Wednesday 1 February 2017

Newsletter - Focus: Neighbourhood -- Highlights from the local media of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka

Newsletter - Focus: 

Neighbourhood -- Highlights from the local media of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka


House arrest of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed a policy decision: DG ISPR
Dawn| 1st February
Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor on Tuesday stated that the decision to put Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed under house arrest "is a policy decision". When questioned about the move during a media briefing, the DG ISPR said, "This is a policy decision that the state took in [the] national interest. Lots of institutions will have to do their jobs."



Sri Lanka moving towards industrialization – PM
Colombo Page| 31st January
The Sri Lankan government is considering to move towards industrialization in its plans to take the country forward, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says. He pointed out that since Sri Lanka requires rapid development, the government must focus on Industrialization, as well as improving the tourism sect


67,000 Rohingyas crossed border since Oct 8
The Daily Star | 1st February
Around 67,000 Rohingyas entered Bangladesh since October 8 last year due to sectarian unrest, the anti-Muslim policy of the Myanmar government and an adverse socio-economic condition in Rakhine, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali told parliament yesterday. During the same period, Bangladesh pushed back at least 5,316 Rohingyas into Myanmar, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan informed the House.



AFGHANISTAN
Abdullah arrives in Helmand amid deteriorating security situation
Khaama Press| 31st January
The Chief Executive of the Government of National Unity Abdullah Abdullah has arrived in Helmand as the province has been witnessing fierce clashes during the past two days.

3 killed as Taliban militants vehicle hit their IED in Helmand
Khaama Press| 31st January
 At least three Taliban insurgents were killed after their vehicle struck an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in southern Helmand province.

Opening New ACJC Building Needs to Open the Political Will
Daily Outlook Afghanistan| 1st February
The Inauguration of a permanent Building for Anti-Corruption Justice Center (ACJC) is a good step to fight against corruption; it is hoped that opening a highly professional security and infrastructure of the new ACJC enables the three institutions that make up the ACJC to work in effective close partnership to end the culture of impunity for corrupt officials without threat or interference.

Unrestrained Violence against Women
Daily Outlook Afghanistan| 1st February
It is really tragic to note that there has not been any stoppage to the incidents of violence against women in Afghanistan and every now and then we come across different news items that reveal the fact that violence against women is really getting very serious and if there are no immediate actions taken, the situation may get out of the hands.


 BANGLADESH
Set up industrial zones in Dhaka, Ctg: BGMEA
The Financial Express | 31st January
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has urged the government to set up two industrial zones near Dhaka and Chittagong cities to boost the production of the apparel sector.  "The prime minister has announced establishing 100 industrial zones that might require time to come into operation. So we request the government to set up two industrial zones for apparel sector on priority basis," said BGMEA President M Siddiqur Rahman at a press conference on Tuesday at BGMEA office.

President Mahmoud Abbas' visit to Bangladesh extremely important: Head of mission
bdnews24 | 31st January
Palestine considers the official visit of its President Mahmoud Abbas to Bangladesh “extremely important” because it will expand the relations. “I just want to say that as much as the visit is important to Bangladesh, it is extremely important for Palestine because we are keen to develop thisrelation and do everything possible to make this relations very firm one,” Palestine embassy’s Head of Mission in Dhaka Yousuf SY Ramadan told bdnews24.com on Tuesday in an interview.


BHUTAN

Purjang of Khenpo Karpo’s kudung to be held in Takila in June
Kuensel Online| 31st January
Thousands of devotees and well-wishers flock to Taba in Thimphu everyday to offer their last respects to the kudung (precious body) of Khenpo Karpo. Khenpo’s body arrived in the country on January 27 after completion of a deep meditative state (Thukdam). Khenpo Karpo’s disciple, Khenpo Gyeltshen, said that Khenpo remained in meditative state for five days in Bangkok where he passed away in the early hours of January 19.


Economic growth could hit 10.2 percent: RMA
Kuensel Online| 31st January
Should the new hydropower construction and commissioning of ongoing hydropower projects ensue as scheduled, the country’s economic growth between this and the next fiscal year, is projected to grow at an average of 10.2 percent. This is according to the Royal Monetary Authority (RMA). From a record low of 2.05 percent, the GDP growth gradually soared to 5.7 percent in 2014 and 6.5 percent in 2015.


MALDIVES
Dr. Shameem: Changes will be made to Civil Service regulations
Sun Online | 31st January
President of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Dr. Ali Shameem has said that amendments would be made to the CSC regulations this year. Speaking at the inauguration of the Academic Year at the Civil Service Training Institute today, Dr. Shameem said that the discipline of Civil Servants receives a lot of criticism from the people and the actions of few is soiling the image of CSC.


MYANMAR
Myanmar migrant workers petition Thai seafood giant on wages
Mizzima| 31st January
More than 2,000 migrant workers at a major Thai seafood exporter called Monday for higher wages and better working conditions, a rare stand in a country where foreigners are banned from forming trade unions. Leaders representing 2,243 Myanmar employees at processing factories owned by Sea Value Group submitted a petition "requesting increased welfare benefits and change of work conditions", the Migrant Worker Rights Network said in a statement.


 Gunman who shoots dead legal advisor is not Mandalay resident: Myanmar police
Mizzima| 31st January
Myanmar's Mandalay regional police said on Monday that the gunman who shot dead a legal advisor of the ruling party is not a native resident in Mandalay, although he was initially identified as living in the city. U Ko Ni, legal advisor of Myanmar's ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party, was gunned down at the Yangon international Airport on Sunday afternoon upon his arrival back from Indonesia.


 NEPAL 
Parliamentary committee directs govt to appoint envoys
The Kathmandu Post | 31st January
The International Relations and Labour Committee of the Legislature Parliament has directed the government to fulfill the vacant ambassadorial positions to various countries. A meeting of the committee in Singhadurbar on Tuesday directed Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat to appoint envoys to various countries.



Relations with both neighbors improving: FM Mahat
My Republica | 1st February
Stating that relations with both India and China are improving, Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat has said that Chinese President Xi Jinping has promised to visit Nepal in the near future. Responding to lawmakers' concerns about the government's efforts toward maintaining balanced relations with both the neighboring countries at the meeting of International Relations and Labor Committee of parliament on Tuesday Mahat said China was never unhappy with Nepal.


 PAKISTAN
Palestinian president assured of Pakistan’s support
Dawn| 1st February
Pakistan on Tuesday vowed continued support for Palestine’s stance regarding the eviction of illegal Israeli settlements on the West Bank. In separate meetings with the visiting Palestinian president, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain reiterated Pakistan’s continued support for the Palestinian cause.


‘Qatari family may have bought London flats for Sharifs’, SC observes
The Express Tribune| 1st February
The Sharif family’s attorney faced another torrid session in the Supreme Court on Tuesday when the judges asked for documentary proof of the investments made by the ruling family in Qatar during the 1980s. The attorney was left nonplussed as he knew there were no satisfactory replies he could offer. Salman Akram Raja, the counsel for the PM’s sons, quoted several judgments in his effort to convince the five-judge larger bench hearing the Panama Papers case to not pass any adverse verdict against his clients.

                  
SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka President pledges to further strengthen free health service
Colombo Page| 31st January
Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena says free health service will be further strengthened under this government with new facilities required to provide state health service without any shortages. Speaking at a ceremony to open the new building at the National Dental Hospital and to lay the foundation stone for another building for the hospital on Tuesday (Jan. 31), President Sirisena said few hospitals being constructed to strengthen the free health service will be vested with people near future.



 Sri Lanka's Dipped Products records steady growth in revenue
Colombo Page| 1st February
Sri Lanka's Dipped Products Group turnover for the 9 months of the financial year 2016/17 was Rs. 18 billion, compared to Rs.16 billion for the same period of the previous year. The Hand Protection sector contributed Rs. 11 billion to the Group's top line, while the Plantation sector recorded a turnover of Rs. 7 billion for the period.

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