Link to article:https://slguardian.org/exclusive-trump-freezes-usaid-funds-amid-ongoing-harassment-cases-in-sri-lanka/ Recently, an internal email from the Trump Administration was leaked by The Washington Post telling USAID employees to cease communications with outside agencies, including the U.S. State Department, while the White House decides which countries will have their foreign aid restarted. USAID, the United States Agency for International Development, works in over 100 countries worldwide, one of… Read more »
Link to article: https://slguardian.org/adani-group-denies-cancellation-of-sri-lanka-power-deal-amid-allegations/ Adani Group, a multinational conglomerate company based in Ahmedabad, India, is denying allegations stating that it has canceled its $440 million power deal with Sri Lanka. A spokesperson emphasized the continuing wind power projects in the northern Sri Lankan regions of Mannar and Pooneryn. These allegations stemmed from a report by AFP in The Economic Times,… Read more »
Link to article: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/sri-lanka-china-agree-fast-track-sinopecs-37-bln-refinery-hambantota-2025-01-22/ Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath announced on Wednesday, January 22, that the country has signed an agreement with Sinopec, a Chinese petroleum refining corporation, to fast-track a $3.7 billion oil refinery in Hambantota, a port city in the south of the island nation. They are still discussing how much will be exported from the facility… Read more »
Link to article: https://thediplomat.com/2025/01/afghanistan-continues-to-refine-its-extraction-strategy/ With the Taliban’s increased effort to crack down on NGOs and women’s rights in the country, they have started to invest more in resource extraction. This is because they know that they won’t be popular with Western countries, leading to sanctions and pressure. In November, they announced 3 large deals with firms worth over 1.2 billion… Read more »
Link to article:https://thediplomat.com/2025/01/india-reimposes-restrictions-on-foreign-nationals-visiting-three-northeastern-states/ India has reimposed the Protected Area Regime, which only allows foreigners to visit select states with a permit, on Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram. Permits would list place of residence, place of entry, and length of stay. This was done because of “growing security concerns” in the northeast part of the country, which has been historically sensitive. This… Read more »
Link to article: https://thediplomat.com/2025/01/growing-taliban-india-closeness-should-pakistan-be-worried/ Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the Taliban’s Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, in Dubai on January 8. It was the highest level of diplomatic discussion the two bodies have had since the takeover of Kabul in 2021. Muttaqi showed gratitude for India’s humanitarian assistance and desire for better governmental relations in the future, stating… Read more »
