Towards strengthening regional trade and connectivity, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal signed an enabling Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Tuesday to implement the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA). The connectivity faced hindrance in 2017 when Bhutan temporarily opted out of it as it could not get parliament's approval for the MVA. Meanwhile, the other three nations decided to move ahead with the agreement. On March 7-8, the implementation of BBIN MVA was finalized in the meeting held at New Delhi which enabled MoU to be signed by India, Bangladesh, and
The parliaments of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar will become full members of the Mediterranean Parliamentary Meeting, a worldwide debate board made up of representatives from the Euro-Mediterranean region's national legislatures. At PAM's sixteenth plenary session on March 9-10, the admission of the UAE's Federal National Council and Qatar's Shoura Council will be finalized. PAM supports the efforts of many international organizations tasked with promoting security, stability, and peace in the Euro-Mediterranean region. Hosted by the FNC, the event will be probably held in Dubai un
Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi appointed a new Prime Minister for the nation along with several other ministers as part of a cabinet reshuffle. On Wednesday, Nyusi had fired six ministers which included four holding the key portfolios of Finance, Mineral Resources, Industry, and Public Works without prior notice or a reason. It is considered a major cabinet reshuffle. On Thursday, Adriano Afonso Maleiane was named as the replacement for Carlos Agostinho do Rosario who was the prime minister since 2015. The statement from the presidency also named Ernesto Max Tonela as the minister of
On Thursday, India’s Prime Minister will participate in a virtual meeting of the Quad leaders along with the US President and Japan, and Australia's Prime Minister. On March 3, Mr. Narendra Modi, Joe Biden, Scott Morrison, and Fumio Kishida will be attending the virtual meet. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the leaders are scheduled to exchange views regarding the Indo-Pacific. It said, “The leaders will have an opportunity to continue their dialogue after the September 2021 Summit in Washington DC. They will exchange views and assessments about an important development
On Tuesday, Libyan lawmakers approved a new transitional government where the cabinet was submitted by Prime Minister Fathi Basgsha to the east-based House of Representatives. 92 of 101 lawmakers confirmed it via vote broadcast live from the city of Tobruk. The move fuels division in a country where there are two legitimate Prime Ministers. Bashagha is set to face embattlement from PM Abdul Hamid Dbeibah who has refused to cede power until presidential and parliamentary elections are held in the month of June. The proposal was made earlier this month by Dbeibah. It consists of a four-po
India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed issues of mutual interest and ways to step up bilateral engagement in a meeting with his counterparts from Bangladesh, South Korea, the Czech Republic along the European Union in Paris. On Monday, Bangladesh External Affairs Minister met Jaishankar on the eve of the EU Ministerial Forum on cooperation with the Indo-Pacific, in Paris. Mr. Jaishankar tweeted post-meeting, “Good meeting with Bangladesh FM Dr. AK Abdul Momen. Appropriate that it should be on International Mother Language Day. Noted that 2021 was a great year for t
On Sunday, witnesses and officials said that protesters opposed to the proposed funds clashed with police after Nepal's parliament approved a U.S. infrastructure grant of $500 million. Critics say the grant undermines Nepal's sovereignty. According to Parliament Speaker Agni Sapkota, the aid agreement was agreed upon by a majority vote of the Nepali lawmakers. Washington said that the aid does not need to be repaid and it comes without conditions. Several of the major political parties, including the coalition government, disagreed about accepting the grant. Concerned about U.S. infl
On Sunday, an official statement was released by the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka stating that Sri Lanka has successfully completed the trials of an AC train that was supplied by India. The statement said, “Officials from the High Commission of India accompanied by representatives of India accompanied by representatives from Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) and the Sri Lankan Railways traveled aboard an air-conditioned train [AC Diesel Multiple Unit(DMU)] on its successful trial run in Sri Lanka on February 18, 2022” India supplied the train under a USD 318 m
On Monday, the military-dominated parliament of Mali sanctioned a five-year democratic transition plan. The plan allowed the military government of Colonel Assimi Goita to continue on his post and rule the country up for more than five years. Additionally, the legislature declared that the president, who serves in an interim capacity, would not be permitted to run for office at that time - theoretically, it is preventing Goita from taking office. The restriction, however, would not apply if Goita resigned and ran for president as a private citizen rather than as an official candidate. H
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised to strengthen ties with African countries while in Dakar, Senegal as part of a four-day trip to West and Central Africa. On Tuesday, Recep Tayyip Erdogan with his Senegalese counterpart Macky Sall said during a joint press conference, “We will continue to enhance our relations with African countires on the basis of sincerity and solidarity. We exchanged ideas on how we can further advance our relations in every area, we once again gladly observed that we share the same determination to deepen our cooperation”. Turkey and Senegal exchan