Link Following comments from US President-Elect Joe Biden that his administration would be willing to resume the former Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (Iran nuclear deal) sanction relief provided that Iran retracted their current violations of the agreement, Iran has stated that they will progress their own pursuit of weapons-grade uranium and, ultimately, nuclear weapons. The Iran nuclear deal, orchestrated… Read more »
Link Last week, India began its unprecedented COVID-19 vaccination operation, whereby they will be procedurally administering their nationally made vaccine voluntarily to the population. The Indian vaccine was expedited through the mass testing part of its development, for which some medical experts and sociologists cite concerns of “vaccine hesitancy,” or the phenomenon where people are less likely to take the… Read more »
Link Royalist protesters gather in the Nepali capital of Kathmandu this week, calling for the return of monarchy’s role in government to eliminate proclaimed widespread corruption. They assemble in response to the actions of their Prime Minister Oli and President Bhandari: last month, the President dissolved Parliament as requested by the Prime Minister (they’re members of the same party and… Read more »
Link India and Japan are once again engaging with Sri Lanka in a developmental investment to construct a deep water port in Colombo, previously put on hold in 2019 due to union and fair pay upheavals. Sri Lanka will hold a majority share of the port, while Japan and India will hold partial ownership as well. The establishment of the… Read more »
Link Several days ago, a Kyrgyz referendum to limit or expand the power of the President closed, finding promising results for the executive. The Central Asian state’s latest leader, President Sadyr Japarov, came into power last Fall in a shockingly nonviolent fashion. Although he and his supporters have called it a “third revolution” for Kyrgyzstan, the transfer of power was… Read more »
Link Last week, Bangladesh moved their second group of Burmese Rohingya refugees to an uninhabited island off the coast of mainland, equipped with shelter and enough infrastructure for a sustainable and safe society. However, several human rights groups alongside the United Nations have voiced concerns over the condition of the island: it’s very susceptible to disaster during monsoon season, having… Read more »
Link The government of Afghanistan and Taliban leadership continue peace talks initiated in September, with the procedure whereby negotiations are to be made having been outlined this December. The goal of the Afghan government is to draw a ceasefire and a disarmament of Taliban security forces, while the Taliban seeks foremost the ousting of imposing foreign powers and recovering old… Read more »
Link Tensions in Kazakhstan rise among government and civil society groups, prefacing their January legislative election in a region lately matted with democratizing protests: several social and legal initiatives report being pressured by the Kazakh government as they investigate potential fraud in the dominant Nur Otan party’s election financing. Kazakhstan recently, especially under the Kassym-Jomart Tokayev administration, has been praised… Read more »