Neighborhood News Digest – 18 August 2023

Afghanistan

Over 15 Million People Suffer From Food Insecurity In Afghanistan: Report – NDTV

Amid the ongoing economic and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, 15.5 million people in the country are suffering from severe food insecurity, Tolo News reported citing a report by the International Federation of Red Cross. Expressing distress over the crisis, the report stated that the drought in the past three years in Afghanistan and the economic crisis over the past two years have increased the needs of the people of the country. Click here to read... [2]

Afghanistan: Taliban imposes ban on all political parties – The Economic Times

The Afghan Taliban has imposed one more ban, this time on political parties in Afghanistan. Interim Minister for Justice, Sha-ikh Maulavi Abdul Hak-eem Sharae said there was a complete ban on activities of political parties in Afghanistan, the Dawn reported. Click here to read... [3]

Govt Budget, Development Financed by Revenue Not Aid: Ministry – Tolo News

The Ministry of Finance said that the cost of all the regular government expenses and development projects of the country in the last two years have been financed from domestic revenue. The spokesman of the Ministry of Finance emphasized that no country or institution has cooperated with the current government in providing for its operating funds during the two years of the Islamic Emirate's rule. Click here to read... [4]

Nine journalists arrested in past 10 days in Afghanistan: Report – The Print

The situation of press freedom in Afghanistan is quite alarming under the Taliban for the past two years. A report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has expressed concern over the arrest of nine journalists by the Taliban authorities in the past 10 days, Khaama Press reported. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

China's CRBC gets Bangladesh nod to set up economic zone at Anwara - Fibre2Fashion

State-controlled China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) has been contracted to set up the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) in Anwara sub-district of Bangladesh’s Chattogram district. The place is 242 km southeast of capital Dhaka. CRBC will also offer the relevant utility services along with developing the zone. The economic zone aims at creating a conducive environment to attract Chinese investors, generating employment and ensuring sustainable economic development, according to Bangladesh media reports. Click here to read... [6]

Bhutan

Civil Liability Act comes into force from July 24 – Kuensel

The Civil Liability Act was implemented from July 24 this year after receiving the Royal assent last month. The joint sitting of the Parliament on July 4, adopted the Civil Liability Bill also known as Tort Bill. This Act will apply to claims for compensation, arising out of harm caused to a person or property by another person breaching a duty imposed by this Act or by any other laws. Click here to read... [7]

GDP growth slowest, average of 1.5% in the past five years – Kuensel

Looking at the trend of the past five years, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) or economic growth, it was averaging at 1.5 percent between 2018-2022, marking the slowest growth. The 2022’s growth of 4.7 percent is based on the estimated figure of the finance ministry. Bhutan’s economic growth saw an average growth of 5.5 percent between 2013-2017. Between 2001 and 2010, the country’s economic growth was climbing at an average growth of 8.7 percent. Click here to read... [8]

Bhutan: Olympic Committee to build eight more Astroturf football grounds – The Print

The Bhutan Olympic Committte has decided to build eight more Astroturf football grounds across the country in the next five years, The Bhutan Live reported on Thursday. This decision was taken in the 24th Executive Committee meeting of the Olympic Committee. Click here to read... [9]

Maldives

EU delegation declines request to seek ex-pres' transfer to house arrest - Avas

The visiting European Union (EU) delegation has said it will not pursue the transfer of former President Abdullah Yameen to house arrest. Currently serving an 11-year sentence for money laundering and bribery convictions, the former president has spent more than 1,000 days in incarceration. Click here to read... [10]

Myanmar

Myanmar Shadow Government Official Apologizes to Rohingya - VOA News

In an interview with VOA, the humanitarian minister in Myanmar's anti-junta shadow government has apologized for failing "to bring justice to the Rohingya in northern Rakhine State," where Myanmar's military launched a brutal crackdown in August 2017. Dr. Win Myat Aye served as social welfare minister in the administration of Myanmar's since-ousted de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi at the time of the crackdown, which was seen as a massive overreaction to attacks by Rohingya insurgents on government security posts. Click here to read... [11]

Nepal

Nepal, China to resume joint military drills – The Kathmandu Post

Nepal and China are set to resume bilateral military and defence engagements that were stalled due to the Covid pandemic. This includes suspended ministry exercise between Nepali and Chinese People’s Liberation Army, other military training like the national defence course in China and other engagements. Click here to read... [12]

Tripartite agreement soon to supply electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh via India – The Economic Times

An understanding has been reached in principle for the supply of electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh via an Indian transmission line and a formal agreement between the three nations will be signed soon on this, according to officials at the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). A verbal understanding has been reached among the three countries to export electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh, according to Suresh Bhattarai, spokesperson at the NEA. Click here to read... [13]

Nepal turns to India amid fears of food shortage in festive season, urges to export more rice, sugar – India TV News

The Nepal government has requested India to facilitate the supply of paddy, rice and sugar, a senior official said in Kathmandu on Wednesday. According to the official, Nepal has urged India as a precautionary measure to mitigate any possible food scarcity in the upcoming festive season. Click here to read... [14]

Pakistan

FY23 ended with 7.7pc deficit, not PDM’s claimed 7pc – Dawn

The former PDM government left behind a massive fiscal deficit — the difference between income and expenditure — of 7.7 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) while concluding the fiscal year 2022-23 on June 30, significantly higher than its claim of 7pc, according to official accounts. Click here to read... [15]

Anwar Ul Haq Kakar: 5 Facts About Pakistan's Caretaker Prime Minister – NDTV

Anwarul Haq Kakar has been sworn in as Pakistan's caretaker prime minister with an aim of establishing a neutral political set-up till the next general elections in the cash-strapped nation. Click here to read... [16]

Pakistan Army vs Imran Khan: Why the best-laid plans of General Munir may not be enough – The Indian Express

If the US-led West pushes for timely and reasonably-monitored elections with the participation of all players, including Imran, the army may not be able to oppose it. However, more complex factors may emerge in Pakistan, including voices from within and from the region, which could impact the final script in Pakistan Click here to read... [17]

Pakistan: More than 100 arrested after churches burned – BBC News

More than 100 people have been arrested in a city in east Pakistan after thousands of Muslims burned churches and vandalised homes. Violence in Jaranwala was sparked by claims that two Christian men had torn pages from a copy of the Quran. The historic Salvation Army Church was still smouldering on Thursday, one day after the riot. Click here to read... [18]

Sri Lanka

India strengthens bilateral ties by handing over advanced Dornier Aircraft to Sri Lanka - Financial Express

In a significant display of robust bilateral ties and collaboration, the Indian Navy Dornier aircraft was officially transferred to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) during a ceremony at SLAF Base Katunayake. The ceremonial handover was conducted by Gopal Baglay, the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, to Sagala Ratnayaka, Chief of Staff and Senior Adviser to Sri Lanka’s President on National Security. The event, attended by senior officials from both air forces, accentuated the importance of this occasion. Click here to read... [19]