Neighbourhood News Digest - 16 June 2023

Afghanistan

Unemployed people in Afghanistan significantly increased in last two years, ICRC report - News On Air

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in a report said that the number of unemployed people in Afghanistan has significantly increased in the last two years. The report said that nearly 20 million people in Afghanistan, which constitute 44 percent of country's population do not have access to sufficient food and 34 million Afghans live in poverty. Click here to read... [2]

Afghanistan's Taliban Officials Attend Annual Peace Summit In Norway - NDTV

Officials from Afghanistan's Taliban administration travelled to Norway this week for meetings with civil society and diplomats at a peace forum, the Norwegian foreign minister said on Thursday. The visit took place amidst a severe humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan following 20 years of war and as many countries have pulled back on aid after orders from the Taliban that stopped many Afghan female humanitarian staff from working. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

Home Affairs Dept to become national ID-issuing authority in Bangladesh - Biometric Update

National ID cards in Bangladesh (NIDs) will henceforth be issued by the country’s Department of Home Affairs and no longer the Election Commission. This follows a cabinet decision arrived at early this week to approve the text of the National Identity Registration Act 2023, according to The Daily Star. Click here to read... [4]

World Bank Vice President Visits Bangladesh, Reiterates Strong Support - India Education Diary

World Bank Vice President for South Asia, Martin Raiser, concluded his two-day visit to Bangladesh today and reaffirmed the World Bank’s continued support to help the country achieve sustainable and inclusive growth. Raiser visited Bangladesh as part of his current visit to the South Asia Region. He met with the Bangladesh Bank Governor, State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Secretary, Economic Relations Division, and other senior government officials. They discussed the World Bank’s new country partnership framework for Bangladesh for fiscal years 2023-27 as well as how the World Bank support can be best utilized to help Bangladesh navigate the global uncertainties and increasing climate change impacts. Click here to read... [5]

Bhutan

Bhutan hikes incentives on remittances to shore up FX reserves - DeviDiscourse

Bhutan is constitutionally mandated to maintain reserves to cover at least 12 months of imports. The tiny country of less than 800,000 people had increased cash bonuses to residents receiving remittances to 2% in May last year from 1% earlier, but critics say the move has not helped boost foreign exchange reserves as desired. Click here to read... [6]

News of the third Royal Child excites Bhutan and the Bhutanese - Kuensel Online

The entire nation is brimming with joy and enthusiasm following the news shared yesterday morning by Their Majesties regarding the expectation of their third Royal child. Their Majesties, The Druk Gyalpo and Gyaltsuen, announced that Her Majesty is expecting Their third child, due in early autumn, and expressed their gratitude to the people for their unwavering well wishes and prayers. Click here to read... [7]

Maldives

Energy Efficiency Initiatives in the Maldives: Progress and Potential - Energy Portal

The Maldives, a tropical paradise known for its pristine beaches and luxurious resorts, is also a nation on the frontlines of climate change. With over 80% of its land area less than one meter above sea level, the Maldives is highly vulnerable to the impacts of rising sea levels and extreme weather events. As a result, the country has been proactive in implementing energy efficiency initiatives to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience against climate change. Click here to read... [8]

Maldives-US security cooperation has achieved notable progress: FM - Raajje

The existing security cooperation between the Maldives and the United States has achieved notable progress and growth. This remark made by Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid and the United States' Deputy National Security Advisor, Jon Finer, during a meeting held on Thursday. Taking to Twitter, FM Shahid revealed that the meeting with the US Deputy National Security Advisor was productive. Click here to read... [9]

Myanmar

Myanmar Junta Troops Incinerate Village in Latest Arson Attack in Sagaing Region - The Irrawaddy

Junta troops torched more than 650 houses and arrested at least 33 villagers during seven days of raids in Sagaing Township, one of the strongholds of the resistance in Sagaing Region, according to local residents. A woman, 60, died in a fire on Tuesday when junta troops destroyed at least 600 houses in an arson attack on Thar Zin Village, about two miles west of Sadaung Town, a local volunteer said. Click here to read... [10]

Myanmar Resistance Groups Make United Appeal for Global Help - The Irrawaddy

An established Myanmar ethnic armed organization (EAO)’s administrative body, the country’s parallel civilian government and a veteran student leader have made a collective call to the world to give the country’s anti-regime resistance movement the kind of international assistance it has given to Ukraine. Click here to read... [11]

Nepal

India and Nepal: Redefining a relationship - The Hindu

When Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal returned to Kathmandu on June 3 after a four-day official visit to India, he expressed great satisfaction at a personal level. He projected the confidence of a man who had been successful in bringing about a thaw in the bilateral relationship and doing many things that his predecessors could not. Click here to read... [12]

India, Nepal, Bangladesh finalise tripartite power trade deal draft - Hindustan Times

India, Nepal, and Bangladesh have finalised the draft of a tripartite power trade agreement, a development in line with New Delhi’s efforts to forge greater energy connectivity across the neighbourhood, people familiar with the matter said. Click here to read... [13]

Pakistan

Oil major Shell’s exit could have a domino effect in Pakistan - Indian Narrative

Pakistan’s economic crisis is further deepening with Shell Pakistan announcing the exit of oil major Shell Petroleum Company from the South Asian nation after 75 years. This has come as a big blow to the country which is struggling to attract investment to boost its economy. The announcement might set the ball rolling for other foreign investors too to look at exiting the country or halting operations temporarily. Click here to read... [14]

Pakistani journalists abroad face terrorism investigations at home - CPJ

Pakistan authorities must cease harassing foreign-based journalists Wajahat Saeed Khan, Shaheen Sehbai, Sabir Shakir, and Moeed Pirzada and allow them to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday.Click here to read... [15]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's economy shrinks by 11.5% in first quarter amid financial crisis - Business Standard

The GDP for the first quarter of 2023 at the constant price has declined to Rs 3,114,187 million from Rs 3,519,400 million in the first quarter of 2022. The year-on-year GDP growth for the first quarter of the year 2023 has been reported as 11.5 per cent of negative growth rate, the statistics department said in a statement. While the agricultural sector had expanded by 0.8 per cent, the industry and service sectors had declined by 23.4 per cent and 5 per cent respectively during this quarter, it added.Click here to read... [16]