PM, Fazl discuss current political situation
The Express Tribune | 11th May
JUI-F chief and Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) President Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Thursday called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and discussed with him current political situation in the country in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to release PTI Chairman and former premier Imran Khan and declare his arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case illegal.
During the meeting at the PM House, both the leaders strongly condemned the attacks on state institutions
India extends $1 bln credit line for Sri Lanka by a year
Colombo Page | 9th May
India has decided to extend the credit facility of US$ 01 billion given to Sri Lanka by another year, according to report.
Quoting a Sri Lankan official, Reuters reported on Tuesday that India has extended a $1 billion credit line for Sri Lanka by one year giving the crisis-hit country a backup funds to pay for essential imports.
India provided the credit facility to Sri Lanka, which is in the middle of an economic crisis, to import essential food items and medicines.
EU: conditions are not in place for recognition of Afghanistan government
Afghanistan Times | 11th May
Thomas Niklasson, the European Union’s special representative for Afghanistan, at the end of his five-day trip to Afghanistan said that due to the restrictions on women, the humanitarian situation in this country is dark.
He also emphasized that there is no possibility of recognizing the current government of Afghanistan as a legitimate government.
Nicholson, who also participated in the Qatar meeting, noted that in these talks…
PAKISTAN
The Nation | 11th May
In a dramatic turn of events, the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to immediately set PTI chief Imran Khan at liberty after declaring his arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case “illegal”. A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, heard the case after the PTI had approached the apex court challenging IHC’s decision of giving legal cover to the arrest Mr Khan in the case.
Pakistan capable of dealing with internal matters: FO
Dawn | 12th May
The Foreign Office has said that Pakistan is capable of dealing with its internal matters in accordance with the Constitution and law.
The remarks came in reply to the statements from the UN secretary-general, foreign countries and missions in Pakistan following the arrest of PTI chief Imran Khan and the subsequent violence.
IMF calls on Pakistan to secure ‘significantly more financing’ for completing programme
The News | 11th May
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Thursday that crises-gripped Pakistan needs significant additional financing for the completion of the long-stalled ninth review of the bailout programme, Reuters reported.
The IMF said it is essential for Pakistan to secure commitments of “significant additional financing” before the lender’s board approves the release of the pending funds crucial for the government to address the acute balance of payments crisis.
SRI LANKA
Third dengue virus strain spreading: Paediatrician
Daily Mirror | 12th May
It is reported that there is a high spread of the third dengue virus strain (DENV-3) in the country, Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) consultant paediatrician Dr. Deepal Perera said.
He said what was earlier prevalent was the second dengue virus strain (DENV-2), but what is spreading now is the third strain of the dengue virus.
“Dengue is the most significant mosquito-borne viral disease that affects humans. The DENV-3 virus is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes; for most people, this infection is either asymptomatic or dengue fever develops,” he said.
World’s first international environmental university will be established in Sri Lanka – President
The Island | 12th May
President Ranil Wickremesinghe who attended the 10th Environment Pioneer President’s Medal Awarding Ceremony 2020-2021 held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, announced that Sri Lanka is establishing the world’s first international environmental university to support the global effort in addressing climate change.
The President acknowledged that although climate change is a significant challenge for the world, there is no central research hub to study it, and invited multiple countries to join Sri Lanka in the effort.
IMF team to arrive in Sri Lanka today
Colombo Page | 11th May
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff team will arrive in Sri Lanka today, the global lender said Wednesday in a statement.
The IMF team will be visiting Sri Lanka from May 11 to 23 as part of regular consultation ahead of the first review of the loan program later this year. IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department Director Krishna Srinivasan and Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka Asia and Pacific Department Peter Breuer will join this visit, the IMF Team in Sri Lanka said.
AFGHANISTAN
Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in a meeting on Tuesday said that all the regional countries are interested to strengthen relations with Afghanistan. Following the return from an official visit to Pakistan, Minister Muttaqi reiterated that countries in the region are trying to engage with the Taliban and build ties with the ruling regime.
Students Call for Reopening of Girls’ Schools
TOLO News| 9th May
Schools above sixth grade in Afghanistan have been closed for females for nearly twenty months, but there has been no news about when they will reopen.
Female students once again urged the Islamic Emirate to open schools for them. The Islamic Emirate has said that the closing of girls’ schools is temporary, but there has been no specific date of reopening provided.
Nazita, a student in 12th grade, is reviewing her past school lessons in a group with other female students.
BANGLADESH
Dhaka, Delhi satisfied over bilateral cooperation
Prothom Alo | 11th May
angladesh and India have expressed satisfaction at the level of bilateral cooperation in various fields.
This satisfaction was expressed when Indian external affairs minister S Jaishankar paid a courtesy call on prime minister Sheikh Hasina at the latter’s official residence Ganabhaban on Thursday.
PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
Country’s GDP likely to grow by 6.03pc in FY23
Bangladesh Post | 12th May
The country’s GDP is likely to grow at a rate of 6.03 percent in the current fiscal year (FY) 2022-23, State Minister for Planning ShamsulAlam said. He disclosed this information while replying to a question from reporters at the NEC conference room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital on Thursday. This growth rate exceeds the estimates made by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank (WB).
The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is no longer an idea based on “power equations”, but rather a natural construct based on principles of “inclusivity, comradery, and multi-stakeholderism,” says a document related to the 6th Indian Ocean Conference being held in Dhaka on Friday, Saturday.
As two responsible states, Bangladesh and India are committed to ensure the rise of a “free, open, inclusive and rules based” IOR, according to the concept note of the conference.
BHUTAN
Govt. raises bond to meet fiscal gap
Kuensel | 11th May
To meet its growing fiscal deficit, the government had raised Nu 17.8 billion (B) from the issuance of bonds in less than three years.
Fiscal deficit arises when government expenditure is more than the revenue generated in a fiscal year.
In the fiscal year 2020-21, the government was short of Nu 15.33B or 7.36 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), the government offered Nu 3B and Nu 700 million bonds in September 2020, and February 2021, respectively.
About Nu 12bn spent fighting the Covid-19 pandemic
Business Bhutan | 9th May
Government never used the pandemic as the context for policy decisions and actions: PMO
The Prime Ministers Office (PMO), in a recent press release has said that allegations by some people that the government is always citing the Covid-19 pandemic as the context for policy decisions and actions is not true.
The PMO has also informed that from the 98% of the initial Nu 310.9bn budget allocated in the 12th Five Year Plan (FYP), about Nu 12bn was spent to meet various expenses related to implementation of Covid measures.
MALDIVES
Maldives signs four key agreements with Serbia
The Edition | 11th May
The Maldives government signed four key agreements with the government of Serbia on Tuesday, May 09.
The agreements were signed during the official visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid, to Serbia. The four key agreements signed were: 1- Agreement between the governments of Maldives and Serbia on trade, investment and economic cooperation
MTCC’s board approves a dividend of MVR 4
Sun | 11th May
Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC)’s board of directors decided on Thursday to distribute MVR 4 as dividend for 2022.
MTCC’s Q4 2022 financial report shows the company generated a revenue of MVR 2.4 billion and a net profit of MVR 200.9 million. The figure is lower than the MVR 231.3 million generated as net profit in 2021.
Despite the lower profit, MTCC’s board decided to distribute MVR 32.1 million as dividend at the rate of MVR 4 per share. MTCC had distributed a dividend of MVR 3.50 in 2021.
Maldives and Slovenia sign MoU on Political Consultations
Raajje | 11th May
The Maldives and Slovenia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding Political Consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of both countries.
The MoU was signed at a ceremony held in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Thursday.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that the MoU aims to enhance and expand bilateral relations and cooperation between the Maldives and Slovenia.
MYANMAR
UN Envoy Calls for Unity Among Regional Players to Solve Myanmar Crisis
The Irrawaddy | 11th May
The United Nations (UN) Special Envoy for Myanmar said a unified regional approach guided by the will of Myanmar people can make progress in solving the country’s crisis during her Tuesday meeting with government officials in India. UN envoy Noeleen Heyzer met with India’s Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra and Joint Secretary (Bangladesh-Myanmar) Smita Pant in New Delhi.
Thousands flee to towns as Cyclone Mocha approaches western Myanmar
Myanmar now | 11th May
Residents of coastal areas of Myanmar’s Rakhine State and Ayeyarwady Region have begun fleeing their homes ahead of the expected landfall of Cyclone Mocha later this week.
According to the meteorological agencies of India and Myanmar, the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm on Wednesday night.
As of 10:30am on Thursday, it was situated about 615 miles southwest of the Rakhine State capital Sittwe, Myanmar’s meteorological department said.
NEPAL
FinMin holds discussion with development partners
The Himalayan Times | 11th May
Minister for Finance Prakash Sharan Mahat has held discussions with international development partners regarding the upcoming budget of fiscal year 2023-24.
The discussion was attended by heads and representatives of multilateral development partners, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, International Monetary Fund and International Finance Corporation, United States Agency for International Development, Japan, Korea, Switzerland, Norway, Finland, European Union, Germany and other bilateral development partner organisations.
Nepal asks the EU to help in irreversible graduation from the LDC status
Onlinekhabar | 10th May
Nepal has asked the European Union to help in its “smooth and irreversible graduation” from the LDC status.
Addressing the closing session of the first EU-Nepal Business Forum in Kathmandu on Tuesday, Industry, Commerce and Supplies Minister Ramesh Rijal said, “We look forward to the support from Europe to assist us in making a smooth and irreversible graduation. We have been continuously reforming trade and investment policies and are always open to suggestions from stakeholders.”
Australian Assistant Foreign Minister Watts arriving on two-day Nepal visit
The Kathmandu Post | 11th May
Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Tim Watts is arriving on a two-day Nepal visit on May 16.
In a statement, Watts said he will discuss opportunities to advance strong education and people-to-people ties with Nepal, during his stay in Kathmandu. The Australian assistant minister will also be travelling to India, Bhutan and Bangladesh on the trip starting this week.
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