Neighborhood News Digest- 06 March 2024

Afghanistan

Islamic Emirate Army Chief: US Controls Afghan Airspace-Tolo News

The Chief of Army Staff of the Islamic Emirate says that Afghanistan's airspace is still under the control of the United States. Speaking in an exclusive interview with TOLO news, Fasihuddin Fetrat said that the country's airspace is still managed by the United States and that this country violates Afghanistan's airspace. Click here to read... [2]

UNSC to Meet on Afghanistan on Wednesday: Faiq- Tolo News

The United Nations Security Council is reportedly set to hold a meeting on Afghanistan on Wednesday. The Chargé d' Affaires of the Afghanistan Permanent Mission to the UN, Naseer Ahmad Faiq, told TOLO news that the special representative of the UN Secretary-General and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Roza Otunbayeva, will present a three-month report on the situation in Afghanistan. Click here to read... [3]

Mujahid, Acting Defense minister, meets Qatari counterpart-The Khama Press

Mawlawi Yaqub Mujahid, the acting minister of the Taliban, travelled to Qatar to participate in a military exhibition and met with Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, the Defense Minister of Qatar. The Ministry of Defense of Taliban wrote on its social media platform X, on Tuesday, March 5th, that the meeting discussed bilateral relations and the expansion of interests between the de facto administration and Qatar. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Muslim countries: PM suggests common currency – The Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday suggested that the Muslim countries introduce a common currency like the euro of the European Union to facilitate trade and commerce among them. Click here to read... [5]

BSF delegation reaches Dhaka – The Daily Star

A nine-member delegation of India's Border Security Force (BSF) led by its Director General (DG) Shri Nitin Agrawal landed in Dhaka last morning to attend the 54th DG-level BGB-BSF Border Conference at the BGB headquarters. Click here to read... [6]

FM Hasan calls at OIC for alternate measures to end Gaza atrocities – Dhaka Tribune

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has called on the OIC member states to take alternate measures to end the conflict in Gaza, which has turned into genocide, and ensure humanitarian rights and human rights for the Palestinian people. Click here to read... [7]

Envoy: China is truly committed to help Bangladesh – Dhaka tribune

Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Yao Wen has said that China is truly committed to helping Bangladesh in its development and construction. Click here to read... [8]

Bhutan

MoENR and ICIMOD Sign MoU to Strengthen Environmental and Economic Resilience in Bhutan - BNN Breaking

The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MoENR) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) have forged a significant partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today, marking a pivotal moment for environmental and economic development in Bhutan. This collaboration is set to align with Bhutan's development agenda, focusing on critical areas such as climate risk reduction, resilient mountain economies, and sustainable regional mechanisms. Click here to read... [9]

Need to achieve climate resilience through green financing - Kuensel Online

In a pivotal step towards combating climate change, Bhutan may have to embrace innovative financing solutions, particularly in the realm of green financing. Green financing involves investing in projects that mitigate climate change and promote sustainable development and environmental conservation. Recent research indicates a significant rise in temperatures in the Himalayan region, including Bhutan, with an average increase of 0.8 degrees Celsius over the past century. This trend is expected to lead to more frequent and intense weather extremes, including extreme heat and cold. Click here to read... [10]

Maldives

Head of Chinese military delegation meets President Muizzu – Adhadhu

Major General Zhang Baoqun, Deputy Director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of China, paid a courtesy call on President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on March 5. The meeting was held at the President’s Office. A comprehensive discussion took place on strategic partnerships and enhancing defence cooperation between the Maldives and China. Furthermore, a meeting with the President of the Export-Import Bank of China, Ren Shengjun, also took place on the same day. During the meeting, key developmental initiatives from China to the Maldives, Maldives' early participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, historical ties, cooperation, and mutual respect between China and the Maldives were discussed. Click here to read... [11]

Indian company, given USD 3.6 million by former government, under probe – The Edition

Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology has submitted a case to the police requesting an investigation into a case where USD 3.6 million deposited by the former government of Maldives to India's Indira Project Joint Venture Company for the construction of police stations in various islands has vanished without a trace. Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan said that the agreement entered into by the previous government stated that police stations will be built in 61 islands at the cost of USD 41.18 million. The agreement was for 85 percent of the project to be funded through India's Exim Bank, with Maldives' government providing the remaining 15 percent. Exim Bank had later notified that it would not be able to extend the loan. Click here to read... [12]

Myanmar

Allegations of Uranium, Plutonium in Myanmar Puzzle Experts - VOA News

Allegations of a Myanmar-Yakuza arms deal involving nuclear materials have raised alarms in Myanmar’s rebel-held Shan state and confounded scientists, who have long been aware of raw uranium in the region but say they have no idea how it could have been processed to weapons-grade material in the remote area. Click here to read... [13]

Junta imposes martial law in rebel-controlled Shan state townships - RFA

Myanmar’s junta has declared martial law in three northern Shan state townships seized by ethnic rebels during an ongoing offensive, prompting concern from residents who fear the military is planning a push to retake the areas. The junta has declared martial law in more than 60 townships across the country, including in Sagaing, Magwe, Tanintharyi and Bago regions, as well as in Chin state. The designation has been used as a justification by the military to impose heavy punishments on residents on the basis of suspicion alone. Click here to read... [14]

Nepal

China Wins Another Round In Nepal As Communist Rivals Join Hands Once Again To Form Government - Swarajya Marg

The two major communist parties in Nepal, who have alternately been allies and bitter rivals, have joined hands once again to form a coalition government in the Himalayan nation. This sudden development Monday (4 March) represents a victory for China, which has been trying its best to bring the two communist parties together. Click here to read... [15]

Breaking Barriers to Justice - HRW

It has been almost two decades since the civil war in Nepal ended in 2006 with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The former Maoist insurgents have been demobilized and an elected assembly has adopted a federal, republican constitution. Conducting a transitional justice process remains the major outstanding commitment of the peace agreement. A moment of opportunity now exists to deliver a truth and justice process that is sought by victims, and one that would help protect the rights of all Nepalis in the future. Click here to read... [16]

Pakistan

PML-N gets lucky as reserved seats doled out-Dawn

The PML-N has become the largest political party in the National Assembly, with the number of its MNAs surging by 16 to 123 following the distribution of reserved seats — denied to the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) — among three political parties. Click here to read... [17]

Hectic PPP efforts to seek support for presidential poll-Dawn

After successful elections of the National Assembly speaker, deputy speaker and the prime minister, the PPP and the PML-N — the two major partners in the eight-party ruling alliance — are now busy finalising their strategy for the upcoming presidential election. Click here to read... [18]

Reserved seats: PTI announces protest against ECP on Sunday-The Express Tribune

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced a nationwide protest against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) scheduled for Sunday, March 10. The protest is a response to the ECP's decision of depriving Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) – wherein elected PTI lawmakers have taken refuge after being disallowed to contest the general elections on the party's electoral symbol – of reserved seats and their allocation to PML-N and PPP instead. Click here to read... [19]

PTI’s intra-party polls challenged again-The Express Tribune

The intra-party elections of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have come under scrutiny once again as two petitions were filed at the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday for their nullification. Click here to read... [20]

Sri Lanka

Will not deviate from IMF programme, but will renegotiate terms and conditions: NPP – Daily Mirror

The National People’s Power (NPP) said it would not derail the IMF programme if it won the presidency but would renegotiate its terms and conditions on implementations. Click here to read... [21]

Halt excessive scrutiny of nations - SL tells Human Rights Council – Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka has called for the UN Human Rights Council to halt its excessive scrutiny of nations in the global south through intrusive mechanisms while ignoring violations elsewhere to regain credibility. Click here to read... [22]

India, Sri Lanka working to link power grids via undersea transmission line – The Indian Express

Sri Lanka and India are working on an estimated USD 1.2 billion undersea transmission line that will link the island nation’s power grind with that of India to provide energy security to this country, a top Sri Lankan official said on Tuesday. Click here to read... [23]