Neighborhood News Digest – 16 August 2023

Afghanistan

Ministry: Low Level of Water in Helmand River 'Alarming' – Tolo News

The Islamic Emirate's foreign minister expressed alarm over the Helmand River's lack of water. The ministry said in a statement that Iran's Technical Team visit to Dehravud Hydrometric Station shows that the water in this river has decreased to less than seven cubic meters per second, which is alarming. According to the statement, the Iranian delegation assessed the current water year to be far less than normal particularly due to the severe droughts caused by the global phenomenon of climate change. Click here to read... [2]

At least three killed, seven wounded in blast at hotel in Afghanistan – The Economic Times

At least three people were killed and seven wounded on Monday in an explosion at a hotel in southeast Afghanistan's Khost province, the province's media office said. The cause of the blast was not immediately clear though the region, near the border with Pakistan, has long been plagued by violence between Islamist militants and their enemies. Click here to read... [3]

Taliban Celebrates 2nd Anniversary Of Taking Over Afghanistan – Outlook

The Taliban is celebrating two years of the takeover of Afghanistan on Tuesday. The militant group took over the country on August 15, 2021, after overthrowing the West-backed government in Kabul at a time when the US-led Western military force was withdrawing from the country. Since taking over the country, the Taliban has banned most educational and professional opportunities for women and have largely restricted them from public life. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Rabindranath Tagore is polarising in new Bangladesh—for his Hinduness, sanskritised Bangla - The Print

Retired Major General Syed Shafayetul Islam’s expansive study room in his bungalow in Dhaka’s upscale Baridhara neighbourhood is stacked with books. The former Military Secretary to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina says that books have been his constant companion through war and peace. And occupying a place of pride on his bookshelf are the collected works of Bengal’s tallest bard, Rabindranath Tagore. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh PM praises UAE leadership in international affairs - PL

In a phone talk with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday praised the leadership of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on key international issues. During the talk, Hasina congratulated the UAE president, government and people for hosting the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (COP28). Click here to read... [6]

Bhutan

Credit grows by 23 percent in over one year – Kuensel

Despite financial institutions’ (FIs) credit growth seeing an increase of 23 percent in May this year from the same month last year, the share of credit to major sectors saw a decline. In absolute figures, the credit growth saw an increase to Nu 204.16 billion in May this year from Nu 166.07 billion in the same month last year, according to the Royal Monetary Authority’s provisional figures. Click here to read... [7]

Net zero lessons from Bhutan – Deccan Herald

They may be small, but they are in no way insignificant. The World Economic Forum reported in December last year that eight countries—Bhutan, Comoros, Gabon, Guyana, Madagascar, Niue, Panama, and Suriname—had reached net zero emissions, as per collated research from Energy Monitor. This meant that these eight countries had become carbon sinks, absorbing more carbon dioxide (CO2) than they emitted. Click here to read... [8]

Bhutan’s Sangay Choden Wangchuck inaugurated RENEW’s Community Service Centre in Tsirang – The Print

The first community service centre by the Bhutan district administration was inaugurated by the Queen Mother Sangay Choden Wangchuck at Damphu in Bhutan’s Tsirang, The Bhutan Live reported on Sunday. The RENEW’s (Respect, Educate, Nurture and Empower Women) Community Service Centre will enhance access to sexual and gender-based violence services in the community. Click here to read... [9]

Maldives

"Fulfilling basic needs of the people doesn't require promises": Dr. Muizzu - Avas

Opposition PPM-PNC coalition's presidential candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizz has said promises are not necessary to facilitate basic needs for the people. At a campaign rally in Haa Alifu Vashafaru on Monday, Muizzu said politicians are pledging to provide basic needs such as addressing erosion issues and waste management. However, such promises are being made because they do not think about the people, he said, adding that he believed that a good government should take care of basic needs without making big promises. Click here to read... [10]

New submarine cable lands in the Maldives - Edition

A new submarine cable has been successfully installed and connected to Hulhumalé, on Friday, August 11, marking the initiation of the link between the Maldives and the global international network grid. The Ocean Connect Maldives-India Asia Express (OCM-IAX) connects the Maldives to one of the largest submarine cable network initiatives led by Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio. Click here to read... [11]

Myanmar

Myanmar military regime to withdraw from chairing ASEAN in 2026 - Asia Nikkei

With major ASEAN member states refusing to allow the military regime to participate in summits and other meetings, the leadership in Naypyitaw is understood to have decided that it would not be able to act as chair. The military ousted the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and has resisted the bloc's efforts to resolve the crisis. Click here to read... [12]

25 Killed After Jade Mine Landslide In Myanmar - NDTV

Rescuers have recovered 25 bodies while 14 people remain missing after a landslide at an unregulated jade mine in a remote region of Myanmar, emergency workers said Tuesday. Myanmar has been hit with torrential rain and floods in recent days and the landslide occurred Sunday outside northern Kachin's Hpakant township. Click here to read... [13]

Nepal

Congress and UML still far apart on high-level gold probe – The Kathmandu Post

Two major political parties are still at odds over how to investigate last month’s gold smuggling case, which has rocked the Parliament for weeks. And there is still no agreement. While ruling parties want the Central Investigative Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police to continue with the probe, the main opposition, CPN-UML, has been insisting on setting up a judicial high-level investigation committee. Another opposition party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party, said the Parliament had been “hijacked” by Speaker Devraj Ghimire where its lawmakers were not being allowed to speak. Click here to read... [14]

Nepal’s ruling coalition holds emergency meeting as govt shows signs of crack – The Indian Express

Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on Monday called an emergency meeting with the top leaders of the constituent parties of the ruling coalition after a Supreme Court verdict paved the way for two former Prime Ministers to be put under trial over allegations of corruption. The crisis call came as Madhav Kumar Nepal, one of the accused in a land transferring scam, and a key coalition partner, warned Prachanda of consequences in case any action is taken against him. Click here to read... [15]

Flood alert in North Bihar after huge water discharge from Nepal – Hindustan Times

Birpur barrage in Supal on Kosi witnessed release of around 4.62 lakh cusec water at 2am, which was the highest since the flood level of 1989, said engineer in chief, floods, Shailendra, adding that there was no immediate threat of flooding due to heavy discharge as water was within course of the river. “The sudden surge in discharge was attributed to local rains in Nepal in the downstream of Barah Kshetra and now it’s falling. The discharge has come down to 2.90 lakh cusec at 2pm at Birpur,” said the engineer in chief. Click here to read... [16]

Pakistan

‘Matter of public interest’: ECP should conduct delimitations transparently, says CJP – Dawn

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial said on Tuesday that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should conduct the process of delimitations transparently, stressing that it was a “matter of public interest”. The top judge passed these remarks as a two-member Supreme Court (SC) bench, comprising Justice Bandial and Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, took up a petition pertaining to errors and illegalities in the delimitation for PS-07, PS-08 and PS-09 of Sindh’s Shikarpur district. Click here to read... [17]

President Arif Alvi calls for unity as Pakistan celebrates 77th Independence Day – The Hindu

Pakistan President Arif Alvi on August 14 appealed to politicians to shun their differences and antagonism as the cash-strapped country celebrated its 77th Independence Day amid political and economic turmoil. Addressing a flag hoisting ceremony held at the Convention Centre in Islamabad, the President also expressed his gratitude to friendly countries like China, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran and Turkiye for supporting Pakistan during its economic woes. Click here to read... [18]

Pakistan suspends imports of Russian crude on “technical grounds” – The Economic Times

Pakistan has suspended import of Russian oil after two consignments on the grounds of “quality of crude”. The Pakistan government has blamed the quality of Russian crude for its decision even as Russian oil continues to top Indian energy imports. Refineries in Pakistan have refused to process Russian oil, as less petrol was being produced from it with 20 per cent more furnace oil compared to the Arabian crude, ET has learnt. Click here to read... [19]

Sri Lanka

AidData Report Warns of a Chinese Naval Base in Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port - The Diplomat

A recent report by AidData, a research lab at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, claimed that China might establish a naval base in Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port in the next two to five years. This can be expected to increase Indian concerns over Chinese presence so close to its southern coastline. Click here to read... [20]

Sri Lanka scraps $3.85 bn foreign-funded oil refinery - Economic Times

Cash-strapped Sri Lanka announced on Tuesday it was scrapping a $3.85 billion deal to build an oil refinery that was set to become the island's largest foreign investment. Click here to read... [21]