Neighborhood News Digest- 01 April 2024

Afghanistan

Islamic Emirate Confirms Detention of Two US Citizens- Tolo News

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, told TOLO news that two American citizens and some other foreign nationals are currently detained by the caretaker government. Zabihullah Mujahid said these foreign nationals have been arrested for legal violations in the country and he said that every foreign citizen wanting to travel to Afghanistan must consider the laws of the Islamic Emirate. Click here to read… [2]

We Will Adhere to Sharia despite Pressure: Supreme Court-Tolo News

The Supreme Court of the Islamic Emirate told TOLO news that it will not yield to any pressure from the international community in implementing Sharia law. The spokesperson for the court said that the international community should not launch negative propaganda about the application of Islamic laws in Afghanistan. Click here to read… [3]

Continued forced deportation of Afghan migrants from Iran-The Khama Press

Following the trend of deporting Afghan migrants from neighboring countries, the Afghan Ministry of Refugees and Migration recently announced the expulsion of over a thousand Afghan migrants from Iran. The ministry stated in a press release on Sunday, March 31st, that one thousand five hundred twenty-one Afghan migrants entered the country, after being deported through the Islam Qaleh border crossing in Herat province. Click here to read… [4]

Bangladesh

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina lashes out at BNP’s 'India Out' campaign- The New Indian Express

Bangladesh National Party (BNP) has been propogating an ‘India Out’ campaign for some time and has been asking people to boycott Indian products. Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has lashed out at BNP for propagating this campaign. Click here to read… [5]

Matarbari Power Plant: Tk 93 lakh for two pipe cutters! – The Daily Star

On January 9, 2024, a small shipment weighing 344.5 kilograms arrived at Chattogram port. The shipment worth $250,863 (Tk 2.75 crore) contained 19 pieces of small tools such as hammer, metal pipe cutter and silicon guns imported for state-owned Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL), which is constructing Matarbari power plant in Cox's Bazar. Click here to read… [6]

40 journalists faced violence, intimidation in March – The Daily Star

At least 40 journalists were subjected to various forms of attacks, intimidation, threats, and harassment in 15 incidents in the last month, according to a report by the Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF). Click here to read… [7]

Awami League warns party MPs not to influence upazila polls – Dhaka Tribune

The Awami League high command has taken this decision in a bid to secure an influence-free voting environment amid the series of upazila polls in 495 upazila parishads of the country, which are going to start on May 8. Click here to read… [8]

Paving the way for strong economic cooperation between two nations – Dhaka Tribune

The recent visit of the Bhutanese King to Bangladesh highlights the strong and lasting friendship between these two nations. For more than 50 years, these nations have cultivated a unique bond, based on mutual esteem and historical importance. Click here to read… [9]

Bhutan

China holds 65th-anniversary celebrations of Tibet takeover in new villages along India, Bhutan borders – The Indian Express

China, which is building numerous villages in Tibet close to its borders with India and Bhutan, has held several celebratory events to mark its takeover of Tibet in the new border villages with a mix of border troops and the local population, the official media here reported. Click here to read… [10]

Govt. aims for 8 percent annual growth rate to double economy to USD 5 billion by 2029: FM – Kuensel

The government is targeting an annual economic growth rate of 8 percent, Finance Minister Leki Dorji said that during a press meeting yesterday. Click here to read… [11]

Breathing new life in regional cooperation – Kuensel

The highest profile diplomatic overtures that Bhutan, India, and Bangladesh is engaging in signals a new era of regionalism that is clearly departing from declarations and moving towards actions. Click here to read… [12]

Nu 15 billion is out of 13th Plan budget – Kuensel

The Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP), totaling Nu 15 billion, will not be included in the budget of the 13th Five Year Plan, as stated by Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay. Click here to read… [13]

Maldives

Maldives signed defense agreement after offer from China: Defense Ministry – Adhadhu

An agreement for the Chinese military to provide military assistance to the Maldives military and security forces was signed after the Maldives accepted a proposal from China. The Maldives signed the defense agreement with China in Male' on March 4. Major General Zhang Baoqun, Deputy Director of the Chinese Office for International Military Cooperation, signed the agreement on behalf of China. Defense Minister Ghassan Maumoon signed on behalf of the Maldives. Click here to read… [14]

Customs incept special section to surveil maritime area using drones – Sun Online

Maldives Customs has incepted a special section under the name ‘Maritime Surveillance and Border Protection Section’ to strengthen the surveillance of maritime areas and vessels under the authority’s control while intensifying efforts to combat the traffic of drugs into the Maldives and other border-related crimes. Customs said the section will be operated under the Directorate of Enforcement and Border Security. Click here to read… [15]

Maldives president alleges his predecessor operated on orders from ‘foreign ambassador’ – The Hindu

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has alleged that his predecessor, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, operated on orders from “a foreign ambassador.” Mr. Muizzu, however, neither named any country nor any diplomat. The president made the allegation when he was asked about criticism from the opposition regarding the recent procurement of military drones during an interview with the Public Service Media (PSM). Click here to read… [16]

Myanmar

Ethnic Karen-led forces seize Hpapun town from military-Myanmar Now

Allied forces fighting under the Karen National Union (KNU) took control of the town of Hpapun in Karen State this week, according to members of the People’s Defence Force (PDF), a resistance group which took part in the operation. The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), with the support of the PDF, began a siege on Hpapun on March 19, and reportedly captured it one week later, on Tuesday. Click here to read… [17]

Junta authorities execute political prisoner outside detention facility in Dawei-Myanmar Now

Military personnel removed two political prisoners from the detention centre where they were being held in Dawei, Tanintharyi region this month before shooting one of them dead, according to sources close to the victims’ relatives. The slain prisoner, Win Thiha, was serving a seven-year sentence in Dawei Prison for charges under Sections 51a and 52c of the Counterterrorism Law and Section 505a of the Penal Code, on incitement. Click here to read… [18]

Nepal

Minister for Energy tables proposal on ISA agreement in HoR – The Himalayan Times

Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, Shakti Bahadur Basnet, presented a proposal in a meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR), seeking general discussions on the agreement related to establishing the International Solar Alliance (ISA). In tabling the motion, Minister Basnet highlighted that the ISA was formed with the goal of increasing energy accessibility and ensuring energy security through the promotion of renewable energy. Minister pointed out that in Nepal, priority should be given to solar energy due to the fluctuating production of hydroelectricity throughout the year. Nepal signed the agreement in 2022, with 118 countries signing it thus far and 97 countries approving it. Click here to read… [19]

DPM Shrestha returning home today – The Annapurna Express

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha, who is on an official visit to China, is returning home on April 1. During the visit, he held meetings with Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Chairperson, Wang Huning, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha also called on Vice Minister of the Communist Party of China's Foreign Department Sun Haiyan. During the meeting, they discussed ways to deepen relations between the CPN (Maoist Centre) and the Communist Party of China. Click here to read… [20]

Pakistan

Internal rifts amid Imran’s detention embarrass PTI-Dawn

Internal divisions within the PTI amid the incarceration of its founding chairman, Imran Khan, have become a matter of embarrassment for the party, particularly evident in the discord over the distribution of parliamentary and general body tickets. Party leaders, while acknowledging such rifts as common in political entities during ticket allocations, express that the absence of Mr Khan has exacerbated these issues. Click here to read… [21]

Balochistan, KP dominate violence landscape in first quarter: CRSS-Dawn

During the first quarter of 2024, Pakistan witnessed 432 violence-linked fatalities and 370 injuries among civilians, security personnel, and outlaws, resulting from as many as 245 incidents of terror att¬acks and counter-terror operations. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan provinces, both bordering Afghanistan, accounted for over 92 per cent of all fatalities and 86pc of attacks (including incidents of terrorism and security forces operations) during this period. Individually, the former suffered 51pc and the latter 41pc of all fatalities in the first quarter of 2024. Click here to read… [22]

Pakistan attaches key importance to relations with US: PM Shehbaz-The Express Tribune

In Biden's first official correspondence with any Pakistani premier in years, the US president said Washington will continue to stand with Pakistan to tackle the most “pressing global and regional challenges.” The premier, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), stated that Islamabad wants to work with Washington to achieve the common goal of global peace and security and also development and prosperity in the region. Click here to read… [23]

Sri Lanka

Ship was carrying toxic waste to Sri Lanka: Report – Daily Mirror

The Singapore cargo ship Dali chartered by Maersk, which crashed into the Baltimore, US bridge on Tuesday 26 March, was carrying 764 tons of hazardous materials to Sri Lanka. Click here to read… [24]

Fuel prices revised from tonight - Daily Mirror

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has decided to revise its fuel prices with effect from tonight. Click here to read… [25]

Bunker demand rises across Sri Lankan ports – Daily Mirror

As ship owners and charters continue to take longer voyages to avoid Red Sea, bunker demand across ports on India’s west coast has risen and VLSFO supplies at the ports of Kochi and Mumbai remain disrupted. Click here to read… [26]

Trade account reflects normalising economy – Daily Mirror

The deficit in the trade account of the Balance of Payment (BoP) widened in February from a year ago on higher imports as the economy normalises. But it narrowed from a month earlier levels significantly due to less spending on fuel imports as the demand had been lower than expected. Click here to read… [27]

Public has right to know how Katchatheevu island was given to Sri Lanka: S Jaishankar – Times of India

Jaishankar criticized Congress and DMK for mishandling the Katchatheevu issue, emphasizing the public's right to know about the island's transfer to Sri Lanka. Click here to read… [28]