Neighborhood News Digest- 21 February 2024

Afghanistan

Faiq: UNSC to Hold Private Meeting on Afghanistan on Feb. 26- Tolo News

On February 26, the United Nations Security Council will hold a private meeting on Afghanistan, the chargé d'affaires of the Afghanistan Permanent Mission to the UN, Naseer Ahmad Faiq, told TOLO news. Click here to read... [2]

MoIC: Japan Envoy Says Time for Interaction with Kabul Has Come-Tolo News

Japan's ambassador to Kabul, Takayushi Kormaya, in a meeting with the acting minister of Information and Culture, said that the time for the world’s interaction with Afghanistan has been reached and steps must be taken forward in this area, according to the ministry. Click here to read... [3]

Lack of consensus among countries on appointment of special envoy for Afghanistan-The Khama Press

During the Doha conference, it was reported that representatives of Iran, Russia, and China opposed the consensus for appointing a special representative to Afghanistan. Click here to read... [4]

Religious Directorate Official: Journalists Taking Pictures, 'Major Sin'-Tolo News

The General Directorate of the Invitation and Guidance (an independent body that determines religious policies within the interim government) said that cameramen are committing a major sin by shooting videos. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

President, PM pay homage to Language Movement heroes – The Daily Star

President Md Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today paid rich tributes to the martyrs of the historic Language Movement on the occasion of Amar Ekushey and International Mother Language Day. Click here to read... [6]

PM to brief media on Germany visit on Friday– Dhaka Tribune

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will address a press conference on Friday morning to brief the media about the outcome of her recent three-day visit to Munich, Germany. Click here to read... [7]

India for joint ventures in defence manufacturing – The Daily Star

Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma yesterday said India is willing to share wide-spectrum capabilities in defence manufacturing with Bangladesh. Click here to read... [8]

Bhutan

Charging ahead the economy – Kuensel

The growing fiscal deficit and a declining foreign exchange reserve have raised concern over the possibility of breaching the constitutional mandate to cover 12 months of essential imports. Click here to read... [9]

Maldives

India's ₹771 Crore Boost to Maldives Amid Diplomatic Row: Report – NDTV

India has stepped up development assistance to the Maldives with projects gaining pace last year, even as ties have soured over new Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu's demand for Indian troops to leave his country. As global powers jostle for influence in the Indo-Pacific region, India and China have wooed the Indian Ocean nation, which has traditionally been close to neighbour India, but recently pivoted towards China under Muizzu. New Delhi has spent nearly 771 crore rupees, or almost twice its budgeted 400 crore on projects in the Maldives during this fiscal year, which ends in March, according to a central official and government document. Click here to read... [10]

Shahid secures MDP presidency unopposed – Adhadhu

Former Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has secured the presidency of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) as the sole contender for the post. MDP, with about 50,000 members, is the largest opposition party in the country and has the best election track record amongst all the political parties. Former President Mohamed Nasheed was the MDP's President till June 21, 2023. Following his resignation from the party, former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was appointed as the interim President by the MDP national council. In an announcement on February 20, MDP said that Shahid has secured the party's presidency as he was the sole contender for the post by the deadline. Click here to read... [11]

Agreement signed to build Thinadhoo International Airport – The Edition

The government has signed an agreement with a Thailand company on February 20 to build an international airport in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll Thinadhoo. The agreement was signed during President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's current visit to Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll Thinadhoo in his trip to the southernmost four atolls of the country. The agreement was signed by Minister of Construction and Infrastructure Dr. Abdulla Muththalib and Thailand's Pan Pacific Company Limited CEO Jirat Petnunthawong. This investment is worth USD 400 to 600 million. Click here to read... [12]

Myanmar

Myanmar Military Conscription Sparks Refugee Surge to Thailand - ASEAN Now

On February 19th, 2024, Mr. Kannavee Suebsang, the FAIR Party MP, publicly revealed the case where the Myanmar government announced military conscription without gender discrimination, leaving uncertainty about whether it would escape scrutiny under international human rights law. Kannavee stated that currently, there are thousands of Myanmar nationals, both male and female, aged 18-35, seeking visas to Thailand at the embassy in Yangon, Burma. Click here to read... [13]

Junta arrests 600 civilians after their arrival at 2 Rakhine airports – RFA

Junta troops arrested around 600 civilians after their flights from Yangon landed at two airports in western Myanmar’s Rakhine state, according to family members and sources with knowledge of the situation, who said the military is holding them on suspicion of attempting to join the armed resistance. Click here to read... [14]

Kachin Independence Army Seizes Myanmar Military Base Near Chinese Border - The Irrawaddy

Ethnic armed allies on Monday seized a junta base in Kachin State’s Mansi Township, bordering China, according to the Arakan Army (AA). The AA took part in the attack alongside the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Kachin People’s Defense Forces (KPDFs). The allies captured the junta base in Si Kham Gyi village after a four-day battle that began on Feb. 16. The permanent base had been occupied by the Myanmar for 30 years. It fell on Sunday evening despite heavy regime airstrikes to defend it, the AA said in a statement. Click here to read... [15]

Nepal

NRB clarifies that Nepali banks are not in critical financial health- My Republica

Amid rumors spread against the financial health of few Nepali banks, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has clarified that the banks strictly adhere to adequate safety measures enforced by the central bank. The banking sector’s regulator has expressed its concern over the rumors recently being raised against the financial health of a number of banks and financial institutions by groups and individuals with vested interest including the controversial figure Durga Prasai. Click here to read... [16]

UK commits $ 505 million in development grants for business and green growth in Nepal – My Republica

The UK has committed $505 million in development grants to Nepal by 2030. The UK government made this commitment by signing two separate grant agreements related to business and green growth with Nepal during a special function held at the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday. The grant agreements on the Nepal in Business (NIB) program and the Green Growth Nepal (GGN) program—a part of the new UK Development Portfolio—aim to help Nepal tackle the climate crisis, mobilize international finance for development, deliver economic transformation, and support governance and inclusion. Click here to read... [17]

Pakistan

Consensus at midnight paves way for ‘PDM 2.0’- Dawn

After multiple rounds of talks spanning over one week, a consensus was reached between the PML-N and the PPP to share power in order to form the next government, claiming a comfortable majority in the lower house of parliament to clinch the slot of the prime minister. Click here to read... [18]

Senators call for CEC’s arrest, trial for ‘treason’- Dawn

The controversy over a “stolen mandate” echoed in the Senate on Tuesday, with lawmakers from different political parties calling for action against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, including his arrest and high treason trial under Article 6. Click here to read... [19]

PTI gambit ahead of reserved allotment-The Express Tribune

The process of allotment of reserved seats for women and minorities to the political parties in the National Assembly and the provincial legislatures has entered its final stage, following the compiling of the results of the recent general polls by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) but the situation has become intriguing after the PTI-backed independent lawmakers, who has just joined the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), has 93 members in the lower house of parliament as well 84 and 116 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab assemblies, respectively. Click here to read... [20]

Sri Lanka

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein meets President Ranil - Daily Mirror Online

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said. The Iranian Foreign Minister arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday (19) on an official visit. Click here to read... [21]

India, Sri Lanka take trade pact talks ahead – The Hindu

India and Sri Lanka are set to take ongoing discussions on the Economic and Trade Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) forward, with the next two rounds of bilateral talks scheduled later this month and in March. Click here to read... [22]

Electricity tariff to be reduced in greater margin than earlier proposed: Minister – Daily Mirror Online

The government had decided to reduce the electricity tariff in a greater margin than proposed in the earlier proposal and that the amended proposal would be submitted to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) shortly, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said yesterday. Click here to read... [23]