Author: Arturo Santos

Frankfurt (3/12 – 12) The relatively rapid cohesion of disparate nations, historically competitive or even at war with one another, into the European Union came about in part because of the ongoing threat from the Soviet Union. The specter of a tank invasion from Warsaw Pact nations, today forgotten, was such a reality that the German government kept a major portion of its gold bullion across the Atlantic. The USSR, an ally in World War II after being double-crossed by Hitler – remember the “Non-Aggression Pact signed in Moscow by von Ribbentrop and Molotov – was soon appraised as a…

Amsterdam, Berlin (16/11 – 10) Diwali, a.k.a. Deepavali, is a Hindu religious celebration as well as a traditional festival, celebrated across India. Customarily known as “The Festival of Lights”, as it is festooned with arrays of colored illumination, it is held from October to November every year. Deepavali 2023 was celebrated on November 12, over a five-day period. Deepavali is the annual Hindu celebration of the triumph of light over darkness. Rarely will you visit a Hindu home during Deepavali without passing under a doorway highlighted by a beautiful, vividly-colored picture created out of flour, rice or flower petals. It…

Nepal’s government decided to ban the popular social media app TikTok on Monday, saying it was disrupting “social harmony” in the country. The announcement was made following a Cabinet meeting. Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud said the app would be banned immediately. “The government has decided to ban TikTok as it was necessary to regulate the use of the social media platform that was disrupting social harmony, goodwill and flow of indecent materials,” Saud said. He said that to make social media platforms accountable, the government has asked the companies to register and open a liaison office in Nepal, pay taxes and…

Several weeks into the final quarter of 2023 and Asian investors are starting to reflect on a year in markets that looks very different from the lofty expectations many had back in January. The hope was that the rapid lifting of China’s zero-Covid policy would unleash animal spirits across the domestic economy, potentially driving a rally in global growth as revenge spending and investing would lift risk assets across stocks, real estate and even commodities. However, these hopes were quickly dashed as consumer spending flatlined and the property market continued to contract. The latest GDP figures for China show an annualised growth rate of 4.9 per cent in…

KATHMANDU, Nepal — Despite quickly escalating tensions between Hindus and Muslims, the night passed peacefully after a lockdown was imposed and security heightened in a city in southwest Nepal, officials said. Trouble began in the regional hub city of Nepalgunj over the weekend after a Hindu boy posted a status about Muslims on social media. Muslims protested the status inside the region’s main government administrator’s office building, burned tires on the streets and blocked traffic. A larger Hindu rally was held Tuesday until stones and bottles were thrown at protesters, resulting in a few minor injuries. The indefinite curfew was imposed…

Frankfurt, Brussels (6/10 – 27) While Tajik authorities have not been able to lay their hands on their activist opponents living in Europe, they are able to turn the screws on their families and relatives, back in the old country. The recent case of arrest of family members took place shortly after President Emomali Rahmon’s visit to Germany, to attend a summit of Central Asian leaders, at the end of last month. Throughout Rahmon’s visit, he was trailed by demonstrators holding up placards bearing pictures of political prisoners and calling him a dictator. When Rahmon headed to the Bundestag on…

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave Dhaka on September 17 for New York to attend the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and will address the Assembly on September 22. “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all” is the theme of this year’s UNGA. Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen made the announcement on Thursday. What will be the focus of Bangladesh? The key issues of this year’s UN General Assembly are particularly relevant for Bangladesh, the foreign minister said. “We think…

AS the General Election is approaching in Bangladesh, concerns about its political and economic future are mounting. Despite having achieved a measure of political and economic stability in recent times, the country now seems to be facing renewed uncertainty. The challenges confronting Bangladesh are largely rooted in external factors. Although the Bangladeshi Government’s efforts and the assistance from neighbouring India have delayed the onset of the crisis, the global economic turmoil is making it difficult for the country, given its small-scale economy, to effectively tackle these issues. Under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina during the past three terms, Bangladesh experienced…

Nepal Tea Collective is now available in Nepal. The New York-based company has, since 2016, distributing orthodox Nepali tea sourced from small-holder community farms in Nepal, all over the United States and to buyers from more than 42 countries. “As a part of the vision for global expansion, Nepal Tea Collective is now bringing its offerings to Nepal,” said Nishchal Banskota, co-founder of the company. “While thousands of international buyers have experienced the freshness and rare flavours of premium organic tea, many Nepali tea lovers are yet to experience its flavour.” He said that Nepali tea is highly appreciated globally for its richness and…

Pakistan’s Election Commission has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Imran Khan in the latest legal challenge facing the former prime minister. The latest case came on Monday, the same day Khan was granted bail by the Supreme Court in a different case. Khan has been slapped with more than 150 cases, including “terrorism” since he was removed as prime minister in a no-confidence vote in parliament in April last year. The warrant, issued in Islamabad, said Khan was in contempt of the Election Commission’s proceedings and had failed to appear before the commission despite earlier notices and bailable warrants. Khan’s Pakistan…