Neighborhood News Digest- 15 March 2024

Afghanistan

Muttaqi and Qomi Discussed Political, Commercial Relations-Tolo News

The acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amir Khan Muttaqi, in a meeting with Hassan Kazemi Qomi, the ambassador and special representative of Iran to Afghanistan, discussed political, commercial, and regional issues. Click here to read... [2]

Iranian Delegation Discusses Creation of Customs Office in Nimroz- Tolo News

The acting Minister of Industry and Commerce Nooruddin Azizi, in a meeting with an Iranian delegation led by Mojtaba Norouzi, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and the head of the Veterinary Organization of Iran, discussed the creation of a new customs office in Nimroz province. Click here to read... [3]

UN Security Council to hold talks on extending UNAMA mission in Afghanistan-The Khama Press

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), whose one-year mandate was extended last March, is about to end soon. The UN Security Council will discuss renewing it in an upcoming session. Click here to read... [4]

Afghanistan’s assets in Switzerland reach $270 million-The Khama Press

Members of the Afghanistan Trust Fund in Switzerland have stated that out of Afghanistan’s $3.5 billion bank reserves in Switzerland, only about $270 million has been accessed so far. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

IMF suggests raising tax-free income limit to Tk 5 lakh – The Daily Star

The International Monetary Fund has suggested the National Board of Revenue (NBR) restructure the personal income tax slabs and increase the tax-free income limit to Tk 5 lakh from the existing Tk 3.5 lakh. Click here to read... [6]

Bangladesh 129th in UNDP Human Dev Index – The Daily Star

Bangladesh has been ranked at 129th place in the UNDP's Human Development Index for 2023-2024. The country held the same position in 2022 in the category of "medium human development". Click here to read... [7]

Govt investigating whether BNP has links to syndicates, Quader says – Dhaka Tribune

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said the government is looking into who is involved in market syndicates and hoarding and investigating whether the BNP has any connections with them. Click here to read... [8]

Bhutan

Bhutan’s economic growth could slow at 4 percent in this FY 2023-24: World Bank – Kuensel

The World Bank says Bhutan’s economy will grow slower at 4 percent this year, according to its Global Economic Prospects Report 2024. The growth forecast has been increased by 0.9 percentage points from the World Bank’s projection last June, which was 3.1 percent. In the previous fiscal year, 2022-23, the growth was estimated to be 4.6 percent. The Bank said that the anticipated slowdown in growth for this fiscal year is due to decreases in public investment and capital spending. However, the economy will gain from the strong performance in tourism-related services. Click here to read... [9]

Cabinet approves signing of an MoU between India and Bhutan on co-operation in the field of Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation Measures – PM India

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Bhutan on extending co­operation in the field of Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation Measures. The MoU was signed between Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power, Government of India, and Department of Energy, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Royal Government of Bhutan. Click here to read... [10]

PM Modi likely to visit Bhutan next week – Times of India

PM Narendra Modi is likely to visit Bhutan next week at the invitation from his counterpart Tshering Tobgay, who met the Indian PM during his ongoing India visit, his first abroad since taking over as PM earlier this year. Click here to read... [11]

Maldives

MNDF begins flying Turkish drones – Adhadhu

The Turkish drones purchased by the Defense Ministry, under an MVR 560 million agreement, has initiated its operations as the video of its first flight was posted by Aviators Maldives. The Baykar TB2 drones are used for surveillance missions. But the drones have the capacity to be equipped with weapons and carry out armed missions. This flight comes in the midst of accusations from the opposition, MDP, that the drone deal is a campaign fund raising scam. Click here to read... [12]

China continues to top Maldives' tourist arrival markets – Raajje

The Ministry of Tourism, stated that China continues to top the Maldives’ tourist arrival markets, into the third month of the new year, through its latest weekly tourist arrival statistics. India has slipped to sixth position in 2024 compared to being a topper in visitor numbers in 2023. Click here to read... [13]

Myanmar

Thailand, Laos try to ‘make junta presentable’ amid ASEAN Myanmar inertia – Aljazeera

Thailand’s controversial humanitarian initiative with crisis-torn Myanmar is facing growing criticism even after its fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) appeared to collectively endorse the scheme. Click here to read... [14]

Myanmar Junta in Dire Trouble, Think Tank Says - Asia Sentinel

Myanmar’s armed forces, the Tatmadaw, are increasingly beleaguered, according to a variety of sources including the influential Council on Foreign Relations. Joshua Kurlantzick, an author and senior Southeast Asia Fellow for the New York-based thinktank, wrote in his log on March 11 that “the situation has only gotten more dire for the Tatmadaw”. Click here to read... [15]

Myanmar Junta cuts internet and phone lines in 80 townships: Report - India Today

Myanmar's ruling junta has reportedly severed internet and phone lines in approximately 80 townships nationwide, states Athan, an organization advocating for freedom of expression. All 17 townships in Rakhine have experienced communication blackouts, as well as 27 out of 34 in the Sagaing Region and five out of seven in the Kayah State, among others. The blackouts are inconsistent, with some townships losing both internet and phone lines, while others only face mobile internet blockage, and some continue to have weak or slow signals. Click here to read... [16]

Nepal

Foreign ministry confirms deaths of 7 more Nepalis serving in Russian army – Kathmandu Post

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday confirmed the deaths of seven more Nepalis serving in the Russian army. With this, the death toll of the Nepalis serving in the Russian army has reached 21. Click here to read... [17]

Ambassadors of four countries present credentials to Prez Paudel – The Himalayan

The newly appointed Ambassador of Thailand and the Non-resident Ambassadors of Portugal, Venezuela, and Mongolia to Nepal submitted their credentials to President Ramchandra Paudel today. Click here to read... [18]

Pakistan

IMF asks Pakistan to revisit NFC award-The Express Tribune

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday called upon Pakistan to reopen discussions on the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, seeking to address the ongoing imbalance in the distribution of fiscal resources between federal and provincial governments. Click here to read... [19]

IMF wants increase in tax on salaried class-The Express Tribune

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged Pakistan to cut the number of tax slabs for the salaried and business class from the existing seven to four – a proposal, if accepted, will hurt the middle and upper middle-income groups. The proposal was floated by a technical mission of the IMF that completed its two-week review of Pakistan’s tax policies last week. Click here to read... [20]

President Zardari terms Shehbaz-Gandapur meeting ‘positive step’-Dawn

A day after a rare meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, President Asif Ali Zardari welcomed their interaction, hailing it as a positive step towards tackling the challenges facing the nation. Click here to read... [21]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka refutes US claims of Chinese military base – Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka has refuted recent claims from US intelligence that there are potential plans for a Chinese military base to be established on its soil. State Defence Minister Premitha Bandara Tennakoon told Daily Mirror that Sri Lanka has not engaged in any discussions with foreign governments, including China, regarding the establishment of a military base within its borders. Click here to read... [22]

Parliament to become elders’ home if current trend persists: Anunayake Thera - Daily Mirror

The Anunayake of the Ramanya Nikaya Most Venerable Kappitiyagoda Sirivimala Thera stated yesterday that if the current trend persists, the entire parliament will soon resemble an elders' home and also emphasized the importance of elderly members stepping down to allow the youth the opportunity to contribute to the country's development. Click here to read... [23]

Parliament to debate no-confidence motion against Speaker on March 19 – Daily News

The Business Committee of Parliament has decided to debate the no-confidence motion on Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane on March 19 and 20 and the vote on the no-confidence motion will be held on March 20 at 4.30 pm. Click here to read... [24]