Neighborhood News Digest- 11 June 2024

Afghanistan

Moscow: Establishing Relations with Current Afghan Authorities Necessary-Tolo News

The spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, in response to criticism from some journalists about Russia's contacts with the Islamic Emirate, stated that to prevent drug trafficking and fight terrorism, it is necessary to establish contact with the current authorities in Afghanistan. According to TASS, Maria Zakharova said this is beneficial for Russia and added that the removal of "Taliban" officials from the blacklist is also in progress. Click here to read… [2]

Deputy Minister Says Factionalism Has Ended in Afghanistan-Tolo News

Mohammad Ali Jan Ahmad, the Deputy Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs, said in a meeting in Kabul on Monday, June 10 that the islands of power in Afghanistan are no more and those who intend to destroy Afghanistan will not achieve their goals. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the electronic attendance system for students of ten educational centers, he also said that bullying and tribalism in the country have ended and all Afghans live together in an Islamic system. Click here to read… [3]

Afghanistan Rejects WHO Report on Maternal and Infant Mortality Rates-Tolo News

The Ministry of Public Health has rejected the recent World Health Organization (WHO) numbers on maternal and infant mortality in Afghanistan, stating that in the first five months of the current year, only about 300 mothers and 4,000 infants have died across the country. Click here to read… [4]

Acting Minister of Haj Visits Saudi Arabia on Official Invitation-Tolo News

Noor Mohammad Saqib, the acting Minister of Haj and Religious Affairs, participated in the Conference of Ministers of Hajj and Religious Affairs of Islamic Countries in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Arefullah Aref, the Administrative Deputy of the ministry, stated that this annual meeting was organized by Saudi Arabia to gather opinions, suggestions, and present new plans to facilitate Haj pilgrims. Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh

Compromise, hold dialogue on key issues - The Daily Star

Chief Election Commis-sioner Kazi Habibul Awal has said dialogues between political parties and reaching an understanding are necessary to ensure free, fair, acceptable and inclusive elections. Click here to read… [6]

Sonia Gandhi, Rahul, and Priyanka meet Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi – Hindustan Times

Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, along with former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, called on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi. Click here to read… [7]

PM to declare 70 upazilas homeless-free on Tuesday – Dhaka Tribune

The neglected and marginalized people of society, many of whom were temporarily floating from place to place and lost everything to river erosion, are happy to receive houses a few days before Eid-ul-Azha under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Ashrayan Project-2. Click here to read… [8]

ADB approves $250m to boost social protection in Bangladesh – Dhaka Tribune

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the government of Bangladesh on Monday signed a $250 million loan agreement to further strengthen Bangladesh's social protection system. Click here to read… [9]

Bhutan

‘India-Bhutan ties sacred, unique…I am delighted that PM Modi is back’: Tshering Tobgay – Indian Express

Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay was among the foreign leaders who attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony on Monday. A day after the event, he spoke to Shubhajit Roy about Bhutan’s ties with India as well as his efforts for his country’s post-pandemic economic recovery. Click here to read… [10]

Addressing rural-to-urban migration – Kuensel

The phenomenon of goongtong, or empty houses, is a growing concern that necessitates urgent attention and action. As of April this year, there were approximately 6,000 goongtong cases in the country, with 75 percent located in the eastern dzongkhags. This marks a significant increase from 2019, when there were 5,129 empty houses, underscoring a troubling trend of rural-to-urban migration. Click here to read… [11]

Maldives

Maldivian parliamentary panel to probe 3 agreements signed with India – Hindustan Times

A Maldivian parliamentary committee decided, on June 10, to review three agreements signed by former president Ibrahim Solih’s administration with India, including a pact to develop a naval base. The parliamentary panel overseeing the activities of the security services accepted a proposal by Ahmed Azaan, a parliamentarian from President Mohamed Muizzu’s People’s National Congress (PNC) party, to probe the three agreements. Click here to read… [12]

President Muizzu and Jaishankar discuss strengthening Maldives-India ties – Sun Online

Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, on Monday, discussed strengthening ties between the two neighboring nations. The meeting was held at India’s capital New Delhi as part of President Muizzu’s ongoing official visit to India to attend Sunday evening’s inauguration ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a third consecutive term. Click here to read… [13]

Myanmar

Thailand and Myanmar’s Road Ahead: A Chat with Pichai Chuensuksawadi - The Diplomat

Pichai Chuensuksawadi spent his early years at boarding school in Australia before returning to Thailand, where he would work the next five decades as a journalist, editor, and publisher, and remains a key player on Thailand’s media front lines. At Post Publishing Public Co. Ltd., the publisher of the Bangkok Post, Pichai has played a deft hand when pushing for press freedom while protecting his staff during military coups and civil protests, and dealing with the likes of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Click here to read… [14]

ACLED Regional Overview Asia-Pacific: May 2024 - Relief Web

Military airstrikes and retaliation targeting civilians continued in the month of May in Mandalay, Magway, and Sagaing regions. On 9 May, the military conducted an airstrike on a monastery compound in Saw township where local businessmen and National Unity Government-affiliated administrators were gathering to discuss trade and checkpoint taxation, killing at least 16 people. Click here to read… [15]

Mizoram-Myanmar cross-border trade stopped after bridge destroyed by Myanmar Army - Economic Times

Border trade between Mizoram and Myanmar's Sagaing division is halted following the destruction of a bridge by the neighbouring country. Click here to read… [16]

British sanctions updated relating to Myanmar - Royal Gazette

As Bermuda joined London in a fresh notice of economic sanctions against Myanmar, the country’s military junta embarked on a crackdown on gold and foreign exchange traders and agents selling foreign real estate, making 35 arrests. The Bermuda Monetary Authority has published the latest notice from the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation at HM Treasury, which refers to the 2021 Myanmar (Sanctions) Regulations. Click here to read… [17]

Nepal

Nepal’s foreign currency reserves reach closer to Rs 2 trillion - My Republica

Nepal’s foreign currency reserves climbed Rs 1.942 trillion as of mid-May this year, mainly due to a whopping rise in the inflow of remittance. The Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report of the country unveiled by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Monday shows that the country accumulated additional foreign currencies worth Rs 403.04 billion in the first ten months of the current fiscal year. In mid-July 2023, the amount stood at 1.539 trillion. Click here to read… [18]

Talk celebrates 50 years of Nepalese and Gurkhas in Brecon - Brecon

On Saturday, June 8, people gathered to hear a talk by Brecknock Society and Museum Friends at y Gaer. The talk was titled ‘Nepal-Brecon-50 years’, and looked at the bond formed by Gurkha’s and their families since they arrived in Brecon in 1974. Click here to read… [19]

Indian PM will visit Nepal after G7 meeting in Italy: PM Dahal - Khabar Hub

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ announced that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured a visit to Nepal after attending the G7 meeting in Italy on June 13. During a discussion with Nepali journalists in New Delhi on Monday, PM Dahal mentioned that since 2014, it has been a tradition for the Nepali Prime Minister to attend the Indian Prime Minister’s swearing-in ceremony. Click here to read… [20]

Pakistan

Budget 2024-25: NEC approves Rs3.8tr PSDP to boost economy-Dawn

In a return to previous practice, the National Economic Council (NEC) decided on Monday to continue funding constituency-based schemes and ongoing provincial projects, while approving an indicative national development plan worth Rs3.792 trillion for the next fiscal year to increase the economic growth rate to 3.6 per cent from the current 2.4pc. Click here to read… [21]

Another opposition alliance on the cards: ANP chief-Dawn

Following in the footsteps of a multi-party opposition platform led by the PTI, a six-party alliance of the opposition parties is on the cards to fully restore the Constitution, empower elected parliament, and ensure free and fair elections. This announcement was made by Awami National Party (ANP) President Aimal Wali at a press conference on Sunday alongside National Party President Dr Malik Baloch, Pashtunkhwa National Party chief Kushal Khan Kakar, Hazara Democratic Party Chairman Abdul Khaliq Hazara, and representatives of other political parties. Click here to read… [22]

Rekindling hopes: Modi, Sharif brothers exchange messages-The Express Tribune

Three-time former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday exchanged messages on the X, formerly twitter, rekindling hopes for a potential thaw in the relationship. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif first congratulated Modi over taking oath as the Prime Minister of India but the statement from his elder brother and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was more explicit and telling. Click here to read… [23]

Local experts challenge IMF’s tax plan with innovative reforms-The Express Tribune

Contrary to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) recommendation to increase tax rates in the next budget to collect an additional Rs2 trillion, Pakistan’s renowned local experts on Monday unveiled a package that proposes generating Rs1.2 trillion more by reducing income tax rates while withdrawing some exemptions. Click here to read… [24]

Sri Lanka

Fears of election postponement still loom – Daily Mirror

Despite assertions that the presidential election would be conducted as scheduled, political circles are abuzz with speculations that the government will try to exploit the provisions in the Constitution to extend the term of the presidential term and the parliamentary period. Click here to read… [25]

Dullas, Dayasiri, Roshan in talks with SJB for alliance – Daily Mirror

The political groups led by MPs Dullas Alahapperuma, Dayasiri Jayasekara and Roshan Ranasinghe are in negotiations with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to work out an electoral alliance, an informed source said. Click here to read… [26]

Day after oath, Jaishankar meets leaders of Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bangladesh – Hindustan Times

Union minister S Jaishankar met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Monday to discuss bilateral relations and ways to deepen regional cooperation. Click here to read… [27]