Neighborhood News Digest- 03 May 2024

Afghanistan

Islamic Emirate Calls UNAMA Report Repetitive and Propagandistic-Tolo News

Following the publication of UNAMA's quarterly report on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, stated that UNAMA has not taken into account the realities of Afghanistan in its report. Mujahid told TOLO news that the reports of the UNAMA in Afghanistan are repetitive. In this report titled "Human Rights Situation in Afghanistan" released by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, it is stated that nearly 80 civilians died in three explosions in Afghanistan during the first five days of 2024. Click here to read... [2]

Women’s Presence Increases by 17% in Media: AJSC-Tolo News

On the eve of World Press Freedom Day, the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC) in a program in Kabul said that the presence of women in the media has increased by 17% compared to last year. Abdul Qadim Wyar, the head of the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee, also expressed concerns over challenges facing journalists and asked the Islamic Emirate to seriously address these challenges. According to the findings of this organization, the number of male employees in the country's media has also increased by 10%. Click here to read... [3]

Second joint economic meeting held between Afghanistan and Iran-The Khaama press

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Afghanistan announced that Nouruddin Azizi, the acting minister, held discussions with General Mohammad Karimi, the governor of Sistan and Baluchistan province in Iran, and the special representative of the Iranian president at the Afghanistan-Iran border. According to the ministry’s press release on Thursday, May 2nd, both sides discussed expanding trade between Afghanistan and Iran during this meeting. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Second session of 12th JS begins - The Daily Star

The 12th parliament went into its second session yesterday at 5:04 pm. The decision to convene the session was made by President Mohammed Shahabuddin on April 15. Click here to read... [5]

PM warns party’s ministers, MPs not to influence upazila polls – Dhaka Tribune

Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on Thursday asked the ministers and her party's members of parliament (MPs) not to influence the upcoming upazila polls. Click here to read... [6]

Power price to go up four times a year – The Daily Star

The government has drawn up a plan to increase the price of electricity four times a year for the next three years to withdraw all subsidies in the power sector, which the IMF recommends. Click here to read... [7]

Bhutan

Bhutan’s trade deficit narrows to over Nu 19B-Kuensel

The country’s trade deficit for the first quarter of this year, spanning from January to March, including electricity sale, stood at Nu 19.24 billion. The trade deficit narrowed by 12.8 percent or Nu 2.84 billion compared to the same period last year. According to the trade statistics, Bhutan imported Nu 28.84 billion worth of goods, of which the balance of trade with India accounts to more than Nu 25.11 billion. This was a decline by 8.7 percent or Nu 2.75 billion during the same period. Click here to read... [8]
National [9]

Bhutan Sustains Strong Growth Amid Economic Hurdles- Mirage news

Bhutan's economy continues its strong recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to two new World Bank reports launched today. The April 2024 Bhutan Development Update indicates that economy is showing signs of a strong recovery with an expected 4.6 percent real GDP growth in FY22/23, driven by higher growth in tourism activity, following economic contraction over two consecutive years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Growth is expected to accelerate to 4.9 percent in FY23/24. Click here to read... [10]

Maldives

Maldivian gov't condemns UN veto power at UNGA78 – Avas

The Maldivian government has strongly criticized the veto power wielded by certain UN countries at the UN Security Council. Delivering a statement on behalf of the Maldives at the 78th UN General Assembly, Maldives Housing Minister Dr. Ali Haidhar said the UN Security Council has failed to guarantee the rights of the Palestinian people and blocked Palestine's bid for full membership in the United Nations. Click here to read... [11]

Myanmar

Myanmar Junta Bans Men From Overseas Work in Bid to Stymie Draft Dodgers - The Diplomat

Myanmar’s military junta will reportedly no longer allow men to go overseas for employment purposes if they are eligible for military conscription, an apparent bid to stem the flow of young people seeking to evade the unpopular draft. The news was reported by the local media outlet Myanmar Now, which quoted Nyunt Win, the permanent secretary of the military administration’s Ministry of Labor, as saying that the ban had been introduced. Click here to read... [12]

Mizoram: ‘Increase in illicit liquor production in Aizawl linked to Myanmar refugee influx’ - NE Now

Manufacturing of illicit country-made liquor in and around Aizawl – the capital of Mizoram – has considerably increased following the influx of refugees from neighbouring Myanmar. Mizoram excise and narcotics department commissioner, Z Lalhmangaiha, informed a meeting of excise officials and leaders of Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA) on Thursday that manufacturing of locally brewed alcohol at Phunchawng area and its vicinity on the outskirts of Aizawl has been on the rise since recent times. Click here to read... [13]

India deports Myanmar immigrants from violence-hit Manipur - UCA News

India has completed the first phase of deporting “illegal immigrants” from Myanmar from the border state of Manipur, which witnessed unprecedented Hindu-Christian clashes last year, an official said. "Without any discrimination, we have completed the first phase of deportation of illegal immigrants from Myanmar with 38 more immigrants leaving Manipur,” state Chief Minister N Biren Singh said in a social media post on May 2. Click here to read... [14]

Nepal

A new approach to legislation in Nepal - Asia News Network

The Nepali Congress opposes the government’s use of an ordinance to amend laws for the investment summit, bypassing parliamentary scrutiny. Despite Congress’s criticism, the President has approved the ordinance. Congress argues that such actions undermine constitutional, parliamentary, and democratic principles, asserting that only Parliament should legislate. Click here to read... [15]

India and Nepal strengthen bilateral ties with MoU on public sector audit - India Today

The recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Nepal in the field of public sector audit has been hailed as a significant step in enhancing the multifaceted relationship between the two nations. India's Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Girish C Murmu expressed enthusiasm about this collaboration during his visit to Nepal, highlighting its potential to deepen cooperation and foster mutual development. Click here to read... [16]

Nepal will need an investment of Rs 6.1 trillion to produce 28,500 MW of electricity by 2035 - My Republica

The government has set a target of producing about 28,500 megawatts of electricity in the country within the next decade. Sector experts have estimated that about Rs 6.1 trillion of capital is needed to produce electricity to meet this target. Click here to read... [17]

Pakistan

PM hails govt efforts as inflation plummets to two-year low of 17.3%-The Express Tribune

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed the recent downturn in inflation as a boon for the populace, deeming it a tangible sign of economic progress, as per a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the pace of price increases decelerated to 17.3% in April compared to the same period the previous year, marking the lowest rate in two years and nearing the point from which prices initially surged. Click here to read... [18]

US supports Pakistan’s efforts for IMF bailout-Dawn

The US State Department said on Thursday that Washington supports Pakistan’s efforts to stabilise its economy, including by reaching agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and this support was unwavering. The department’s spokesperson, Matthew Miller, highlighted this robust US support for Pakistan’s endeavours at his daily news briefing when a journalist questioned the US rationale for helping Islamabad rebuild its economy. Click here to read... [19]

PTI unveils ‘white paper’ on alleged electoral misconduct-The Express Tribune

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has made public a comprehensive 234-page white paper, revealing what it claims to be widespread rigging and irregularities during the 2024 general elections. The document asserts that the electoral process was marred by serious flaws and compromises. Click here to read... [20]

Sri Lanka

CoPF approves suspension of Parate Law until December 15, 2024 – Daily Mirror

The Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) approved the Recovery of Loans by Banks (Special Provisions) (Amendment) Bill which was amended to facilitate legal provisions for the suspension of the Parate Law till December 15, 2024. Click here to read... [21]

Another round of debt restructuring talks with ad hoc group of bondholders – Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka will have another round of talks with the representatives of the ad hoc group of bondholders soon, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe said. Last month, Sri Lanka rejected international bondholders' proposal to restructure more than $12 billion in debt. Click here to read... [22]

No Indian firm involved in visa issuance at BIA - Spokesperson – Daily Mirror

In response to media queries regarding Indian companies taking over visa issuance at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Colombo, a spokesman for the Indian High Commission said any reference to India is unwarranted as companies referred to do not belong to India. Click here to read... [23]