Neighborhood News Digest- 22 February 2024

Afghanistan

Construction Work on Second Phase of Qosh Tepa Canal Begins- Tolo News

The Islamic Emirate said that construction work on the second phase of the Qosh Tepa Canal which stretches from Dawlat Abad district of Balkh province to Andkhoi district of Faryab province has begun. Click here to read… [2]

US state dept spokesperson: Not surprised by Taliban’s absence at UN-Doha-The Khama Press

Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the US State Department, told media outlets that they are not surprised by the Taliban’s refusal to participate in the Doha meeting because “they pursue different goals.” Click here to read… [3]

MOIC Announces Signing of 22 Agreements with Domestic Institutions-Tolo News

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) has signed 22 memoranda of agreement with a total value of $3.5 million dollars with the aim of supporting and spreading small and big businesses in the country. Click here to read… [4]

Bangladesh

New cabinet, new hopes – Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh recently witnessed the formation of a new cabinet and comes at a critical juncture, marked by a myriad of challenges and opportunities that demand astute governance and visionary leadership. As the nation braces itself for the tasks ahead, there is an air of anticipation and optimism, with citizens hoping that this new cabinet will usher in a transformative era for Bangladesh. Click here to read… [5]

PM Hasina emphasizes mother tongue as key medium for education - Dhaka Tribune

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said that the medium for education in educational institutions should be everyone’s mother tongue. The prime minister said this while inaugurating a four-day program of the International Mother Language Institute at Segunbagicha to mark the Martyrs’ Day and the International Mother Language Day-2024. Click here to read… [6]

Bangladesh Islami Front calls for closer Delhi-Dhaka ties, rejects 'India Out' social media campaign - Mint

Bangladesh's far-right political party Bangladesh Islami Front has completely rejected a recent 'India Out' social media campaign in the country. Click here to read… [7]

Bhutan

Labour market faces quality challenges – Kuensel

The 2024 Bhutan Labor Market Assessment Report by the World Bank’s Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice sheds light on the prevalence of poor-quality employment in Bhutan, attributing it to various labour market challenges. Click here to read… [8]

Maldives

Maldives to deliver a statement at ICJ on behalf of Palestine – The Edition

Foreign Minister, Moosa Zameer stated that upon the request of the Palestinian government, Maldives has been preparing to deliver a statement on behalf of the Palestinian people to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In relation to the resolution proposed to the parliament by the Vilingili Constituency member Saud Hussain calling for the Independency of the Palestinian State and ceasing the inhumane attacks led by Israel against the Palestinian people, Minister Zameer was summoned to the Foreign Relations Committee, on February 22. ICJ’s scheduling for an oral statement by Maldives is on February 26, 2024. Click here to read… [9]

Maldives will receive onions under special quota, insists India – Atoll Times

India has said that Maldives will continue to receive onions under the special trade agreement made between the two countries, despite reports that Maldives is not in the latest country list to export onions. India, the world's second largest onion exporter, temporarily suspended onion exports in December due to rising prices and difficulties in supply. However, even in that case, India continued to supply onions to Maldives under the trade agreement. Click here to read… [10]

China "Research Vessel" Set to Dock in Male Amid India-Maldives Tensions – NDTV

Amid strained ties between India and the Maldives, a Chinese vessel has entered the waters of the island nation and is set to dock in its capital Male. The 4,300-ton Xiang Yang Hong 03 is classified as a 'research' vessel mapping the floor of Indian Ocean. Sources in the Navy point out that mapping of the seabed can also enable submarine operations in the geopolitically-significant Indian Ocean Region. Click here to read… [11]

Myanmar

Fencing the border with Myanmar not acceptable: Mizoram NGOs to Centre-Deccan Herald

Centre's decision to fence the 1,643kms border with Myanmar saying the same is unacceptable to the communities living on both sides of the border. Members of NGO Coordination Committee staged a protest at Aizawl in which leaders of the organisations talked against the move saying the same would "further divide" the communities. Click here to read… [12]

US charges Japanese crime leader with trafficking nuclear materials from Myanmar- Deccan Herald

Ebisawa is accused of conspiring to sell weapons-grade nuclear material and lethal narcotics from Myanmar and to buy military weapons on behalf of an armed insurgent group, Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen said. Click here to read… [13]

Nepal

Rastriya Prajatantra Party submits demand for Hindu state reinstatement – The Kathmandu Post

The Rastriya Prajatantra Party on February 21, announced its campaign to reinstate Nepal as a Hindu kingdom, submitting a 40-point charter of demands to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. The top leadership of the right-wing party submitted the paper announcing a series of mass gatherings and protests to pressure the government to implement its concerns mainly over the political system. Hundreds of cadres and supporters had rallied in various parts of Kathmandu before a group of senior party workers led by its chair Rajendra Lingden submitted their demands to the prime minister. Click here to read… [14]

USMLE Scores for Nepali Docs Will Remain Invalidated, Judge Rules – Medpage Today

A Washington D.C. district court judge denied an emergency motion to restore score validity for 832 Nepali medical graduates whose U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) scores were invalidated due to accusations of cheating. Click here to read… [15]

Pakistan

PTI-backed independents join Sunni Ittehad Council-Dawn

Almost all PTI-backed winning independent candidates of national and provincial assemblies submitted affidavits to the Election Commission on Wednesday, officially joining the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC). Click here to read… [16]

PTI to hold intra-party elections in 15 days: sources-The Express Tribune

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will hold its intra-party elections in 15 days, sources claimed on Wednesday and added that the party has initiated preparations for the same. Click here to read… [17]

MQM wants four ministries as JUI-F also seeks role in Centre-Dawn

A day after the PML-N and the PPP evolved a consensus on a power-sharing deal to run the country for the next five years, a delegation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) called on PML-N representatives and demanded three to four ministries in the federal cabinet. Click here to read… [18]

Sri Lanka

Central Bank shifts focus to medium-term inflation strategy- Daily Mirror Online

The Central Bank announced yesterday its intention to shift focus on inflation from the near term to medium term, citing the latter’s greater relevance for the decision-making processes. Click here to read… [19]

SL, Iran explores oil trade expansions bypassing US sanctions – Daily Mirror Online

Sri Lanka and Iran are exploring the possibility of expanding trade in oil bypassing the U.S. sanctions, an informed source said. Iran is facing difficulties in trading goods after the US unleashed its “toughest ever” sanctions against that country over the nuclear deal. Click here to read… [20]

Tax and supply chain woes propel inflation to 6.5% – Daily Mirror Online

Sri Lanka’s inflation expanded by 6.5 percent year-on-year in January, as the prices rose across almost all categories from the one-off impact from the higher Value Added Tax and supply chain disruptions caused by the weather-related conditions. Click here to read… [21]