WASHINGTON, 07 November 2022, (TON): President Joe Biden, Democratic superstar Barack Obama and Republican firebrand Donald Trump all converged Saturday on Pennsylvania to push their parties to the finishing line in a race Biden said marks a defining moment for US democracy.

The battle of the serving and two former presidents marked the start of a final crescendo before Tuesday when Americans will decide who controls Congress during the last two years of Biden's first term.

Speaking to thousands in a Philadelphia arena, Biden and the Democratic candidates labeled the Republicans as the party of the wealthy and emphasized their support for trade unions, social security and abortion access.

Biden said “voters face a choice between two vastly different visions of America.”

TOKYO, 07 November 2022, (TON): Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged to beef up Japan's naval and military capacity, warning that nations must prepare to face aggressors.

Kishida also condemned Russia's war in Ukraine and denounced North Korea's recent blitz of missile tests, one of which flew over Japan for the first time since 2017 and prompted a rare evacuation warning.

Kishida said "we must prepare ourselves for an era when actors emerge to disobey rules and use force or threats to destroy the peace and safety of other nations.”

The leader's remarks come as Tokyo is drafting security plans that may call for doubling the nation's defence spending within five years.

That would represent a sea change in Japan, where the pacifist constitution limits its military capacity.

NEW DELHI, 07 November 2022, (TON): As the war in Ukraine enters into nine months, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will begin his two-day Russia visit to hold talks with the country's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in continuation of the regular high-level dialogue between the two sides.

NEW DELHI, 07 November 2022, (TON): Talks between the two sides are expected to cover the entire range of bilateral issues and exchange views on various regional and international developments.

S Jaishankar is scheduled to meet Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Minister of Trade and Industry, Denis Manturov, his counterpart for the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation.

By Usman Khan

South Asia’s vast human potential and geostrategic location has made it increasingly profitable for international interest. Nevertheless, deep-rooted mistrust and bilateral tensions between South Asian countries have kept the region on the back burner. Given the gender issues, and evidence that lays out the disproportionate impacts of climate change on women and young girls, the future of millions of South Asian women appears miserable under the fermenting crisis.

Therefore, the regional south Asian countries must incline efforts to establish an effective gender policy framework with gender considerations integral to Asian society. Decision-makers at the state, national, and regional levels must eliminate structural and societal fences that constrain women’s role as energetic stakeholders with equal privileges and representation in the decision-making sphere of South Asia.

Despite the manifold cultures, religions, and values in South Asia, its societal norms are still quite regressive and male-dominant. In most South Asian countries, women lack access to education and basic healthcare and are more likely to experience poverty as compared to their male counterparts. Living under strict gender restraints and limits, women do not have sufficient incomes, skillsets, and forums to voice for their needs and fight for their rights.

Unluckily, weather change and related menaces have further excavated these existing gender disparities making women less robust and debilitated in the face of prevalent and future challenges. South Asian women need to proactively employ their own traditional natural knowledge and abilities to familiarize with the constant changes in their surroundings, lives, and livelihoods.

In South Asia’s rural areas, women are the main caretakers of the households. Their wide responsibilities range from collecting water from distant wells and rivers to tending to the service of other family members. In many Asian states, women spend hours each day making many trips on foot, often unsafe to get water for their household needs. In other cases, women and young girls compromise their education and put their mental and physical happiness at risk to achieve their household duties and even face sexual harassment.

In addition to needing water for cleaning, cooking, and drinking, women also require access to clean water for their cleanliness and sanitation. In Bangladesh’s coastal areas, fast salt water has made groundwater and water from ponds and wells extremely insecure for drinking. Pregnant women in these coastal areas reportedly suffer from different diseases due to saline water consumption.

Countryside, women also heavily help the local farming, fishing, and cottage industries which are highly susceptible to water scarcity and climate change. Disapproving weather forms mean that women in these sectors are put off commission, and men migrate to urban centers to follow alternative employment opportunities. With little financial support, women left behind find themselves even more overloaded by household duties.

Moreover, women also form the majority of those expatriate or dislocated due to climate hazards. Following the floods in Pakistan in 2010 and 2022 over 70 percent of those displaced were women and children. These defenseless women and children in immigrant camps and rough settlements become the frequent targets of gender-based violence and human trafficking.

Yet, women remain undeterred and continue to fight on the frontlines to contribute the Asian Society. Caught up in the day-to-day efforts to live and facilitate their families. Although the conversation around climate change has gained momentum in South Asia in recent years, women remain largely absent from the climate debate. This is due to the bureaucratic mismanagement approaches, which have traditionally marred policymaking in South Asia.

Power and decision-making reside in the hands of a few, mainly male policymakers who remain to govern the decades-old system, in favor of the upper classes of society with deficient provisions for the general population. Democratic institutions remain weak, and there is an evident lack of inclusivity at all levels with the little role given to women and other relegated groups in policy matters.

Religion also sways considerably in South Asia’s culture and politics. The conservative nature of most dominant regional religions, except Islam often driven by patriarchal beliefs with a subordinate status for women, further gives way to high gender inequalities. Consequently, the South region has failed to address the issues of women. However, women should be given their due rights to progress in South Asia.

Governments, development agencies, and regional institutions must employ approaches to promote gender equality for women wellbeing. Financial provisions for women, greater educational opportunities, increased hiring of female opportunities at all forums including enhanced scope for women researchers and academics, will definitely contribute to fair gender policies, transformations  and reforms.

There is also a need to focus on providing training and employment opportunities to women. With higher poverty rates and poor infrastructural access, women are more vulnerable in South Asian society. Bangladesh launched a joint project by BRAC and UN Women in 2012 to facilitate Bangladeshi women affected by climate change by providing livelihood skills and disaster management training.

Such targeted efforts towards women have proven to be effective in ascertaining community-wide resilience. Also, women living in the coastal and remote mountainous areas have their lives built around nature; they possess critical know-how and unique adaptation practices, which can be extremely resourceful for policymakers during the consultative stages.

Furthermore, women decision-makers and stakeholders can play a pivotal part in enhancing climate and water diplomacy efforts. Major rivers that sustain South Asia are trans-boundary in nature, including the Indus River and the Brahmaputra River. Bilateral tensions often adversely impact the water-sharing arrangements between riparian countries India and Pakistan over the Indus River and can further fuel conflict where sharing arrangements don’t exist India and China over the Brahmaputra River.

South Asian countries needs to pay greater attention women’s representation which can lead to more comprehensive, cooperative, and credible diplomacy outcomes. Women’s role in South Asia society and their invaluable contributions need to be appreciated. South Asia’s intensifying climate situation signals increased recognition of women as agents of change who must be guaranteed a position at the policymaking level. Elevating and empowering women through gender-balanced climate policies will help build a more resilient, peaceful, and sustainable South Asian future.

By DWAIPAYAN REGMI, TON, NEPAL

There was once an issue raised about Nepal being the best platform for neutral sports play, where the neutral venue would be welcoming anyone from India and Pakistan to China and United States. After all, this country holds no enemy ship with anyone and has been widely recognized as peaceful land throughout. There won’t be any issues for anyone to visit Nepal for any purpose. This country has remained to be part of associations like SAARC and BIMSTEC and has often been recognized as an independent nation. The country holds a history of independence for a long time because this country was never ruled by anyone - even the Britishers.

Located right between India and China, Nepal has always remained a strategic point for interconnecting these two nations. The connection among them is not just geographic, but historic too because traders used the route using Nepal during those old times to travel from India to China and vice versa. It had always been within strategic space for both nations. From the time of the massive earthquake which took place in the year 2015 to the election - there remains competition about who will be contributing to what proportion to Nepal in any way possible to them.

However, this nation has been regarded as the ring for major powers throughout the South Asian region here. Nepal has always been a strategic space - be it for making any action against China by the United States, or playing any card by both India and China against each other. This country has remained committed to bringing the overall frame there. The country holds a strategic advantage for any task. Like Charles Shobraj once declared that he can surpass big elephants from Nepal’s International airport, Nepal has often been part of various news there. The scams regarding 33 Kg of gold being passed out through the airport are not old. And, for ages, this nation has been a safe hub to make any terrorism-based planning, drug trafficking activities that have to be conducted or similar set of tasks thereby.

All the nations throughout South Asia who are active have been keeping eye on this small nation. Just some time back Indian Army chief General Narvane gave out a recent allegation explaining how Nepal took action over the Kalapani issue and how Nepal had been in the process of amending the constitution which would include the map of disputed territories there. China has been giving pretty huge priority to Nepal recently, and that was proven through their President's visit just some time back. Apart, there remained aspects through which proper consideration of the allegation had been under the prime set of consideration there.

India on the other hand, has been trying its best to retain the relationship. India already holds the link regarding the cultural issue there - as stated Roti - Beti Relationship, which they hold. In the name of the same, it had been providing various offers and schemes. Just some time back India gifted 200 vehicles to Nepal calling it logistic support for upcoming elections, to conduct smooth elections. India had been offering a controversial Agnipath scheme too, which has not yet been decided by Nepal’s side there. In man's time, there was a huge issue noticed about Liphu Lekh, the debatable land that they held there. 

So, taking Nepal on their side; there have been several attempts by South Asian powers to make a bigger rule; because this nation has not just been a safe place, but an appropriate place delivering strategic geographical advantages too for anyone who would have control over it. 

Politically at tense state, with recent political changes that it went through and an increased set of corruption with high liquidity economic phase, the country is already in a panic state. So, hitting the hammer when hot, by trying to bring into their influence will certainly be beneficial for anyone seeking strategic advantage through this small nation.

NEW DELHI, 07 November 2022, (TON): As the war in Ukraine enters into nine months, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will begin his two-day Russia visit to hold talks with the country's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in continuation of the regular high-level dialogue between the two sides.

NEW DELHI, 07 November 2022, (TON): Talks between the two sides are expected to cover the entire range of bilateral issues and exchange views on various regional and international developments.

S Jaishankar is scheduled to meet Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Minister of Trade and Industry, Denis Manturov, his counterpart for the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation.

DHAKA, 07 November 2022, (TON): The visiting team of the International Monetary Fund has been keen to know how the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission sets power and gas tariffs.

A four-member IMF delegation, led by Rahul Anand, head of its Asia and Pacific Division, has been in Bangladesh since October 26 to discuss the government's request for a $4.5 billion loan and held a series of meetings with its different departments.

BERC Chairman Abdul Jalil welcomed the delegation in Kawran Bazar on Sunday. He briefed them about the operations of the energy regulator.

Jalil said “the IMF team mainly wanted to know how the regulatory body fixes the tariffs on gas and electricity.”

DHAKA, 07 November 2022, (TON): According to Md Jashim Uddin, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry “Bangladesh has barely tapped its potential in the global market for agricultural and agro-processed products as the country does not have an international certification system.”

So, the production of such products for both local and international markets should be increased, he said during an agreement signing ceremony between the FBCCI and United States Department of Agriculture at the former's office in Dhaka.

The FBCCI said in a statement “the signing of a memorandum of understanding on Bangladesh Trade Facilitation between the FBCCI and USDA will help increase shipments of agricultural and agro-processed food, diversifying the country's exports in the process.”

DHAKA, 07 November 2022, (TON): US Deputy Assistant Secretary Afreen Akhter has said “Washington is working very closely with Bangladeshi civil society actors to deliver free and fair elections in the country.”

She told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs "our USAID mission is working very closely.”

The US official said they discussed maritime security and how they can cooperate with Bangladesh and other forms of maritime cooperation in the region during the meeting.

She said “they also discussed a range of bilateral issues, including US support for "free and fair" elections in Bangladesh.”

DHAKA, 06 November 2022, (TON): Instead of exploring for gas, Bangladesh had taken the easy way out by importing gas, said experts at a discussion at the capital.

Bangladesh is not running out of gas, it has not explored even a fraction of the possible locations, said Badrul Imam, energy expert and former professor at the Department of Geology at Dhaka University, calling Bangladesh one of the least explored countries in the world in terms of gas.

He was speaking at a seminar on the electricity and fuel crisis at the Mozaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Convention Hall of Dhaka University.

He said "we have only explored one-third of Bangladesh for gas and only explored 10 percent of the sea.”