Neighborhood News Digest- 10 May 2024

Afghanistan

Mawlawi Kabir: If We Had Means, No Foreign Drones Would Patrol Airspace-Tolo News

Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the political deputy of the Prime Minister's Office, at a public meeting in Panjshir said that American drones patrol the country's airspace due to the lack of sufficient equipment to prevent them. The political deputy added that the Islamic Emirate has not received any financial aid from Washington for the patrolling of American drones, and the claims of talks are merely rumors. Click here to read… [2]

Study: Afghanistan's Challenges Can Be Solved By Dialogue with Neighbours- Tolo News

The Sahar Union Discourse Center and the Iranian Research and Study Delegation said that their research findings indicate that Afghanistan's current challenges can be resolved through dialogue with neighboring countries. According to officials from these institutions, they have conducted discussions with government figures and citizens of the country in this study. Click here to read… [3]

UN emphasizes midwife training in Afghanistan-The Khaama Press

The United Nations Population Fund in Afghanistan has called for investment in empowering midwives in Afghanistan, emphasizing the need for quality training and ensuring access to resources in the country. This institution, on Wednesday, May 8, released a statement on its social media platform X calling for investments to empower midwives in Afghanistan. Click here to read… [4]

Ban on cooperation with Afghanistan International Radio and TV violates media law: AFJC-The Khaama Press

The Afghanistan Journalists Center has stated that the Taliban’s announcement banning work and cooperation with Afghanistan International Radio and Television is against the media laws. On Thursday, May 9, the Afghanistan Journalists Center issued a statement calling this action contrary to the essence of free speech and violating the country’s media laws. The center urged the Taliban to respect the rights of free media and their audiences according to the law. Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh

Today's Dhaka rallies: 18 conditions for AL, 19 for BNP - The Daily Star

Archrivals Awami League and BNP are going to hold rallies in the capital today. AL's Dhaka city (north) unit will hold the rally at 2:30pm while BNP's programme, to be organised by its Dhaka city (south) unit, will start at 3:00pm. Click here to read… [6]

Don’t name any project after me: PM – The Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said she will not approve any proposals for projects named after her in the future. Click here to read… [7]

Bangladesh tops Europe-bound migrant sea crossings again – Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh has once again emerged as the leading source country for migrants undertaking risky sea journeys to reach Europe, surpassing war-torn nations like Syria. Click here to read… [8]

India, Bangladesh discuss trade, Teesta development project – Hindustan Times

Besides reviewing the overall bilateral relationship at a meeting with his counterpart Masud Bin Momen, India’s foreign secretary also discussed a planned visit to India by PM Sheikh Hasina in June or July. Click here to read… [9]

Bhutan

Loan deferment could be extended up to a year: FIs - Kuensel

Financial institutions (FIs) are likely to offer loan deferment from six months to one year to the borrowers facing genuine financial hardships after the current loan deferment period ends on June 30 this year. Click here to read… [10]

Bhutan receives more than 41,000 tourists within four months – Kuensel

Bhutan experienced a notable surge in tourism with 41,394 visitors arriving in the country during the initial four months of 2024. This figure stands in stark contrast to the 26,465 arrivals recorded during the corresponding period in 2023. Click here to read… [11]

Maldives

'Won't repeat': Maldives foreign minister on derogatory remarks against PM Narendra Modi - hindustan Times

Maldives foreign minister Moosa Zameer said on Thursday that he held discussions with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar regarding the possibility of President Mohamed Muizzu's visit to New Delhi “very soon”. This comes as the two nations held diplomatic talks in an effort to mend strained ties. Click here to read… [12]

‘India-Maldives ties based on mutual interests, reciprocal sensitivity’: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar - Sentinel Assam

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that the development of ties between India and Maldives is based on mutual interests and reciprocal sensitivity of the two countries. Jaishankar held delegation-level talks with Maldivian Foreign Minister Mossa Zameer, who had arrived in India a day earlier. In his opening remarks, Jaishankar extended a “very very warm welcome” to Zameer on his first visit to the country in his current capacity, which the EAM said provides an opportunity to discuss bilateral ties and chart out future directions. Click here to read… [13]

‘Not Govt’s Stand, Won’t Repeat’: Maldivian Foreign Minister on Derogatory Remarks on PM Modi - News18

Referring to some Maldivian ministers’ derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year, the island nation’s Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer who is on his first official visit to India, said his government had distanced itself from the comments and had taken “proper action” to ensure no repetitions. In an interview with news agency ANI, Maldivian Foreign Minister Zameer said, “I think if you have seen, like you said, we have said that it’s not the stand of the government or it’s not the view of the government. And we believe it shouldn’t have been done. And then we are taking proper action to make sure that this don’t repeat.” Click here to read… [14]

Myanmar

TNLA Threatens Retaliation If Myanmar Junta Keeps Breaking China-Backed Truce - The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s anti-regime Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) has vowed an “appropriate response” after accusing the junta of breaking a ceasefire by shelling one of its outposts. Junta troops based at Pyu Yaung village in Mogok Township, Mandalay Region, fired four shells plus bullets at a TNLA outpost in neighboring Nyaung Kone village on Saturday (May 4), the TNLA said on Wednesday. TNLA spokeswoman Lway Yay Oo said the regime is carrying out attacks on TNLA outposts in violation of the China-brokered ceasefire and the TNLA would respond appropriately. Click here to read… [15]

Myanmar junta reiterates election plan after ex-Cambodia PM seeks Suu Kyi access - MSN

Myanmar's military chief discussed plans to hold an election in the country with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen in talks this week, a senior official said, even as the ruling junta faces unprecedented pressure from an expanding armed resistance. The military government has promised repeatedly to return Myanmar to democracy but has given no timeframe for when an election will happen. Click here to read… [16]

Myanmar Government Issues Guidelines for Nationals Seeking Shelter in India - Sentinel Assam

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the National Unity Government acted to address security concerns in Myanmar. A set of guidelines has been released. The purpose is to aid Myanmar nationals seeking safety in India. The guidelines issuance date was June 15, 2023. Their goal is twofold. The first is the assurance of Myanmar citizens' safety and well-being in India. The second is nurturing positive relations between both countries. Click here to read… [17]

Nepal

Govt joins hands with Switzerland for sustainable tourism in Koshi Province - My Republica

The Government of Nepal has signed an agreement with the Government of Switzerland to implement the Trail-based Tourism Development Project (TTDP). With the implementation of this project, the government aims to achieve local economic development in Koshi Province by promoting sustainable tourism in the region. Shree Krishna Nepal, joint-secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Dr Danielle Meuwly, Swiss Ambassador to Nepal, inked the agreement in this regard on behalf of their respective governments on Thursday. Click here to read… [18]

Nepal, India must talk, resolve issues - Deccan Herald

The decision by the Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” government in Nepal to depict the contested India-Nepal-China tri-junction on its currency notes injects a new challenge into New Delhi's relations with Kathmandu. The border issue had lain dormant for a long time until it flared up in 2020, when India published new maps showing the reorganisation of J&K into two Union Territories, in which Kalapani in the tri-junction area was shown on the Indian side. Click here to read… [19]

After split in JSP-Nepal, politics hots up in Madhesh over fate of coalition - Kathmandu Post

The Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal (JSP-Nepal)’s division is expected to lead the Madhesh provincial government into a crisis. The CPN (Maoist Centre), Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s party that has backed the Madhesh government, was in an internal meeting on Thursday to discuss the prospect of the provincial government, which is led by the JSP-Nepal chaired by Upendra Yadav. Click here to read… [20]

Economic Digest: Nepal’s Business News in a Snap - KhabarHub

Finance Minister Barshaman Pun unveiled plans to revolutionize Nepal’s economy in the upcoming budget, emphasizing transformative strategies over punitive measures. Pledging to boost private sector confidence, ensure policy coherence, and safeguard investments and property rights, Minister Pun aims to create an enabling environment for sustainable growth. Tax adjustments will be carefully evaluated, reflecting a commitment to prudent fiscal decision-making. Despite challenges, Minister Pun remains optimistic, targeting a growth rate of seven and a half percent for the next fiscal year. Click here to read… [21]

Pakistan

Govt seeks Chinese support for hydropower projects-Dawn

Pakistan is engaging the Chinese leadership for the revival of more than 1800-megawatt of hydropower projects (HPPs) and investment from fresh Chinese companies in the country’s transmission and distribution network as part of the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The authorities are trying their best to convene a meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) of the cabinet on May 22-23 so that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s upcoming visit to Beijing early next month will be a success. Click here to read… [22]

PM wants more Qatari investment in Pakistan-Dawn

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday received a message from his Qatari counterpart underscoring potential avenues for reinforcing bilateral ties. “Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Moham¬med bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani has sent a written message to Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif, pertaining to bilateral relations and way to support and develop them,” Qatari newswire QNA reported. Click here to read… [23]

Islamabad, Kabul embroil in fresh war of words-The Express Tribune

Islamabad and Kabul engaged in a fresh round of a war of words on Thursday as the Foreign Office (FO) dismissed the latest charge by Afghanistan that the Daesh terrorist group was operating from Pakistan. On Monday, DG ISPR Major General Ahmed Sharif issued a fresh charge sheet against the Taliban government, accusing them of not doing enough to stop the cross-border terrorist attacks being perpetrated by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Click here to read… [24]

PTI to move SC to recover ‘missing’ footage of May 9 events-The Express Tribune

Former prime minister and incarcerated PTI founder, Imran Khan, has instructed his legal team to file petitions in the Supreme Court concerning the retrieval of footage from cameras installed on military premises on May 9, alleged deaths of 16 PTI workers, and the Form-47 statement of former caretaker prime minister Anwarul Haq Kakar. Addressing the media outside Adiala Jail on Thursday, PTI Secretary General Raoof Hasan conveyed Khan's directives to file three writ petitions in the Supreme Court. Click here to read… [25]

Sri Lanka

Majority MPs call for General Election first – Daily Mirror

In the wake of the Election Commission officially announcing that the Presidential election will be held between September 17 and October 16, a faction of both government and opposition MPs have expressed concerns as they prefer a parliamentary election first. Click here to read… [26]

Two Ambassadors, High Commissioner meet Anura Kumara – Daily Mirror

Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Mizukoshi Hideaki, Ambassador to Switzerland Siri Walt and South African High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Sandile Schalk met National People's Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake this afternoon. Click here to read… [27]

Presidential poll to be held between September 17, October 16 – Daily Mirror

The Election Commission formally announced that the 2024 Presidential election will be held on a day between September 17 and October 16. Click here to read… [28]