Neighbourhood News digest – 28 April 2023

Afghanistan

U.N. urges Afghanistan's Taliban to reverse bans on women – The Hindu

The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a resolution on Thursday calling on Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to swiftly reverse their increasingly harsh restrictions on women and girls, which range from very severely restricting education to banning women from most jobs, public spaces and gyms. Click here to read... [2]

Rajnath Singh, Iranian defence minister discuss situation in Afghanistan – The Telegraph

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Mohammed Reza Gharaei Ashtiyani on Thursday exchanged views on regional security issues, including peace and stability in Afghanistan. In their meeting in the national capital, the two ministers also discussed the development of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) for transport links to Afghanistan. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina concludes Japan visit – Foreign Brief

A visit by Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Japan concludes today. Hasina’s visit included a meeting with the Japanese Emperor, as well as a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, where they discussed ways to increase Japanese foreign direct investment (FDI) into Bangladesh and upgraded their bilateral ties into a “strategic partnership.” Click here to read... [4]

India, Bangladesh discuss avenues to further build upon historic defence ties – The Print

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Bangladesh Army Chief General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed on Thursday held discussions on issues of bilateral and regional interest, as well as avenues to further build upon the historic defence ties between the armed forces of two countries. Click here to read... [5]

Bhutan

Gelephu hoteliers yet to reap SDF waiver benefits – Kuensel

The government waived the sustainable development fee (SDF) for 24-hour visitors in border towns starting April 14 this year. However, hoteliers in Gelephu are yet to enjoy the returns. Many hoteliers Kuensel talked to said guests staying over at hotels have not seen the rise they expected while some hotels claim it has decreased instead. Click here to read... [6]

Bhutan wants a border deal with China: Will India accept? – BBC

The Himalayan nation of Bhutan is nestled between two Asian giants, China and India. But that unique geographical position also comes with a price. Bhutan is one of the two countries with which China is yet to resolve its land border dispute. The other country is India, which has a long-running disagreement over its Himalayan frontier with China. Click here to read... [7]

Maldives

Heavy rain, thunderstorms expected across Maldives over the weekend - Raajje

The Maldives Meteorological Service (MMS) has predicted heavy rainfall and thunderstorms across the entire country for the weekend. This was revealed by the department on Thursday. As such, MMS revealed that the weather is expected to be adverse across the country throughout the weekend. The department has predicted heavy rain showers across the Maldives at a time the country is experiencing a heat wave. Click here to read... [8]

Maldives, Burundi sign a visa waiver agreement - Raajje

The Government of the Republic of Maldives and the Government of the Republic of Burundi have signed an agreement on mutual exemption of visa requirements.
The Agreement on Mutual Exemption of Visa Requirements signed on Wednesday will allow for the exemption of visas for single or multiple entry, exit or transit for both countries' nationals, for a period of 30 days. Click here to read... [9]

Myanmar

Fencing along Myanmar to curb smuggling, influx - Sentinel Assam

Indian authorities have been erecting barbed wire fencing along the around 400 km India-Myanmar border in Manipur to curb smuggling, infiltration, and other border crimes, officials said on Thursday. Assam Rifles officials said that Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey on Thursday inspected border fencing in Moreh, 110 km south of Imphal. During the visit, Assam Rifles officers briefed the Governor about the security preparedness along the border to check infiltration, smuggling of various contrabands, including drugs, and numerous border crimes. Click here to read... [10]

Tokyo Confirms Myanmar Military Misused Japan-Funded Ships - HRW

On April 26, after months awaiting a response, Japan’s Foreign Ministry announced it had received confirmation from Myanmar’s military junta that it misused two Japan-funded civilian vessels to transport soldiers and weapons in Rakhine State in September 2022. A Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Japan protested the misuse and the junta “expressed regret over the situation,” saying it will do its “utmost to prevent recurrence.” Click here to read... [11]

Nepal

Nepal seeks British investment under BII and BIP mechanisms – The Kathmandu Post

Nepal has sought British support under its two windows—British International Investment (BII) and British Investments Partnership (BIP). The request was made during the sixth meeting of Nepal-United Kingdom Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) in London that concluded Wednesday. Click here to read... [12]

FMCG brand Dabur to make additional investment of Rs 9.68 bn in Nepal – Business Standard

Indian fast-moving consumer goods company Dabur has decided to make an additional investment of Rs 9.68 billion in Nepal. The Investment Board Nepal and Dabur Nepal Pvt. Ltd. signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday for the construction, operation, and management of capacity building and product diversification projects under the private investment concept. Click here to read... [13]

Nepal issues record number of permits to climb Mount Everest – CNN

Nepal has issued permits for a record 463 climbers so far for this spring season’s expeditions to Mount Everest even as experts worry about dangerous overcrowding at the summit. Some 367 male and 96 female climbers from 65 countries have received permission so far to scale the tallest mountain in the world from Nepal’s side, Yubaraj Khatiwada, the director of Nepal’s Tourism Department, told CNN. American and Chinese mountaineers top the list. Click here to read... [14]

Pakistan

Pakistan and China agree to boost military-to-military cooperation: Report – Wion

Pakistan General Syed Asim Munir is on his maiden visit to China and is expected to discuss matters of mutual interest. As reported by AlJazeera, Zhang Youxia, the vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission said in a statement on Wednesday that Beijing is willing to work with Pakistan's military with a focus on deepening and expanding cooperation and jointly safeguarding regional peace and stability. Click here to read... [15]

Pak govt, Opposition hold talks to end deadlock over holding elections – Financial Express

The government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the main opposition party led by Imran Khan, have been wrangling over the issue of whether to hold elections on the same date in the country or first go for polls in the provinces of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa only. Click here to read... [16]

Delay in polls: CJP says top court can’t force govt to hold negotiations – Dawn

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial said on Thursday that the Supreme Court could not force the government to hold negotiations with the opposition. He passed these remarks as a three-member SC bench, headed by the CJP and comprising Justices Ijazul Ahsan and Munib Akhtar, took up the elections delay case. However, the hearing was adjourned barely an hour after it started with the CJP saying that a detailed order would be issued later. Click here to read... [17]

Sri Lanka

U.S. sanctions former Sri Lankan Navy commander for human rights violations – The Hindu

The U.S. has sanctioned former senior Sri Lankan Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda for "gross violation" of human rights during the brutal conflict with the LTTE, evoking a strong reaction from Colombo which said the "unilateral" move was "counter-productive".Click here to read... [18]

Sri Lanka crisis: Central bank lays out extent of economic problems – BBC

Sri Lanka's central bank has laid out the extent of the country's worst economic crisis in more than 70 years. The bank has outlined how last year wages failed to keep up with soaring prices of everything from food to fuel. In its annual report, the bank says "several inherent weaknesses" and "policy lapses" were among the reasons for the severe problems that engulfed the economy. Click here to read... [19]