Neighborhood News Digest- 11 March 2024

Afghanistan

200 Hindu, Sikh Families May Return Over Next Month: Community Leader- Tolo News

Manjeet Singh Lamba, the head of the Sikh and Hindu community in Afghanistan, told TOLO news that currently, around 40 and 50 Sikh and Hindu citizens are living in the country, but close to 200 Sikh and Hindu families are expected to return to the country in the next month. Click here to read… [2]

'60,000' Ancient Artifacts at National Museum: Officials- Tolo News

On International Day for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage, the Ministry of Information and Culture said that the National Museum houses over sixty thousand artefacts from various decades. Click here to read… [3]

Land Grabbing Commission in Afghanistan investigates land grabbing of Hindu citizens- The Khama Press

The Ministry of Justice of the de facto administration has announced that the Commission for Prevention of Land Grabbing is working on “examining the lands grabbed from Hindu citizens.” Click here to read… [4]

Bangladesh

Biman forms techno-financial committee to finalize Airbus purchase – Dhaka Tribune

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has formed a techno-financial committee to scrutinize proposals in detail with a view to finalizing the purchase of aircraft from European aircraft manufacturer Airbus. Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh to pay highest import payment in 1.5 years – Dhaka Tribune

Ever since the imposed tightening on imports from April-May 2022 by Bangladesh Bank, the import payment with the Asian Clearing Union (ACU) has gradually come down, along with the total import bill. Click here to read… [6]

Coast Guard to be a three-dimensional force: PM – the Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government will transform the Bangladesh Coast Guard into a three-dimensional force by inducting new technology and modern equipment. Click here to read… [7]

India, Bangladesh border officials agree to settle issues ‘amicably’ – Nagaland Post

Curbing trans-border crimes, human trafficking, and enhanced joint-patrolling were some of the issues discussed at the 54th India-Bangladesh Director General-level border coordination conference from March 5-9 in Dhaka. Click here to read… [8]

Bhutan

Bhutan PM Tobgay’s India visit to focus on bilateral pacts, development and connectivity projects – The Hindu

Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay will arrive in Delhi next week, in his first visit abroad since he took over office in January this year. The visit is expected to be amongst the Modi government’s last few high-level diplomatic engagements before the election process begins. The focus will be on bilateral agreements, development and connectivity projects, including plans for a major economic hub in Gelephu. In addition, New Delhi is keen to discuss progress in China-Bhutan boundary talks that had made considerable headway under the previous Bhutanese government. Click here to read… [9]

Maldives

Amid Strained Relations with India, Maldives Deploy Bayraktar TB2 Drone from Turkey – Defence Security Asia

Within days of the Maldives inking a defence deal to obtain non-lethal weapons from China, the archipelago nation in the Indian Ocean has acquired drones from Turkey for patrolling its vast exclusive economic zone. Maldives has announced the acquisition of the Bayraktar TB2 drone from Turkey for surveillance of its 900,000 square kms EEZ, thereby enhancing its maritime monitoring capabilities. It is believed that the high-powered drone was obtained by the Maldivian government on March 3 and is operational from the Maafaru International Airport in the Noonu Atoll. Click here to read… [10]

Former Maldivian President Nasheed on India’s boycott call: 'People of Maldives are sorry…' – The Economic Times

Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed has voiced significant concerns regarding the ramifications of India's boycott call on the Maldives, particularly in the context of tourism. Nasheed, currently in India, conveyed apologies on behalf of the Maldivian people and emphasised their wish for Indian tourists to continue visiting the country. Click here to read… [11]

Aasandha Statistics Show Dornier & Indian Helicopters Barely Used for Medical Evacuations in 2023 – The Maldives Journal

Aasandha, the universal health insurance scheme of Maldives, has shared the number of medical evacuations made in recent years since the introduction of the service under the Right to Information Act. According to the data shared by Aasandha, patients were moved from one place to another 4,384 times last year. The Indian-operated Dornier aircraft has carried patients 92 times, according to figures shared by Aasandha. The two helicopters operated by India were used to transport patients only 35 times. So, of the 4,384 medical evacuations that had to be done last year, only 0.7 percent were done using helicopters. and 2 percent were carried out through the Dornier. Click here to read… [12]

Myanmar

Assam rifles recovered huge amount of Indian and Myanmar currency from Bungtlang junction, Lawngtlai district Mizoram - India Broadcast

Assam Rifles recovered Myanmarese Kyat 4,79,55,000/- in cash and Indian Rupees 2,86,780/- in cash on 09 Mar 2024. The operation was carried out near RDS Bungtlang Junction, Lawngltai District based on specific information. The team had specific information about movement of vehicle on Zorinpui-RDS road axis. Seven persons were also apprehended alongwith the vehicle and recoveries. The apprehended persons and recoveries made were handed over to Bungtlang Police Station, Lawngltai District for further investigation. Click here to read… [13]

Kachin offensive opens new front for overstretched Myanmar junta forces - RFA

On March 7, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) launched an offensive and quickly captured three military junta bases and 11 small outposts along the 120 km-long (72-mile) Myitkyina-Bhampo highway, parallel to the Chinese border. The KIA has sought to both neutralize threats to their capital and control the trade and movement along the highway. Click here to read… [14]

Intense fighting continues in Myanmar; Royal Thai Army and border guards intensify border security measures along border - The Star

Amid the ongoing conflict in Myawaddy Township,in Northern Myanmar the Royal Thai Army and border guards are ramping up security measures along the border. The unrest, which erupted last week in and around Thingan Nyinaung Village, situated on the Myanmar-Thailand border, has prompted heightened vigilance on the Thai side, it is reported. Thai troops are conducting security patrols across five townships, with a particular focus on Mae Sot, in close proximity to the Thaungyin River along the border according to man living in the border area. Click here to read… [15]

AA joins KIA attacks on Myanmar junta in Kachin State, while fighting in Rakhine - Mizzima

On 7 March, the Arakan Army (AA) declared its collaboration with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in offensive operations against the Myanmar military in Kachin State, as well as continuing its ongoing assaults aimed at seizing remaining junta posts in Rakhine State. According to the AA, the KIA and their allied forces simultaneously launched attacks on several military encampments near Laiza and along the eastern side of the Myitkyina-Bhamo highway in Kachin State. The AA reportedly joined the KIA’s offensive engagements starting at 6 am on 7 March in Kachin State, while also initiating separate offensives in other areas. Click here to read… [16]

Nepal

Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' expands his Cabinet for second time by inducting two new members - News On Air

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' on Sunday expanded his Cabinet for a second time by inducting two new members. Prachanda inducted senior Madhesi leader and chairman of the Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) Upendra Yadav as the Minister for Population and Health and Koshor Shah, also from JSP, as Minister for Forest. With this, the number of Ministers, in the Council of Ministers led by Prime Minister Prachanda, has reached 22. Click here to read… [17]

India's UPI comes to Nepal - Fin Extra

NPCI International Payments and Fonepay, which is Nepal's largest payment network, have gone live for cross-border transactions between the two countries. In its first phase, the deal enables Indians to make instant QR code-based payments across various Fonepay merchants in Nepal by using UPI-enabled Apps. Click here to read… [18]

US offers assistance to Nepal to conclude peace process - Daily Excelsior

The US ambassador to Nepal on Sunday met with the newly-appointed foreign minister and finance minister and expressed the Biden administration’s willingness to provide assistance to complete the ongoing peace process in Nepal. Ambassador Dean R Thompson met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Finance Minister Barshaman Pun at Singhdurbar Secretariat separately and held discussions on the timely completion of the development projects operating in Nepal with US assistance. Click here to read… [19]

Pakistan

Zardari sworn in for second stint as president-Dawn

PP leader Asif Ali Zardari made history on Sunday by taking the oath as president for a second time. He was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa at a grand ceremony at the Presidency. The two were joined by the newly-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and outgoing president Dr Arif Alvi. Click here to read… [20]

Shehbaz’s ‘lean cabinet’ to be unveiled today-The Express Tribune

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has finalized a "lean cabinet," which will be sworn in on Monday (today) to commence work on the tasks outlined in the first 100-day agenda. Click here to read… [21]

Gandapur urges judicial probe into cypher- The Express Tribune

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has called upon Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa to form a judicial commission to investigate the cypher issue. Expressing concern over a perceived conspiracy against PTI’s government in 2022, Gandapur asserted, "One day, all conspirators will be exposed”. Click here to read… [22]

Sri Lanka

Gotabaya’s book is an attempt to paint image of innocence: National Unity Alliance – Daily Mirror

The book released by Gotabaya Rajapaksa on an alleged Conspiracy to Oust him is the latest attempt by the “president who ran away” to paint an image of innocence, National Unity Alliance said. Click here to read… [23]

President convenes party leaders’ meeting to discuss IMF proposals – Daily Mirror

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has convened a party leaders meeting on Monday to discuss the International Monetary Fund's proposals with its high level delegation, the President's Media Division (PMD) said. Click here to read… [24]

Ranil prefers Presidential election first; Rajapaksas want general election: AKD– daily Mirror

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is opting to hold the Presidential election first while the Rajapaksas want the General Elections held first, National People's Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today. Click here to read… [25]

Foreign reserves expand reaching US$ 4.5bn in February – Daily Mirror

In February, official foreign currency reserves inched up as the Central Bank maintained its efforts to shore up reserves by accumulating foreign currency from banks. This accumulation comes at a time when demand for foreign currency remains subdued compared to the ample supply from remittances, tourism, and robust exports. Click here to read… [26]