Kathmandu, May 1 (IANS) US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, Sergio Gor began his political engagements on Friday by meeting Nepal’s Foreign Minister Sishir Khanal and Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle. Gor, who is also the US Ambassador to India, arrived in Kathmandu on Thursday evening and held meetings with Nepal’s government ministers on Friday. He is the highest-ranking US government official to visit Nepal since the new government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah was formed on Ma…
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Karachi, April 18 (IANS) A dramatic increase in the number of paediatric human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases has been recorded at three hospitals in Pakistan’s Karachi over the last nine months, and their numbers continue to grow, according to a latest report. The Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital and Research Centre (SIDH&RC) admitted 10 HIV positive children in 2024, and in 2025 their numbers rose to over 70. 30 children with HIV posive status were admitted to the hospital this year,…
Kathmandu, March 31 (IANS) India emerged as the largest bilateral donor to Nepal in fiscal year 2024–25, which ended in mid-July 2025, with the southern neighbour disbursing US$107.8 million, according to a government report. According to the Development Cooperation Report 2024–25 released by the country’s Finance Ministry, the United Kingdom came second with disbursements of US$84.2 million, while USAID ranked third with US$67.1 million.Japan provided US$58.3 million, and Switzerland disb…
New Delhi, Feb 14 (IANS) With the recent poll verdict overwhelmingly favouring the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and its Chairman Tarique Rahman all set to assume the office of Prime Minister, there is much interest in him as a person and politician. Much of it has arisen due to his long absence from home, and earlier in Bangladesh, being largely involved in backroom operations. Several video clips circulating on social media have caught him in different moods. In one, he is found telling …
Washington, Feb 12 (IANS) The United States expressed optimism ahead of Bangladesh’s elections, describing the vote as a new chapter in its engagement in South Asia, even as lawmakers debated how Washington should support democratic transitions in the region.Testifying before a House subcommittee hearing on South and Central Asia on Wednesday (Local time), Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur said the administration expects a smooth process.“We’re exc…
New Delhi, Feb 4 (IANS) China’s strategy of importing oil at heavily discounted prices from sanctioned countries, including Venezuela, Iran and Russia, has run into trouble due to the geopolitical tensions that have now hit these countries.Nearly 40 per cent of China’s crude imports come from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela combined. This is a significant share, especially given that these are sources associated with sanctions, political instability, and broader geopolitical risk, according to a…
Washington, Jan 28 (IANS) Uncertainty is growing over Bangladesh’s upcoming elections as US engagement declines and democratic support weakens, raising concerns about political stability in a country that directly affects India’s regional security environment, a senior US lawmaker has said.Mark Warner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told IANS in an exclusive interview that he could not judge whether the elections would be free and fair. “I do not know,” he said when asked…
New Delhi, Jan 3 (IANS) A new government assuming office in Bangladesh after the February 12 general election will have to deal not only with deteriorating law-and-order and overall economy concerns, but also what some reports state as “fragile state” of the healthcare sector. “Overall, abrupt policy decisions, weak administrative capacity, and neglect of reform have left the sector in a fragile state, depriving many of much-needed care,” observed an editorial in Bangladesh’s The Daily…