority communities. In its ruling, the court said that meting out such punishment without due process “reminds one of a lawless state of affairs, where ‘might was right.’”“The executive cannot become a judge and decide that a person accused is guilty and, therefore, punish him” by demolishing his properties, the judgment said.
In one of the most prominent recent cases, officials last August in the northern state of Haryana knocked down the properties of residents of Nuh and at least 11 other districts. The demolitions, which disproportionately targeted Muslims, came after clashes between Hindus and Muslims that were set off by a religious procession undertaken by a hard-line Hindu group.
While human rights advocates hailed the court’s decision as a landmark, it is unclear whether it will actually halt the demolitions. The justices intervened only years after the practice had become normalized.
The bulldozer has become a political symbol in India, especially in states governed by Mr. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. In Uttar Pradesh, the country’s most populous state, the chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, has been nicknamed Bulldozer Baba and has routinely invoked the bulldozer to appeal to voters.
Still, rights advocates called the ruling a step toward combating the discrimination that has become commonplace against Muslims in recent years in India.“We hope this judgment will mark a turning point to deter campaigns of hate, harassment and violence against minorities in India,” Agnès Callamard, the secretary-general of Amnesty International, said in a statement. “Never again should such deeply unjust and unlawful actions be repeated in the country.”
Miloon Kothari, a former U.N. special rapporteur on the right to housing, said that the demolitions infringed on a range of basic rights beyond the right to shelter, depriving people of livelihoods, education and health services.“People are set back by a whole generation due to demolitions,” said Mr. Kothari, the founder of the Housing and Land Rights Network, a rights group based in New Delhi.“Any guidelines on demolitions is welcome,” Mr. Kothari said. “But it remains to be seen if they will be implemented.” India’s top court denounces demolitions of illegal properties, issues guidelines (Reuters)
Reuters [11/13/2024 5:56 AM, Staff, 37270K, Negative]
India’s Supreme Court on Wednesday strongly criticised states which were demolishing properties of suspected criminals, a practise critics say targets mostly minority Muslims, and issued guidelines to authorities.
The verdict came in response to many petitions filed after demolitions in states ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in recent years.
BJP governments in the states have torn down what they say are illegal houses or shops of people accused of crimes, many of them Muslims, in what has come to be popularly known as "instant, bulldozer justice".
Rights groups and opposition parties have denounced the practice, saying it targets mostly poor Muslims while circumventing the judicial process.
BJP governments have rejected the accusations and said such properties were in violation of local laws and the owners had been served notices.
On Wednesday, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court ruled that the state and its officials cannot take arbitrary action against suspects or convicts without following the due process of law.
It also laid down guidelines, including issuing prior notice and taking a video of the demolition process.
"It is not a happy sight to see women, children and aged persons dragged to the streets overnight. Heavens would not fall on the authorities if they hold their hands for some period," the court said.
There was no immediate reaction to the verdict from the BJP. India Takes Tentative Steps Toward Improving Ties With Taliban (Bloomberg)
Bloomberg [11/13/2024 6:00 AM, Sudhi Ranjan Sen and Eltaf Najafizada, 27782K, Negative]
India and the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan have taken the first steps to ease strained relations since the group seized power three years ago amid a chaotic withdrawal of the US forces.The highly conservative Islamic establishment has asked New Delhi to resume development projects in the poverty-stricken nation when it met with a top Indian diplomat in Kabul last week, according to local officials in Afghanistan. The Taliban has also sent an administrator to Mumbai to help Afghan citizens with consular services.India closed its embassy in Kabul in August 2021 and has since then limited its engagement with the country to providing occasional humanitarian aid.While a handful of countries, including China, Pakistan and Russia, have accepted Taliban diplomats, they don’t formally recognize the government, which has been condemned internationally for human rights violations. China was the first nation to grant diplomatic credentials to the Taliban last year.Last week, Indian diplomat J.P. Singh and the Taliban’s Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid met in Kabul to discuss ways to expand relations and boost humanitarian aid to the country, according to an official statement. This was India’s first official meeting with Mujahid, who is considered a key decision-maker in the group. During the trip, the Taliban made a request for New Delhi to invest in the country’s vast and untapped mineral resources, and also restart infrastructure projects, including building roads, according to local Kabul officials, who asked not to be identified as the discussions aren’t public.While India has received such requests in the past from Afghanistan, this is the first time it’s come from Taliban’s top leadership.Before the Taliban retook Afghanistan in 2021, India was involved in over 500 development and infrastructure projects across Afghanistan, in areas ranging from power and water supplies to education and healthcare.On Tuesday, the Taliban-controlled Bakhtar New Agency reported that Hafiz Ikramuddin Kamil was appointed as the acting consul in Mumbai, citing an unnamed Afghan foreign ministry official.Indian officials, who asked not to be identified in order to discuss internal matters, said the Afghan community in India need consular services such as authentication of documents, but the appointment doesn’t amount to recognition of the Taliban. India’s External Affairs Ministry declined to comment when contacted for further information.In an interaction with reporters in New Delhi last week, Randhir Jaiswal, the foreign ministry spokesperson, said India’s “approach” to Afghanistan is guided by “long-standing historical ties” between the two nations.“I don’t have any detail as to what aid they asked for,” he added. India’s toxic smog hides Taj Mahal, delays flights (Reuters)
Reuters [11/14/2024 3:16 AM, Sakshi Dayal, 5.2M, Neutral]
Toxic smog obscured India’s famed monument to love, the Taj Mahal, as well as Sikhism’s holiest shrine, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, and delayed flights on Thursday, becoming too thick to see through in several places.
The city of Lahore in neighbouring Pakistan ranked as the world’s most polluted in winter’s annual scourge across the region, worsened by dust, emissions, and smoke from fires burnt illegally in India’s farming states of Punjab and Haryana.
In the city of Agra, the Taj Mahal was barely visible from the gardens in front of the 17th-century monument, while dense fog wreathed worshippers at the Golden Temple in Punjab, television images showed.
Delhi flights faced delays, with tracking website Flightradar24 showing 88% of departures and 54% of arrivals were delayed.
Officials blamed high pollution, combined with humidity, becalmed winds and a drop in temperature for the smog, which cut visibility to 300 m (980 ft) at the city’s international airport, which diverted flights in zero visibility on Wednesday.
More patients flocked to hospitals, particularly children.
"There has been a sudden increase in children with allergies, cough and cold ... and a rise in acute asthma attacks," Sahab Ram, a paediatrician in Punjab’s Fazilka region, told news agency ANI.
Delhi’s minimum temperature fell to 16.1 degrees Celsius (61°F) on Thursday from 17 degrees C (63 degrees F) the previous day, weather officials said.
Its pollution ranked in the ‘severe’ category for the second consecutive day, with a score of 430 on an index of air quality maintained by the top pollution panel that rates a score of zero to 50 as ‘good’.
Pollution in New Delhi is likely to stay in the ‘severe’ category on Friday, the earth sciences ministry said, before improving to ‘very poor’, or an index score of 300 to 400.
The number of farm fires to clear fields in northern India has risen steadily this week to almost 2,300 on Wednesday from 1,200 on Monday, the ministry’s website showed.
Lahore, the capital of Pakistan’s eastern province of Punjab, was rated the world’s most polluted city on Thursday, in live rankings kept by Swiss group IQAir. Authorities there have also battled hazardous air this month. India’s Adani Group to Invest $10 Billion in US Energy, Infrastructure (Bloomberg)
Bloomberg [11/13/2024 10:32 AM, Advait Palepu, 27782K, Positive]
India’s Adani Group plans to invest $10 billion in energy and infrastructure projects in the US, deepening strategic business ties between the two countries.The group is “committed to leveraging its global expertise” and will invest in projects that would create as many as 15,000 jobs in the US, billionaire Gautam Adani said in a post on X on Wednesday.Adani’s investment in the US follows a battle against allegations of corporate governance and accounting irregularities by New York-based short-seller Hindenburg Research in January 2023, which caused a massive erosion of the group’s market value last year. While the Indian securities regulator launched an extensive probe into the group’s affairs, Adani has bounced back raising significant amounts of fresh capital from foreign investors including US-based GQG Partners.The infrastructure conglomerate has announced major investments domestically in recent months across metals, ports and green hydrogen production. The group is also solidifying its market share in the cement and construction sectors, acquiring Orient Cement Ltd. for $963 million and ITD Cementation for $381 million in October. India-U.S. trade will likely grow even under Trump tariff regime (Nikkei Asia – opinion)
Nikkei Asia [11/13/2024 3:05 PM, Rahul Mazumdar, 2376K, Positive]
As Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, U.S.-India trade relations are at a pivotal moment. Despite potential policy obstacles, the two nations’ strategic alignment suggests their economic partnership will not only endure but likely strengthen.Since Barack Obama’s first term in 2009, U.S. imports from India have surged, rising from $22 billion to nearly $48 billion by 2016 and reaching a historic 2.8% of America’s total imports under Trump, despite pandemic disruptions.The difficulty of replacing Indian exports underscores the mutual economic interests that could ease trade tensions. The strong rapport between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi may also help bridge any issues. Still, attracting more foreign direct investment to India may prove challenging. Walter Ladwig, a professor at King’s College London, suggests that Trump may resist "friend-shoring" high-tech sectors.In 2023, India became the U.S.’s ninth-largest import market, largely due to the cost-effective, high-quality, and reliable trade relationship the two countries have developed. Since China’s entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001, it has dominated global trade, especially with the U.S. Yet, with heightened scrutiny on China since Trump’s first term, India has increasingly benefited.The Indo-Pacific’s strategic importance further bolsters the U.S.-India partnership, especially as India’s exports to the U.S. grow in sectors like low- to mid-tech products. Together, these factors contribute to the growing reliance of the U.S. on India’s trusted, cost-effective supply chain. Notably, high-value items like pearls and diamonds make up nearly 28% of U.S. imports from India, a unique trade profile not shared with other top exporters.While Trump may consider tariffs on imports from various nations, such moves could stoke domestic inflation, potentially deterring him from implementing drastic measures. As a businessman who favors negotiation, Trump may prefer to strike deals, perhaps seeking to open India to more U.S. retail brands, or to secure regulatory support for ventures like Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet in India.In terms of trade composition, five of the top 10 categories of U.S. imports from India in 2023 showed double-digit growth from 2009 to 2023. These include electrical machinery and equipment (17%), pharmaceuticals (20%), mineral products (16%), organic chemicals (10%), and vehicles and parts (11%). Overall, the value of U.S. imports from India has quadrupled since 2009.Notably, in May 2019, Trump ended India’s duty-free access under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), a policy that President Biden did not reverse. Despite this, U.S. imports from India have continued to grow across multiple categories, including electrical machinery and equipment (54.2% compounded annual growth), machinery and mechanical appliances (15.1%), iron and steel products (16.6%), pharmaceuticals (9%), and organic chemicals (7.6%).Trump’s firm stance on China could create manufacturing opportunities for India, as his administration may support India’s production capabilities to build an alternative global supply chain. Additionally, with India and the U.S. cooperating strategically in the Indo-Pacific region and America’s emphasis on high-tech products, continued U.S. imports of mid-to-low-tech products from India remain practical.As both nations navigate a post-pandemic global economy, it is essential for U.S. and Indian policymakers to reinforce their economic dialogue. By doing so, they can secure not only mutual prosperity but also stability in the Indo-Pacific region. NSB
Bangladesh leader Muhammad Yunus slams rich nations for burning up the planet at UN climate talks (AP)
AP [11/13/2024 10:03 AM, Sibi Arasu, 88008K, Negative]
Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus said Wednesday that world leaders shouldn’t be negotiating at United Nations climate talks this year, and countries responsible for warming up the planet should instead just simply provide the funds to deal with the climate crisis.
"Why should there be a negotiation? You are causing the problem, then you solve it," he told The Associated Press in an interview in Baku, Azerbaijan. "We will raise our voice and tell them it´s your fault, like what we did with colonialism.".
Yunus was chosen to head Bangladesh´s interim government after the nation´s longtime prime minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled abroad. Her resignation followed intense political turmoil earlier this year, with weeks of protests and clashes with security forces that killed nearly 300 people. Known as the "banker to the poorest of the poor," Yunus, a Nobel laureate, was a longtime critic of Hasina.
Yunus said the climate negotiations, known as COP29, can be "humiliating" for poor countries. Yunus likened the talks to a "fish market" packed with people trying to get the best bargains. "That´s a very wrong perception of the whole thing," he said.
Bangladesh is among the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. Various scientific reports have found that the South Asian nation could lose up to 17% of its land to rising seas and is also at the brunt of increasingly more frequent and intense cyclonic storms.
But "everyone´s home is on fire," said Yunus. He said rich nations, who developed their economies by burning planet-warming coal, oil and gas, are "not safe either. So they have to act in their self-interest as well as the interest of the whole planet.".
Yunus said he will dedicate his time as leader to clean energy projects in Bangladesh and protecting the population against climate change.
"Whether it´s an interim government or no government or a democratic government, whatever government is in power should be aware and has to work hard to stop that fire," he said. ‘Very humiliating’: Bangladesh’s Yunus seethes over climate cash fight (Agence France-Presse)
Agence France-Presse [11/13/2024 1:01 PM, Staff, 8537K, Negative]
In the three months since becoming Bangladesh’s interim leader following a student-led revolution, Muhammad Yunus has endured political turmoil, impatient cries for elections, and destructive flooding across the low-lying nation.Now, the Nobel Peace Prize winner has been thrust into a brawl over money to help poorer countries deal with climate change -- and he is not pleased about it.The 84-year-old micro-finance pioneer, who took over after the toppling of autocratic leader Sheikh Hasina in August, likened the haggling at the UN COP29 climate summit to a "fish market".
"I think that’s very humiliating, for nations to come and ask for money to fix... (the) problem that others caused for them," Yunus told AFP in an interview in Azerbaijan, which is hosting the talks.
"Why should we be dragged here to negotiate? You know the problem.".
Nations hope to land a deal at COP29 that boosts funding for climate action in developing nations like Bangladesh, which are least responsible for global warming, but most at its mercy.
Some want $1 trillion a year to cover the enormous cost of shifting their economies to clean energy, and adapting to ever-more erratic and extreme weather.
But rich countries -- whose rise to prosperity and associated carbon emissions have driven global warming -- are reluctant to commit such large sums and want others to chip in.
The talks have hit a wall, frustrating leaders of climate-imperilled nations who left behind populations in dire straits to travel to Baku.
Among them is Yunus, who said his riverine homeland had been smashed by six punishing floods -- "each one worse than the previous" -- in the short time since he took over.
Hundreds of thousands of people were forced into emergency shelters in the floods, which also destroyed rice crops.‘You figure it out’
Bangladesh is among the world’s most vulnerable nations to climate change, with large areas made up of deltas where the Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers wind towards the sea.
The country of 170 million is particularly at risk of devastating floods and cyclones -- disasters that only stand to accelerate as the planet keeps warming.
Yunus said it was "not a secret" that rich nations would have to help poorer ones adapt and they should "figure out how much is needed -- not me".
"This is not something we are demanding out of your generosity. We’re asking because you are the cause of this problem," he said bluntly.
Yunus said juggling a peaceful democratic transition and a floods response was "difficult" enough and adding a flight to Baku to feud over climate finance didn’t help.
Impatience for elections in Bangladesh has gained pace since Hasina’s ouster, and the silver-haired technocrat said he shared concerns for peace and security in the nation of 170 million.A free and fair vote would come as promised, he said, but the speed of democratic reforms "will decide how quick the election will be".
He wouldn’t offer a date or timeline, but said the caretaker administration was hoping to build "a quick consensus".
"We are the interim government, so our period should be as short as possible," he said. Rights groups condemn Bangladesh for canceling accreditation of 167 journalists (AP)
AP [11/13/2024 11:50 AM, Staff, 88008K, Negative]
An association of editors and rights groups has condemned a decision by Bangladesh´s interim government to cancel press accreditations for 167 journalists, calling it a threat to press freedom in the country.
Between Oct. 29 and Nov. 7, the Press Information Department revoked the accreditations in three phases, drawing widespread criticism from press advocates and journalists.
The move has added to concerns over press freedom and harassment of journalists following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina August in a student-led revolt against her government.
The Editors´ Council said the cancellation of accreditation by the interim government headed by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus risks "fostering a climate of exerting control, including censorship, over the media".
No reason was given in the notices by the department, except that the decision was made under provisions of a 2022 policy.
The department did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Associated Press.
Journalists sit and talk outside Dhaka Press Club in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.
In a statement, the Editors’ Council said Tuesday that while officials have the right to review any misuse of accreditation cards, they should not take action without providing specific allegations and proof of wrongdoing.
It added that the decision also went against the spirit of the revolution that toppled Hasina’s 15-year rule. Hundreds were killed in the uprising that began as a protest over government jobs and morphed into a large-scale revolt against Hasina´s increasingly autocratic administration. Hasina fled to India.
The editors´ association said the interim government´s move was repeating the "undemocratic practices" of the previous Hasina-led government, and urged Yunus to uphold the rights of the press.
Hasina´s government was accused of using harsh tools and draconian laws to muzzle dissent, shrink press freedoms and curtail civil society. In 2024, her last year in power, Bangladesh plunged to 165th place out of 180 in the World Press Freedom Index, the country´s lowest ranking ever.
Journalists can continue to report and write without accreditation, but they will not be allowed inside any government ministry, restricting their ability to cover official events or press conferences. An AP journalist was among the 167 who have had their accreditations canceled.
"We condemn in the strongest terms this move by Bangladesh authorities to crack down on independent journalists. We urge the interim government to restore our journalist´s credentials immediately," AP Executive Editor Julie Pace said.
Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders said in a statement that the decision to strip accreditation "encourages self-censorship" and was "incomprehensible" as it came just a week after the Information Ministry established a committee to monitor cases of harassment against journalists.
Transparency International Bangladesh called the revocation of accreditation cards, as well as other reports of threats and attacks against the press, an indicator of "an anti-people authoritarian regime.".
The interim government, which took charge in August, has previously vowed to restore democracy and uphold the free press. In an interview with the country´s largest newspaper, Prothom Alo, Yunus advocated for media freedom. "Write as you please. Criticize. Unless you write, how will we know what is happening or not happening?" he said last month.
But harassment and attacks against journalists have persisted.
At least 25 journalists, including those perceived as pro-Hasina, have been charged for alleged violence in connection with the protests, according to Reporters Without Borders.
In August, Human Rights Watch denounced the arrest of two journalists, and expressed concerns that the justice system was "replicating its abusive and partisan behavior" without following due process and was "merely reversing those targeted.". Malaysia Says It Got Bangladesh Request to Arrest Businessmen (Bloomberg)
Bloomberg [11/13/2024 11:41 PM, Anders Melin, 5.2M, Neutral]
A Malaysian cabinet official said Sunday that the country had received a request from Bangladesh to arrest two businessmen as part of a probe of alleged trafficking of migrant workers, confirming a Bloomberg News report.
Police in Bangladesh are seeking Aminul Islam, the founder of Bestinet Sdn. Bhd., and Ruhul Amin as part of the investigation, which also covers alleged money laundering and extortion, Bloomberg News reported Nov. 5, citing a copy of a letter that Bangladesh’s branch of Interpol sent to its counterpart in Malaysia.“For now, I can confirm that Dhaka has sent the official notice to” Malaysian police, Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail told reporters. Saifuddin said he had asked other officials to clarify whether Bangladesh is seeking the men for a criminal investigation or for prosecution, which will determine the next steps.
A lawyer for Aminul called the allegations “nonsensical” and said his client is “prepared to cooperate to provide all information required that will clearly exonerate him and Bestinet from any wrongdoing. Aminul will only do so via written correspondence or a virtual interview, he added.
A representative for Ruhul has denied all allegations of wrongdoing. What a Second Trump Presidency Means for Bangladesh (The Diplomat)
The Diplomat [11/13/2024 11:00 AM, Md. Himel Rahman, 1198K, Neutral]
In the U.S. presidential election on November 5, Donald Trump of the Republican Party won a decisive victory, and he is scheduled to succeed Joe Biden as the U.S. president on January 20, 2025. The upcoming change in the U.S. administration is likely to substantially affect ties between Bangladesh and the United States, in areas including politics, the economy, migration, strategic and security ties, climate change, and humanitarian cooperation.Effects on Bangladesh’s Internal PoliticsIn contrast with the Biden administration’s moral and ideological emphasis on democracy and human rights in U.S. foreign policy, Trump is more pragmatic and transactional. The Biden administration has actively supported the interim government of Bangladesh under Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, which was formed in the aftermath of the popular uprising of August. Trump is unlikely to demonstrate similar levels of enthusiasm for the interim government.In fact, many analysts have argued that Trump is likely to view the interim government unfavorably owing to Yunus’ closeness with prominent Democrats, especially the Clintons. Immediately after Trump’s election win over Hillary Clinton in 2016, Yunus, speaking at a conference in Paris, compared the result to “a solar eclipse,” adding that “Trump’s win has hit us so hard that… I could hardly speak. I lost all strength.” Such comments are unlikely to endear him to the famously thin-skinned Trump.Moreover, in a tweet published on October 31, Trump condemned so-called “barbaric violence” against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, and commented that “it would have never happened” under his watch. This should be viewed as a demonstration of U.S. electoral politics, as both the Republicans and the Democrats sought to mobilize Indian American and Hindu American votes in their favor. However, some analysts have interpreted this post as a sign that Washington under the Trump administration is going to view Bangladesh through India’s lens once again.Electoral politics and potential personal feelings aside, U.S. foreign policy is primarily guided by its national interests as understood by its policymakers. The current government in Dhaka is positively disposed toward Washington, and that is unlikely to alter under the Trump presidency. Already, the interim government has extended warm congratulations to President-elect Trump and expressed its wish to cooperate with his administration.Hence, while there are possibilities that the upcoming Trump administration may voice its concerns over the rights of minorities in Bangladesh or some other issues, the United States under Trump would be unlikely to undertake broad measures against Bangladesh unless Washington’s core interests are threatened. The India factor is one to watch in this regard (more on that below).Impact on the Economy and MigrationDuring his first term, Trump pursued a protectionist economic policy, and that is likely to be replicated in his second term. Since the United States is the single largest importer of Bangladesh’s primary export goods, ready-made garments (RMG), the possible imposition of tariffs and other non-tariff barriers on Bangladeshi products by the upcoming Trump administration is a serious potential challenge for Dhaka.Already under the Biden administration, Bangladesh-U.S. trade has dwindled, and the flow of U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) to Bangladesh has reduced. The situation may worsen under Trump if Washington adopts a protectionist policy. However, there is a different possibility as well. It is likely that the ongoing China-U.S. trade war would escalate under Trump, and Dhaka can use this to its advantage by expanding its RMG exports to the United States if rival products from China are placed under new tariffs.Meanwhile, the United States is currently the third-largest source of remittances for Bangladesh, and thousands of Bangladeshis have immigrated to the U.S. during the Biden administration. However, taking into account Trump’s openly anti-immigrant rhetoric and his migration policy during the first term, it is likely that he would impose restrictions on migration to the country. This can negatively affect Bangladeshi migration to the United States and remittance inflows.Security and Strategic TiesAt present, Bangladesh pursues a balanced and neutral position on the geopolitical confrontation between the United States and China, as evidenced by its Indo-Pacific Outlook. The outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine War and the war in the Middle East had largely kept the focus of the Biden administration on Europe and the Middle East. The upcoming Trump administration is likely to refocus on China and the Indo-Pacific region. Accordingly, the United States is likely to engage more with Bangladesh. This presents both challenges and opportunities for Dhaka.India is a major U.S. partner in the Indo-Pacific region, and it unfavorably views the change of government in Bangladesh that occurred in August. If the upcoming Trump administration indeed views Bangladesh through the prism of Indian security interests, it is likely to create complications for the interim government. On the other hand, by using skillful diplomacy in the context of greater U.S. involvement in the region, Bangladesh can strive to deepen its security cooperation and strategic ties with the United States.Climate Change and Humanitarian CooperationTrump is a known skeptic on climate change, and he has vowed to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement once again, having done so in his first term (the U.S. then rejoined the agreement under Biden).Climate change poses a serious challenge for Bangladesh, which is one of the most vulnerable states in the world. Bangladesh bears little responsibility for the distortions in the climate, and it requires international assistance to cope with the negative consequences. However, considering Trump’s views on climate change, Bangladesh is unlikely to obtain much climate assistance under the upcoming U.S. administration.Another area where Bangladesh may see less U.S. assistance is aid for the sizable population of refugees. Bangladesh currently hosts more than 1.3 million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, and international humanitarian aid for the Rohingya is already dwindling. At present, the United States is the largest contributor of humanitarian aid for the Rohingya. This trend may continue under Trump, but the volume of aid may be reduced.During its first term, the Trump administration had demonstrated little interest in facilitating the repatriation of the Rohingya refugees, and the situation is unlikely to change in the second term. Moreover, the interim government has pushed for the resettlement of some Rohingya refugees in third countries, and the United States was envisioned as one of the destinations. However, taking into account Trump’s views on migration, this option is unlikely to get much traction under his administration.The Way ForwardTaking into account all the factors involved, Bangladesh should prepare for the second Trump presidency. After Trump’s inauguration, Dhaka should carefully monitor the trajectory of U.S. policies and formulate its response. Bangladesh should enhance its political and diplomatic engagement with the United States under the Trump administration, and inform the U.S. of its views on its internal and international outlook.In particular, Dhaka should emphasize to Washington that it should have an independent partnership with the U.S. without being influenced by any other state’s lens. Also, Dhaka should duly notify the upcoming Trump administration that the government is striving to protect its minorities, and the news about the persecution of minorities has been greatly exaggerated.Meanwhile, Bangladesh should strive to enhance its economic partnership with the United States under the Trump administration and shield itself from U.S. protectionist policies. Similarly, Dhaka should emphasize to the U.S. its support for a free, open, secure, and peaceful Indo-Pacific region, and enhance its military-strategic cooperation with the latter, while carefully avoiding entanglement in military alliances.Last but not least, Dhaka should have realistic expectations about the Trump administration’s policies on migration, climate assistance, and humanitarian cooperation, and brace for any setback in these spheres.Under the upcoming Trump administration, global politics is going to witness new upheavals and transformations. Bangladesh should accordingly be prepared for any potential negative repercussions in its political, economic, environmental, and humanitarian spheres, while searching for possible areas of mutually beneficial cooperation with the United States. Bhutan Is Making It Easier to Visit to Revive Its Economy (Bloomberg)
Bloomberg [11/13/2024 1:33 AM, Lebawit Lily Girma, 5.2M, Neutral]
For a country that’s long prioritized a balanced lifestyle and good governance over economic gain, Bhutan is doing something it’s never done before: embrace more independent, cost-conscious travelers in an urgent bid to revive its faltering economy.
Tshering Tobgay, now prime minister, characterized Bhutan’s economy as “on the brink of collapse” in a November 2023 election manifesto for his People’s Democratic Party, citing an average economic growth rate of just 1.7% over five years. As a result, Bhutan is seeing high levels of youth unemployment and dwindling foreign currency reserves. Tourism is seen as a major lever to pull.
Bhutan welcomed 103,000 visitors in 2023, about two-thirds below its pre-pandemic record reached in 2019. The new goal is to return as quickly as possible to just over 300,000 visitors annually, but with a more diverse consumer base. Bhutan would like to get at least half its visitors from non-Asian markets, specifically the US, Europe and Australia; Indian travelers accounted for more than 73% of total arrivals in the last full year before the 2020 Covid lockdowns.“We can grow in a manner that is balanced and true to the principles of gross national happiness,” said Togbay, when asked about proposed plans to turn the economy around. Its GNH index measures the well-being of its residents—from living standards to health to cultural and environmental preservation.
Since Bhutan started welcoming tourists in 1974, it has built its reputation on low-volume crowds and high-paying guests, drawn to sweeping Himalayan mountain vistas and Buddhist monasteries perched on cliffs. As a result, it also earned a reputation as being inaccessible to the average tourist.
Now to incentivize the growth of travel, Bhutan is addressing those roadblocks real or perceived around access and cost.
Twice-weekly flights from Dubai to Paro on Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines kicked off in October, connecting Bhutan to the Middle East for the first time. Previously, international travelers had to connect through major Asian hubs like Singapore or Bangkok, or transit through India.
In August, a first-ever online directory and booking portal started allowing for a la carte planning by letting travelers easily filter vetted and licensed Bhutanese providers, which previously would have been impossible to sort through without the help of a local travel agency or tour operator.
Independent-minded traveler can browse, compare and directly book tour guide services—still mandatory when visiting Bhutan—and accommodations, giving them the tools to shape their own trip at potentially lower costs. In the past, choices in tour operators would be limited to just a handful of companies, making it harder to compare and shave off added costs.
The portal currently lists more than 1,000 guides, 471 tour operators, over 100 hotels, 29 homestays and 9 restaurants. Forthcoming is a section featuring licensed car rentals, Bhutan’s tourism board says, as well as shops. In a release, Kinley Gyeltshen, chairman of the Bhutanese Tour Operators Association, called the new portal “a game-changer for tourists visiting Bhutan.”
In addition to potential savings through self-booked trips, the mandatory daily sustainable development fee per adult has been slashed from $200 to $100 through August 31, 2027. (There are additional discounts for travelers from neighboring India and children under 12.)
The fee funds health care and education for residents, as well as sustainability and infrastructure projects. The government lowered it in September 2023, after tour operators voiced concerns that it was driving up travelers’ costs at a time when global market conditions saw fewer tourists heading to Asia compared to the rest of the world (with the exception ofJapan).
This initial effort helped the small country increase its arrivals by 97% in the first quarter of 2024, compared with the same period a year ago. The pickup in numbers reflects a more diverse crowd, too, with gains from the China, Germany, Singapore, the UK and the US.
Namgyal Dorji, Bhutan’s minister of commerce, industry and employment, confirms the government’s vision for Bhutan’s tourism remains “firmly rooted in a commitment to a high-value, low-volume approach that honors and preserves the country’s unique cultural and environmental heritage.”
In anticipation of a potential growth in visitor numbers beyond pre-pandemic numbers, he adds, the government has “adopted a balanced approach that prioritizes sustainable infrastructure enhancements, immersive experiences reflecting Bhutan’s core values, and consistently high-quality visitor experiences.”
Brent Olson, founder of Ethos Bhutan, says the growth of tourism to Bhutan over the years is evident. Olson, who plans customized trips and leads small group journeys to Bhutan, has been visiting the country since the late 1980s.“It doesn’t take much to overwhelm such small towns and cultural sites,” he adds. This means visiting the country during peak festival months—October, November, April and May—”can be a bit of a scrum,” he says. That has always been true, but it’s more of a factor as tourism grows each year, even with fewer arrivals since the pandemic.
Marketing the destination more broadly has its risks: Bhutan has been appearing more frequently on social media feeds as the government and tour operators tap into travel influencers to promote the country.“They’re caught with that dilemma of [wanting] to increase numbers, but then you pay the penalty for that with the effect of influencers,” Olsen says. “Once that social media gets out there and hooks millions of people, they all are like lemmings and they follow the same path—it’s a tricky balancing act.”
Bhutan’s prime minister Togbay has said that if demand outstrips the 300,000 visitor threshold, the sustainability fee may go up. Dorji confirms a state of alertness. “As Bhutan gains international visibility, especially through social media and influencers,” he says, “we recognize both the opportunities this brings and the responsibilities we hold to manage it wisely.”Which means there’s no time like now to beat the crowds who are thinking about visiting the Land of the Thunder Dragon.
Planning Your Trip
Most travelers look to visit the golden triangle of Paro, the gateway to Bhutan and home to the iconic Buddhist monastery, Tiger’s Nest; Thimphu, the capital city, a modern hub with plentiful shopping for local handicrafts; and Punakha, the ancient capital, with its lush river valley scenery. These can be squeezed into a week’s stay, but having at least 8 to 10 days would mean you could also venture farther east into central Bhutan’s Bumthang Valley, considered the cultural heart of the country and home to Buddhist temples dating back to the 8th century C.E.
You could research and book your entire trip a la carte, using the new online portal—finding guides and accommodations on your own. But it’s still challenging to parse the options and know what’s the best value for your money. Your best bet remains delegating the planning.
Luxury hospitality brand &Beyond offers a seven-day “Best of Bhutan” tour (starting from $5,284 per person) for first-timers. The itinerary takes you to the major spiritual sights to see important cultural practices, starting in Thimphu for hiking and learning about Bhutanese arts and crafts, continuing on to Punakha for some river rafting through forests and farmlands, and ending in Paro, with a hike to Tiger’s Nest. Additional itineraries focus on wellness or birding.
Along the way, you’ll stay at a variety of five-star resorts, including the brand’s first-ever property in Bhutan, opened in September 2023. The all-inclusive &Beyond Punakha River Lodge (rates from $1,175 per night for double occupancy) offers safari-style tented suites in royal blue and earth tones or two-bedroom suites set amid rice paddies to showcase the resort’s secluded setting. Amenities here range from direct, private access to the banks of the Mo Chu river to soaking in a wooden Bhutanese hot stone bath at the lodge’s spa after a guided trek.
Ethos Bhutan’s small group tours ($8,995 per person, double occupancy), which Olson leads, run twice a year and are timed during the shoulder and off-seasons—departing mid-April or mid-November. This helps avoid crowds of tourists, allowing for more personal interaction with communities and the local organizations he’s built a relationship with over the past 38 years.
Olson is passionate about diversifying accommodations on his itineraries, from luxury resorts to restored heritage houses, to give guests a more intimate feel for Bhutan’s culture and people. Properties include the long-established Bhutanese-owned five-star Zhiwa Ling Heritage (rates starting at $845), set in the lush Paro valley, where a slew of on-site cultural experiences include a Buddhist temple, a traditional tea house and archery demonstrations. Also in the valley, Pemako Punakha (rates from $1,990 per night for double occupancy), open since September 2023, offers tented villas with private heated pools, tucked away in a forest.
Six Senses’ 14-night Khamsa journey—which means “royal stroll”—is a five-valley circuit ($35,388 per person, double occupancy) designed for first-timers. It takes you from western to central Bhutan for a combination of hikes to pilgrimage sites, pre-arranged hands-on workshops, such as prayer flag making, and a la carte spa treatments you can enjoy during your stays at Six Senses lodges in Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey and Paro.Expect its itineraries next year—and likely those from Ethos Bhutan, &Beyond and other operators—to include a stop at the newly renovated 19th century Wangduechhoeling Palace and grounds, the birthplace of Bhutan’s monarchy in the 19th century, located in the central Bumthang valley. Ten years in the making, the museum is expected to open in 2025, following a $3 million restoration, and is set to become one of Bhutan’s main attractions. Sri Lanka votes in a parliamentary election that’s key for its new Marxist-leaning president (AP)
AP [11/13/2024 9:19 PM, Krishan Francis, 456K, Neutral]
Sri Lankans are voting in a parliamentary election Thursday that is key for the country’s new, Marxist-leaning president to consolidate his party’s power and follow through on promises of economic recovery.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake won the presidential election on Sept. 21 in a victory that marked a rejection of the traditional political parties, which have governed the island nation since its independence from British rule in 1948.
However, Dissanayake’s failure to secure more than 50% of the vote has fueled concerns over his party’s outlook in Thursday’s election.
His National People’s Power party must increase its votes significantly — from the 42% it won in the presidential election — if it is to acquire a minimum of 113 seats to take control of the 225-member Parliament.
The biggest challenge for the NPP — which was founded in 2019 and is a relative newcomer on Sri Lanka’s political scene — is that many of its candidates are new faces in politics running against well-established politicians from the traditional parties.
Of the 225 parliament seats, 196 are up for grabs under Sri Lanka’s proportional representative electoral system, which allocates seats in each district among the parties according to the proportion of the votes they get.
The remaining 29 seats — called the national list seats — are allocated to parties and independent groups according to the proportion of the total votes they receive countrywide.
There are 8,821 candidates vying for the 196 seats for elected members of Parliament.
Sajith Premadasa, who came in second in the presidential election and his Samagi Jana Balawegaya, or United People’s Power party, is NPP’s main competition.
Dissanayake, while campaigning for his party’s candidates, has called on voters to help elect them to Parliament so he won’t need to rely on a coalition to enact the reforms he promised.
Election results are expected on Friday.
The election comes at a decisive time for Sri Lankans, as the island nation is struggling to emerge from its worst economic crisis, having declared bankruptcy after defaulting on its external debt in 2022.
The country is now in the middle of a bailout program with the International Monetary Fund and debt restructuring with international creditors nearly complete.
Dissanayake had said during the presidential campaign that he planned to propose significant changes to the targets set in the IMF deal, which his predecessor Ranil Wickremesinghe signed, saying it placed too much burden on the people. However, he has since changed his stance and says Sri Lanka will go along with the agreement.
Sri Lanka’s crisis was largely the result of economic mismanagement combined with fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, which along with 2019 terrorism attacks devastated its important tourism industry. The pandemic also disrupted the flow of remittances from Sri Lankans working abroad.
The government also slashed taxes in 2019, depleting the treasury just as the virus hit. Foreign exchange reserves plummeted, leaving Sri Lanka unable to pay for imports or defend its currency, the rupee.
Sri Lanka’s economic upheaval led to a political crisis that forced then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign in 2022. Parliament then elected Wickremesinghe to replace him.
The economy was stabilized, inflation dropped, the local currency strengthened and foreign reserves increased under Wickremesinghe. Nonetheless, he lost the election as public dissatisfaction grew over the government’s effort to increase revenue by raising electricity bills and imposing heavy new income taxes on professionals and businesses, as part of the government’s efforts to meet the IMF conditions.
Dissanayake’s promise to punish members of previous governments accused of corruption and to recover allegedly stolen assets has also raised much hope among the people. Sri Lanka election: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake seeks increased parliamentary strength (Reuters)
Reuters [11/13/2024 9:56 PM, Uditha Jayasinghe, 37270K, Neutral]
Sri Lanka began voting in a snap election on Thursday which will determine if the island nation wants to empower its new, leftist President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to push his pro-poor policies as it recovers from a financial meltdown.A little over 17 million Sri Lankans are eligible to elect lawmakers to the 225-member parliament for a five-year term. A record 690 political parties and independent groups are in the fray across 22 electoral districts.Marxist-leaning Dissanayake, 55, was elected president in September but his National People’s Power (NPP) coalition had just three of 225 seats in parliament, prompting him to dissolve the legislature almost a year before its term ended and seek a fresh mandate.Over 7,000 police personnel have been deployed to ensure free and fair elections at the more than 13,400 polling stations set up across the country, police officers told Reuters."The military is also on standby to assist the police but we do not expect any incidents," said Police Spokesman Nihal Thalduwa, adding that voting was proceeding smoothly.As polling opened in the early hours of the morning, people began trickling into temples, schools and other public buildings being used as polling stations.Among them was Umeshi Perera, 32, who lined up to cast her ballot at a school in Biyagama, a suburb about 15 km (9 miles) from the South Asian nation’s largest city of Colombo."I think we are seeing the first signs of a positive political change in Sri Lanka after the president was elected and we should give him the chance to continue that change," she said.Analysts say Dissanayake’s coalition is expected to draw significant support, while a victory for a rival could lead to a policy logjam the country cannot afford.The Samagi Jana Balawegaya party of opposition leader Sajith Premadasa - who favours a mix of interventionist and free-market economic policies - is NPP’s main challenger. The other key contender is the New Democratic Front, backed by previous President Ranil Wickremesinghe."All arrangements are in place and we appeal to the public to work with us to ensure a free and fair election," Election Commission Chairman R M L Rathnayake told reporters at a pre-election briefing on Tuesday.Votes will be counted soon after polling closes on Thursday and results are expected to be announced on Friday.A country of 22 million people just across the southern tip of India, Sri Lanka was crushed by a 2022 economic crisis triggered by a severe shortfall of foreign currency, causing the economy to shrink by 7.3% in 2022 and 2.3% last year.Boosted by a $2.9 billion bailout programme from the International Monetary Fund, the economy has begun a tentative recovery, but the high cost of living is still a critical issue for many voters, especially the poor.Dissanayake wants to push anti-poverty policies including bigger welfare schemes and fight corruption as a political outsider in a country dominated by family parties for decades.He also aims to tweak targets set under the IMF programme to reduce high income taxes and free up funds to invest in welfare for millions hit hardest by the crisis.The new government must deliver a budget to reach a crucial primary surplus target of 2.3% of GDP in 2025 set under the IMF programme, deliver pro-poor policies, and put growth on a sustainable path.But investors worry Dissanayake’s desire to revisit the terms of the IMF bailout could delay future disbursements, and make it harder for Sri Lanka to hit that primary surplus target."In past elections, people did not have confidence in us but in September people gave us victory and proved that we are a winning party and we can form a government," Dissanayake said on Sunday as the campaign neared its conclusion."The next task is to unite people from the four corners of this country and build a powerful people’s movement," he said. Sri Lanka President Eyes Parliament Win In Snap Election (Agence France-Presse)
Agence France-Presse [11/13/2024 4:06 PM, Amal Jayasinghe, 502K, Neutral]
Sri Lankans began voting Thursday in snap parliamentary elections, with new leftist President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s party expected to secure a big majority to drive through economic reforms.The 55-year-old hopes to grab two-thirds of the legislature’s 225 seats to press ahead with reforms after the country’s economic meltdown in 2022, when then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa was ousted.Dissanayake took power after sweeping September elections on a promise to combat graft and recover the country’s stolen assets.Voting booths on the South Asian island will close at 4:00 pm (1030 GMT), with 17.1 million people choosing between 8,800 candidates after a seven-week-long campaign that election monitors say was one of the most peaceful in the country.Initial results are expected Friday.Election officials said over 80,000 police officers -- backed by monitoring drones -- have been deployed at the country’s more than 13,000 polling booths.Dissanayake’s JVP, or the People’s Liberation Front, is the main constituent of the National People’s Power (NPP) coalition of professionals seeking to form the next government.The NPP held just three seats in the outgoing assembly.Dissanayake had been an MP for nearly 25 years and was briefly an agriculture minister, but he has distanced himself from traditional politicians accused of leading the country to its worst economic crisis two years ago.His JVP party led two insurrections in 1971 and 1987, leading to at least 80,000 deaths, but Dissanayake took power peacefully in elections on September 21.Despite previous promises to renegotiate a controversial $2.9 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout secured by his predecessor Ranil Wickremesinghe, Dissanayake has chosen to maintain the agreement with the international lender.The country’s main private sector lobby, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, is tacitly supporting Dissanayake and expects him to press ahead with reforms."Continuing reforms... could encourage both investor confidence and fiscal discipline, setting a foundation for sustainable growth," CCC Secretary Bhuwanekabahu Perera told AFP ahead of voting.He said Dissanayake’s approach to governance "may lean toward a balanced socialist-democratic model that acknowledges market realities."An IMF delegation is due in Colombo on Thursday to review economic progress before releasing the next tranche of $330 million of the bailout loan.Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, who had campaigned to take part in a coalition government, vowed in his final campaign rally that he would "put pressure" on Dissanayake to honour promises of tax cuts.Poll monitors and analysts note that Thursday’s election had failed to generate the level of enthusiasm -- or violence -- seen at previous polls.Political analyst Kusal Perera said there was little campaigning by opposition parties."The opposition is dead," Perera said. "The result of the election is a foregone conclusion."Over 60 senior politicians from the previous administration have opted to stay out.The outgoing parliament was dominated by the party of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa -- the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), or the People’s Front -- but it has since splintered.Rajapaksa is not contesting, but his son Namal, a former sports minister, is seeking re-election. Central Asia
Kyrgyzstan makes arrests over suspected coup attempt ahead of local elections (Reuters)
Reuters [11/13/2024 6:09 AM, Aigerim Turgunbaeva, 37270K, Negative]
Police in the Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan have arrested and charged seven people on suspicion of organising mass riots to overthrow the government ahead of local elections on Sunday.
The interior ministry said in a statement on Tuesday the individuals were suspected of using sports games and other competitions in the capital Bishkek to foment a riot.
"Under the guise of national sports games, they intended to call for acts of violence, were going to put forward unconstitutional calls, (and) destabilise the situation for the further violent seizure of power on November 17," the ministry said.
Those detained include several foreign nationals and a former deputy prosecutor general.
Authorities seized weapons and ammunition from the alleged riot organisers, the police said, as well as 1,000 bottles of vodka "to get the crowd drunk", 2,000 bottles of water, a ton of rice, and a horse intended for slaughter.
Kyrgyzstan is set to hold elections for local councils in several districts on Nov. 17.
Russia, which has a military base outside Bishkek, said on Wednesday that it is in constant touch with its Kyrgyz counterparts over the security situation.
Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet nation of about 7 million people, sandwiched between China and Kazakhstan, has seen several episodes of civil unrest in recent years.
In 2020, protests broke out in Bishkek following a disputed parliamentary election, which Western observers said had been marred by vote buying, eventually leading to the resignation of then-President Sooronbai Jeenbekov.
Two other presidents have been overthrown in Kyrgyzstan this century. Amid Ukraine Fallout, China Pushes Ahead With Bold Kyrgyzstan Trade Vision (Radio Free Europe)
Radio Free Europe [11/13/2024 4:14 PM, Kubatbek Aibashov and Chris Rickleton, 235K, Neutral]
A Swedish consultancy group made international headlines in 2007 when it declared that Santa Claus should be based in Kyrgyzstan, as it was the best place for him to reach every household in the world during his fabled Christmas-night journey.
For those restricted to ground travel, however, landlocked Kyrgyzstan still looks like a logistics nightmare with its soaring mountain peaks and poor roads.
Yet China is undeterred and seems to be pulling out all the stops to turn Central Asia’s second-poorest country into its next big project in terms of trans-Eurasian trade.
In a world reshaped by geopolitical turbulence -- and having suffered false starts with China in the past -- Kyrgyzstan will be hoping that this commitment is here to stay.
A $4 Billion Logistics Hub?
October came and went without promised construction work beginning on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway: a long-promised, multibillion-dollar megaproject that optimists say could transform East-West trade, cutting delivery times between China and Europe by up to one week.
But there were other significant groundbreakings in Kyrgyzstan last month, and many of them involved China in one way or another.
The most eye-catching and perhaps mysterious was the construction kick start of the Manas Trade and Logistics City in Leninskoye village, not far from the capital, Bishkek.
The trade-hub project will be built by the Hunan Construction Investment Group (HCIG), with its first phase alone costing $700 million and the overall cost potentially reaching $4 billion.Set on 700 hectares, the project will have dedicated zones for storage, logistics, sales, and bonded trade zones.
Does this project have a special connection to the future railway?
Yes indeed, say Kyrgyz officials.
Except none have yet really explained how, and the track agreed to by the three participating countries is not expected to skirt anywhere near Leninskoye, taking instead the shortest route through deeply mountainous territory. In fact, Leninskoye is on the border with Kazakhstan, close to Kyrgyzstan’s existent north-pointing railway.
If Beijing knows more, it’s keeping its cards close to its chest.
Speaking at the ceremony on October 17, Chinese Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Du Dewen praised Kyrgyzstan as "a connecting country" that is "not only important to Central Asia, but also to Asia and Europe as a whole."
Du said that, since the long-stalled railway project was going ahead, Kyrgyzstan would also need "good markets, warehouses, and logistics centers," and hailed the logistics hub as a project in line with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, but gave no indication of how it might interact with the track further south.
Planning for the future hub began on December 8, 2023, when Kyrgyzstan’s government signed an agreement with the Kyrgyz-Chinese Investment Holding (KCIH) company to build a "Eurasian trade and logistics complex."
Despite the rebranding -- Manas is a mythical Kyrgyz hero -- Kyrgyzstan’s cabinet will only have a 49 percent share in the project, with KCIH taking the remainder.
A little-known entity founded by Chinese nationals but including Kyrgyz directors, KCIH will be responsible for $482 million of the $700 million investment.
Never Mind The Competition
Making his own speech at the groundbreaking, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov (no relation to President Sadyr Japarov) said the logistics center "can be compared to a major seaport."
"Everyone in the world wants to trade with China, because if you look at the volume of global GDP, China produces up to 26 percent of it. We hope this will give us access to maritime routes and enable us to trade with any country in the world," Japarov said.
"This will create excellent conditions for our agriculture, manufacturing, mining industry, and for the arrival of new technologies."
For the moment, Central Asia’s largest and most advanced "dry port" is Khorgos on the Chinese-Kazakh border.
Khorgos is a vital node in East-West train freight, with goods still overwhelmingly reaching Europe via Russia.
The Ukraine war and pursuant sanctions have, however, made some shippers leery of the Russian route.
That has provided a giant shot in the arm for the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also via Kazakhstan, with the oil-rich country’s Caspian Sea ports providing the jump-off points for goods traveling to Europe via the Caucasus.
If the TITR would exclude Russia, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway would potentially exclude Kazakhstan, too, joining up with existing tracks in Turkmenistan and Iran to reach markets in the Middle East as well as Europe via Turkey.
Supporters claim it would be a much faster route to Europe than both, although it is not clear to what extent their calculations take in the greater number of border crossings that this southern middle route would have to contend with.
Russia has previously been viewed as something of a roadblock for the project.
But as a Foreign Policy Research Institute paper published earlier this year argued, Moscow’s ability to push back against initiatives like these has been constrained by its need for China’s support amid fallout from the Ukraine war.
This "has given Beijing a freer hand to reshape Central Asian trade flows," author Felix K. Chang wrote.
For all that, the three-country railway would be arguably more ambitious than anything China has done in the region, including the 1,800-kilometer Central Asia-China gas pipeline reaching Turkmenistan, whose first spur took just two years to build.
And with the 260-kilometer Kyrgyz section of the track requiring a series of high-altitude bridges and tunnels, very few people will share Prime Minister Japarov’s optimism that it will be finished in four to five years.
Special Economic Zones, Unite!
Given that China is currently responsible for more than half of the minimum $5 billion financial commitment for the track -- $8 billion is the Kyrgyz government’s latest estimate -- might Beijing walk away if geopolitical trends shift again?
For the moment, that looks unlikely.
In his latest update on the railway, Prime Minister Japarov said President Japarov had held discussions with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the project on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, an event that was held in the Russian city of Kazan on October 22-24.He added that construction was now expected to begin in November -- a month later than the Kyrgyz president predicted in May.
Fittingly, Kyrgyzstan’s prime minister was making those comments during a work trip that was full of Chinese activity.
One of his appearances was for the groundbreaking ceremony for a residential complex that a Chinese company is building in the city of Naryn.
At another he turned a shovel for the construction of four Chinese-built plants in an industrial park that he said will create more than 1,000 jobs.
The industrial park is benefiting from long-term but intensifying cooperation between the Naryn Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and the much larger SEZ in the Chinese city of Kashgar, in Xinjiang.
Prime Minister Japarov visited the Kashgar SEZ in March, some three months after the two entities agreed to deals that included the shared use of warehouses in each country.
Of the four plants being built in Naryn, a car-assembly plant will provide the bulk of the jobs, while three others will produce LED lamps, toilet paper, and agricultural technology, respectively.
Nearly five years ago, Naryn Province, which the railway would traverse, was the scene of a major Chinese investment failure, as local unrest scuttled plans as local unrest scuttled plans for a logistics center that would have been more modest than one that is being built in the neighboring Chui Province.
At that time, China’s BRI looked to have hit a bump in Beijing’s unrest-prone neighbor. Now it is back on track. Former Kyrgyz Customs Official Matraimov Released To House Arrest (Radio Free Europe)
Radio Free Europe [11/13/2024 10:14 AM, Staff, 1251K, Negative]
Raimbek Matraimov, the former deputy chief of Kyrgyzstan’s Customs Service who was at the center of a high-profile corruption scandal, has been transferred from pretrial detention to house arrest. The Birinchi Mai district court in Bishkek said on November 13 that the move was made two days earlier. Matraimov and three of his brothers -- Tilek, Ruslan, and Islambek -- were extradited to Kyrgyzstan in March from Azerbaijan, where they were in hiding. Raimbek, the most notorious of the brothers, was charged with money laundering and the abduction and illegal incarceration of unnamed individuals as part of the 2020-21 corruption scandal. In 2019, an investigation by RFE/RL, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, and Kloop implicated Matraimov in a corruption scheme involving the transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars out of Kyrgyzstan. Twitter
Afghanistan
UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett@SR_Afghanistan
[11/13/2024 6:27 AM, 42K followers, 126 retweets, 267 likes]
I condemn today’s horrific public execution in a sports stadium in Gardez #Afghanistan, as well as other corporal punishments & executions carried out by the Taliban. I call on the Taliban to immediately halt these atrocious punishments, which are clear violations of human rights
Lina Rozbih@LinaRozbih
[11/13/2024 8:32 AM, 419.8K followers, 8 retweets, 22 likes]
The Taliban re-started public executions in stadiums in Afghanistan as of today. Below picture shows Afghan men leaving a football stadium in Gardez in Paktia province after watching the public execution of a man by the Taliban.
Freshta Razbaan@RazbaanFreshta
[11/13/2024 11:29 AM, 5K followers, 6 retweets, 10 likes]
Thousands of Afghan allies who stood beside America in the fight for democracy and human rights now remain in uncertainty and face an unknown future. These brave men and women dedicated themselves to America’s mission, striving to uphold Western values, defend women’s rights, and protect human dignity. They fought against extremism, terrorism, human trafficking, and violence, often risking their lives for these ideals. These allies were not just advocates but true defenders of America’s vision for a better world. Now, they deserve the chance to live a life of dignity and honor, free from fear, as a rightful outcome for standing by America’s side. #AfghanProsecutors
Jahanzeb Wesa@JahanzebWesa
[11/13/2024 3:43 AM, 4.6K followers, 6 retweets, 15 likes]
1153 days since the Taliban banned teenage girls from school. 693 days since the Taliban banned women from going to university. Education is a basic right, not a privilege. Afghan girls must be allowed to learn. We need to stand for women education and their rights. Pakistan
Shehbaz Sharif@CMShehbaz
[11/13/2024 9:20 PM, 6.7M followers, 480 retweets, 1.5K likes]
I strongly condemn this physical threat to our senior and respectable member of the Cabinet, Khawaja Asif. Such brutish behaviour is unbecoming of any civilised society. Openly threatening a politically motivated knife attack reflects criminal intent and must be condemned by all and the whoever is responsible must be caught and punished by the local authorities.
Imran Khan@ImranKhanPTI[11/14/2024 1:48 AM, 20.9M followers, 3.2K retweets, 5.7K likes]
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s message to the Pakistani nation from Adiala Jail
(November 13, 2024)
My Pakistanis! I have sacrificed everything I could for the sake of the country and the nation, and God willing, I will continue to fight for your true freedom until the very last drop of my blood. But this is not Imran Khan’s fight alone. It is the struggle for the entire nation. Our future generations will not forgive us if we do not stand against this oppression today - the time has come to end the system of oppression with the power of the people, God willing. Today I am giving the final call for protest. You all have to reach Islamabad on November 24.
An undeclared Martial Law has been imposed for the next ten years through the 26th Amendment. The country has a phony parliament, a fraudulent prime minister, a fraudulent president, and a sham of a democracy. A dictatorship more terrifying than that of General Musharraf is in place at present. Rule of law, democracy, freedom, and the future of the country has been demolished.
The fraudulent government who has stolen the mandate with the help of its facilitators and is running the country through a mafia that has imposed a fascist system, who continually attack the Constitution, law, and the judiciary, the government that has imprisoned our innocent people, I wish to tell them that the nation does not approve of any of this!
The PTI leadership will lead the protest on November 24. I have provided the party leaders with a comprehensive plan of action. I have formed a committee who has the authority to lead the protest and decide when to end it. Negotiations will be held by this committee whenever and with whomever the “handlers” (Establishment) choose.
My directive to my party leadership is to comprehensively plan for the protest and to thoroughly brief the people of their constituencies for a vigorous but peaceful protest.
Not only is this protest a test for the party leaders, members of the assemblies, ticket holders, administrators, provincial and local organizations, but it is also a test for people from all walks of life. I ask every member of the society, including the business community, civil society, legal community, farmers, hawkers, and salaried class, to come to Islamabad. My youth, the students whose future is especially at stake, I ask that you actively participate in this movement. My message to my Pakistanis who live overseas is to vigorously participate in the worldwide protests and also to fully participate in the funding of the party, for the sake of the country’s future.
I have utmost faith in my nation, and I predict that all of Pakistan will reach Islamabad on November 24, and that this sea of people will sweep away every obstacle and container that tries to obstruct its path. The entire nation will stand as one to echo the following demands:- The 26th Amendment be declared null and void and the Constitution be restored to its original state.- Return of the stolen mandate.- The release of all political prisoners who are being held without trial.
My Pakistanis, this time we will not leave until all our demands are met!
Imran Khan@ImranKhanPTI[11/13/2024 9:22 AM, 20.9M followers, 9.1K retweets, 20K likes]
I am deeply saddened and shocked to learn about Imran Chaudhry’s passing. He was a close friend & a dedicated fundraiser for SKMT since the early days. He was also a supporter of PTI & always helped raise funds for the party whenever needed. My deepest condolences & prayers go to his family. His loss leaves a terrible void.
Imran Khan@ImranKhanPTI
[11/13/2024 8:06 AM, 20.9M followers, 15K retweets, 28K likes]
I appeal to all Pakistanis to reach Islamabad on Sunday November 24th and not return until our demands have been met.
Our demands are:- Revoke the 26th Amendment - Restore democracy and the constitution - Return the public’s mandate - Release all innocent political prisoners
I have formed a leadership committee to lead the protest and conduct all negotiations.
Madiha Afzal@MadihaAfzal
[11/13/2024 12:35 PM, 43K followers, 9 retweets, 75 likes]
Of all the moves Pakistan’s army chief has made to cement his hold on power over the last two years, the passage of the bill last week increasing the baseline tenure of army chiefs from 3 to 5 years is the most significant.
Madiha Afzal@MadihaAfzal
[11/13/2024 12:37 PM, 43K followers, 1 retweet, 11 likes]
Imran Khan had shaped the struggle between himself and Asim Munir as zero-sum; to no surprise given Pakistan’s history, it looks like the army chief has prevailed. India
President of India@rashtrapatibhvn
[11/13/2024 11:04 AM, 26M followers, 195 retweets, 1.1K likes]
In Diu, President Droupadi Murmu visited INS Khukri Memorial and paid her respects to Indian Navy sailors who showed selflessness and valour during the 1971 War. The President also visited Couraca Lighthouse in Diu fort and witnessed cultural performances at the INS Khukri Memorial Amphitheatre.
President of India@rashtrapatibhvn
[11/13/2024 4:01 AM, 26M followers, 235 retweets, 1.4K likes]
President Droupadi Murmu visited NAMO Medical Education & Research Institute, Silvassa and interacted with the students and faculty of various educational institutions.
Dr. S. Jaishankar@DrSJaishankar[11/13/2024 4:05 AM, 3.3M followers, 353 retweets, 2.2K likes]
Delighted to co-chair along with FM @FaisalbinFarhan of Saudi Arabia the 2nd Meeting of the Committee on Political, Security, Social and Cultural Cooperation #PSSC under our Strategic Partnership Council in Delhi today. Held productive discussions on our multi-faceted bilateral ties including defence partnership, security cooperation, trade & investment, culture, tourism & youth exchanges and our people to people connections. We also exchanged views on regional and international issues, especially the ongoing conflict in West Asia and our joint efforts in various multilateral fora. NSB
Sabria Chowdhury Balland@sabriaballand
[11/13/2024 8:49 PM, 7.3K followers, 2 retweets, 3 likes]
#Bangladesh interim leader Muhammad Yunus said that world leaders shouldn’t be negotiating at United Nations climate talks this year & countries responsible for warming up the planet should instead provide the funds to deal with the climate crisis. #COP29 https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-bangladesh-cop29-baku-azerbaijan-mummad-yunus-28bf5b8373fb557981f1e9030e8b075f
The President’s Office, Maldives@presidencymv
[11/14/2024 2:59 AM, 110.8K followers, 14 retweets, 15 likes]
First Lady Madam Sajidha Mohamed officially unveils the Non-Communicable Disease Clinic on Dhiggaru Island of Meemu Atoll. The First Lady then toured the clinic and inquired about the services offered at the facility.
The President’s Office, Maldives@presidencymv
[11/13/2024 1:51 PM, 110.8K followers, 124 retweets, 129 likes]
The President meets with the UN Secretary General, on the sidelines of COP29 https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/32157 #MaldivesAtCOP29 #COP29
The President’s Office, Maldives@presidencymv
[11/13/2024 10:47 AM, 110.8K followers, 178 retweets, 186 likes]
President H.E. Dr @MMuizzu met with H.E. @antonioguterres, Secretary-General of the @UN, on the sidelines of #COP29. Their discussions centred on the impacts of climate change and disasters on Small Island Developing States, as well as the importance of international support for sustainable development. #MaldivesAtCOP29 #COP29
The President’s Office, Maldives@presidencymv
[11/13/2024 10:35 AM, 110.8K followers, 157 retweets, 159 likes]
President H.E. Dr @MMuizzu met with Mr. Jin Liqun, President and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). At the meeting, they discussed the urgent need for climate action, adaptation, and expanded climate financing. They explored avenues for enhanced cooperation and where AIIB support could drive resilience and sustainable growth.
Karu Jayasuriya@KaruOnline
[11/14/2024 2:33 AM, 53.7K followers, 1 retweet, 1 like]
The choice of MPs today will shape the future of this beautiful nation, held back by disunity for far too long. We hope that people choose honourable and committed leaders from all ideological camps to steer the country towards achieving lasting peace, unity & prosperity.
Karu Jayasuriya@KaruOnline
[11/13/2024 8:20 AM, 53.7K followers, 3 retweets, 36 likes]
As Sri Lanka holds parliamentary elections tomorrow, voters must elect capable and efficient leaders, who are worth of being called ‘Honourable Members’! Do turn up at the polling booth as every vote matters for a healthy democracy. Choose wisely for the country’s progress! Central Asia
Yerzhan Ashikbayev@KZAmbUS
[11/13/2024 11:11 PM, 2.8K followers, 4 likes]
At #COP29, Presidents @TokayevKZ, @presidentaz, and @president_uz signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement focused on green energy production and transmission. The agreement will advance the Middle Corridor as a "Green Bridge" to Europe, boosting regional integration.
Yerzhan Ashikbayev@KZAmbUS
[11/13/2024 10:03 AM, 2.8K followers, 7 likes]
Productive meeting with @ChrisMurphyCT today. We had valuable discussions on strengthening U.S.-Kazakhstan trade and deepening our partnership to promote stability and predictability. Looking forward to the next steps.
Asel Doolotkeldieva@ADoolotkeldieva
[11/14/2024 2:03 AM, 14.2K followers, 1 retweet, 5 likes]
Honestly, I thought political space was by now fully sterilized in Kyrgyzstan. Pressure & attacks on Social Democrats party prior to municipal elections are a sign that, perhaps, authorities consider the urban electorate as the last island of opposition
Asel Doolotkeldieva@ADoolotkeldieva
[11/14/2024 2:03 AM, 14.2K followers, 3 likes]
Interestingly, Kremlin decided to comment on the present political tension in Kyrgyzstan by displaying full support to President Japarov. So, four years since Japarov’s grab of power in October 2020 via a revolt, he managed finally to gain Kremlin’s recognition...
Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s Press-service@president_uz
[11/13/2024 8:38 AM, 204.6K followers, 3 retweets, 15 likes]
President Shavkat #Mirziyoyev met with the @wto Director General @NOIweala on the sidelines of @COP29_AZ in #Baku. Discussion was based around the soonest accession to the #WTO, completing bilateral negotiations with the member-states, harmonizing national legal framework and capacity building for specialists.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s Press-service@president_uz
[11/13/2024 7:49 AM, 204.6K followers, 16 likes]
President Shavkat #Mirziyoyev visited the National Pavilion of #Uzbekistan organized on the margins of @COP29_AZ. Designed as a traditional Uzbek khovli it demonstrates our country’s unique cultural heritage and sustainable approaches to environmental and climate issues.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s Press-service@president_uz
[11/13/2024 6:06 AM, 204.6K followers, 7 retweets, 27 likes]
President Shavkat #Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of strengthening partnership with the Global Environment Fund during his meeting with @theGEF Director General Carlos Rodriguez. Sides discussed new joint ecological programs for implementation, including organizing a #GEF donors’ session next year in #Uzbekistan.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s Press-service@president_uz
[11/13/2024 3:47 AM, 204.6K followers, 62 retweets, 257 likes]
Today, the Leaders of #Uzbekistan, #Azerbaijan and #Kazakhstan signed a strategic partnership agreement on green energy. President Shavkat #Mirziyoyev emphasized renewable energy as a commitment to future generations and urged for a speedy practical implementation, including establishing a joint venture and finalizing technical documentation.
Bakhtiyor Saidov@FM_Saidov
[11/13/2024 10:41 AM, 12.7K followers, 4 retweets, 14 likes]
#COP29 was very productive for the #Uzbekistan delegation. @President_Uz H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev held many meetings with his counterparts, presidents of international organizations and institutions, visited the National Pavilion of Uzbekistan. The agenda of all the meetings was extensive and covered the most acute topics of cooperation both in bilateral and multilateral formats. During the conference Presidents of #Uzbekistan, #Azerbaijan, and #Kazakhstan signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement on the Development and Transfer of #GreenEnergy.
Navbahor Imamova@Navbahor
[11/13/2024 11:56 PM, 23.8K followers, 1 retweet]
The delegations discussed the growing partnership between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the United States in economic, human rights, security, and people-to-people dimensions. The United States reaffirmed its unwavering support for Uzbekistan’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. @State_SCA @usembtashkent @uzbekmfa @UZEmbassyDC https://state.gov/joint-statement-on-the-united-states-uzbekistan-strategic-partnership-dialogue-3/
Navbahor Imamova@Navbahor[11/13/2024 9:07 PM, 23.8K followers, 2 retweets, 9 likes]
Unprecedented: 20 journalists and bloggers covering the Ferghana Valley enjoying nearly two-hour session with Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Akhror Burkhanov, discussing UZ national interests, principles, and priorities, including Tashkent’s proposals re pressing regional and international issues. First such @uzbekmfa engagement with country’s media community gathered to sharpen their foreign policy knowledge and analytical skills. 1/2
Navbahor Imamova@Navbahor
[11/13/2024 9:07 PM, 23.8K followers]
Ferghana workshop is the first of three on Solutions Journalism (Module 2) training program by @USAGMgov. We meet in Tashkent and Bukhara later this month for such three-day seminars with journalists and bloggers from across Uzbekistan. It’s critical that we engage the Uzbek government, especially @uzbekmfa as we tackle the challenges in covering the top issues. Thrilled to have @AkhrorBurkhanov join us for these candid yet heated and stimulating sessions. Our training team appreciated the depth both speaker and trainees showed during these exchanges. Such engagements are key to building trust/credibility and mutual respect. 2/2
Navbahor Imamova@Navbahor
[11/13/2024 3:17 PM, 23.8K followers, 3 likes]
Uzbekistan: Solutions Journalism Module 2 by U.S. Agency for Global Media - @USAGMgov @VOANews training is on with journalists and bloggers from Andijan, Namangan, and Ferghana regions. Heavily focusing on fact-gathering, fact-checking, best practices and ethics, and AI.{End of Report} To subscribe to the SCA Morning Press Clips, please email SCA-PressOfficers@state.gov. Please do not reply directly to this email.