Neighbourhood News Digest - 21 August 2023

Afghanistan

Afghanistan's health system suffers critical underfunding, calls for donor support - - WHO

Launched today by the World Health Organization (WHO), a new Alert underscores the crucial importance of ramping up investment in healthcare services provision in Afghanistan, particularly in the underserved areas where the healthcare infrastructure is severely under-resourced and remain vulnerable due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.Click here to read… [2]

Bangladesh

Bangladesh police clash with opposition activists ahead of elections, leaving hundreds injured - The Hindu

Around 300 people were injured in the clash on Saturday evening, including some with bullets, the country's leading Bengali-language daily newspaper Prothom Alo reported, adding that police had opened fire on supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which is led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.Click here to read… [3]

Bhutan

Bhutan’s E-Mentorship program paves way for business success - The Print

Bhutan’s “Innovate Bhutan E-Mentorship” program is paving the way for budding entrepreneurs to achieve success in the business world, The Bhutan Live reported. The user-friendly online platform with its intuitive interface, mentor reviews, and flexible scheduling allows the user to connect eager entrepreneurs with seasoned professionals.Click here to read… [4]

Maldives

Indian gov't donates over 7,115 books to Maldives - Raajje

The government of India has gifted books to the Ministry of Education of Maldives. The books were handed over to Minister of Education Dr. Aishath Ali by High Commissioner of India to Maldives Munu Mahawar during a ceremony held at Jamaluddin School on Wednesday. A total of 7,115 books were donated to the Maldivian government, under the “Enriching Government School Libraries” programme.Click here to read… [5]

Myanmar

Future Bleak for Rohingya in Bangladesh, Myanmar - HRW

One million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh face little prospect of safely returning home, six years since the Myanmar military launched a campaign of mass atrocities in Rakhine State on August 25, 2017, Human Rights Watch said today. The United Nations Security Council has failed to hold Myanmar’s generals accountable for crimes against humanity and acts of genocide against the Rohingya.Click here to read… [6]

Nepal

India doubles down on regional connectivity to counter China - Lowly Institute

India’s recent hosting of leaders from Nepal and Sri Lanka highlights the growing prominence of infrastructure in India’s regional strategy. Elemental geographical realities mean that China will be hard pressed to replicate the more ambitious aspects of India’s regional connectivity agenda.Click here to read… [7]

Pakistan

Former Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif reaches London; meeting with Nawaz Sharif scheduled - Devi Discourse

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in London where he is scheduled to meet his brother and Pakistan Muslim League (N) Supremo Nawaz Sharif to discuss important things for the upcoming general election, Dawn reported. In a post shared on the X (formerly known as Twitter), Pakistan's Information and Broadcasting Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb confirmed that they will meet during PML-N President's stay in the UK.Click here to read… [8]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka to modernise security policies with comprehensive review, emphasizes president - Telegraph India

President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Saturday highlighted the need for a comprehensive review of Sri Lanka's national security strategy to chart a course devoid of entanglement in the emerging international rivalries and maintain neutrality in the Indian Ocean region.Click here to read… [9]