Shipping restarted (India/Pakistan)
In mid-December, India and Pakistan signed a revised protocol that restored an important cargo-shipping option between the two countries. Now, for the first time in 30 years, vessels from the either country will be allowed to lift the cargoes of a third country from each other's ports, and vessels from third countries will be allowed to ply between Pakistani and Indian ports. The new agreement is a revision of the 1975 Shipping Protocol, and is expected to help increase bilateral trade. All it needs now is publicity.
Free media for all (Region)
The South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) on 11 January helped establish six new regional press commissions, five of which are country-specific, and one a region-wide organisation that will work to protect journalists' rights throughout Southasia. SAFMA president K K Katyal explained that the decision to set up the individual commissions was made during the period of autocratic rule by King Gyanendra in Nepal, at which time the freedom of the Nepali press was severely curbed and SAFMA seems to have felt the need for protection everywhere.