Partnership with Bangladesh lies in efficient multimodal connectivity: Indian envoy
Bangladesh Post | 12thFebruary
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Monday highlighted the importance of ‘multimodal connectivity’ in unlocking the true potential of bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and India.
“The future of our partnership lies in efficient multimodal connectivity – encompassing road and rail, inland waterways, and coastal shipping,” he said.
The envoy was speaking at the Sultanganj Port of Call and the flagging-off of a cargo vessel …
Sri Lanka opens doors to Indian tourists with virtual Unified Payments Interface launch via LankaQR
Daily Mirror | 13th February
In a ground breaking move aimed at enhancing the convenience and security of digital payments for Indian tourists in Sri Lanka, a virtual launch event marked the introduction of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
transactions through LankaQR yesterday.
The initiative, spearheaded by a collaboration between NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and LankaPay (Pvt.) Ltd, promises to revolutionise the tourist experience by providing a seamless payment solution.
Debt burden surges to record high of Rs81.2 trillion
The Express Tribune | 13thFebruary
Pakistan’s total debt and liabilities have peaked at Rs81.2 trillion – a figure that grew at a faster pace of over 27% during the past year, posing emergent management challenges to the newly elected government.
The bulletin released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday showed that the country’s total debt and liabilities increased by another Rs17.4 trillion as of the end of December compared to the previous year.
PAKISTAN
PM Kakar defends inordinate delay in Feb 8 election results
The News | 12th February
Defending the delay in election results, interim Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said Monday that the disruption in mobile services, which hampered the gathering of votes, was done to ensure security.
“We could afford delay, but terrorist attacks, we could not […] delay does not mean rigging,” Kakar, whose government was appointed to oversee the country through elections until an elected set-up takes charge, said during a post-election press conference.
IMF to hold talks with Pakistan’s new govt for loan tranche
The Nation | 12th February
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will hold talks with Pakistan’s newly elected government for disbursement of the final loan tranche under SBA.
Under SBA, Pakistan will receive a final loan tranche of $1.1 billion. The targets set by the IMF have already been met by the caretaker government of Pakistan.
The international lender is not ‘interested’ in holding talks with the caretaker government for the final loan tranche under the SBA and has decided to hold negotiations with the elected government only, the sources said.
SRI LANKA
Committee appointed to review MOUs between MoD and others
The Island | 13th February
State Minister of Defence Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon said yesterday that a high-powered committee had been appointed to review all existing Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) between his Ministry and foreign and local institutes.
Minister Tennakoon said that there was a growing concern about implications of certain MoUs between foreign and local institutions and the Ministry of Defence (MoD). “We have appointed a high-profile committee to conduct a comprehensive review. The primary goal of this review is to ensure that these agreements align with the best interests of the nation,” he said.
Government credit surges in December amid CPC balance sheet restructuring
Daily Mirror | 12th February
In December 2023, the net credit extended to the government by the banking system surged by more than half a trillion rupees, while credit to public corporations plummeted by over Rs. 350.0 billion.
This shift occurred as the government assumed the remaining outstanding foreign currency guaranteed debt of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), complying with conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to restructure the balance sheets of certain state-owned enterprises.
AFGHANISTAN
Relations Between Kabul and Moscow Expanding: Islamic Emirate
TOLO News | 11th February
The acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, Amir Khan Muttaqi, said that by improving the level of relations between Kabul and Moscow, many improvements can be made in various sectors.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, said that the acting minister of Foreign Affairs in a meeting with Ruslan Edelgeriyev, the adviser to the president of Russia and special presidential Representative on Climate Change, asked for Russia’s support for the participation of the delegation of the Islamic Emirate in international conferences of environmental protection.
Portugal provides €200,000 for the first time to Afghanistan humanitarian fund
The Khaama Press | 12th February
The United Nations Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has announced that for the first time, Portugal has contributed €200,000 to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund.
This announcement was made by OCHA on Monday, February 12th, on its social media platform X, that Portugal has contributed €200,000, which is equivalent to $215,750 US dollars, to the humanitarian fund for Afghanistan.
OCHA added that this is Portugal’s first humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
Trump slams Afghanistan withdrawal as most embarrassing moment in US history
Afghanistan Times | 11th February
In a fiery speech at a forum in Pennsylvania, former US President Donald Trump lambasted Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, branding it as the most embarrassing moment in the US history. Trump cited the abandonment of $85 billion worth of equipment and leaving “hundreds of Americans” behind as egregious failures.
Trump’s scathing critique targeted the current administration, accusing it of facilitating Afghanistan’s emergence as a major seller of military equipment, effectively profiting from American assets left in the wake of the withdrawal.
BANGLADESH
Dhaka, Delhi to advance Teesta talk after India’s poll: Foreign minister
Prothom Alo | 12th February
Foreign minister Hasan Mahmud Monday said Dhaka and New Delhi will advance the discussion on much-awaiting Teesta water sharing treaty after the India’s upcoming general election scheduled to be held in April-May this year.
“The election procedure will start in India from next month, the polls will be held in April-May … we discussed that we would advance the matter (Teesta water sharing deal) after the Indian election,” he told newspersons at a briefing at his ministry this afternoon.
Bangladesh requests India to export 50,000 tons of onions, 100,000 tons of sugar
Dhaka Tribune | 12th February
Bangladesh has requested India to export 50,000 tons of onions and 100,000 tons of sugar before Ramadan.
Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday said he made the request during his recently concluded New Delhi visit when Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal promised to export 20,000 tons of onions and 10,000 tons of sugar.
He met the Indian minister on February 9.
“We are dependent on the Indian market for many essential commodities, particularly onions, sugar, lentils and spices,” Hasan said.
BHUTAN
Strengthening fundamentals of economy: FM
Kuensel | 10th February
As the economy recovers from the aftermath of the pandemic, Minister of Finance and Bardo-Trong MP, Lekey Dorji said that the government’s top priority would be to strengthen the fundamentals of the economy.
“We should be prepared to take some hard decisions in the short run to ensure that we do not compromise our long-term national goals,” he said.
The government is tasked to take the country forward to a high-income status.
The primary objective includes increasing the gross domestic product (GDP) from USD 2.5 billion to USD 5 billion by 2029 and reaching USD 10 billion by 2034.
Global trends instigate inflation in Bhutan
Business Bhutan | 8th February
Geopolitical scenarios, inefficient output, stringent monetary policies around the world exacerbated by the pandemic are causing the ripple effects
The recent build-up of inflationary pressure in the past year was largely attributed to rise in housing and food prices in Bhutan concurrently with global scenarios. Although the headline inflation averaged at 4.7% over the last 5 years, the outlook for this year remains highly uncertain due to the increasing geopolitical fragmentation and lingering effects of monetary policy tightening in advanced economies, according to the Royal Monetary Authority (RMA).
MALDIVES
The Edition | 13th February
Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva paid a courtesy call on President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on Monday.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit 2024 currently being held in Dubai.
During the meeting, MD Georgieva highlighted how crucial it is to implement comprehensive fiscal structural reforms and consolidation strategies to strengthen a versatile economy protected against external shocks and internal challenges.
President Muizzu meets UAE’s PM, discusses strengthening ties
Sun | 14th February
Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has met with UAE’s Vice President, Prime Minister and Minister for Defense of the United Arab Emirates, Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
As per the President’s Office, the meeting took place on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit on Tuesday.
The office detailed that both leaders engaged in a comprehensive dialogue on various issues of mutual interest including enhancing relations between the Maldives and the UAE in trade, tourism, and other development issues.
Maldives’ tourist arrival figure exceeds 236,000-mark
Raajje | 10th February
Maldives has welcomed more than 236,000 tourists so far this year.
This was revealed by the Ministry of Tourism through its latest daily tourist arrival statistics publicized on Wednesday.
Since the new year began, a total of 236,730 tourist arrivals have been recorded.
During January the country welcomed 192,385 visitors.
Between February 1 – 6, a total of 44,345 arrivals were recorded.
February’s arrivals so far are a 24.3 percent increase from the 35,663 arrivals recorded in the same period last year, and a significant growth from the 27,313 arrivals recorded in 2022.
MYANMAR
India Says It Will End Free Movement Across Myanmar Border
The Irrawaddy | 9th February
India’s interior minister said Thursday that he had “recommended the immediate suspension” of a free movement border agreement with Myanmar, from where thousands have fled since fighting between the junta and its opponents surged last year.
Amit Shah said the Foreign Ministry was already “in the process of scrapping” the deal, which allows those living in border zones to venture a short distance into their neighboring nation’s territory without a visa.
Many in the border zones share close cultural and religious ties.
Enter the Dragon, Exit the Junta: Myanmar’s Brotherhood Alliance makes Chinese New Year Vow
The Irrawaddy | 12th February
Myanmar’s ethnic Brotherhood Alliance has issued a Chinese New Year message declaring the military regime will be rooted out this year.
Made up of three armed organizations – the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Arakan Army (AA) – the alliance has seized hundreds of military bases and dozens of towns since launching Operation 1027 in late October last year.
NEPAL
USAID announces $1.37 million to support Jajarkot earthquake recovery efforts in Nepal
The Himalayan Times | 8th February
The United States government through USAID has announced $1.37 million to support recovery efforts following the devastating 2023 earthquake in Jajarkot, Nepal. The 5.6-magnitude earthquake that struck on November 3, 2023, in Jajarkot and Rukum West districts, claimed the lives of at least 154 people and injured hundreds, as well as damaging and destroying homes and buildings. This resulted in widespread displacement, disruption of essential services, and urgent needs for shelter, food, clean water, and medical care.
Russia to compensate Nepali war dead via Moscow embassy
The Kathmandu Post | 14th February
Russia has agreed to compensate the families of Nepalis killed during its war with Ukraine through the Nepali Embassy in Moscow. The compensation will later be sent to Kathmandu and distributed among the families of those killed.
According to official records, a total 14 Nepali nationals have so far died in the war. However, officials and individuals still serving in the Russian Army or those who managed to escape fighting have claimed that the number of Nepali casualties could be much higher than reported.
20 per cent of people living below the poverty line, the Statistics Office says
Onlinekhabar | 13th February
The National Statistics Office (NSO) has stated that 20.27 per cent of people still live below the poverty line in Nepal.
Releasing the Nepal Living Standard Survey (NLSS) 2023/24 on February 12, the NSO said that the country’s poverty rate could not decrease as expected due to the Gorkha Earthquake of 2015 and the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the NLSS report, the rate of poverty is intense in the rural areas compared to the cities, with the poverty rate in the cities remaining at 18.34 per cent while it is 24.66 per cent in the rural areas.
