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Posts tagged as “state”

Maoists cotton to Congress, as Dahal, Oli size each other up

by Tika R Pradhan in The Kanthmandu Post, Feb 21, 2023Even with just four days to go for the filing of nominations for the presidential election, the CPN (Maoist Centre) is still keeping its cards close to its chest. There have been no clear indications about whom it will support as the new head of state, even though the party seems to be inching closer to the Nepali Congress on the issue. Leaders of the…

Protect sovereignty while engaging neighbours, says top US diplomat

by Anil Giri in The Kathmandu Post, Feb 1, 2023Visiting United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland has urged Nepali officials to protect national sovereignty while dealing with neighbours, particularly on economic partnerships. Addressing a press conference in Kathmandu before wrapping up her two-day Nepal trip on Monday, Nuland, the first foreign dignitary to visit the country after the formation of the Pushpa Kamal Dahal government, said Nepal could pursue economic…

Lu pledges US admn’s continuous support, cooperation for Bangladesh

report in the Daily Observer, Jan 16, 2023 US Assistant Secretary of State for Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu has committed the US administration’s continuous support and cooperation for all future endeavours of Bangladesh and referred to the tremendous socio-economic development of the country since its independence. Both sides acknowledged the current trajectory of “excellent” bilateral relations and wished to explore new avenues and approaches to increase their economic cooperation and…

GoSL protests against Canadian sanctions on MR, GR, and others

report in The Morning, Jan 12, 2023The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) has expressed deep regret yesterday (11) in protest against the decision taken by the Government of Canada to impose sanctions on former State officials including former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa over alleged gross and systematic human rights violations linked to the war. Accordingly, it was mentioned on the official Twitter account of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the subject Minister,…

US will be watching Bangladesh’s elections closely’

Says State Department spokespersonReport in The Daily Star, Jan 8, 2023US State Department spokesperson Ned Price speaks at the daily briefing, at the State Department in Washington, DC, US, February 25, 2022. File photo: Reuters/Nicholas KammThe US will be watching Bangladesh’s next parliamentary elections closely and supports constructive actions for a genuine electoral process that is peaceful and transparent. “We welcome the words of Sheikh Hasina and her government that they want free and fair…

Taliban ‘committed’ to safety of Chinese in Afghanistan after Isis attack on Kabul hotel

by Amy Chew in SCMP, Jan 8, 2023The Taliban has said it will guarantee the safety of Chinese nationals in Afghanistan, three weeks after an Islamic State affiliate attacked a Kabul hotel that caters to Chinese businessmen. Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told the Post on Wednesday that the regime had an “obligation” to maintain the safety of Chinese nationals. “The current government reiterates its obligation to maintain the safety of Chinese nationals and all other…

Easter-attacks-implicated SDIG Nilantha Jayawardena promoted

by Buddhika Samaraweera in The Morning, Jan 4, 2023Former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director, Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) Nilantha Jayawardena, against whom criminal proceedings were recommended by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) that investigated into the Easter Sunday terror attacks of 2019, and who later became a State witness in the cases pertaining to the same, has been promoted to the post of Acting SDIG – Administration. When contacted by The…

Booze, cigarettes get expensive as Govt. gets hungrier for revenue

report in Daily FT, Jan 4, 2023Prices of alcohol and cigarettes have been increased following upward revision in Excise duties as the Government scrambles to boost State revenue. Excise duty on all varieties of liquor, wines, beer etc. was increased by 20% and duty on cigarettes increased by 20%, State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said in a Twitter message. Due to the 20% increase of excise duty on liquor, the prices of a bottle…

NC gen secys pledge to rejuvenate party

report in The Himalayan Times, Jan 01, 2023KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 31Nepali Congress general secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma issued a joint statement today vowing to change the party from a state of frustration and confusion to a state of opportunities to rejuvenate the party. In their National Reconciliation Day statement, the duo, who advocate handover of party leadership to new and young faces, said there should be seriousness in this adverse situation and…

Gota-MR overseas visits wipe out Rs.40mn from state in 2021

by Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi in The Daily Mirror, Nov 30, 2022Just five official foreign visits undertaken by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2021 alone had cost the state more than Rs. 40 million, according to details provided by the Presidential Secretariat and the Prime Minister’s Office on a directive issued by the Right to Information Commission. Details furnished by the Presidential Secretariat and the Prime Minister’s Office under the…