India is having its moment. Having shed the bonds of colonialism, years of bitter civil strife and a stagnant economy, the country boasts nine percent growth a year with a capable middle class and world-beating industry. But just beneath the veneer lies an underclass that has been left behind.
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At a press conference inaugurating his tenure as the thirteenth U.S. ambassador to Bangladesh, Mr. James Moriarty noted that "promoting democracy, ensuring development, and denying space to terrorism are the key challenges.
The United States, he said, "will remain a close partner to the people of Bangladesh in each of these areas." Mr. Moriarty expressed admiration for "the achievements of the Bangladeshi people who fought for decades to win the right to govern themselves and control their own destiny."
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Via VOA-News
Bangladesh is heading towards the path of becoming the third nuclear nation in South Asia. The topic came in discussion during meetings between the Chinese minister Yang Jiechi and Bangladesh's foreign advisor Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury.
The Chinese minister was on a two-day tour to Bangladesh recently.
The foreign advisor of Bangladesh said, China is a partner and the visit of Chinese minister would further strengthen this relationship.
´Our friendship is rooted in history, but like all relationships, ties between nations also have to be renewed and reinvigorated from time to time, and this visit was an occasion to do just that,´ the foreign adviser stated.
The Chinese foreign minister said, military cooperation is an important part of the overall bilateral relation between Bangladesh and China. Jiechi, who also met the army chief, General Moeen U Ahmed, made the remarks to journalists.
Via American Chronicle
Bangladeshi Foreign Affairs Adviser, Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury has said, the country needs to re-adjust its foreign-policy as a new era begins in Asia.
He said Asia is progressing fast in an unprecedented speed. So, the policies of Bangladesh need to be realigned with the global changes. Otherwise, the country would lag behind, a foreign office press release quoted him as saying.
Iftekhar said: "Perhaps, we do not realize that there is more reverse transfer of resources to those developed countries, who buy from us. We pay many times more in duties to them, than we receive in aid."
On the other hand, it is the booming economies of Asia that might help shape the future of Bangladesh. Power players of contemporary times are China, Japan, South Korea, ASEAN, India and Gulf states, he added.
Via Xinhua
Pressure is intensifying in Bangladesh for the interim government to end its state of emergency and release Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia, the country's top leaders. That is according to Al-Jazeera.
Related Link > 'The 2 Women' of Bangladesh
Nawaz Sharif waves to supporters during an election public-meeting in Sanghla-Hill, Lahore on February 8, 2008. The elections slated for January-8 were delayed due to the unrest following the assassination of Benazir-Bhutto.
> Getty Images
The leaders of India and China are meeting in Beijing in an effort to boost friendlier relations. It's Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's first visit to China, which will discuss strengthening economic-ties, as well border disputes.
Amnesty International's Secretary General told a meeting of NGOs in Bangladesh that the organisation is in the country to push for reform."This culture of impunity goes back to 1971; we feel it is an institutional problem. There needs to be a strong independent judiciary, police-reform, action to address torture and ill-treatment."
She said that the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the military need to be held accountable for human rights violations, that there needs to be an effective National Human Rights Commission and freedom of information legislation.
Voters in the remote Himalayan nation of Bhutan are heading to the-polls in a key step towards the ending of almost a century of absolute monarchy.
About 300,000 Bhutanese are eligible to vote. International observers from India, the US, Australia and the United Nations will be monitoring the election.Bhutan's transition to democracy began when former King Jigme-Singhye-Wangchuck announced he was handing over power to his Oxford-educated son and transforming the monarchy.
Via AlJazeera
Nepal's new national anthem has been unveiled a year after the previous one - which praised the monarchy - was unceremoniously scrapped.
The last couple of years have seen the re-emergence of the hardline Islamic Taleban movement in Afghanistan.
There has been a huge increase in violent attacks in recent months, particularly in the south where Nato forces are helping the Afghan government.
The government blames the violence on "enemies of Afghanistan".
The events of 11 September signalled the beginning of the end for the Taleban's control of Afghanistan. Mullah Omar and his comrades have evaded capture despite one of the largest manhunts.
Information via BBC News
