Neighborhood News Digest – 01 September 2023

Afghanistan

Contract Signed for 7 Mines Worth More Than $6.5 Billion: Ministry – Tolo News

The acting Minister of Petroleum and Mines Shahabuddin Delawar speaking to the press at a contract-signing ceremony for the extraction and processing of 7 major mines said that there is complete transparency in the mining contracts, and that illegal mining and smuggling have been prevented. The contract for seven mines worth more than $6.5 billion was signed on Thursday in the presence of the deputy PM for economic affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, and other officials of the Islamic Emirate. Click here to read... [2]

Will continue to support allies, proud to have welcomed 115,000 Afghans: US – Business Standard

Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, marking the conclusion of two years since the end of the war in Afghanistan, has said that the US will "continue to push to help resettle our Afghan allies". US soldiers finally left Afghanistan on August 30, 2021, a day before the deadline to wrap up operations in the country. Click here to read... [3]

UK announces USD 125 million support for Afghanistan – The Print

The United Kingdom has dedicated USD 125 million for supporting the people of Afghanistan, who are undergoing one of the worst humanitarian crisis under the Taliban regime, Tolo News reported. The official handle of ‘UK for Afghanistan’ said on X platform (formerly Twitter) that it has dedicated USD 125 million to support the Afghan people. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

India Cautions USA: Over-Interference In Bangladesh Polls Will Encourage Islamists And Push Country Towards China - Swarajya Marg

India has cautioned the US several times over the last few weeks against over-interference in the ensuing parliamentary elections in Bangladesh. The US has been pushing Bangladesh hard to accommodate unreasonable demands of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies in order to ensure “free, fair and participative elections”. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh, Sri Lanka interested in importing ethanol from India - Hindu Business Line

In a first, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have evinced interest in importing ethanol produced in India for mixing the commodity with petrol and diesel, a development which can help Indian farmers tap international markets. Speaking at the launch of the world’s first BS-VI (Stage II) electrified flex-fuel vehicle prototype from Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Road and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said the ethanol economy has the potential to transform the economy of India’s rural areas and hinterlands. Click here to read... [6]

India-Bangladesh rail link set to be Inaugurated during G20 Summit - Statesman

In a significant development, the anticipated international rail connectivity between Bangladesh and India, originating from Akhaura in Bangladesh and Agartala in India, is set to be virtually inaugurated during the upcoming 18th G20 Summit scheduled to be held between September 9 and 10. Click here to read... [7]

Bhutan

CSI Industrial Park gets four tenants – Kuensel

In a move aimed at boosting the growth of cottage and small industry (CSI), the Department of Industry has allocated plots to four manufacturing units, at the Changchey Industrial park in Semjong, Tsirang. The four selected manufacturing units include processed cheese and ice-cream production, juice production, manufacturing of packing boxes, and production of mustard oil, flour and spices. Click here to read... [8]

Maldives

Human trafficking: Thai “masseuses” escaped from Maldives - Thaiger

A woman was arrested at Don Mueang airport on charges of human trafficking and exploiting two Thai women by promising them high-paying massage jobs in the Maldives. The women, however, were forced into prostitution upon arrival. The arrest took place yesterday, followed by a complaint by the victims who managed to escape and seek help from the Thai embassy in the Maldives. Click here to read... [9]

Myanmar

Myanmar’s Revolution and the Challenges Ahead - The Diplomat

As deputy minister of international cooperation for Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG), David Gum Awng is at the forefront of negotiations and holding together a coalition of ethnic militias that are opposed to the military takeover of his country. Click here to read... [10]

Myanmar’s Court declines to hear Suu Kyi’s appeals in 5 cases where sentences already commuted - Telengana Today

Myanmar‘s Supreme Court has declined to hear special appeals from the country’s ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi against her convictions in five cases of which the head of the military-installed government already pardoned her earlier this month, a legal official said Thursday. Click here to read... [11]

Nepal

US, Nepal mark start of Child Protection Compact Partnership discussions – The Statesman

The United States and Nepal have begun a series of meetings to negotiate the terms of a Child Protection Compact (CPC) Partnership, a non-binding, multi-year comprehensive plan to address child sex trafficking and forced child labour in Nepal, informed US State Department in a press release. Click here to read... [12]

Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah cancels China visit over map row – Deccan Herald

Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah on Thursday cancelled his scheduled visit to China, citing the northern neighbour's failure to acknowledge Nepal's new political map. Shah was supposed to visit China to attend the concluding ceremony of a cultural festival being organised there. In his social media post, Mayor Shah said that he had cancelled the visit after China on Monday released a new map in which the Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipulekh areas -that Nepal considers its territories- were shown as part of India. Click here to read... [13]

Delegation from India’s National Defence College completes 5-day visit to Nepal - The Print

A delegation from the 63rd course of the National Defence College (NDC), India comprising 16 senior officers from civil services and defence forces of India along with Germany, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, UK and Oman visited Nepal for five days from August 27 to August 31. Click here to read... [14]

Implementation of US-funded $500 mn MCC project officially begins in Nepal – Business Standard

The implementation of the US-aided USD 500 million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) programme officially started in Nepal on Wednesday, with the launch of the process for acquiring land for construction of a 400 kV transmission line. Nepal and the US had signed a deal to implement the USD 500 million grant assistance to Kathmandu mainly for maintaining road quality and building cross-border transmission lines. China has been actively investing in Nepal in many infrastructure projects. Click here to read... [15]

Pakistan

Fresh hike takes petrol, diesel beyond Rs300 per litre – Dawn

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar’s government increased the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) on Thursday by Rs14.91 and Rs18.44 per litre, respectively, to beyond Rs300, a psychological barrier that has been crossed for the first time in the country’s history. Besides, in a major policy decision, the government increased the petroleum levy on petrol by Rs5 per litre, from Rs55 to a maximum permissible limit of Rs60 per litre. Click here to read... [16]

China’s Troubles In Pakistan Mount Over Poor Serviceability Of JF-17 Fighters, CPEC Security – The EurAsian Times

Although China claims to be an “all-weather” ally of Pakistan, the former has serious security concerns for its citizens working in Pakistan on various China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects. China and Pakistan signed the CPEC project agreement in May 2013. But, complete technical plans of the project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) have not been made public yet, leading to resentment among the Pakistani intelligentsia. Click here to read... [17]

In Pakistan, soaring electricity rates amid high inflation could topple an unsteady government – Scroll

Inflated electricity bills in the country have triggered an eruption of public indignation that had been simmering for long. Discontent over the escalating cost of living has now exploded into mass protests. The unbearable hike in electricity rates seems to be the proverbial last straw. Click here to read... [18]

Suicide bomber on motorcycle kills at least nine soldiers in northwest Pakistan – The Hindu

Nine soldiers were killed when a suicide bomber on a motorcycle set off his explosives next to a convoy in northwestern Pakistan on August 31, the military said. Another five soldiers were wounded in the attack in Bannu district, the military's public relations wing said in a statement. Click here to read... [19]

Sri Lanka

In a world of climate risks, Sri Lanka is finding ways to adapt

The Sixth Assessment Report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the international body for assessing climate science, states that “without rapid, deep and sustained mitigation and accelerated adaptation actions, losses and damages will continue to increase … and will disproportionately affect the most vulnerable populations.” The report also identifies South Asia as one of the “global hotspots of high human vulnerability”in a warming world and highlights that low-income households are particularly at risk throughout the region. Click here to read... [20]

Sri Lanka To Import 92.1 Mn Eggs From India To Stabilise Local Market Prices - Republic World

Sri Lanka will import 92.1 million eggs from India to counter the fluctuations in its prices and make them affordable to the consumers, the Cabinet spokesman said on Tuesday. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting held here on Monday, Cabinet spokesman and mass media minister Bandula Gunawardena said. Click here to read... [21]