Neighborhood News Digest- 08 May 2024

Afghanistan

Deputy PM Kabir: Participation in Global Forums Indicates Recognition-Tolo News

Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs, said that the invitation of the Islamic Emirate to global meetings signifies the recognition of the caretaker government. During a public gathering in Parwan province, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir also disclosed that a representative from the Islamic Emirate will participate in the upcoming "Russia-Islamic World: Kazan Forum." Click here to read… [2]

Religious Scholars in Politics: Islamic Emirate's Perspective-Tolo News

The leader of the Islamic Emirate said that Western countries are endeavouring to sever the ties between religion and politics in Muslim countries. According to the Ministry of Higher Education, the leader of the Islamic Emirate, during the final day of a three-day seminar held by the ministry in Kandahar, said that advancing political matters is the right of the religious scholars. Click here to read… [3]

Taliban agrees to accept protesters’ demands and replace forces in Badakhshan: Official-The Khaama Press

Following public protests in two districts of Badakhshan, the Ministry of the Interior of the Taliban has stated that it is changing the structure of its forces in this province. Mr Qaneh also stated that the killers of two individuals who died as a result of protests against the destruction of poppy fields in Badakhshan would be brought to justice. Meanwhile, residents of these two districts in Badakhshan demand that the two deceased be tried by the Taliban in a special court. Click here to read… [4]

Bangladesh

Beyond Dollar: Bangladesh to seek over 36b yuan in Chinese loans - The Daily Star

Bangladesh is going to seek more than 36 billion yuan, equivalent to $5 billion, as soft loans from China to reduce pressure on its dollar reserves. Click here to read… [5]

Foreign Secretary Kwatra set to visit Bangladesh on May 8 – Deccan Herald

The foreign secretary is also likely to call on Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud. Kwatra's visit is also aimed at preparing grounds for PM Hasina's planned trip to India in June. Click here to read… [6]

Upazilas go to the polls in first phase of elections – Dhaka Tribune

In the first phase of the country’s sixth upazila parishad elections, voters began exercising their franchise at 8am on Wednesday in 139 upazilas across 59 districts. Click here to read… [7]

Bhutan

Impressed Bhutan wants to emulate India’s poll system – Times of India

The chief election commissioner of Bhutan, Dasho Sonam Topgay, told that it would like to introduce the concept of polling booths managed independently by persons with disabilities during their elections. Click here to read… [8]

Bhutan to host 1st Agrifood Trade and Investment Forum – kuensel

The inaugural session of Bhutan Agrifood Trade and Investment Forum (BATIF) 2024 in Thimphu will showcase the immense potential within Bhutan’s agri-food sector, highlighting high-value products cultivated in its unique geographical environment. Click here to read… [9]

Maldives

Maldives urges Indians to ‘please be part of its tourism', says 'our economy depends…' – Mint

Amid a strained bilateral tie following derogatory remarks against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a Maldives' minister has urged Indians to “be a part of their tourism" as their economy “depends on it". Emphasizing on the history shared by India and Maldives, Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal said the newly elected government wants to work with India. Click here to read… [10]

Amid frosty ties, Maldives foreign minister to meet Jaishankar in Delhi – Indian Express

As the deadline for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from Maldives ends on May 10, the Maldives government led by President Mohamed Muizzu is sending its Foreign minister for the first high-level ministerial visit on May 9. Moosa Zameer, who is the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives, will be in India on an official visit on Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on May 7. Click here to read… [11]

Myanmar

In Myanmar war, crucial window looms for junta and rebels as coming monsoons make it ‘harder and more dangerous’ - SCMP

In the jungles of southeastern Myanmar’s Dawna Hills, rebels from an armed ethnic group are fighting to hold back columns of reinforcements sent by the country’s ruling junta to try to reclaim Myawaddy, a critical trading outpost on the Thai border. What happens in the next few weeks in the scramble for Myawaddy and other strategic locations in Myanmar could determine the next phase of a bloody conflict that has dragged on for more than three years and ultimately dictate the fate of the junta. Click here to read… [12]

PM Srettha Unaware of Thaksin’s Myanmar Meetings - ASEAN Now

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has denied possessing any knowledge of recent meetings between former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Myanmar opposition groups. He emphasized that Thailand, being a close neighbour of Myanmar, is within its rights to initiate discussions within ASEAN's "five-point consensus" and remains open to dialogues with all parties involved in Myanmar's ongoing conflict. When questioned on the rumours of Thaksin’s talks with representatives from Myanmar’s armed groups opposing the military government, Srettha said he was unaware of such interactions. He reassured that all discussions his government’s Foreign Ministry and security agencies have with groups in Myanmar are meant to be confidential. Click here to read… [13]

Cambodia's Hun Sen asks Myanmar junta for Suu Kyi talks - CNA

Cambodia's former leader Hun Sen said Tuesday (May 7) he has asked the head of Myanmar's junta for a video meeting with jailed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Hun Sen, who ruled Cambodia for nearly four decades before stepping down last year, held video talks Tuesday with Min Aung Hlaing as the Myanmar military struggles to quell widespread resistance to its rule. Click here to read… [14]

Nepal

JSP Nepal seeking legal recourse on party split - Khabar Hub

The Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) Nepal, under the leadership of Upendra Yadav, is taking legal steps in response to the party’s split. A decision to pursue legal recourse was made during a meeting of the party’s leaders at Balkumari on Tuesday, according to Manish Kumar Suman, the party’s spokesperson. It’s worth noting that a faction of the party, led by Ashok Rai, had appealed for recognition from the Election Commission of Nepal. Click here to read… [15]

World Bank approves $80m facility to strengthen insurance and financial services - Asia Insurance Review

The World Bank's board of executive directors has approved an $80m development policy credit for Nepal to strengthen the stability of the financial sector, including the insurance industry. In a statement, the Bank says that the third Finance for Growth Development Policy Credit aims to improve the functioning of the financial sector to support private sector-led growth, diversify financial solutions, and increase access to financial services. Click here to read… [16]

Nepal Dy PM signals negotiations on disputed boundary days after currency note - Economic Times

Days after the decision to issue currency notes with a map that depicts disputed territories with India, Nepal Deputy Prime Minister and minister for foreign affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha has signalled negotiations and said Kathmandu was in favour of resolving the row through diplomatic means. Click here to read… [17]

Pakistan

Army wants Imran to apologise, shun politics of 'anarchy'-The Express Tribune

The Pakistan Army on Tuesday sought a sincere and public apology from jailed former prime minister Imran Khan and asked him to shun what it called “politics of anarchy and hate” to revive his political fortunes. However, at the same time, it dismissed the possibility of any ‘deal’ with the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), saying there won’t be any talks with “anarchists.” Click here to read… [18]

PTI says DG ISPR’s press conference ‘full of contradictions, devoid of rationale’-Dawn

Hours after a press conference by the military spokesperson on the events of May 9 and the PTI’s alleged involvement in them, party spokesperson Raoof Hasan termed it as being “full of contradictions”. Earlier today, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Maj-Gen Ahmed Sharif said that any dialogue with the PTI could happen only if it “earnestly apologises in front of the nation, promises to adopt constructive politics and forgoes politics of anarchy”. Click here to read… [19]

Economic revival attracts global investors-The Express Tribune

Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb highlighted on Tuesday that the economic indicators of the country were moving in a positive direction, significantly boosting the confidence of foreign investors in Pakistan’s economic governance. He highlighted that investors from the European Union, the United States, and Saudi Arabia had visited Pakistan, engaging in ongoing discussions. Click here to read… [20]

Sri Lanka

Basil reasserts general election first, yet President braces for presidential race – Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) founder Basil Rajapaksa reasserted yesterday that his party still believes the general election should precede the presidential elections but President Ranil Wickremesinghe has a contrasting stand, according to an informed source of the party. Click here to read… [21]

Gross official reserves surpass US$ 5bn mark – Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves have continued to increase through the end of April topping the US$ 5.0 billion level for the first time since December 2020 when the country was coming out of the second wave of the virus outbreak. Click here to read… [22]