AGARTALA | THE Hindu Jagaran Manch, a Hindu right–wing group, claimed that 98 Christians belonging to 23 tribal families were “reconverted” to Hinduism in Tripura. The people, mostly tea garden workers hailing from Bihar and Jharkhand, had been converted to Christianity in 2010, Tripura unit president of the Hindu Jagaran Manch Uttam Dey said. They…
Read moreLOOKEAST REPORT | General Bipin Rawat said there is a need to focus on incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big data computing into the armed forces’ system, saying the northern adversary of the country (China) is spending “huge money” on this technology. Addressing the valedictory function of the National Conference on “Self Reliance in Defence…
Read moreNAN LWIN HNIN PWINT | The chief of the Arakan Army, Tun Myat Naing, recently spoke to media on his group’s policies and accusations by the President’s Office that it has ties to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army or ARSA. What is the situation like in Rakhine State’s Buthidaung (Township) after the President’s Office instructed…
Read moreAGARTALA | IN a bid to attract students from South East Asian countries like Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Sri Lanka, The International Buddhist Confederation plans to set up a Buddhist university in Tripura. A delegation from the Buddhist community has reportedly met Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb to discuss the proposal. “We met…
Read moreLOOKEAST REPORT | WITH reports of violence over the passage of the flawed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha across all seven states (except Sikkim) in the region, India’s North East is on the boil. The Bill, notwithstanding its confusing use of the word immigrants for refugees fleeing religious persecution, seeks to replace the…
Read moreIRTIZA NASIM ALI | THE elections to Bangladesh’s national assembly were far from credible. And as if the election results were not shocking enough—the Awami League bagging 288 seats while the main opposition BNP only managing to win five—the 47–member cabinet held more surprises than the proverbial pandora’s Box. The total absence of the Awami…
Read moreSREERAM CHAULIA | SHORTLY after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s record third successive win in Bangladesh’s general elections, both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping rushed to congratulate her effusively. The Iron Lady, who vanquished her domestic opponents on Dec. 31 through a mix of economic development and tight repression, is having…
Read moreLOOKEAST REPORT | Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has congratulated her Bangladesh counterpart Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali on his re–election in the 11th national parliamentary polls, an official release said. “Sushma called Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali yesterday to congratulate him on his election victory,” it added. Sushma Swaraj has said the…
Read moreLOOKEAST REPORT | Awami League President Sheikh Hasina has led her party to a third consecutive win in parliamentary polls, securing two–thirds majority in yesterday’s election held in an atmosphere dominated by the ruling party men. Hasina is set to become the prime minister for the third straight time — an unprecedented feat in the…
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