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

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

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