Neighborhood News Digest- 29 May 2024

Afghanistan

Putin: Building ties with Taliban is necessary- The Khaama Press

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that it is necessary to build relations with the Taliban due to their control over Afghanistan. Vladimir Putin stated, “We need to proceed from reality and build relations accordingly,” he added.” On Tuesday, May, 28th, in Tashkent, the President of Russia told reporters, “These people control the country and its territory and are the current rulers of Afghanistan.” Click here to read... [2]

Islamic Emirate Leader Appoints New Acting Minister of Public Health-Tolo News

The leader of the Islamic Emirate has issued a recent decree resulting in new appointments across various levels, including a ministry, deputy ministries, provincial leadership, and other institutions. Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, announced that these appointments affect the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Interior, and the provinces of Faryab, Samangan, Kandahar, and Helmand. Click here to read... [3]

Lavrov: 'Taliban' Will Be Taken Off Terrorist List, Hold 'Real Power'-Tolo News

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in an interview with Russian media, said that the “Taliban hold real power” in Afghanistan and that Moscow plans to remove them from the list of terrorist groups. According to Lavrov, the United Nations Security Council has not declared the Taliban a terrorist group, and only 12 to 15 of their members are included in the list. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

FDI slips but stays above $3b - The Daily Star

Foreign direct investments to Bangladesh [5] snapped its rising trend in 2023, highlighting the nervousness outside investors face in pumping money into a country whose foreign exchange regime is experiencing one of its worst periods in recent times. Click here to read... [6]

NIA arrests key accused involved in trafficking of Bangladeshis, Rohingyas into India – Deccan Herald

In a related development, the NIA had on Monday carried out a coordinated operation with the state police forces and central intelligence agencies across all the locations in connection with its probe in an international human trafficking and cyber fraud racket. Click here to read... [7]

87 upazilas go to polls in third phase of elections – Dhaka Tribune

In the third phase of the sixth upazila parishad elections, voting started at 8am on Wednesday in 87 upazilas across Bangladesh. Click here to read... [8]

Bhutan

Tour operators raise concern over SDF refunds, discounts and tour licensing-Kuensel

Tour operators, during the Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators’ (ABTO) annual general meeting yesterday, raised several issues affecting their industry from the sustainable development fund (SDF) refunds, discounts in border towns, and relevancy of tour operating licenses.ABTO’s executive director, Sonam Dorji said that tour operators who booked tours on or before June 20, 2022 under the minimum daily packaged rate are yet to get the refund because of the policy changes despite the government assurance to refund the SDF within two weeks. Click here to read... [9]

Maldives

MATATO partners with IATO to boost India-Maldives tourism – Adhadhu

The Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) has signed an agreement with the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) to boost tourism between the Maldives and India. The agreement was made to facilitate travel and cultural activities between the countries by using the respective networks and resources of the associations, MATATO said in a statement. Click here to read... [10]

UNSG applauds Maldives’ active engagement in climate justice – Raajje

Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) António Guterres has applauded the active engagement of Maldives on the frontlines of climate justice. He said this during a meeting held with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on May 27. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) being held in Antigua and Barbuda from May 27 – 30. Click here to read... [11]

Myanmar

US urges Myanmar junta to cease violence, free political prisoners - Dhaka Tribune

The United States called on Myanmar’s military junta to immediately cease violence and release unjustly detained individuals at the 36th annual Asean-US Dialogue held in Washington. The forum, aimed at enhancing cooperation between the US and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), featured high-level discussions attended by officials from Asean member states, including Chargé d’affaires Thet Win from the Myanmar embassy in Washington. Click here to read... [12]

Shangri-La Dialogue: Conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, Myanmar set to feature in talks - Channel News Asia

The annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore gains added importance this year as conflicts rage in Ukraine, Gaza and Myanmar. Defence chiefs from around the world are set to meet to discuss security concerns and hopefully, cool tensions. Click here to read... [13]

Indian business executive rescued from Myanmar captivity, reveals shocking honey-trap scam - New Indian Express

Along with MEA, the Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) is giving a lot of attention to check organised cybercrime gangs from South East Asian countries, that include Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos PDR. The Ministry of Home Affairs has set up an inter-ministerial committee headed by a top security officer. Click here to read... [14]

Nepal

Nepal to legalise marijuana cultivation for medicinal purposes - The Economic Times

Nepal will legalise marijuana cultivation and consumption for medicinal purposes, Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun announced on Tuesday while presenting the government's budget estimates for the 2024-35 fiscal year. Addressing the joint session of Parliament, Pun said that necessary laws would be framed for commercial production of marijuana in the country. Click here to read... [15]

Balancing Between Giants To The North And The South: A Nepal Story - StratNews Global

“You have to understand our location vis a vis the kingdom of the north, China, and the kingdom of the south, India.” That was Nepal’s King Prithvi Narayan Shah, who in the 18th century laid the foundations of what is modern day Nepal. He had recognised so far back that the focus of Nepal’s foreign policy would always be about balancing itself between these two giants, said Lt Gen Shokin Chauhan, former DG Assam Rifles who was on The Gist talking about his book Bridging Borders. Click here to read... [16]

Nepal presents $14 billion annual budget after opposition party ends protests - Deccan Herald

Nepal presented a $14 billion budget on Tuesday for the next financial year beginning in mid-July after the main opposition party ended protests that disrupted parliamentary sittings for nearly two weeks. Click here to read... [17]

Pakistan

Nawaz reclaims PML-N presidency after 6 years- The Express Tribune

PML-N supreme leader and founder Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday officially reclaimed the party presidency, sailing through “unopposed”, six years after a court ruling had removed him from office. Emboldened after restoring a formal grip over the party's reins, the former prime minister, instead of laying out a roadmap for the future, kicked things off by dusting off old grievances and lamenting past injustices inflicted upon him. Click here to read... [18]

PM invites Chinese textile firms to Pakistan-The Express Tribune

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, assuring all-out facilitation by his government, invited Chinese companies, particularly those in the textile sector, to establish their industry in Pakistan. The prime minister, chairing a meeting to discuss the promotion of Pakistan-China cooperation, highlighted that China is a key partner in Pakistan’s development. Pakistan aims to enhance cooperation with China in agriculture, information technology, and energy, in addition to increasing its exports to China. Click here to read... [19]

Budget 2024-25: Govt considers proposal to withdraw tax waivers for the rich-Dawn

The government is expected to revoke tax concessions that disproportionately benefit high-earning individuals over the middle-class workforce, Dawn learned on Monday. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised the government to treat salaried employees’ incomes similarly to that of individuals (non-salaried) as personal income. However, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) disagrees and believes that both incomes cannot be considered equally. Click here to read... [20]

Sri Lanka

President asserts no polls postponement – Daily Mirror

Chaos erupted among the political circles last evening after a statement was made by UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara, stating that a proposal would be brought to Parliament to postpone the presidential and parliamentary elections, with parliamentarians from all parties rejecting the move and calling for an immediate response from the President. Click here to read... [21]

Central Bank stays pat on rates – Daily Mirror

As widely expected, the Central Bank left its key policy rates unchanged at the policy meeting held this week. Click here to read... [22]

NPP condemns Range Bandara’s statement; says UNP has officially admitted Ranil’s defeat – Daily Mirror

While condemning United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara's statement that President Ranil Wickremesinghe should be given two more years without holding the Presidential or General Elections, NPP Executive Committee member Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said today that the UNP has officially accepted Ranil Wickremesinghe's defeat. Click here to read... [23]