Neighborhood News Digest – 14 June 2023

Afghanistan

Opium cultivation plummets in Afghanistan's Helmand, shows satellite imagery - India Today

Satellite imagery has shown a staggering 99% reduction in opium cultivation in Afghanistan's Helmand. The analysis of the satellite imagery was conducted by a UK-based geospatial firm, Alcis. The reduction in opium poppy cultivation has been traced since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021. Click here to read... [2]

Bangladesh

US, Bangladesh relations falling out over violations of free and fair elections - The Print

Amid US reservations over Bangladesh holding free and fair elections, the relationship between the two countries is falling out, according to informed sources. US believes that Awami League has been violating norms of free and fair elections by not allowing the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to participate in the elections. Click here to read... [3]

BIMSTEC business advisory council proposed, Bangladesh to hold next chair - Devi Discourse

Thailand on Tuesday proposed the idea of setting up a business advisory council that would serve as a platform for the private sector of BIMSTEC nations where each member state can interact with one another for enhancing trade and investment cooperation. Founded in 1997, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation BIMSTEC consists of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Click here to read... [4]

Bhutan

Unlock Cost Savings: Stay Longer In Bhutan For Affordable Travel Experience - India.com

According to an announcement made on the Tourism Department’s official website, the Bhutan Government will waive off an additional four days’ fee if travellers pay SDF for the first four days. Similarly, if tourists pay the SDF for the first seven days, they can enjoy staying an additional seven days without paying for the second week. Those who pay for the first 12 days will be exempted from paying SDF for the next 18 days. Click here to read... [5]

Bhutan lawmakers examine final draft of digital ID legislation - Biometric Update

This week, discussions are due to continue in Bhutan’s National Assembly on the final draft of a Digital Identity Bill which will set out the regulatory framework for the country’s sovereign digital ID ecosystem. Click here to read... [6]

Maldives

Maldives signs visa waiver and air service agreements with Seychelles - Edition

The Maldives and the government of Seychelles have signed agreements to initiate aviation cooperation and waive on-arrival visas for travelers. The two governments have signed four key agreements on Monday, June 12, amid the ongoing official visit by Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan. Announcing the signing of the agreements, the Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid tweeted that under the newly signed Air Services Agreement, direct air transportation will be launched between the Maldives and Seychelles. Click here to read... [7]

Maldives and Gambia sign visa waiver agreement - Avas

The Government of Maldives and the Government of the Gambia have signed the Agreement on Mutual Exemption of Visa Requirements, which allows for the exemption of visas for single or multiple entry, exit, or transit for both countries' nationals for a period of 30 days. Click here to read... [8]

Myanmar

Myanmar’s junta met jailed NLD chief Suu Kyi twice to discuss peace -RFA

Myanmar’s junta has met at least twice with Aung San Suu Kyi, the jailed head of the deposed National League for Democracy, to enlist her help in peace negotiations with the armed resistance, only to be rebuffed by the former state counselor, Radio Free Asia has learned. Click here to read... [9]

Myanmar junta suspends aid access to a million people in state devastated by Cyclone Mocha - Edition

Myanmar’s ruling junta has suspended humanitarian access to western Rakhine state, where more than a million vulnerable people are in urgent need of aid a month after a powerful cyclone devastated the region, the United Nations said. The UN’s humanitarian office (OCHA) said the decision to stop aid access in the already-impoverished state has paralyzed the humanitarian response to Cyclone Mocha and crippled life-saving aid distributions to storm-hit communities. Click here to read... [10]

Nepal

China unifying Nepal’s communist parties ahead of Prachanda’s July visit to Beijing- DNP India

Republic News reports that Beijing is encouraging all the factions of the Nepalese communist movement to unite before Prachanda’s visit to China in July or August this year. Prachanda or Pushpa Kumar Dahal is the Prime Minister of Nepal and the leader of the Communist Party of Nepal- Maoist. Also called CPN-Maoist Centre, this party was formed in 1994 after breaking away from the Communist Party of Nepal-Unity Centre. This would be PM Prachanda’s second visit to Beijing. Click here to read... [11]

How India is helping Nepal to host a strategic petroleum reserve after Prachanda’s visit - India Narrative

Nepal-India agreement on constructing an additional cross border petroleum pipeline and increasing Nepal’s oil storage capacity, would contribute to Nepal’s energy security, senior officials of Nepal Oil Corporation said. The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for construction of a new cross border oil pipeline from Siliguri (West Bengal, India) to Jhapa, an eastern district of Nepal during Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s visit to India from May 31 to June 3. Click here to read... [12]

Pakistan

Russia seeks expansion in ties with Pakistan: Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov - The Hindu

Russia is keen to expand and deepen bilateral ties with Pakistan as the first shipment carrying discounted Russian oil reached Karachi Port at the weekend, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. Mr. Lavrov made these remarks in a video message on the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Moscow and Islamabad, the Express Tribune newspaper reported. Click here to read... [13]

Seven die as cyclone barrels towards western India, Pakistan - Reuters

Four boys drowned in rough seas off the western Indian financial hub of Mumbai on Tuesday as India and Pakistan began evacuating people from coastal areas, two days before a cyclone is expected to make landfall. Classified as a very severe cyclonic storm, Biparjoy is expected to land around Thursday evening between Mandvi in India's Gujarat province and Karachi in southern Pakistan. Click here to read... [14]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka president to hold debt talks on France visit - Reuters

Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe is likely to discuss the crisis-stricken nation's debt with Paris Club members on the sidelines of a trip to France next week, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday. Since defaulting last May on its foreign debt for the first time in history, Sri Lanka has held rounds of talks with bilateral creditors such as China, India and Japan in the effort to resolve its worst financial crisis in decades. Click here to read... [15]

Sri Lanka extends freeze on outward capital transactions by 6 months - Street Insider

Sri Lanka's government has decided to extend a restriction on outward capital transactions by six months due to pressure on its limited foreign exchange reserves, cabinet spokesperson Bandula Gunawardena said on Tuesday. The decision will be revisited after debt talks are finalised in September, added Gunawardena, who is also the transport minister of the island country. Click here to read... [16]