Neighborhood News Digest – 14 August 2023

Afghanistan

Deputy PM Abdul Ghani Baradar Visits Turkey – Tolo News

The deputy PM for economic affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, on a trip to Turkey, met with the head of the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEİK), Nail Olpak, and other Turkish businessmen. According to a statement of Baradar's office, in the meeting they discussed economics, trade, and creating opportunities for investment in Afghanistan. Click here to read... [2]

Afghanistan universities ready to allow women back but not before Taliban nod – India Today

Afghanistan’s universities are ready to readmit female students, but the ruling Taliban’s leader has the ultimate say on when that might happen — if it happens at all, an education official said Saturday. The Taliban barred women from campuses last December, triggering global outrage. Girls had been banned from school beyond sixth grade soon after the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. Afghanistan is the only country in the world with bans on female education. Click here to read... [3]

Prolonged drought deepens Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis – The Hindu

In parched brown hills in north Afghanistan, Abdul Hahad tears stalks of wheat out of the arid earth. In the third year of water shortages and high temperatures, his harvest is barely enough to support his family. The 55-year-old farmer from Nahr-e-Shahi district in Balkh province used to plant two or even three wheat crops a year but in the last three years he has only been able to grow one. The yields from his nine acres of land are dwindling year by year. Click here to read... [4]

Troops Who Do Not Wear Uniforms Will Be Punished: MoD – Tolo News

The Ministry of Defense said that all troops have been provided with uniforms and that those who neglect wearing them will be punished. Enayatullah Khwarizmi, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry, said that the uniforms are from the previous government, but its color may change soon. “The leadership of the Defense Ministry has ordered that the (uniform) should be used in military centers and we—all personnel of the defense ministry -- should follow the order of the ministry of defense,” he said. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

Bangladesh Constitution has a position on caretaker government in the country, says India - The Hindu

India on August 11 reminded that the Constitution of Bangladesh “has a position” on the issue of having a caretaker government in the country. The remark made by the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, brings back focus on the 15th Constitutional amendment of 2011 under which the section on caretaker system in Bangladesh was abolished. Click here to read... [6]

Experts raise concern over volatile performance of China-backed projects in Bangladesh - Economic Times

A number of Chinese-backed projects in Bangladesh have been performing below par, and have raised concerns among experts, in wake of the situation in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, whose economies have crippled under the burden on Beijing's debt, Bangladesh-based Daily Asian Age reported. Click here to read... [7]

Bhutan

Forex fall below essential import threshold for normal period – Kuensel

The country’s foreign currency reserves, standing at USD 507.74 million as of May this year, have dipped below the threshold required to cover one year’s essential imports during a normalperiod, according to the Royal Monetary Authority (RMA). In accordance with the Constitution, the mandate necessitates maintaining foreign currency reserves equivalent to at least one year’s worth of essential imports. Click here to read... [8]

Bhutan: Transformation in education system, civil service to create better future for youth – The Print

In a landmark move in the direction of education system and the civil service, Bhutan has transformed the way Bhutanese people work or perceive the country, Bhutan Live reported. The move is aimed at creating a better future for the country’s youth and has presented the country with both opportunities and challenges. Click here to read... [9]

Maldives

"International fibre cable system key to Maldives' emergence as a technology hub" - Raajje

Connecting the country to the international fibre cable system is a crucial step in establishing the Maldives as a hub for technology and innovation says President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. President Solih made this statement at the inauguration of the Ocean Connect Maldives-India Asia Express (OCM-IAX) Submarine Cable System in Hulhumalé on Friday. Speaking at the event, President Solih highlighted the administration's commitment to investing in the country's technological infrastructure and fostering its growth as a leader in the technology industry. Click here to read... [10]

Maldives welcomes 38,731 tourists so far in August - Raajje

Maldives has welcomed 38,731 tourists so far in August 2023. This was revealed by the Ministry of Tourism through its latest daily tourist arrival statistics publicized on August 08. Since the new year began, a total of 1,113,967 tourists have touched down in the archipelago nation. Click here to read... [11]

Myanmar

Exploring the Rapid Growth of Telecommunications in Myanmar - Fagenasanni

In recent years, Myanmar has witnessed an unprecedented surge in the growth of its telecommunications sector, a development that has significantly transformed the nation’s socio-economic landscape. This rapid expansion has been primarily driven by the government’s liberalization policies, which have opened up the sector to foreign investment and competition, leading to increased accessibility and affordability of telecommunications services for the country’s population. Click here to read... [12]

Golden Triangle, Myanmar & Manipur – The tale of a dirty drug syndicate - Goa Chronicle

The notorious golden triangle is not unknown to the people. It is the second biggest producer of the drugs in the world after Golden Crescent of Afghanistan. The drug business of Golden Triangle which came to prominence about seven decades back kept on growing unabated due to various conflicts and political instability in the region and today has become a massive organised syndicate worth over $200Bn which is more than the combined GDPs of the three countries forming the Golden Triangle namely Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. In 2021 alone, the drug business generated the profits of over $71Bn indicating the volumes involved in it. In recent times, after the military junta took over the reins in Myanmar, there has been a sudden spike in the production and proliferation of drugs which is visible through various reports and amount of seizures. Click here to read... [13]

Floods triggered by monsoon rains in Myanmar have killed 5 people, displaced 60,000 since mid-July - ABC News

Floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains in Myanmar have killed five people and displaced about 60,000 since mid-July, an official said Friday. The director of the ministry of social welfare, relief and resettlement, Lay Shwe Zin Oo, said four children are among the dead. Some parts of southern states of Kayin and Mon remain in critical condition due to heavy rains and rising river water levels, Lay said. Click here to read... [14]

Pakistan

Who is Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, the new caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan? – The Indian Express

After Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif dissolved the country’s Parliament on Wednesday (August 9) – three days before the legislative body would have completed its five-year tenure – he and opposition leader Raja Riaz agreed on Saturday to name Senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar as caretaker premier. Click here to read... [15]

Pakistan: Court dismisses Imran Khan's interim bail in seven cases – Hindustan Times

An Anti-Terrorism Court in Pakistan dismissed interim bails of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in seven cases on Thursday, reported The News International on Saturday. The News International also reported that the seven cases also include the Lahore Corps commander's house attack, for want of prosecution. Click here to read... [16]

Baloch Militants Target Chinese Engineers' Convoy In Pak, Gunned Down – NDTV

A convoy of Chinese engineers working in infrastructure projects in Pakistan's port city of Gwadar came under attack today from two Baloch militants. The two militants were shot dead, and no Chinese engineer or other Pakistani civilians were injured, reports said. Click here to read... [17]

Nawaz Sharif To Return To Pakistan Next Month, Lead Party In Polls: Pak PM – NDTV

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday regretted the timing of the apex court's verdict on the Supreme Court (Review of Judgements and Orders) Act 2023, Pakistan-based Geo News reported. He said that the court's decision will not affect Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif's plans to return to Pakistan. Click here to read... [18]

Sri Lanka

China's vessel Shi Yan 6 prepares to dock at Colombo port raising doubts over Sri Lanka's promises to India - Live Mint

India has shared its concerns with Sri Lanka multiple times on the issue of maritime security. But, still, a new Chinese marine research vessel, Shi Yan 6 is expected to dock at Colombo and Hambantota deep sea ports in Sri Lanka by October this year. Sri Lanka has not given the green signal to Shi Yan 6 yet, but India's strategic community is expecting Sri Lanka's nod. The Shi Yan 6 is likely to stay till November 2023. Click here to read... [19]

India has big plans for Sri Lanka’s Trincomalee port - Tribune India

The new Framework Agreement on Trincomalee oil tank farms, to be based on the agreement of January 2022, was among a slew of pacts signed during Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s recent visit to India. It is a grand plan for turning the Trincomalee Harbour and region into an energy hub. Click here to read... [20]