Neighborhood News Digest- 12 February 2024

Afghanistan

Islamic Emirate Denies Trump’s Claims of Selling Military Equipment-Tolo News

Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, said that the military equipment left over from foreign forces is fully at the disposal of the caretaker government and rejected the claims of its being sold. Click here to read... [2]

Girls in Afghanistan at risk of early marriage: SIGAR Report-The Khama Press

Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, or “SIGAR,” in its latest report cited by OCHA, the UN humanitarian coordination office, has stated that Afghan girls and women are exposed to early marriages, domestic violence, and sexual exploitation. Click here to read... [3]

Kabir: Islamic Emirate Has Been 'Recognized'-Tolo News

The Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, said Afghanistan's political and commercial relations with some countries of the world constitutes recognition of the country's current government. Click here to read... [4]

Japan announces funding for Tajikistan-Afghanistan border management-The Khama Press

The United Nations Development Program in Tajikistan has announced that the Japanese government, through its International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will finance the “Border Management” project between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

RMG exports to the US fall by 25.07% in 2023 – Dhaka Tribune

Apparel exports to the United States experienced a negative year-on-year growth of 25.07% to $7.29 billion in 2023, according to the most recent data from the Commerce Department's Office of Textiles and Apparel (Otexa). Click here to read... [6]

India and Bangladesh to enhance connectivity with first trial movement of vessels – Economic Times

In a significant step towards bolstering trade and connectivity, India and Bangladesh are set to initiate the first trial movement of vessels between Maia Port in India and Sultanganj Port in Bangladesh on February 12, 2024. Click here to read... [7]

BNP: Awami League business syndicates out to make money hiking commodity prices – Dhaka Tribune

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Sunday alleged that the ruling party's business syndicates have become more desperate to indulge in looting by increasing commodity prices after the January 7 election. Click here to read... [8]

Rising Sea Levels: 9 lakh in south may be displaced by 2050 – The Daily Star

Sea level rise may displace almost nine lakh people from southern Bangladesh by 2050, because their homes and livelihood will be jeopardised. Click here to read... [9]

Bhutan

Strengthening fundamentals of economy: FM-Kuensel

As the economy recovers from the aftermath of the pandemic, Minister of Finance and Bardo-Trong MP Lekey Dorji said that the government’s top priority would be to strengthen the fundamentals of the economy. The government is tasked to take the country forward to a high-income status. Click here to read... [10]

Gelephu landmark water project ends water scarcity-Kuensel

After enduring years of safe drinking water shortages, especially during the monsoon in Gelephu thromde, residents now find relief with the new Gelephu Landmark Water Project. The water project in Dechenpelri (Edi), located about 7km from Gelephu town, supplies drinking water to over 12,000 populations in Gelephu thromde and parts of Dechenpelri in Samtenling gewog. Click here to read... [11]

Maldives

After trading barbs with New Delhi, Maldives talks trade – Business Today

India and Maldives talked capacity building and collaboration in trade facilitation and mutual security amid the strain in bilateral ties between the two countries. The meeting happened between Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives, Munu Mahawar, and Maldivian Commissioner General of Customs, Yoosuf Maaniu Mohamed. Both countries came to an agreement on exploring and carrying forward the multifaceted collaboration between the Maldives Customs Service (MCS) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). Click here to read... [12]

Pres. Muizzu to head to UAE on an official visit – Rajjee

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu is to head to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on an official trip.The President will be departing sometime on February ,11. The Maldivian leader is undertaking the visit to participate in the governments’ summit to be held in UAE. The summit will proceed from Sunday through February, 14. Click here to read... [13]

Myanmar

Myanmar’s junta declares mandatory military service for all young men, women – Mint

Myanmar’s junta has declared mandatory military service for all young men and women, state media said on Saturday, as it struggles to contain armed rebel forces fighting for greater autonomy in various parts of the country. Click here to read... [14]

Nagaland opposes India-Myanmar border changes; mixed reactions from Northeast CMs – Economic Times

Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio stated the state government’s opposition to the abrogation of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the India-Myanmar border. The Centre has decided to scrap FMR with Myanmar. Click here to read... [15]

Country firmly built under the constitution based on Our Three Main National Causes as three national tasks will not be harmed in any way: Senior General – The Global New Light of Myanmar

The following is a full text of the message sent by Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing to the ceremony to mark the 77th Anniversary of Union Day 2024. Click here to read... [16]

Nepal

'Open border does not mean no regulation'-The Rising Nepal

Responding to the queries posed by the parliamentarians in the meeting of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee under the House of Representatives on February 12, DPM Shrestha, however, reiterated that keeping the borders open does not mean not paying attention towards regulation. "It does not mean that the bordering areas between the two countries go unmonitored. This issue should be resolved at the diplomatic level. We are holding talks on the same." Click here to read... [17]

India denies Nepal joint venture to build cross-border grids on its territory – Kathmandu Post

Nepal had proposed to build the 400kV Inaruwa (Duhabi-Purnia, Bihar) and 400kV New Lamki (Dodhara-Bareli, Uttar Pradesh) cross-border lines through a joint venture company involving entities of the two countries. But the Indian side has proposed that Nepal builds the Nepal section by itself and the Indian section by the southern neighbour, said Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha, chief of the transmission directorate at the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). Although the two countries have already agreed to complete the Duhabi-Purnia power line by 2027-2028 and Dodhara-Bareli by 2028-2029, respectively. Click here to read... [18]

Pakistan

Election marathon ends as ECP unveils party positions-The Express Tribune

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Sunday concluded the gigantic election exercise, with the announcement of the results after counting all the votes cast on Thursday during the polling, issuing the preliminary position of the political parties in the national and provincial assemblies. Click here to read... [19]

‘PML-N’ floats idea of ‘participatory coalition’-Dawn

After a poor showing in the Feb 8 polls, the PML-N, which has about 75 seats in the National Assembly, has pitched the idea of a ‘participatory coalition government’, saying not a single political party had secured the mandate to form a government in the Centre. Click here to read... [20]

PTI to join hands with ‘another’ to get reserved seats-Dawn

PTI leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan says firm no to power-sharing talks with PML-N or PPP, claims they would prefer to sit in opposition. Reali¬sing that the lack of reserved seats would severely dent their chances of forming a government in the national and provincial assemblies, the PTI leader said that they were exploring options in this regard. Click here to read... [21]

Half dozen independents join PML-N-Dawn

The concerns over PTI’s success in keeping intact its candidates who won as independents materialised on Sunday as one of the winners joined PML-N. The wheeling and dealing has intensified as PML-N, and PPP, are making hectic efforts to woo independent members-elect to improve their tally of total National and provincial assembly seats. Click here to read... [22]

Sri Lanka

More surprises to be unfolded: Anura Kumara says after India visit - Daily Mirror Online

Claiming that opposition camps have been astonished by the NPP's Indian visit, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today that more surprising events are to be unfolded in the near future. Click here to read... [23]

‘For me to be back I must contest’: President on Presidential election – Daily Mirror Online

President Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed optimism of contesting the upcoming presidential election that is slated to be held this year. Click here to read... [24]

Online Safety Act: Amendments to be cleared by Cabinet today– Daily Mirror Online

The new amendments to the recently introduced Online Safety Act will be presented to the Cabinet for approval today, an official said. Click here to read... [25]