Neighborhood News Digest- 22 May 2024

Afghanistan

SIGAR Claims $10.9M Paid to Islamic Emirate Institutions-Tolo News

John Sopko, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), said that from August 2021 to the present, $10.9 million of US funds have been paid to Islamic Emirate institutions. According to SIGAR’s report, out of the 65 organizations, 38 responded to the questionnaire, revealing that since August 2021, $10.9 million of US aid has been paid to various departments of the Islamic Emirate for customs expenses, taxes, electricity bills, and other costs. Click here to read… [2]

Turkish Airlines resumes flights to Kabul, Afghanistan-The Khaama Press

Turkish Airlines has announced the resumption of its flights to Afghanistan after a three-year hiatus. The company stated in a press release that it will commence its flights to Kabul today, Tuesday, May 21. According to the announcement, Turkish Airlines will operate four flights per week from Kabul to Istanbul. Click here to read… [3]

OIC Condemns Bamyan Attack, Calls for Immediate Justice-Tolo News

Last Friday, foreign tourists and civilians were targeted in an attack in Bamyan, resulting in the deaths of six people, including three foreign nationals and three civilians. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned the attack on foreign tourists in Bamyan. In a statement, the OIC said that the perpetrators of this attack must be arrested and brought to justice as quickly as possible. Click here to read… [4]

Qashqari Oil Revenue to Fund Construction Projects in Sar-e Pol-Tolo News

The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum announced that the revenue from Qashqari oil will be utilized for building a power plant, a hospital, and constructing roads in Sar-e-Pul. According to Homayoun Afghan, the spokesperson for the ministry, the oil extraction level from the Qashqari oil field is expected to increase from 1,350 tons per day to 3,000 tons. Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh

Upazila Election: Second phase too marked by low turnout - The Daily Star

The second phase of the upazila elections also saw a low turnout yesterday like in the first phase. Click here to read… [6]

Form minority commission with judicial power – The Daily Star

Shahriar Kabir, the outgoing president of Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, yesterday said the government's initiative to protect the rights of minorities does not seem sufficient. Click here to read… [7]

PM: Developed countries make commitments on climate change, but fail to implement – Dhaka Tribune

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday expressed frustration that the developed countries are not fulfilling their commitments on climate change issues. Click here to read… [8]

Bhutan

India to purchase surplus electricity from Bhutan’s state-run Druk Green Power – The Mint

PTC India Ltd, India’s largest electricity trader, will buy surplus power from Bhutan government-run Druk Green Power Corp. Ltd, which runs the 720 megawatts (MW) Mangdechhu hydropower project. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the major hydropower project during his recent visit to the strategically located Himalayan nation as part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government’s “neighbourhood first” policy. Click here to read… [9]

Maldives

Minister Adam Shareef leaves to attend the funeral of Iran's late President and Foreign Minister – The Edition

Minister of Cities, Local Government and Public Works, Adam Shareef Umar has left to attend the funeral of late President of Iran Dr Ebrahim Raisi, late Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran Dr Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and their entourage. President's Office said that Minister Shareef will attend the funeral ceremonies as the Special Envoy of the President. Click here to read… [10]

EPA Conducts Survey to Assess Coral Whitening – The Maldives Journal

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a comprehensive survey to assess the extent of coral whitening across the Maldives. This initiative comes in response to mounting complaints alleging non-compliance with measures mandated by project owners, citing coral whitening as a significant concern. Click here to read… [11]

Myanmar

Myanmar Military Jets Continue Bombing Town in Chin State Near India Border - The Irrawaddy

As junta aircraft continue to strafe and bomb Tonzang – a town in Chin State near its northern border with India – local officials and charity workers are struggling to provide basic necessities for the thousands of civilians fleeing bullets and bombs. Charity workers are also putting their lives at risk rescuing those who remain trapped inside the town, residents and officials say. Click here to read… [12]

As Myanmar’s Resistance Makes Headway, India Should Reconsider its Realpolitik Strategy - South Asian Voices

On March 1, 2024, K. Vanlalvena, a Rajya Sabha member from the Indian state of Mizoram, met with the Arakan Army (AA) commander in the Chin State of Myanmar to raise two issues: the flow of refugees from Myanmar into Mizoram, and an unfinished road network stymieing India’s plans to build land and water connectivity with Southeast Asia. The meeting marks a potential turning point in India’s geopolitical strategy in Myanmar, as “Operation 1027” receives increasing international attention for its success in taking previously junta-controlled border regions. Click here to read… [13]

Japan Aid Project Still Helping Myanmar’s Military - HRW

Despite Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s pledge last February to “appropriately handle” the flow of government aid to Myanmar’s abusive military, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official told the Diet this week that Japan’s construction giant, Yokogawa Bridge Corp., will make further payments to the military-owned Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) for an aid project. Click here to read… [14]

India’s North-East Protests Over ‘Smart Fence’ With Myanmar That Threatens Ancient Bonds, Family Ties - Eurasian Times

Signals of discontent are rising along the Indo-Myanmar border as New Delhi moves to fortify its frontier with barbed wire and smart fencing. From the lush hills of Manipur to the winding valleys of Mizoram, rallies have erupted in a resounding protest against New Delhi’s decision to scrap the decades-old ‘Free Movement Regime’ that allowed families divided by borders to reunite. Click here to read… [15]

Nepal

Bangladesh, Nepal look to share knowledge on renewable energy - Financial Express

Bangladesh and Nepal have expressed their interests to share knowledge and best practices in sustainable forest management, renewable energy development, and climate resilience strategies. The interests were expressed at a meeting between Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and Environment Minister of Bangladesh Saber Hossain Chowdhury at the office of the Nepalese Prime Minister in Kathmandu on Tuesday. Click here to read… [16]

Controversial Map in Nepal’s Currency Note Irks India - The Diplomat

On May 2, Nepal’s cabinet decided that the country’s new 100-rupee note would feature the updated map of Nepal. Nepal’s map was updated in August 2020, when Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani territories were added to the map. India also claims the territories and maintains de facto control over the areas. The new notes might take a few months to hit the market, but it has already roiled Nepal-India relations. Click here to read… [17]

Environment Minister meets Nepalese PM in Kathmandu - Financial Express

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury on Tuesday called on Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal, alias Prachanda, at the office of Nepalese premier 'Singha Durbar' in Kathmandu. During the meeting, they discussed in detail the long-standing mutual relations of Bangladesh and Nepal, the potential areas of cooperation on climate change, and the scopes to increase trade possibilities between the two countries. Click here to read… [18]

Nepal’s Business News in a Snap - Khabar Hub

Economic Digest offers a concise yet comprehensive overview of significant business happenings in Nepal, presented in easily digestible summaries. Nepal’s foreign trade dropped by Rs 36.69 billion in the first 10 months of the fiscal year, totaling Rs 1.429 trillion. Both imports and exports declined, with imports falling to Rs 1.303 trillion and exports to Rs 126.17 billion. The trade deficit stood at Rs 1.177 trillion, with imports dominating at 91.17%. Click here to read… [19]

Pakistan

Farmers rally countrywide to press govt on wheat purchase-Dawn

On the call of Pakistan Kisan Rabita Committee, farmers held protest demonstrations in 30 different districts of the country demanding start of the purchase of wheat from growers and arrest of the people involved in the wheat scandal. Click here to read… [20]

Ishaq Dar arrives in Bishkek as another 347 students return-Dawn

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Bishkek on Tuesday to meet with Pakistani nationals, including students who were under treatment for injuries sustained as a result of the recent developments in the Kyrgyz Republic. According to the Foreign Office, immediately after arrival in Kyrgyzstan, Mr Dar visited the National Hospital, Bishkek to meet Shahzaib, a Pakistani textile worker who was injured during the recent mob violence in Bishkek. Click here to read… [21]

PTI’s Pervez Elahi released, says ‘I am, was, and will be with Imran Khan’-The Express Tribune

In a major relief to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party's senior leader and former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi on Tuesday was released from prison, Express News reported. Kot Lakhpat Jail Lahore administration has confirmed that the former Punjab chief minister has been freed. Click here to read… [22]

Shehbaz to visit UAE amid push for investment-The Express Tribune

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this week as part of efforts to lure investment from the Gulf countries. Ahead of his visit to the Gulf country, the prime minister will visit Tehran on Wednesday to offer condolences on the sad demise of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian and other high ranking officials in a helicopter crash. Click here to read… [23]

Sri Lanka

Sarath Fonseka to split from SJB; to run for President – Daily Mirror

Former Army Commander, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, has decided to contest for Presidency at the upcoming Presidential election, the Daily Mirror learns. Click here to read… [24]

Political parties brace for polls – Daily Mirror

With the presidential elections pending, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is planning to conduct a major rally in Anuradhapura on May 26 and a series of grassroots level meetings afterwards while the minority allies of the opposition weigh in the situation before making a final decision on their support to any prospective candidate. Click here to read… [25]

High-level delegation visits Tehran to attend Iranian President’s state funeral – Daily Mirror

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry will lead a high-level delegation to attend the state funeral of late President Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Dr. Amir Abdollahian of the Islamic Republic of Iran, scheduled to be held tomorrow, 22 May 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Click here to read… [26]