Neighborhood News Digest- 16 April 2024

Afghanistan

Mujahid: Current White Flag Sufficient for Now-Tolo News

The Islamic Emirate addressed questions regarding the destiny of the nation's tricolor flag, explaining that the flag's design is not permanent and that any governing regime has the authority to select the country’s flag. Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman of the Islamic Emirate said that Afghanistan's flag is presently white, and its design may change in the future following a collective agreement at an appropriate time. Click here to read… [2]

Afghanistan-Kazakhstan Chamber of Commerce opens-The Khaama Press

Officials in Herat province have recently announced the opening of a joint trade chamber between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan in Herat province. The authorities of the Taliban administration stated that the Afghanistan-Kazakhstan Chamber of Commerce was inaugurated on Sunday, April 14th, by Hayatullah Mohajer Farahi, the Deputy Governor of Herat, and Ali Khan Yessim Goldiev, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan in Kabul, and the President of the Chamber of Commerce of Kazakhstan. Click here to read… [3]

Iran’s exports to Afghanistan reach $1.8 billion with 13% increase- The Khaama Press

Iranian media has reported that Iran’s non-oil exports to Afghanistan reached $1.871 billion in the past solar year, indicating a 13.6% increase compared to the previous year. Hossein Roustaei, Iran’s commercial attaché in Afghanistan, stated on Sunday, April 14th, that Iran’s non-oil exports to Afghanistan in the last solar year 1402 reached $1.871 billion, showing a 13.6% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. Click here to read… [4]

Torkham Camp Officials Ready as Deportation Deadline Approaches-Tolo News

Officials at the temporary refugee camp in Torkham stated that preparations for the second round of deportations of Afghan refugees from Pakistan are underway. This comes as Pakistan sets April 15 as the deadline for the second phase of the deportation of Afghan refugees from the country. Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh

Economy in for a double whammy - The Daily Star

With inflation edging towards double digits and quarterly GDP growth nearly halving year on year, pressure on consumers is mounting and experts are pointing at even darker clouds. Click here to read… [6]

Polls in 150 upazilas: 1,891 aspirants file nomination papers online – The Daily Star

A total of 1,891 aspirants have submitted nomination papers to contest in the first phase of upazila elections slated for May 8, when 150 upazilas will go to polls. Click here to read… [7]

Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves surpass $20B mark again – Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves have surpassed $20 billion once again, as indicated by Bangladesh Bank data. This increase is attributed to higher export earnings and inflow of remittances during Eid-ul-Fitr, as reported by local news portals. Click here to read… [8]

Warships escort MV Abdullah en route to Dubai – Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh's KSRM group ship MV Abdullah was freed from pirates at 3:08 pm on Saturday, Bangladesh time. Two nearby EU naval warships escorted the MV Abdullah shortly after the release. Click here to read… [9]

Maldives

Government imposes port restrictions for exporting essential commodities to Maldives – The Economic Times

Amid tensions between Maldives and India, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade on April 15, issued a notification imposing port restrictions for export of essential commodities to the island nation during the fiscal year 2024-25. The notification, issued under the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, incorporates specific conditions for exporting essential commodities under the prohibited/restricted category to Maldives. Click here to read… [10]

Withdrawal of Indian Troops is an Improvement in Relations with India: Minister Shareef – The Maldives Journal

Minister for Cities Adam Shareef Umar has said that the withdrawal of Indian troops from Maldives has not changed the long-standing relationship between the two countries. Speaking at a meeting with the people of Feeali, the minister said the withdrawal of Indian troops from Maldives was carried out under the noble principles of diplomacy as per the President's promise. He said President Muizzu should be thanked for preserving the long-standing friendly relations between India and Maldives. Click here to read… [11]

Myanmar

Rebels raise flag at seized Myanmar base, commander confident of retaining control - MSN

Myanmar resistance fighters on Monday burned the flag used by the military government and raised their own banner at a newly captured army base, as a senior rebel commander vowed they would hold the strategic area near the Thai border. Click here to read… [12]

More BGP members cross into Bangladesh, preparations to send them back - Prothomalo

Myanmar rebel armed force Arakan Army continues to fight the junta forces in the Rakhine state. In face of intense attack from the rebels, the members of Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP) are fleeing to Bangladesh. Five more BGP members took shelter in Bangladesh even on Sunday. The foreign ministry says, a total of 196 members of BGP have crossed into Bangladesh so far. Bangladesh is in talks with Myanmar to send back their citizens within this month. Click here to read… [13]

Junta shelling, airstrikes kill 25 Rohingyas in Myanmar’s Rakhine state - RFA

At least 25 ethnic Rohingya civilians were killed and thousands forced to flee their homes amid junta airstrikes and heavy artillery over the weekend in western Myanmar’s Rakhine state, according to residents. Fighting between the ethnic Rakhine Arakan Army, or AA, and the Arakan Resistance Solidarity Army, or ARSA, of junta-supported Rohingya fighters, began April 12 in Rakhine’s Buthidaung township, residents told RFA Burmese on Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity due to security concerns. Click here to read… [14]

Nepal

Breakthrough of the Nagdhunga main tunnel: For the development of Nepal - Himalayan Times

On April 15, 2024, the main tunnel of the Nagdhunga project was finally penetrated. This is a symbol of Japan's advanced technology and indomitable spirit, along with the cooperation of the Nepali side. It is not the words or the promises that matter, but the delivery. Japan is a country that keeps its words. This is an infrastructure project worth Rs 22 billion, three-quarters of which Japan is supporting through highly concessional loans to the Government of Nepal. This is Nepal's first traffic road tunnel, and when it is completed after interior work such as lining, connecting the equipment, the convenience of traffic will be greatly improved, which will be extremely significant for the promotion of the local economy as well. Click here to read… [15]

Demand for Hindu Rashtra once again intensified in Nepal – Hindu Rashtra supporters demonstrated - International News

The demand for Hindu Rashtra is once again increasing in Nepal. Violence broke out when supporters of Hindu Rashtra demonstrated in the capital Kathmandu on Monday. There has been a fierce clash between the police and the protesters. Meanwhile, the police released tear gas shells and used water cannon to disperse the protesters. The protesters say that monarchy should be re-imposed in the country. Click here to read… [16]

Exporters rue Indian anti-dumping charges on Nepali jute products - Kathmandu Post

India, Nepal's key trading partner, has been reluctant to remove the anti-dumping charges levied on Nepali readymade jute products, which has been hurting exports for a long time, according to traders in eastern Nepal. An anti-dumping duty is a protectionist tariff that a domestic government imposes on foreign imports that it believes are priced below fair market value. Nearly a year ago, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, during his visit to India requested the Indian prime minister to remove anti-dumping charges on Nepali readymade jute products. Click here to read… [17]

Pakistan

High-level Saudi delegation led by FM arrives in Pakistan-The Express Tribune

A high-level delegation from Saudi Arabia, led by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, arrived in Pakistan on Monday for a two-day visit. The visit aims to fast-track the implementation of agreements made between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman during their recent meeting in Makkah. Click here to read… [18]

Petrol price goes up by Rs4.53 per litre-The Express Tribune

The federal government has increased the price of petrol by Rs4.53 per litre effective from Monday in line with the fluctuation in global oil prices. Petrol will now be available at Rs293.94 per litre against its previous price of Rs289.41 per litre. Meanwhile, the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) has also been increased by Rs8.14. HSD will now cost Rs290.38 per litre instead of Rs282.24. Click here to read… [19]

Don’t need more policy prescriptions, says Finance Minister Aurangzeb-Dawn

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Monday that Pakistan doesn’t need too many policy prescriptions, it just needs to implement those policies. Speaking at the Atlantic Council think tank on his first working day in Washington, the minister also urged institutions such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help countries like Pakistan deal with the effects of climate change and achieve financial inclusivity. Click here to read… [20]

PM wants robust renewable energy plan to cut oil bill-Dawn

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed authorities concerned for robust renewable energy management to cut the country’s $27 billion oil import bill and improve the country’s existing electricity distribution system. The prime minister said utilising renewable energy resources would also ensure riddance from the crude oil tanker mafia acting as parasites and eating up the national money. Click here to read… [21]

Sri Lanka

Debt restructuring with bondholders hits a snag with disagreement on two areas – Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring process with private bondholders is stuck with two aspects of disagreement, whereas it is well underway with bilateral creditors, a top official said yesterday. Click here to read… [22]

Prioritise building inclusive social protection system: ADB tells Sri Lanka – Daily Mirror

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) stressed that for Sri Lanka, the near-term priority during economic recovery is to lay institutional and structural frameworks for an inclusive social protection system. Click here to read… [23]

India lifts export restrictions on onions to Sri Lanka – Daily Mirror

The government of India has lifted the export restrictions on onions to Sri Lanka, with export of up to 10,000 MT of onions permitted vide the enclosed notification of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade. Click here to read… [24]

Central Bank’s March dollar purchases hit record high – Daily Mirror

The Central Bank has purchased the most amount of dollars for a single month in March, a sign that the country is currently in a very comfortable position in its foreign currency liquidity, after two years into the worst currency crisis in the country. Click here to read… [25]