Ritambhara Rai Bhattarai, Correspondent (Asia: South) KATHMANDU — Twenty Bhutanese refugee families were transported back to their camps in Jhapa and Morang-Eastern Nepal, from Kathmandu after the third country resettlement programme was kept on hold by the U.S. government. Impact of the shutdown was felt even by the Bhutanese refugees in Nepal. Refugees who could not make it to the states this month had to return to their camps. To their disappointment, their dwelling […]
Diksha Dwivedi Correspondent (Asia: South) THIMPHU — Gross National Happiness (GNH) was adopted in 1972 by Bhutan’s former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck to measure the progress of the nation. Since 1971 GDP (Gross Domestic Product) was rejected as the only measurement of progress by Bhutan. GNH index aims to measure the quality of life in its complete sense. However, GNH is possibly resulting in a “lethal combination” as suggested by recently appointed Bhutanese Prime Minister […]
Simona Botviciute Editor (Asia:Far East) SEOUL — Google is trying to convince South Korea to ease up on the internet regulations that prevents the company from offering driving directions via Google Maps. Services that most of the world takes for granted cannot be used due to the laws restricting the use of mapping data, allowing the use of low-resolution maps only. South Korean government permits the data to be proceeded on servers inside the […]
Ritambhara Rai Bhattarai, Correspondent (Asia: Middle East & Central) DOHA – Qatar, the host country for World Cup 2022, has been one of the most popular destinations for manual workers in South Asia, particularly Nepalese labourers who make up the second highest population of migrant workers in Qatar. These workers have been known to live in extreme conditions, and the on-going World Cup preparation has worsened their situation.Seventy migrant workers have reportedly lost their […]
Mati Maravanyika, Correspondent (Africa) NAIROBI — The Kenyan government has demanded that the US government lift the travel advisory warning the US citizens against travelling to the East African nation that was recently attacked by terrorists on September 21. Kenya called the travel advisory unnecessary and unfriendly. Islamist militants belonging to the Al-Shabaab group attacked an upmarket mall frequented by expatriates and rich Kenyans in the capital of Nairobi. The attack lasted for four […]
Cliona Elliot Editor (Food) “Beans, beans are good for your heart…” – and I’m not just talking about the ones in a can. In our marvellous world there are so many different kinds of beans, some of which you may not have even heard of. Used in international cuisine, beans are a staple food in many dishes, and are also great alternatives to meat and fish as each variety is rich in essential vitamins and […]
Simona Botviciute, Editor (Asia — Far East) BEIJING — More than 70 Chinese fishermen were reported missing after a typhoon hit the South China Sea last Sunday. Typhoon Wutip has also killed more than 20 people in Thailand and destroyed almost 1,00,000 buildings in central Vietnam. Reports claim that the floods have affected millions of people in Southeast Asia, many of whom had to be evacuated from their homes. According to the Xinhua news […]
Ritambhara Rai Bhattarai, Correspondent (Asia: South) MUMBAI — A five-storey building that collapsed in Mazagaon area in Mumbai on September 27, 2013 has left 61 people dead. At 6:00 am the apartment block where around 100 people resided crumbled down, the cause of which is still unknown.The family of the dead will be receiving a compensation of Rs. 2 lakhs. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team faced difficulties in pulling out the survivors […]
Viktor Tsvetanov, Correspondent (Europe) STOCKHOLM – Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt accused Russia of drawing on economic warfare tools against former Soviet republics that have been considering closer trade relations with the European Union. Bildt, who reportedly expressed outrage against Russia’s foreign policy, using words like “brutal pressure” and “economic warfare”, also insisted on that the European Union needs a strategy to resist Moscow’s ongoing policy. The EU will be negotiating trade deals with Armenia, Georgia and Moldova at a summit of regional and EU […]
Simona Botviciute, Editor (Asia- Far East) ZAMBOANGA – Philippnine troops have continuously exchanged fire with Muslim guerrillas since a stand-off took place in Zamboanga city last Monday. At least nine people were killed and many residents have fled the area in fear of facing the violence. Commercial flights to and from the city were suspended as well as the ferry services, which left approximately 13,000 civilians seeking shelter at the Zamboanga city sports stadium. […]
