Neighborhood News Digest – 17 January 2023

Afghanistan

UN Employ Technology to Stop Afghanistan’s Illicit Opium Cultivation – Khaama Press

On Monday, a British University, Cranfield, released a statement indicating a research partnership with United Nations. The report said that the researchers from the University would work on a research project to help the United Nations develop artificial intelligence (AI) to support the monitoring of illegal opium production in Afghanistan. In this research program, the researcher will use artificial intelligence to interpret satellite imagery, tracing where the crops are used for drug production in Afghanistan. The partnership between the University and UN lasts until July 2023, said Daniel Simms, Cranfield University lecturer. Click here to read... [2]

Pakistan “quietly urging” Kabul to Neutralize Taliban Pakistan – Khaama Press

Pakistan is subtly urging the Afghan Taliban leadership to counter the threat posed by the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has intensified its strikes in the country in the recent past. However, the efforts by Islamabad have yet to give any meaningful result, and the interim government in Kabul is still sticking to its earlier position that the only way to resolve the TTP issue is by dialogue, sources said, report the Express Tribute. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

Bangladesh 'key' to India's Northeast – Bangkok Post

Recently, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar stated that, if there is one border and one region of India which has dramatically improved in the last decade, it is eastern and northeastern India. And the reason for that is that India has vastly improved its relationship with Bangladesh. Click here to read... [4]

Ensure none can use religion to mislead people – Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called upon Alem and Olama (Islamic scholars) to instil humanitarian values among people and guide them against terrorism, militancy and drug abuse. "These are destroying families and the society as well," she said while virtually inaugurating 50 more model mosques across the country from her official residence Gono Bhaban. Click here to read... [5]

Many shot as police, BNP clash in Ctg – New Age

During the third simultaneous opposition programme on Monday, at least 55 people, including five cops, were injured as BNP activists clashed with police during a rally at Kazirdewri in Chattogram. New Age staff correspondent in Chattrogram reported that police detained 16 BNP people in the area after the clash. Click here to read... [6]

Bhutan

Kuwait Crown Prince receives Bhutan King – Arab Times Online

His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received at Bayan Palace on Monday visiting King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and the accompanying delegation. During the meeting, His Highness the Crown Prince conveyed greetings in addition to wishes of welfare and prosperity from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to the Bhutan King. King Wangchuck conveyed greetings of similar sentiments to the leadership and people of Kuwait. The two also touched on issues of mutual concern during the meeting attended by senior state officials. Click here to read... [7]

Bhutan aims USD 5B GDP by 2029, USD 10B by 2034 – Kuensel Online

The government plans the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to double from USD 2.5 billion (B) to USD 5B by 2029 and USD 10B by 2034. This according to the government’s draft “Long Term Perspective Plan (2024-2034),” is one of the 10 drafts National Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) identified. From the beginning of 13th five-year plan, the government’s new approach would be to set Bhutan’s socio-economic development efforts over the next 10 years from 2024-2034 towards realising the Royal Vision of ‘Developed Bhutan’, according to the Long Term Perspective Plan (2024-2034). Click here to read... [8]

Maldives

Key agreements signed to solidify Maldives-Cambodia bilateral relations - Raajje

Key agreements have been signed between the governments of Maldives and Cambodia to further strengthen the existing bilateral relations between the two countries. On Monday, both governments signed six key agreements mirroring a pivotal point of progress in bilateral relations between the two countries.President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen who is currently undertaking an official visit to the island nation, presided over the agreement exchange ceremony . Click here to read... [9]

Myanmar

Myanmar Military’s Proxy Party Woos Votes in Shan State - The Irrawaddy

The chairman of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) travelled to Taunggyi in southern Shan State over the weekend to woo ethnic support for the junta’s planned election. Khin Yi was making his first visit to an ethnic state following trips to meet USDP members in Bamar-majority regions including Yangon, Mandalay, Ayeyarwady, Bago and Sagaing. The military’s proxy party performed well in Shan State in the 2020 general election, losing only narrowly to the National League for Democracy (NLD) despite its otherwise humiliating defeat on the national scale. Click here to read... [10]

200 Myanmar refugees in Mizoram after fleeing strikes on border camp - Indian Express

At least 200 Myanmarese nationals crossed the border into Mizoram last week following airstrikes by the Myanmar military on a key rebel camp at the India-Myanmar border, according to an NGO helping them. Click here to read... [11]

Myanmar Junta Census Collection Sparks Deadly Resistance Attacks - The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s regime has been conducting a census to update voter lists this month as it prepares for an election, which might take place in August. Five people, including two police officers, have been killed and an administration office and immigration offices attacked in the last week, according to resistance groups. Click here to read... [12]

Israeli Defense Ministry, Company Accused of Helping Myanmar Military Spy on Opponents - The Irrawaddy

A group led by an Israeli human rights lawyer has asked the country’s attorney general to investigate allegations that the Israeli Ministry of Defense and a spyware firm from the country helped the Myanmar military commit crimes against humanity. Eitay Mack filed the application for a criminal probe into the activities of the ministry and Cognyte Software Ltd. on Jan. 2 on behalf of more than 60 Israeli citizens including a former speaker of the country’s legislature, academics and human rights activists. Click here to read... [13]

Nepal

Crashed Plane's Black Box Handed Over To Nepal Aviation Authorities – NDTV

The black box of the Yeti Airlines aircraft, which crashed a day ago with 72 people on board was handed over by the Nepal Army to Civil Aviation Authority officials today.
The Nepal Army also handed over the flight data recorder, following the crash. The twin-engine ATR 72 aircraft from Kathmandu crashed in Pokhara minutes before touch-down on Sunday. A total of 68 bodies have been recovered so far from the site of the crash. Click here to read... [14]

Dahal to visit India in first foreign trip – The Kathmandu Post

Several bilateral meetings will precede the sojourn that will take place in late February or early March. Government officials have started preparations for Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s visit to India in the near future with the prime minister saying on Saturday that he would make New Delhi his first port of call after taking up the executive job in December-end. Click here to read... [15]

Major coalition partners reach agreement on ministerial allocation – The Kathmandu Post

A month after CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal got appointed as prime minister, top leaders of the ruling coalition have agreed on ministerial allocations. With this development the Dahal-led Cabinet will be expanded on Tuesday. A meeting of the chiefs of four ruling parties held at the prime minister’s residence at Baluwatar on Monday reached the power-sharing deal. However, the JSP has expressed reservations over the ministerial allocations and decided not to send its ministers immediately. Click here to read... [16]

Pakistan

PTI hints at NA return to fail PM’s trust vote – Dawn

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has hinted at returning to the National Assembly to ensure that the “party turncoats” do not help Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif get vote of confidence that the party is planning to put the premier to “test”. With PTI dissident Raja Riaz holding the parliamentary party leader’s position in the National Assembly, PTI fears that he may decide to vote in favour of the prime minister if President Dr Arif Alvi asks Shehbaz Sharif to take the trust vote. Click here to read... [17]

'Pakistan has learnt its lesson...': PM Shehbaz Sharif on wars with India – India Today

Oil prices dipped in early Asian trade on Monday, but held close to the highest levels since the start of the year on optimism that China’s reopening will lift fuel demand at the world’s top crude importer. Brent crude fell 36 cents, or 0.4 per cent, to $84.92 a barrel by 0116 GMT while US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $79.65 a barrel, down 21 cents, or 0.3pc amid thin trade during a US public holiday. Click here to read... [18]

Pakistan's Abdul Rehman Makki, Hafiz Saeed kin, listed as global terrorist by UN – Hindustan Times

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Monday listed Abdul Rehman Makki, a Pakistan-based terrorist and brother-in-law of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed, as a global terrorist under its ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee. The listing comes after China in 2020 had put on India's bid to name the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader a global terrorist. In June 2022, India had slammed China after it blocked the proposal to list terrorist Makki under the Sanctions Committee, also known as the UNSC 1267 Committee. Click here to read... [19]

Pakistan: Wheat shortage, inflation trigger protests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - Firstpost

As Pakistan struggles with a severe economic crisis, protests are taking place across the country due to an acute shortage of food items. Protests were staged in various cities of Swabi district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region of Pakistan on Saturday against wheat flour shortage and skyrocketing inflation, Dawn reported. Jamaat-i-Islami workers held demonstrations at Shewa Adda Chowk in Swabi against inflation, extortion, robbery incidents, electricity load shedding and closure of compressed natural gas stations. Click here to read... [20]

Sri Lanka

India expected to send ‘positive’ message on debt restructuring during Jaishankar’s visit – Daily News

Indian External Affairs Minister of India, S. Jaishankar’s visit to Colombo on Thursday will focus on “supporting Sri Lanka” in its current economic crisis, government sources said, adding that talks are ongoing in the field of energy security, food security, currency swap arrangements as well as talks about restructuring Sri Lanka’s debt. Click here to read... [21]

“You will have some good news soon”, Chinese Vice Minister tells PM – Daily News

A high level delegation of China’s Communist Party (CPC), led by Vice Minister Chen Zhou, Head of the CPC International Department called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at Temple Trees yesterday and assured that China would stand by Sri Lanka in the current economic crisis. Click here to read... [22]

GCC secretary-general calls for stronger ties with EU, Sri Lanka – Arab News

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Dr. Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf emphasized the importance of strengthening relations between the GCC and the EU to realize shared interests. Meanwhile, Al-Hajraf also met with the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia P.M. Amza to discuss strengthening cooperation between the GCC and Sri Lanka in politics, the economy and tourism. Click here to read... [23]