Author: Tusak Longi

On the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, President Xi Jinping awarded Bayika Kalidibek, a 72-year-old veteran border guard, the national honorary title of “People’s Guard.” Bayika, an ethnic Tajik from the Pamir Plateau in Xinjiang, has spent 37 years patrolling China’s remote borders with Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region and Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor. His recognition by Xi has raised questions about whether the award signals a broader message of solidarity to the Pamiri peoples living in Tajikistan and Afghanistan, who have faced significant repression and human rights violations in recent years. A Lifelong Guardian of China’s Border Bayika…

Bangladesh’s Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus will head the country’s interim government after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stepped down and fled the country amid a mass uprising against her rule led mostly by students. The announcement early on Wednesday came from Joynal Abedin, the press secretary of President Mohammed Shahabuddin. Abedin also said the other members of the Yunus-led government would be decided soon after discussion with political parties and other stakeholders. The leaders of the student protests, the chiefs of the country’s three divisions of the military, and civil society members, as well as some business leaders, held a meeting with…

Warsaw, Berlin (25/3 – 80) A diverse group of Pamiri and Ismaili interest groups gathered to discuss the terror attack in Moscow. “We reject the notion this were Pamiris or Ismailis representing us”, said one of the spokespeople, who want to remain anonymous out of fear of persecution by the Tajik authorities. “They are Takfiris”, he said. Non-believers, apostates to the cause. The majlis (meeting) was called after Moscow was quick to blame Tajik immigrants for the terror attacks. Previous warnings were ignored by Moscow. “We as a Pamiri community do not belief in the use of violence against the…

Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh resigned on February 26 in anticipation of postwar governance challenges. “I see that the next stage and its challenges will require new governmental and political arrangements,” Shtayyeh said, emphasizing “the emerging reality in the Gaza Strip, the national unity talks, and the urgent need for an inter-Palestinian consensus.” American and Palestinian officials expect that Abbas will nominate Mohammed Mustafa, the chairman of the Palestine Investment Fund, as Shtayyeh’s successor. Expert Analysis “Bringing in Palestine Investment Fund chief Mohammed Mustafa and pushing out the current prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh is the rearranging of the…

ISLAMABAD — Afghanistan’s Taliban government denounced the United States Saturday for imposing fresh sanctions against two of its leaders for human rights abuses, saying that pressure and restrictive measures do not help solve problems. The response came a day after the U.S. Treasury Department placed sanctions against 20 people in nine countries, including China, Iran and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, to mark International Human Rights Day on December 10. Friday’s Afghan-related designations listed Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, head of the Taliban’s vice and virtue ministry, and Fariduddin Mahmood, a member of the group’s male-only cabinet and the head of the Afghanistan Academy of Sciences.…

India’s central bank again left interest rates unchanged on Friday, saying that easing inflation and a stable financial outlook had tempered economic headwinds. The benchmark repo rate — the level at which the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lends to commercial banks — has stood at 6.50 percent since February, following a series of hikes to curb rising prices last year. The Indian economy “presents a picture of resilience”, RBI governor Shaktikanta Das said in a press conference. “Fundamentals remain strong.” Inflation spiked at 7.4 percent in July but was now five percent, Das said, adding that the bank had…

India’s parliament has expelled an opposition lawmaker who was accused of taking bribes in exchange for asking questions. Mahua Moitra, who has denied the allegations, said she was expelled “without proof”. She has the option to challenge the decision in court. Friday’s expulsion followed a resolution passed by lawmakers in the Lok Sabha – lower house of parliament – after a voice vote. Earlier in the day, an ethics panel report that recommended Ms Moitra’s expulsion was tabled in the house. Opposition lawmakers had asked for more time to study the almost-500-page report before debating it, but the speaker did…

JAKARTA, The Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia, in collaboration with 20 distinguished business delegates from Karachi, Pakistan, has embarked on a vital journey to the 38th “Trade Expo Indonesia” held in Jakarta Indonesia. The 38th Trade expo was inaugurated by the Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs of Indonesia, Airlangga Hartarto, marking a monumental stride in fostering Indonesia – Pakistan trade relations. A significant moment of the expo was the meeting between the Indonesian Consul General H.E Dr. June Kuncoro Hadiningrat and Abid Nisar, Chairman Pakistan Indonesia Business Council (PIBC), with the Honorable Vice Minister of Trade of the…

London (04/11 – 67) US district judge, Denise Cote yesterday granted Sri Lanka’s request for a six-month halt on a creditor lawsuit against the country. Hamilton Reserve Bank, an obscure and tiny St Kitt’s bank with interesting ties, says it has accumulated a big chunk of one of Sri Lanka’s now-defaulted bonds and had been suing it for immediate repayment. Sri Lanka had asked for a stay on these legal proceedings to let it restructure its overall pile of debt in some peace and quiet, and had gotten heavyweight support from the UK, France and the US government. Judge Cote ruled, “The Court recognizes that…

Parents, teachers, coaches and other adults shouting at, denigrating or verbally threatening children can be as damaging to their development as sexual or physical abuse, a new study finds. The study, published in the journal Child Abuse & Neglect, reviewed 166 earlier studies to produce a detailed analysis of the existing literature on the topic. The authors called for childhood verbal abuse to be ascribed its own category of maltreatment to facilitate prevention. Child maltreatment is currently classified into four categories — physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, of which verbal abuse is a part, and neglect — and this study can inform strategies for…