Neighbourhood News Digest - 15 June 2023

Afghanistan

Pakistan Deports More Than 530 Afghan Refugees to Afghanistan - Latestly

After the Taliban assumed power in August 2021, thousands of Afghans fearing persecution and death threats fled Afghanistan and entered neighboring nations like Pakistan and Iran. Meanwhile, Pakistani police have arrested hundreds of Afghan nationals during the last week, Khaama Press reported. Click here to read… [2]

India Sends More Wheat to Afghanistan Via Chabahar - Financial Tribune

The Indian government is sending another consignment of 20,000 tons of wheat to Afghanistan amid a humanitarian crisis in the county. This entails using Iran’s Chabahar Port to relieve the severe food scarcity currently facing many Afghans, Afghanistan’s Khama Press news agency reported. It builds on the success of a previous wheat assistance delivery of 40,000 tons through Pakistan’s land border. Click here to read… [3]

Bangladesh

ADB approves $400 mn loan to Bangladesh for economic reforms - Fibre to Fashion

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced the approval of a $400 million loan to Bangladesh, aimed at advancing domestic resource mobilisation reforms and enhancing the efficiency of public spending. This financial support will also foster inclusive access to innovative and low-cost bank financing for small businesses, with a particular focus on women-led enterprises. Click here to read… [4]

India, Bangladesh agree to initiate 5 joint development projects for border population - Telegraph India

The issue of these killings, which the BSF has linked to miscreants and smugglers either attacking its personnel or indulge in other cross-border crimes, has been a major irritant between the two neighbours. The 53rd edition of the conference was led by the chiefs or directors general (DsG) of the BSF and the BGB and ended with the signing of a 'joint record of discussions' at a BSF camp located in Chhawla area of the national capital. Click here to read… [5]

Bhutan

Bhutan lowers daily SDF fees for long stays - TTR Weekly

Bhutan has adjusted its Sustainable Development Fund fees with three new tiers that offer travellers a cheaper deal on the USD200 daily fee introduced last year. There are now three cheaper options on the daily fee that will be welcomed by travellers planning longer stays, such as eight, 14 and 30 days. Click here to read… [6]

Benefits of VSAT Technology for Businesses in Bhutan - About Xinjiang

The use of Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) technology has become increasingly popular in Bhutan in recent years. This technology provides businesses with a reliable and cost-effective way to connect to the internet and communicate with customers and suppliers. Click here to read… [7]

Maldives

Maldives and Seychelles to cooperate on security issues - Economic times

Maldives and Seychelles have decided to collaborate in addressing shared security concerns in the Indian Ocean Region, a development that would complement India's efforts to ensure peace and stability in the vast geographical area. Click here to read… [8]

Myanmar

6,000 Myanmar civilians killed in 20 months post coup: report - The Hindu

More than 6,000 civilians were killed in Myanmar in the first 20 months after the February 2021 military coup, a report published on June 13 by the Peace Research Institute of Oslo said. "Our data shows that the human toll of the conflict is higher than previously reported, and while the junta is clearly the main killer, anti-junta forces also have large amounts of blood on their hands," Stein Tonnesson, one of the two co-authors of the report, said in a statement. Click here to read… [9]

Mizoram finds Myanmar refugees with forged Indian documents - East Mojo

The Young Mizo Association (YMA) on Tuesday said that Myanmar nationals taking shelter in Kolasib district possessed Indian documents like Aadhar card, PAN card and bank passbook. The Awithangpa group of YMA said in a statement that it had recently conducted an assessment of 110 Myanmar nationals, who are currently taking shelter at Khamrang village in Kolasib district. Click here to read… [10]

Nepal

China is making its own ‘NATO’, pressure on Nepal to join GSI, alarm bells for India - Moring Express

The Chinese dragon has once again raised alarm bells in India’s neighbourhood. China has again put pressure on Nepal to join President Xi Jinping’s Global Security Initiative (GSI) and Global Civilization Initiative (GCI). China claims that the GCI initiative has been taken by the Chinese government to enrich the values of civilization together with humanity. In fact, Chinese President Xi Jinping has launched Belt and Road, Global Development Initiative, GSI and more recently GCI in the last decade. Jinping has appealed to the global community to join in. At the same time, experts have been raising serious questions about all these. Click here to read… [11]

Traders In Nepal Stop Importing Onions, Vegetables From India After Govt Slaps 13% VAT - Outlook India

Traders in Nepal on Tuesday said they have stopped importing onions, potatoes and other vegetables from India after the government slapped a hefty 13 per cent Value-Added Tax (VAT) on these items last month. Opposition lawmakers have criticised the Nepal government's move, arguing that it would make low-income families vulnerable to food insecurity and increase the agony of people who are already hit hard by skyrocketing inflation. According to the financial bill introduced in Parliament on May 29, imported onions, potatoes and other vegetables and fruits will now be subjected to a 13 per cent VAT. Click here to read… [12]

Pakistan

Cyclone Biparjoy: Thousands of people evacuate homes in Pakistan - Times of India

Strong winds, showers and high tides heralded the arrival of Cyclone Biparjoy, which means disaster or calamity in the Bengali language. Classified as a “very severe cyclonic storm” of category 3, Biparjoy is expected to make landfall with winds of approximately 140-150 kilometres per hour (km/h) and gusts up to 170 km/h. Click here to read… [13]

Punjab: Drone from Pakistan recovered in Tarn Taran - Mid Day

A drone from Pakistan was recovered by a joint team of the BSF and the Punjab police at a village in Tarn Taran district in Punjab. This is the third recovery of a drone from Pakistan in less than a week. Click here to read… [14]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has no money to hold presidential polls in 2023: Cabinet spokesman - First Post

Economic crisis hit Sri Lanka will not be holding a snap presidential election this year as the government wants to focus on debt restructuring, said Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardena. Denying speculations that the government might opt to hold a snap Sri Lankan president elections, Gunwardena said: “No election would be possible this year as the state finances have not improved.” Click here to read… [15]