Neighborhood News Digest- 28 May 2024

Afghanistan

Russia Considering Removing 'Taliban' From Terrorist List-Tolo News

The Russian Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs have presented President Vladimir Putin with a proposal to potentially remove the name 'Taliban' from the list of designated terrorist groups. According to TASS news agency, Zamir Kabulov, Russia's special representative for Afghanistan, stated that many government institutions in the country have supported this decision. Click here to read… [2]

Union of Specialists Abroad Says Doctors Ready to Return to Country: Kabir- Tolo News

A representative of the Union of Specialists Abroad, in a meeting with Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs, discussed the readiness of some doctors to return to the country. Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, told TOLO news that the Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs mentioned efforts to facilitate the return of doctors to the country. Click here to read… [3]

Islamic Emirate Spokesperson: Biden's Claim of Afghan Disunity 'Incorrect'-Tolo News

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, described the recent comments made by the president of the United States claiming that Afghans are not united, as a mistaken judgment. The spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate emphasized the unity among Afghans, stating that foreign interventions had caused some problems among the citizens of the country, which have now been resolved. Click here to read… [4]

Bangladesh

Bangladesh, Japan begin formal talks to sign trade deal - The Daily Star

Bangladesh and Japan have formally begun the negotiation to strike a trade deal to allow manufacturers to keep enjoying duty-free export benefits in the post-LDC era and draw investments from the Far East nation. Click here to read… [5]

Remal leaves trail of havoc in its wake – The Daily Star

Cyclone Remal has killed at least 13 people, destroyed more than 35,000 homes, and seriously affected more than 37 lakh people in 19 districts. Click here to read… [6]

Why is the 'Bengali terrorists’ tag being used for Rohingyas? – Dhaka Tribune

The situation in Myanmar's Rakhine state is unstable once again. Another 200,000 people have been displaced as a result of the renewed violence, according to the international media. The Arakan Army (AA), Myanmar's ethnic armed group, is once again referring to the Rohingya population as "Bengali terrorists" in this context. Click here to read… [7]

Army chief refutes allegations against officers, highlights exemplary record in peacekeeping – Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh – Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed has dismissed allegations against several army officers, calling them baseless and driven by ulterior motives. Click here to read… [8]

Bhutan

Made-in-Thailand armoured vehicles, pistols delivered to Bhutan-The Nation

Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang on Monday presided over a ceremony to hand over to the Bhutani police 10 armoured vehicles and 230 pistols made by two Thai companies. The ceremony was held in front of the building housing the office of the permanent secretary of the Defence Ministry. The Bhutani ambassador to Thailand represented his government to receive the weapons made by two Thai firms under joint ventures with the Defence Technology Institute, a public organisation of the Defence Ministry. Click here to read… [9]

Challenging monsoon ahead-Kuensel

As the monsoon approaches, Bhutan stands at a critical juncture. Predictions from the National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) and the South Asian Climate Outlook Forum (SASCOF) paint a concerning picture: the coming months could bring one of the most challenging monsoons in recent memory. With slightly above normal temperatures and rainfall expected between June and September, the question of our preparedness against natural disasters looms large. Click here to read… [10]

Maldives

Muizzu meets Seychelles President – Adhadhu

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu met with the President of Seychelles Wavel Ramkalawan in Antigua and Barbuda on May 26. During the meeting, both Presidents highlighted the challenges their countries faced as Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and how SIDS can work together to overcome them. The two leaders also discussed a range of issues, including collaboration in youth issues, people-to-people exchanges, the security of the Indian Ocean Region, and national efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change, sea level rise, and coral reef restoration. Click here to read… [11]

Minister Faisal inaugurates ITB China 2024 – The Maldives Journal

Maldives Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal has officially launched ITB China 2024, a prominent B2B trade show dedicated to the Chinese travel market. The Maldives is the designated official destination partner for this year's ITB China event. The event is set to take place from May 28 to May 29, at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Centre. Maldives aims to showcase its unique attractions and offerings to Chinese travel professionals and industry stakeholders attending the event. Click here to read… [12]

Discussions held on enhancing Yunnan-Maldives collaboration in economy, trade – Raajje

Discussions took place during a courtesy call by Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of Yunnan Provincial People’s Congress of China Li Xiaosan, to Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer, at Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 26. The meeting saw FM Zameer and Vice Chairman Li Xiaosan engaging in discussions regarding ways to promote the building of cooperative mechanisms between Maldives and Yunnan Province. Click here to read… [13]

USD 31 million sent from Maldives as remittances to Bangladesh – Adhadhu

Bangladeshis working in the Maldives sent USD 31 million back to the country as remittances, a Bangladeshi bank has said. The Maldives was 24th on a list of the top 30 countries for remittances to Bangladesh. According to statistics published by the bank, USD 31.69 million was sent from the Maldives between July 2023 and April 2024. Click here to read… [14]

Myanmar

Rare Earth Mining Taking Heavy Toll in Myanmar’s Kachin, Groups Say - Irrawaddy

Kachin-based environmentalists are sounding the alarm over the rapid growth of rare earth mining in conflict-affected Kachin State, fueled by high global demand for the elements, with a UK-based campaign group amplifying their concerns in a new report. In its report released on Thursday, Global Witness revealed an alarming expansion of heavy rare earth mining in Myanmar. It said the world’s dependence on heavy rare earths from Kachin has rapidly increased and is having devastating impacts on communities and the environment. Click here to read… [15]

UN Details ‘Disturbing’ New Atrocities Against Myanmar’s Rohingya - The Diplomat

The United Nations says that it has received “frightening and disturbing” reports from Rakhine State in western Myanmar, where Muslim Rohingya communities have once again come under attack. In a press briefing in Geneva on Friday, Elizabeth Throssell, spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said that her office had received reports of widespread burning of homes and the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians, mostly Muslim Rohingyas, in Buthidaung and Maungdaw, Rakhine State’s two northernmost townships. Click here to read… [16]

NIA arrests key suspect in arms smuggling network linked to Myanmar - The Statesman

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested an individual from Aizawl in connection with arms and ammunition smuggling. The NIA conducted searches at six locations, including two gun shops, in Aizawl district, leading to the arrest of Solomona, also known as Hminga. According to NIA, large quantity of explosive materials, ammunition, digital devices, documents, and other incriminating materials were recovered during the search operation. Click here to read… [17]

Nepal

Nepal’s Business News in a Snap - Khabar Hub

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) experienced a modest rise of 3.93 points, closing at 2,113.27, despite a decline in daily turnover to Rs 3.89 billion. Sector-wise, hotels and tourism saw the largest decline, while manufacturing and processing posted the highest gains. On Monday, the market started the day at 2,109.34 points, dropped to a low of 2,097.58 points within the first half hour, then rose to a high of 2,124.5 points within the next two hours, before declining by around 11 points to close for the day. Click here to read… [18]

Nepal’s economy is on shaky ground. The budget battle begins - Kathmandu Post

The floor of Parliament during the budget presentation has been a perennial battleground of Nepali politics. In recent years, the budget presentation has been chaotic including some instances of physical altercations. To announce the budget, the lawmakers have had to be controlled by marshals. And this drama may play out this year too. The ongoing feud between the ruling and opposition parties over forming a parliamentary inquiry committee on the misappropriation of cooperative savings may have spillover effects on the budget, which once again may be introduced through ordinances on Tuesday. Click here to read… [19]

Cyclone ‘Remal’ affecting Nepal’s weather - Khabar Hub

The Weather Forecasting Division has stated that Cyclone ‘Remal’ is currently affecting Nepal’s weather, in addition to influencing the local wind patterns. According to the Division, light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning is occurring in some areas of Gandaki Province, including the Kathmandu Valley in Bagmati Province. Similarly, the rest of the hilly areas, including Koshi, Madhes, and Karnali provinces, are experiencing partial to normal rainfall. Click here to read… [20]

Pakistan

IHC overrules office objection to PTI petition on office razing-Dawn

The Islamabad High Court on Monday overruled an administrative objection to a petition filed by the PTI against Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) raid on its central secretariat. Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz rejected the objection raised by the IHC registrar office on the grounds that petition was filed without due authorisation. The plea was moved by PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub through Advocate Shoaib Shaheen. Click here to read… [21]

Nawaz set to retake PML-N reins after six-year hiatus-Dawn

Six years after he lost the party president’s office due to a Supreme Court decision in the Panama Papers case, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is all set to be re-elected as the PML-N president in a general council meeting of the ruling party in Lahore today (Tuesday). Addressing a press conference, PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah hinted that the former premier would be elected without a contest. Click here to read… [22]

Centre, K-P govt to jointly work to end province's power woes-The Express Tribune

In a bid to mitigate power outages in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), the federal and provincial governments on Monday decided to undertake collaborative measures to provide relief to the masses. The meeting was held two days after enraged protesters, led by PTI MPA Fazal Elahi, forced their way into a grid station in Peshawar and activated feeders, prompting the city’s power utility to seek an FIR against him. Click here to read… [23]

Opposition voices solidarity with tribal Jirga-The Express Tribune

The senior leadership of the opposition in the National Assembly has voiced solidarity with tribal elders from South Waziristan, pledging to raise their concerns in the House. A delegation of tribal elders from the Wazir and Mehsud tribes met with opposition leaders, including Omar Ayub Khan, Asad Qaiser, and Mehmood Khan Achakzai, at the Parliament House on Monday. Click here to read… [24]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan President Wickremesinghe will vie for re-election: Minister Harin Fernando – The Indian Express

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe will certainly contest the presidential poll to seek re-election and will announce his candidacy in the next two weeks, a senior government minister said on Monday. Click here to read… [25]

Rajapaksas to launch political bid in Sri Lanka, to target elections – Business Standard

Sri Lanka's powerful Rajapaksa clan, which suffered political battering due to the country's worst economic crisis in 2022, will launch its political comeback bid on Sunday by targeting the impending elections. Click here to read… [26]

India will deal with 4 ISIS suspects arrested from Gujarat: Sri Lanka – India Today

The Sri Lankan government on Monday said India will deal with the four Sri Lankan ISIS suspects arrested at Ahmedabad airport last week, while authorities here would probe if they have been party to any acts of terrorism in the island nation. Click here to read… [27]