Neighborhood News Digest- 16 May 2024

Afghanistan

Russia offers aid to Afghanistan after devastating floods – Khaama Press

Maria Zakharova, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, announced that Russia is prepared to help Afghanistan after severe floods hit several Northern provinces. Click here to read… [2]

Deputy PM: Kabul Opposes Appointment of Special Representative – TOLO News

Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the political deputy of the Prime Minister's Office, has reiterated that the Islamic Emirate does not agree to the appointment of a special representative for Afghanistan. Click here to read… [3]

Kabul Criticizes Intl Community for Lack of Counter-Narcotics Support – Tolo News

The Islamic Emirate has criticized the international community for its lack of cooperation in combating drug trafficking in Afghanistan. Click here to read… [4]

Bangladesh

Rooppur, Matarbari, metros to get highest ADP allocation - The Daily Star

The government is set to increase budget allocation for quick completion of the Rooppur nuclear and Matarbari coal-fired power plant projects. Click here to read… [5]

BNP raises alarm over dwindling reserves – The Daily Star

BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan yesterday voiced concerns over dwindling foreign currency reserves, stating that the nation is grappling with a severe crisis exacerbated by the misdeeds of the government. Click here to read… [6]

Hasan: Donald Lu came with very positive note – Dhaka Tribune

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday said US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu is visiting Bangladesh with a “positive note” to deepen Dhaka-Washington ties. Click here to read… [7]

Bhutan

First-ever Bhutan Agri-food Trade and Investment Forum kicks off in Thimphu – Bhutan Broadcasting Services

To bring together local and foreign investors and entrepreneurs to explore trade and investment partnerships in Bhutanese agri-food, the Bhutan Agri-food Trade and Investment Forum began on May 15, in the capital. Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay attended the forum opening, which is the first of its kind to be held in the country. More than 130 international and local participants representing different international agencies and private companies attended the forum. Click here to read… [8]

Maldives

Maldives gets IMF debt warning as more Chinese loans loom – The Hindu

The International Monetary Fund warned the Maldives against looming "debt distress" on Monday, as the small but strategically placed luxury tourist destination looks set to borrow more from main creditor China. Since winning office last year, President Mohamed Muizzu has reoriented the atoll nation — known for its upmarket beach resorts and celebrity vacationers — away from traditional benefactor India and towards Beijing. Click here to read… [9]

Discussions held on deepening UK-Maldives trade and investment relations – Sun International

Discussions have been held on deepening trade and investment relations between the Maldives and the UK. The discussions took place during a meeting between Maldivian Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed and UK’s Minister of State for Trade Greg Hands. Minister Saeed is presently on an official visit to the UK to attend the Commonwealth Trade and Investment Roundtable and seek assistance from the participants of the UK financial sector in order to develop a vibrant financial market in the Maldives. Click here to read… [10]

Myanmar

Myanmar’s ban on male workers going abroad may worsen Thai labor shortage - Benar News

Myanmar’s ban on men going abroad to work could cause a labor crunch in Thailand, where workers from its neighbor have for years helped sustain growth, industry groups said. The ban by Myanmar’s junta, to augment its depleted military amid battles with insurgent groups fighting to end military rule, has meant no fresh permits have been issued for conscription-age men hoping to find jobs abroad. Click here to read… [11]

Myanmar junta carries out another deadly airstrike in Magway Region - Myanmar Now

A regime airstrike on a village in Magway Region’s Saw Township killed seven civilians on Tuesday, just days after at least 15 died in a similar attack in the same township last week. The latest aerial assault targeted the village of Taw Ma, which came under attack at around 3pm as some 100 residents gathered to receive donated blankets, mosquito nets, and other necessities, according to witnesses. Click here to read… [12]

Top Asean officials meet Myanmar junta chief for ‘cooperation’ talks - Malay Mail

Myanmar’s military chief has held talks with top Asean officials on the junta’s participation in the South-east Asian regional bloc, from which it has been isolated since the 2021 coup, state media reported today. The 10-member Association of South-east Asian Nations has led so far fruitless diplomatic efforts to solve the conflict unleashed by the military’s putsch, which has displaced 2.7 million people, according to the United Nations. Click here to read… [13]

Mizoram prepares biometric enrollment for refugees from Myanmar - The News Mill

Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma has said that biometric data of Myanmar refugees residing in the state will be collected soon. Lalduhoma on May 15 said that biometric enrollment portal has been in place for collection of the data and it will be utilised in near future. Speaking to leaders of the central committee of Young Mizo Association (YMA) at the CMO’s office in Aizawl, Lalduhoma said that the biometric enrollment portal was prepared in accordance with advice of prime minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah. Click here to read… [14]

Nepal

S. Korea, Nepal exchange congratulatory cables on 50th anniv. of diplomatic relations - Yonhap News

President Yoon Suk Yeol has exchanged congratulatory cables with Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the two countries' diplomatic relations, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday. The telegrams were delivered Wednesday, on the same date that the two countries forged the diplomatic ties back in 1974, the ministry said. Click here to read… [15]

Lithuania ready to assist Nepal in digitalisation, cybersecurity - Kathmandu Post

Nepal and Lithuania established diplomatic ties in February 2005. Nepal designated its Embassy in Copenhagen (Denmark) as a non-resident mission to Lithuania, and the Lithuanian Embassy in New Delhi represents Lithuania in Nepal. There have been minimal contacts and exchanges between the two countries. Trade, tourism and investment relations between the two countries are at a very low level. The Post caught up with Diana Mickeviciene, the ambassador of Lithuania to India, during her recent visit to Nepal to discuss Lithuania’s cutting-edge technology and its graduation to a developed economy, as well as bilateral economic, trade and tourism relations between the two small nations. Click here to read… [16]

Deputy Prime Minister N.K. Shrestha Advocates Diplomacy For Nepal-India Relations - DD News

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha emphasized the importance of resolving bilateral issues between Nepal and India through dialogue and diplomatic channels. Speaking at the third edition of the Lecture Series on Nepal-India Relations, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to honor former Ambassador and Foreign Secretary Prof Yadunath Khanal, Shrestha underscored the historical friendship and cooperation between the two neighboring countries. Click here to read… [17]

Pakistan

Imran to ‘appear before SC’ today after big relief - Dawn

Former prime minister Imran Khan who has been in jail for almost nine months in multiple cases is all set to appear before the Sup¬reme Court through video link as a petitioner in a case about changes in the NAB law, a day after two courts in the federal capital granted him relief in separate cases, including the Al-Qadir Trust matter. Click here to read… [18]

In talks with Dar, China vows to ‘upgrade’ CPEC – Dawn

China is ready to work with Pakistan to develop an “upgraded version” of the China-Pakis-tan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Pakistani counterpart on Wednesday. Click here to read… [19]

"India Landed On Moon, While We...": Pakistani Lawmaker In Viral Speech – NDTV

Pakistani lawmaker Syed Mustafa Kamal drew a comparison between India's achievements and the precarious situation in Karachi, by mentioning India's moon landing mission. The Muttahida Quami Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) leader said that while India is landing on the moon, Karachi is making news of children being killed by falling in open gutters. Click here to read… [20]

Sri Lanka

Rupee expected to dip to Rs.310-320 range later this year: FCR – Daily Mirror

The Sri Lankan rupee is likely to depreciate in the range of Rs.310-320 against the US dollar in the latter part of the year, First Capital Research (FCR) said. Click here to read… [21]

Tense situation near Presidential Secretariat - Daily Mirror

A tense situation was reported near the Presidential Secretariat due to a protest by the Citizen Power Organization Against Bribery, Corruption and Waste this morning. Click here to read… [22]

India-gifted ambulance service in Sri Lanka in need of critical support – Daily Mirror

An India-gifted free ambulance service in Sri Lanka, providing vital pre-hospital emergency care across the island for eight years, appears to be in need of critical support, going by a recent social media post by a public health professional. Click here to read… [23]

Sri Lanka in talks with India to set up small arms manufacturing unit: Premitha Tennakoon – Deccan Herald

“We are in discussions with India to set up a small arms manufacturing unit,” Tennakoon said responding to a press query here. Click here to read… [24]