Neighborhood News Digest- 30 April 2024

Afghanistan

From spring offensive to charm offensive: The Taliban are working to woo tourists to Afghanistan - Times of India

Around 30 men are crammed into a Kabul classroom, part of the debut student cohort at a Taliban-run institute training tourism and hospitality professionals. It's a motley crew. One student is a model. Another is 17 and has no job history. The students vary in age, education level and professional experience. They're all men - Afghan women are banned from studying beyond sixth grade - and they don't know anything about tourism or hospitality. Click here to read… [2]

Amu Darya and Kabul river basins major sources of water for Afghanistan: Study - Down to Earth

A new study has revealed interesting insights about water in Afghanistan, which has suffered recurrent droughts since the 1990s, during which it has also experienced some of its worst wars. The researchers divided Afghanistan into five river basins and found that two of the five are the major water sources for the country. Even more interestingly, it found that 28.6 billion cubic metres (BCM) of the country’s water is generated in areas outside it. “This information is crucial for long term planning for water resources and agricultural development,” the authors wrote. Click here to read… [3]

23.7 million people need humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan: UNICEF - Business Standard

As many as 23.7 million people including 12.3 million children in Afghanistan require humanitarian assistance in 2024, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said, Afghanistan-based Khaama Press reported. According to UNICEF, only 35 per cent of the required $ 1.4 billion in aid for children in Afghanistan has been secured. The UNICEF released its latest report on the humanitarian situation in the country in March. Click here to read… [4]

Bangladesh

IMF Loan: Govt may miss two key targets set for fourth tranche - The Daily Star

The government is likely to ask the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to revise down two key targets related to Net International Reserves (NIR) and tax revenue collection, set for June this year for the release of the fourth tranche of its $4.7 billion loan, finance ministry officials said. Click here to read… [5]

Bangbandhu killing: Committee formed to find, recognise ‘resistance fighters’ – The Daily Star

The High Court has formed a four-member committee to identify and recognise the "resistance fighters" (1975-1979) who protested the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members. Click here to read… [6]

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina to Visit India in July before Embarking on China Trip – ABP News

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to visit India after the new govt is sworn in, to apprise New Delhi of her next trip to Beijing as part of efforts to ‘maintain strategic balance’. Click here to read… [7]

Quader: BNP becoming organizationally weak avoiding pro-people politics – Dhaka Tribune

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said BNP is becoming weak organizationally day by day for adopting ill-strategy avoiding pro-people politics. Click here to read… [8]

Bhutan

Bhutan and the Tiger Conservation Coalition Commit to Catalysing US$1 billion for tigers - IUCN

The conference was opened yesterday by Her Majesty The Queen of Bhutan, under whose patronage this effort to mobilise greater support for protecting tigers and tiger landscapes has come to fruition. In an address at the opening ceremony, Her Majesty spoke about the urgency of protecting tiger habitats to safeguard the wellbeing of our planet, and the importance of sustainable funding to carry out this task. Click here to read… [9]

Bhutan removes mandatory travel insurance requirement for tourists - Times of India

Bhutan's Department of Tourism has announced a notable change by removing the compulsory travel insurance requirement for tourists. Initially introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to cover unforeseen emergencies, especially medical expenses related to the pandemic, this requirement is now being lifted as the situation improves and as part of efforts to make travel experiences smoother. Click here to read… [10]

Maldives

Will Maldives Islands sink by 2100? Mohamed Muizzu's govt pins hope on 'creating new land' but at a cost – The Mint

The Maldives is also one of the country’s most vulnerable to sea-level rise. It added that 80 percent of its islands are less than one metre above sea level, and less than one percent of the area in the island nation is actually land, some scientists predict that the islands could be completely submerged by 2100. In an effort to keep the country above water and thriving, the government is adopting a strategy used by many nations around the globe: land reclamation. Click here to read… [11]

Government fails to disclose number of political appointees – Adhadhu

The government spokesperson refused to disclose the number of political appointees in the current administration during a press conference at the President’s Office on Sunday, saying that it would be revealed later. At the first press conference held in three months, the government's new spokesperson, Heena Waleed, said in response to a question from a journalist that the information would be shared with the media very soon. Click here to read… [12]

Myanmar

Nagaland: Huge cache of military-grade weapons recovered near Myanmar border - Assam Tribune

The Assam Rifles, based on specific intelligence inputs, recovered a huge quantity of military-grade arms, ammunition, and other war-like stores near the Myanmar border in Nagaland’s Mon district. Also Read - Re-polling in Manipur sees 16.68% voter turnout till 9 am Defence PRO informed that the seizures were made after a search operation was launched early morning on Monday. Following the operation, one person was arrested. Recovery of a huge quantity of arms and ammunition comprised 11 Mortar tubes (81 mm), 4 Tubes (106 mm), 10 Pistols, 198 Hand Held Radio Sets, one satellite phone, one Kenbo bike, one vehicle (Bolero), and other war like stores. Click here to read… [13]

KIA Seizes Myanmar Junta HQ Near Kachin State Capital - The Irrawaddy

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) says it seized Myanmar junta’s Infantry Battalion 141 headquarters controlling the Irrawaddy River route to the Kachin State capital, Myitkyina, on Monday after months of attacks. The KIA and allied Kachin People’s Defense Force occupied Sinbo on the west bank of the Irrawaddy in Myitkyina Township on February 10 after occupying a police station in the town. Since then the anti-regime groups have been attempting to seize the battalion headquarters to the west of the town. Click here to read… [14]

Myanmar Junta Reinforcements Heading for Myawaddy Reach Dawna Mountains - The Irrawaddy

Myanmar military junta reinforcements heading for Karen State’s Myawaddy town advanced into the Dawna Mountain Range on Sunday despite ambushes by Karen and allied resistance forces, according to a resistance group involved. As part of the military regime’s national-level Operation Aung Zeya, a force comprising nearly 1,000 junta troops left Kawkareik on April 11 bound for Myawaddy. Their mission is to reinforce the troops remaining there since the defeat by Karen forces of Infantry Battalion 275, which had been defending the town. Kawkareik is located just 42 km west of Myawaddy but the two towns are separated by the Dawna Mountain Range. Click here to read… [15]

Nepal

Nepal Investment Summit 2024: Investments worth Rs 9.13 billion approved - My Republica

The Department of Industry (DoI) has approved investments totaling Rs 9.13 billion for four different projects as part of the Third Nepal Investment Summit 2024. These investments include Rs 6 billion for establishing an investment company in Bhaktapur, Rs 3 billion for a business complex building in Kathmandu, Rs 76.6 million for a 200 KW hydropower project in Kailali, and Rs 62.5 million for the construction of hotels and restaurants in Lalitpur district, as per information provided by Shankar Singh Dhami, Director of the foreign investment and technology transfer unit under the DoI. Click here to read… [16]

Bridging Borders: Harnessing the power of the Nepali Landscape in Indo-Nepal Relations - Border Lens

The phrase “Since time immemorial…” echoes through the corridors of Indian diplomacy and literature whenever Nepal is mentioned, serving as a solemn invocation. It symbolizes the deep-rooted ties between the two nations, steeped in history and culture. However, despite this perceived connection, Nepal has increasingly gravitated towards China, fostering a close relationship. Meanwhile, a significant portion of Nepalese society still harbours a palpable resentment towards “India”. This sentiment transcends mere disagreements in state policies or transient geopolitical manoeuvres; it delves into the Nepalese psyche, portraying India as a perpetual antagonist responsible for every political upheaval within their borders, which is often attributed to its intelligence agency, R&AW. This resentment perplexes Indian policymakers and media alike, as they struggle to comprehend why their “younger brother“ fails to acknowledge the enduring depth of their historical ties. Click here to read… [17]

China's Trans-Himalayan Railway: Is Nepal on Its Way to a Monster Debt Trap-Japan Forward

The Pokhara airport in Nepal is openly described by Beijing as a Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project. As if the debt-related problems surrounding that were not enough, Nepal is moving ahead with the cross-border railway line connectivity project between Lhasa and Kathmandu. This is being described as the ultimate pinnacle of connectivity projects between Nepal and China. But the reality is that Nepal is a step away from falling prey to a one-of-its-kind monstrous debt trap with China, following the Pokhara airport project. Click here to read… [18]

Pakistan

IMF okays release of final $1.1bn SBA tranche - Dawn

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday approved the immediate disbursement of approximately $1.1 billion to Pakistan. Click here to read… [19]

Gandapur, Omar, Shibli to ‘hold talks on PTI’s behalf’ – Dawn

Clearing the air after months of confusion and speculation, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Monday finally designated Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and parliamentary opposition leaders Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz to hold talks with the military establishment. Click here to read… [20]

PM, Saudi Crown Prince agree to boost cooperation – The Nation

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Arab’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud met here Monday and agreed to strengthen broad-based cooperation in various fields. Click here to read… [21]

Pakistan, Iran move to man border for fighting terrorism – The Nation

In a significant development after the visit of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Pakistan, both Pakistan and Iran have decided to appoint Colonel-rank liaison officers at the border for coordination in the joint counter-terrorism efforts. Click here to read… [22]

Sri Lanka

Parties should publicize their election manifestos well in advance: PAFFREL – Daily Mirror

The political parties should publicize their election manifestos well in advance of any election, be it a Presidential or Parliamentary poll, to create a better and responsible political culture in the country, the Peoples' Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) said. Click here to read… [23]

All doubts over Sri Lanka’s ability to overcome economic crisis vanish: Semasinghe – Daily Mirror

The doubts that existed among all parties on whether Sri Lanka will be able to overcome the economic crisis have disappeared, Finance State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said. Click here to read… [24]

India-Russia joint venture to manage strategic Sri Lanka airport – Economic Times

A joint venture between an Indian and a Russian firm has won the contract to manage Sri Lanka's Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport for 30 years. Click here to read… [25]