Neighborhood News Digest- 04 March 2024

Afghanistan

Afghanistan and Turkmenistan will host Business Forum in Ashgabat-The Khama Press

Nuruddin Azizi, the acting Minister of Industry and Commerce of the caretaker government, recently led a delegation including 15 female traders to Ashgabat to attend the first Turkmen-Afghan Trade Forum in Ashgabat. Click here to read… [2]

EU provides $21 million aid amid dire humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan-The Khama Press

The World Food Program recently announced a €21 million contribution from the European Union to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund. This office declared on Friday, March 1, through a press release, that around 300,000 people in Afghanistan are expected to benefit from this amount of money. Click here to read… [3]

Qatar reaffirms support for the people of Afghanistan and hosting talks-The Khama Press

Qatar reaffirms its commitment to hosting international meetings on Afghanistan for the past two years, emphasizing its continued support for the Afghan people in a recent statement. Click here to read… [4]

Snow, Cold Killed '8,000' Livestock Animals in Kunduz, Sar-e-Pul-Tolo News

More than 8,000 livestock animals died due to snow and cold weather in Sar-e-Pul and Kunduz provinces, local officials said. The recent wave of snow and cold weather has claimed the lives of thousands of livestock and a number of humans in different provinces of Afghanistan while some houses have also collapsed. Click here to read… [5]

Bhutan

Strengthening Bhutan-UK Ties: High Commissioner Ellis Discusses Future Prospects and Collaborations - BNN Breaking

During his inaugural visit to Bhutan, British High Commissioner to India, Alexander Wykeham Ellis, shared his insights on the burgeoning relationship between Bhutan and the United Kingdom. Highlighting the importance of this diplomatic mission, Ellis's agenda included meetings with Bhutan's top officials and the inauguration of Kalden Sonam Dorji as the Honorary Consul of the UK to Bhutan, aiming to fortify bilateral ties. Click here to read… [6]

Bhutan to Launch Third Internet Gateway, Boosting Connectivity with India and Bangladesh - BNN Breaking

After years of negotiation, Bhutan is on the brink of a significant technological advancement with the imminent operation of its third internet gateway. This development is the result of collaborative efforts between Bhutan Telecom and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), under the watchful eye of the governments of India and Bangladesh. The move is set to mark a new era in digital connectivity for the Himalayan kingdom, promising enhanced internet resilience and reliability. Click here to read… [7]

Bangladesh

Hasan Mahmud to join OIC meeting on Israeli aggression-The Daily Star

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, now in Türkiye, will attend an extraordinary meeting of OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah tomorrow to discuss the continued Israeli aggression against Palestinian people. Click here to read… [8]

Higher investments in non-cotton garments to fetch $46b by 2032: study-The Daily Star

Bangladesh has the potential to raise non-cotton garment exports to up to $46 billion annually by 2032 if entrepreneurs invest $18 billion to expand their manufacturing capacity as the consumption of apparel made from artificial fabrics is rising rapidly, according to a new study. Click here to read… [9]

Maldives

India navy to open strategic base near Maldives – Malay Mail

India’s navy has said it is bolstering forces on “strategically important” islands close to the Maldives, with a new base set to open just days before Male starts sending home Indian forces. Relations between India and the Maldives have soured since pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu won elections last year after promising to expel Indian forces. Click here to read… [10]

Maldives opposition seeks women quota in parliament – Atoll Times

Main opposition MDP lawmaker, Addu Meedhoo MP Rozaina Adam has submitted a bill seeking to amend the constitution to reserve 33 percent of parliament seats to women. Rozaina who failed to secure a party ticket for the upcoming parliamentary elections is seeking to amend the constitution. Rozaina's amendment said the primary thinking behind the move was to increase the participation of women in legislature. There are five female members in the current parliament. There are relatively few women contesting the upcoming parliamentary elections as well. Click here to read… [11]

Indian vessel apprehended for fishing in Maldivian waters – Adhadhu

The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has apprehended an Indian fishing boat for illegally fishing inside the Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). MNDF media official stated that the boat was apprehended on Saturday night and has been confirmed as an Indian fishing vessel. The boat was apprehended 13 miles inside the Maldives EEZ to the east of Haa Alif Kelaa island. Click here to read… [12]

Myanmar

Thai parliament holds Myanmar seminar over junta’s objection - The News

Thailand’s parliament opened a seminar on Sunday on the political situation in Myanmar, including opponents of the neighbouring country’s military government, despite the junta’s objection. “What we are doing today is the first step in bringing a variety of stakeholders to talk to each other,” said lawmaker Rangsiman Rome, head of the house committee organising the two-day event. “It will pave the way for a political solution for Myanmar that is peaceful and sustainable.”Speakers include senior figures in Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government and ethnic armed organisations, but no representative from the Myanmar government. Click here to read… [13]

Nagaland government urges Centre to reconsider Free Movement Regime, Myanmar border-fencing plans - Telegraph India

The Nagaland Assembly on Friday passed a resolution, requesting the Centre to “reconsider its decision, and to abandon the plan of suspending the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border” The resolution moved by Nagaland deputy chief minister Yanthungo Patton said the Centre’s recent decision to suspend the FMR and also to fence the Indo-Myanmar border “will cause immense hardship and inconvenience”. Click here to read… [14]

Nepal

Left alliance likely to take over Nepal govt after 17-month gap - Indian Express

In what appears like a fast shift in political equations, Nepal is likely to witness a takeover of the Federal government by the left alliance after a gap of 17 months, as a series of parleys between Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda and leader of the Opposition K P Oli seems to have brought the two major parties closer to a coalition arrangement. Click here to read… [15]

India-Nepal enhance financial cooperation; digital payment to be inaugurated soon - Economic Times

Nepal's Ambassador to India, Shankar Sharma, praised the Reserve Bank of India's new guidelines enabling multiple financial services between India and Nepal. Nepali citizens can now send Rs 2 lakh per transaction to Nepal, while walk-in customers can remit Rs 50,000 per transaction. The upcoming Unified Payment Interface-Nepal Clearing House Ltd will further eliminate the need for carrying cash. This initiative follows the collaboration between NIPL and NCHL to facilitate cross-border digital payments between the two countries. Click here to read… [16]

Pakistan

Profile: Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s new Prime Minister-The Express Tribune

The parliament on Sunday elected Shehbaz Sharif as the country’s new prime minister for a second term. Shehbaz, the younger brother of three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and president of his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) grabbed 201 votes in the lower house, or the National Assembly, defeating his rival Omer Ayub Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of jailed ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan. Click here to read… [17]

World seems ready to work with Shehbaz govt despite controversial polls-The Express Tribune

Despite questions over the legitimacy of the February 8 elections, the world seems to be ready to work with the new government as messages of felicitations started pouring in the moment Shehbaz Sharif was elected as prime minister. Click here to read… [18]

Barrister Gohar elected PTI chairman unopposed-The Express Tribune

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday announced the results of its intra-party elections, with Barrister Gohar Ali Khan securing the chairmanship uncontested, according to Raoof Hassan, the party's Central Information Secretary and Federal Election Commissioner. Click here to read… [19]

Joint session of Parliament to elect president called on March 9-The Express Tribune

A joint session of the Parliament to elect the next president of Pakistan has been summoned on March 9 by newly-elected National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. Click here to read… [20]

Srilanka

India - Sri Lanka grid connectivity Project to cost US $ 1.2Bn, environmental study set to commence-Daily Mirror

In another step towards the implementation of the India - Sri Lanka power grid connectivity project, the two sides have agreed to conduct the environmental feasibility study, a source familiar with the process said. Click here to read… [21]

If Sri Lanka’s economic rights harmed in Red Sea, we will stand up: President- Daily Mirror

President Ranil Wickremesinghe stressed that if the economic rights of Sri Lanka are harmed in the Red Sea, the country will stand up for them. He also stated that Sri Lanka will work to provide the necessary support to the United Nations organization whenever there are problems with peace in the region and the world. Click here to read… [22]

Overstaying Russians and Ukrainians must apply for visa or depart: Alles-Daily Mirror

Public Security Minister Tiran Alles said yesterday that Russians and Ukrainians who have been in Sri Lanka since February 2022 will need to apply for a visa or leave the country. The minister told the Daily Mirror that the free visa facility granted to them will not be extended and they must comply with immigration regulations by applying for fresh visas. Click here to read… [23]