Neighborhood News Digest- 12 April 2024

Afghanistan

Officials: Over 20,000 Afghan Children Expelled from Iran in Last Year-Tolo News

Local authorities in Nimroz reported the expulsion of over twenty thousand Afghan children from Iran in the past year. They said that these children were returned to the country alone and had gone to Iran through illegal means due to poverty. Local authorities in Nimroz said that daily, twenty to thirty Afghan children are returned from Iran to this province. Many of these children, whose families are in Iran, face an uncertain fate. Click here to read... [2]

McCaul: US Pullout Caused Humanitarian Crisis, Aid 'Flowing to Taliban'-Tolo News

Michael McCaul, the chairman of the United States House Foreign Affairs Committee, once again criticized the Biden adminstration withdrawal for the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, and said aid is supporting the Islamic Emirate. McCaul stated in a hearing that humanitarian aid is currently not reaching needy women and children in Afghanistan. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

AL comes to power to give while BNP to take: PM - The Daily Star

Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina has said her party comes to power to give something to the people while BNP assumes to take. Click here to read... [4]

BNP embroiled in dispute between hardliners and liberals – Dhaka Tribune

A quarter of the BNP’s central leaders, mostly mid-ranking office bearers, are active to keep in touch with acting chairman Tarique Rahman, who has been leading the party from the UK for over 15 years. Click here to read... [5]

Border blurs at Zero Point in Jhakuatari on Eid, as locals from India, Bangladesh gather for Namaz – The Print

Sending out a larder message that land borders were no bar when it comes to propagating bonhomie, people from Dighaltari in Coochbehar district came out in their hundreds on Thursday to offer Eid prayers along with their counterparts across the border at a 200-year-old Jama Masjid in Kurigram, which falls on the other side of the India-Bangladesh border. Click here to read... [6]

Bhutan

Three drungkhags without drungpas- Kuensel Online

Could the non-appointment of Drungpas in three of the 15 drungkhags (sub district) indicate a shift in the local governance structure? For over two years, the Sombaykha Dungkhag Administration in Haa has been operating without a dungpa. The former dungpa was transferred to the home ministry. Weringla and Thrimshing dungkhag in Trashigang are also without drungpas for more than two years. Click here to read... [7]

Maldives

Govt trying to crush dissent and eliminate opponents: Solih – Adhadhu

In an exclusive interview with Adhadhu in Fuvahmulah, Solih said the government is obstructing freedom of expression and limiting the space for political activities. ‘They began this by obstructing the press. They are continuing to undermine the powers of the Parliament. Now they are trying to eliminate the ideologies and opinions of political parties, trying to crush dissent. They are shaking the foundation of democracy,’ he said. Click here to read... [8]

As Indian tourists visiting Maldives decline, tourism body plans road shows to boost travel – Times of India

In an attempt to woo Indian tourists back to Maldives, a major tourism body in the island nation has revealed plans to conduct road shows across several key Indian cities. The move comes as a number of Indian visitors to the Maldives has seen a decline in recent times. The Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) disclosed its intention to hold discussions with India's high commissioner in the Maldives, Munu Mahawar, to explore ways to enhance travel and tourism cooperation between the two countries. Click here to read... [9]

Myanmar

Exodus to Thailand continues after fall of key Myanmar border town - Deccan Herald

Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara is set to visit Mae Sot, just across the Moei River from Myawaddy, on Friday to assess matters after Myanmar's embattled junta lost yet more territory in the latest round of fighting. Junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun told Myanmar media some of its troops had surrendered because they were accompanied by their families and talks with Thailand for their return were in progress. Click here to read... [10]

Assam Rifles Apprehend KYKL Militant Along Manipur-Myanmar Border - Sentinel Assam

The Assam Rifles successfully arrested a suspected cadre of the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) in a recent operation along the Manipur-Myanmar border, an official statement said on Wednesday. The operation at Yangonupokpi village in Tengnoupal district yielded key items including currency notes from India and Myanmar, as well as documents and ammunition The Kurun Assam Gun on Wednesday began a full-scale search for work focusing on forested areas bordering Myanmar. Click here to read... [11]

Magic and Bulldozers Bedevil Myanmar Junta’s New Restoration Work in Bagan - The Irrawaddy

While mandatory military service preoccupies much of the population, Myanmar’s junta is inviting public donations for restoration work in the World Heritage temple city of Bagan in central Myanmar. Junta Culture Minister Tin Oo Lwin is overseeing the restoration of Bagan’s lakes and reservoirs, The Irrawaddy has learned. He has already had Mingalar (Auspiciousness) Lake, near Pwarsaw (East) village, restored on behalf of his boss, Min Aung Hlaing. Click here to read... [12]

Rocky Start for New Bloc of Myanmar EAOs Formed to Join Junta Peace Talks - the Irrawaddy

Seven of the 10 ethnic armed organizations that signed the 2015 Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) announced on March 18 the formation of a new alliance, known as the 7 EAO Alliance, to continue peace talks with the regime, following a meeting of representatives of the organizations in the Thai city of Chiang Mai. The new alliance comprises the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council, the Restoration Council of Shan State, the New Mon State Party, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, the Lahu Democratic Union, the Arakan Liberation Party and the Pa-O National Liberation Organization. Click here to read... [13]

Nepal

India reigns as largest investor in Nepal, confirms Ambassador - AIMA Media

India reigns as 'largest investor' in Nepal, confirms Ambassador. Nepal's Ambassador to India, Shankar Prasad Sharma, urged Indian businesses to invest in Nepal, citing India as the leading investor there. "The largest investor in Nepal is India...One-third of the total investment is from India," he stated. Sharma further highlighted opportunities in Nepal's hydropower sector and emphasised the ease of bringing skilled workers from India. Click here to read... [14]

As Nepal’s peak forest fire season nears, number of human fatalities rises - Asia News Network

The number of people who succumbed to fire and forest fire related incidents last year was 113. According to the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal of the Ministry of Home Affairs, 46 men and 57 women died in fire related incidents in the past year. The number of people who died in forest fires was eight in the year. As many as 33 people have been injured and properties worth over Rs2.4 billion have been gutted in fire-related incidents. Click here to read... [15]

Nepal’s Struggle with Federalism - Khabar Hub

With the 2015 constitution, Nepal declared itself a federal and secular republic. This was done in light of the fact that all parties, including the conservative RPP, had committed to better social and regional inclusion after the end of the royal coup in 2006. Click here to read... [16]

Pakistan

IMF chief says Pakistan seeking potential follow-up loan programme-The Express Tribune

Pakistan is in discussions with the International Monetary Fund on a potential follow-up programme to its nine-month, $3 billion stand-by arrangement, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said on Thursday, adding that it had important issues to solve. Pakistan and the IMF last month reached a staff-level agreement on the second and last review of the $3 billion stand-by arrangement, which, if cleared by the global lender's board, will release about $1.1 billion to the struggling South Asian nation. The IMF's board is expected to review the matter in late April, but no firm date has been set, a spokesperson said. Click here to read... [17]

In phone call with Iran’s Raisi, Zardari stresses exchange of information to overcome security challenges-Dawn

President Asif Ali Zardari, in a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi, has underlined the need enhancing the “exchange of information to overcome the security challenges” being faced by both countries. “During the conversation, President Zardari offered his heartfelt condolences and sympathies with the Iranian leadership and the bereaved families who lost their dear ones in the Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus,” the statement said. Click here to read... [18]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka shows signs of recovery but must maintain reform momentum: ADB – Daily Mirror

The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) annual flagship economic publication, the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) April 2024, forecasts Sri Lanka’s economy to record moderate growth of 1.9% in 2024 and 2.5% in 2025 following 2 consecutive years of contractions. Click here to read... [19]

Sri Lankans rescued from cyber slave camp in Myanmar transferred to Embassy – Daily Mirror

Eight Sri Lankans who were recently rescued from an illegal cyber slave camp in Myanmar, have been transferred to the care of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Thailand. Click here to read... [20]

Cooperation on Katchatheevu would be win-win for Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen – The Indian Express

With impending parliamentary elections, the ceding of the island of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka by the 1974 India-Sri Lanka Maritime Boundary Agreement and the giving away of fishermen’s rights to fish in and around Kachchatheevu by the 1976 Maritime Boundary Agreement are making headlines. Click here to read... [21]