KATHMANDU, 28 April, 2021 (TON): The lawmakers are looking for the continuation of the controversial Local Infrastructure Development Partnership Program in the new fiscal year as the government is busy finalizing the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

The program allows directly-elected lawmakers to use millions of rupees in their constituencies in consultation with the respective local governments has led to controversy for its scattered allocations mainly to unproductive sectors.

A total of Rs 6.6 billion has been allocated under the program in the current fiscal year with 165 electoral constituencies receiving Rs 40 million each.

While allocating the budget, the government said the lawmakers would be using the budget to tackle the pandemic and on the health sector.

“Most of the budget has gone towards road construction while there has been investment in the construction of temples as well,” Dilaram Panthi, the chief of the Local Level Coordination Section at the Ministry of Federal Affairs and the General Administration said.

He added, “Very limited money has gone towards Covid-19 response.”

However, Covid-19 response wasn’t in the priority of the lawmakers when they selected the projects.

DHAKA, 28 April, 2021 (TON): The Asian Development Bank said in its Asian Development Outlook report on Wednesday that Bangladesh’s GDP growth is projected to accelerate 6.8% in FY2021 with stimulus package implementation and recovery in global growth and world trade.

In Fiscal year 2022, GDP growth is expected to edge up further to 7.2% as both exports and imports pick up under sustained global recovery.

ADB said, “Continuing strong remittances will underpin growth in private consumption, and private investment will accelerate on favorable global economic conditions and efforts to improve the business climate.”

By the region, South Asia will record the fastest economic recovery this year, with the ADB predicting an expansion of 9.5% after a 6% contraction in 2020, buoyed by India's economic revival.

However, according to the report, growth will continue to strengthen gradually in South Asia’s other economies as well.

COLOMBO, 28 April, 2021 (TON): On Tuesday, the leader of Sri Lanka’s Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Sajith Premadasa met with the Colombo-based envoys of western countries.

SJB held diplomatic talks with the Canadian High Commissioner David McKinnon, Ambassador of Switzerland Dominik Furgler, Ambassador of Norway Ms. Trine Jøranli Eskedal, Ambassador of the United States Ms. Alaina B. Teplitz, and Deputy High Commissioner of Australia Ms. Amanda Jewell.

Members of Parliament Thalatha Athukorala, Dr. Harsha de Silva, Eran Wickramaratne and a number of people’s representatives were also present at the occasion.

In a video statement, MO Premadasa said, he discussed several broad issues including the democratic rights of the people, the collapse of economy and the problems faced by the people.

Earlier in the day a delegation of Ambassadors of the European Union countries led by the Ambassador of the European Union to Sri Lanka Denis Chaibi called on the opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, as well.

The EU delegation comprised Ambassador of France Eric Lavertu, Ambassador of Italy Rita Giuliana Mannella, Ambassador of Germany Holger Seubert and Ambassador of Romania Dr. Victor Chiujdea.

ASSAM, 28 April, 2021 (TON): On Wednesday, an earthquake of magnitude 6.0 struck India's northeastern state of Assam, damaging some buildings, residents said.

State authorities said they were checking for any casualties.

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, "Big earthquake hits Assam. I pray for the well-being of all and urge everyone to stay alert. Taking updates from all districts.”

The United States Geological Survey said the quake hit at a depth of 34 km with its epicenter near Dhekiajuli town, 140 km north of Assam's main city, Guwahati.

Earlier the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) put the quake magnitude at 6.2.

Strong tremors were repeatedly felt in several north eastern parts of India and neighboring Bhutan, forcing hundreds of people to run out of their homes, according to the witness.

However, India's National Disaster Management Agency was assessing reports of destruction and casualties after the quake, said an official at the agency who asked to remain unidentified.

RIYADH, 28 April, 2021 (TON): On Tuesday, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said that the United States was a strategic partner and that Riyadh had only a few differences with the Biden administration which it was working to resolve.

Saudi Arabia would not accept any pressure or interference in its internal affairs, he said.

"We are more than 90% in agreement with the Biden administration when it comes to Saudi and U.S. interests and we are working to strengthen these interests," the prince said in an interview.

"The matters we disagree on represent less than 10% and we are working to find solutions and understandings, there is no doubt that the United States is a strategic partner," he added.

However, Saudi Arabia seems to have been working with its regional and global partners to find solutions to the problems just as it is building strategic partnerships with Russia, India and China.

CEUTA, 27 April, 2021 (TON): On Monday, the Spanish Police stated that around 100 migrants tried to swim to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from neighboring Morocco.

A spokesman for the Guardia Civil police force in Ceuta said, “The migrants set off Sunday from beaches in Fnideq, a few kilometres south of Ceuta and "some" managed to reach a beach in Ceuta on their own while most had to be rescued by Spanish rescue boats.”

The migrants, including minors, set off in groups of 20 to 30 throughout the day, he added.

"It is not normal, there can be groups of three, four or five, but not this many," the police spokesman said.

The migrants were checked by Red Cross workers and three were treated for hypothermia in hospital, meanwhile, rest were taken by police to warehouse where they will undergo quarantine before their demands for asylum are processed.

Another five migrants swam to Ceuta from Morocco on Monday, police said.

However, Ceuta together with a second Spanish enclave in north Africa, Melilla, have the European Union's only land borders with Africa, making them popular entry points for migrants seeking a better life in Europe.

NEW YORK, 27 April, 2021 (TON): U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Prince declared that the U.S. help to India to meet the COVID-19 surge is unconditional and does not expect political favors in return.

On Monday, the spokesperson said, "We have a Global Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with India. But the Secretary (of State Anthony Blinken) has been clear: This is not about shots in arms in return for political favors, in return for any sort of transactionalism. This is about America's humanitarian leadership, the commitment that this administration has, to help those most in need."

"So we are doing what is in our national interest, but we're also doing what's in the collective interest. And it just so happens when it comes to global health, oftentimes what's in our national interest is also in the collective interest, and that's what we're seeing here," he added.

However, since the beginning of the pandemic, the US has provided nearly $19 million in total assistance, and that includes nearly $11 million in health assistance to help India slow the spread of infections, the official affirmed.

GENEVA, 27 April, 2021 (TON): Kenya will not shut down Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps but rather seek solutions, said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi.

Grandi said, “The government of Kenya is not closing down those camps, the government of Kenya wants to have a solution, they want to see what is the way forward.”

He added, “I think the government of Kenya will continue to provide hospitality, but understandably they want to have a strategy for the future and the discussions continue.”

Grandi is currently visiting DR Cong, Rwanda and Burundi to ascertain the refugee situation in the central African region.

On 8 April, Kenya’s high court suspended the government’s move to shut down two camps that hold hundreds of thousands of refugees from war-torn neighboring countries.

However, Kenya's interior ministry had given the U.N. refugee agency 14 days to come up with a plan for closing the camps, saying that there is no room for further negotiations.

BEIJING, 27 April, 2021 (TON): China never uses foreign assistance and development cooperation as leverage to interfere in other countries' internal affairs, said the Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday.

Wang made the remarks while attending the opening ceremony of the Exhibition of Achievements on China International Development Cooperation in Beijing.

He said, "China never attaches any political strings and never lectures on others. China always pursues mutual respect, trust, and benefit, and always follows the principle of extensive consultation, joint contributions, and shared benefits.”

Wang said in addition to the pursuit of equality and win-win cooperation, China honors its commitment in terms of foreign assistance and development cooperation.

It also focuses on growth and skill training, and is committed to openness, inclusiveness, and mutual learning.

However, Wang highlighted that in foreign assistance and development cooperation, China stays attentive to the actual needs of recipient countries, works to align assistance with their development plans, focuses on improving the livelihoods of local communities, and building local capacity for independent development.

KABUL, 27 April, 2021 (TON):  On Mon day, the issue of seven ministries and the Central Bank (CB) are still being run by caretakers was widely debated in the Parliament.

Speaker Mir Rahman Rahmani said the continuation of the caretaking trend will affect the government’s legitimacy.

The ministries of interior affairs, education, rural rehabilitation and development, information and culture, women’s affairs, finance and public health, as well as the Central Bank are run by caretakers.

Other MPs said that in recent days, figures close to the president have been appointed to different institutions and directorates, but the government is intentionally delaying responses to the lawmakers’ demands for the introduction of new nominees for the ministries.

Rahmani said, “The continuation of acting ministers is in contravention of the caretaking law and the Constitution, and, on the other hand, their continuation raises strong doubts about the government’s legitimacy.”

“This trend should end. Talented figures should be introduced to a confirmation vote and then continue their work, but it has not been done,” said Safiullah Hashemi, a senator.

“The acting ministers should be removed soon and new faces should be introduced for the institutions,” said Qamar Bano, an MP from Nuristan.

However, the lawyers are of the view that the government is intentionally not sending new nominees for the ministries to the parliament for a vote of confidence.