Neighborhood News Digest – 04 September 2023

Afghanistan

Since Political Change, Nearly 50 Clashes Happened on Border Areas: MoI – Tolo News

Nearly 50 clashes have happened in border areas with the neighboring countries within the past two-years, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior said. MoI spokesman Abdul Matin Qani called on the neighboring countries to observe the border rules with Afghanistan. “There have been some small and big clashes. You know that there have been clashes with Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The total number is less than 50,” he said. Click here to read... [2]

Over 70 Aircraft, Helicopters Repaired in Past Two Years: Official – Tolo News

The commander of the Afghan Air Force, Abdul Ghafar Mohammadi, said that they have repaired more than 70 aircraft and helicopters within the past two years. He said that maintenance teams of the AAF have recently repaired a Russian MI-17 helicopter. “Our maintenance has repaired approximately more than 70 aircraft and helicopters. Some of the helicopters and aircraft are still under repair,” he said. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

Germany to provide 191 million euros for sustainable development of Bangladesh - Telangana Today

Germany will provide 191 million euros to Bangladesh for sustainable development projects and women empowerment, Dhaka Tribune reported. In this regard, Germany and Bangladesh signed two bilateral agreements on Sunday with the projects focused on Green and Just Energy Transition, Sustainable Urban Development, Sustainable Supply Chains, Biodiversity and Women Empowerment as well as the support for Host and Displaced Communities in Cox´s Bazar. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh PM’s 'growing enmity' with Prof Yunus: Why are world leaders upset - Country Overview

As Bangladesh is approaching the next national elections in early next year, where the ruling Awami League (AL) party will seek the mandate from 170 million people (including voters) for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed’s fourth consecutive term in office, one may witness more attacks on Professor Muhammad Yunus, the south Asian nation’s lone Nobel laureate, by the AL government in Dhaka and incumbent PM Hasina herself. Click here to read... [5]

Bhutan

2022 sees economic growth at 5.21 percent – Kuensel

Bhutan’s economy recorded a growth of 5.21 percent last year from 4.42 percent in 2021 in the previous year, mainly attributed to better performance in hotels and restaurants, construction, and wholesale and retail trade. This is according to the National Statistics Bureau’s (NSB) National Accounts Statistics 2023 released yesterday. Click here to read... [6]

Engaging with Bhutan: The Himalayan kingdom is justified in seeking greater stake in India growth story – Financial Express

Among all its South Asian neighbours, India has the best relations with the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. India is its top trade partner both as an import source and as an export destination, accounting for two-thirds of Bhutan’s overall trade in Q1 2023. India accounts for half of the foreign direct investments into the Himalayan kingdom. Click here to read... [7]

How Bhutan’s cross-border railway connectivity with India opens new possibilities – The Print

In a landmark development towards reshaping the country’s connectivity landscape, Bhutan is all set to embark on a transformative journey with its neighbouring country, India, Bhutan Live reported. Bhutan is gearing up to establish its first internationally connected cross-border railway with India’s north-eastern region. Click here to read... [8]

Maldives

Projects delayed during past govt's due to corruption, says Pres Solih- Avas

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has asserted that government projects implemented by previous governments faced delays due to government leaders' involvement in receiving undue benefits from the projects. Click here to read... [9]

Pres Solih aims to boost sovereign fund to $400 mln by 2026 - Avas

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said he aims to increase the Maldives' Sovereign Fund to $400 million by 2026. Speaking at the presidential debate hosted by Sangu TV and PSM on Saturday night, President Solih said if he is re-elected for a second term, his goal is to increase the Sovereign Development Fund to between $350 million and $400 million by 2026. With the fund already containing MVR 6 billion, President Solih expressed confidence in achieving this vision as state revenue continues to rise. Click here to read... [10]

Myanmar

Myanmar's Junta Angry Over Troubles With Pakistan's JF-17 Fighter Jets - Republic World

The acquisition of JF-17 Thunder, a Third-generation fighter as per China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), from Pakistan by the Myanmar military junta has become a significant problem, as all 11 planes supplied between 2019 and 2021 have been declared unfit for operations due to malfunctions and structural flaws. Pakistani engineers' attempts to fix the issues have failed, causing frustration within the junta, as reported by Myanmar's local media. Click here to read... [11]

Small traders of Arunachal seek haats back on Indo-Myanmar border - Business Standard

The Covid-19 pandemic came as a bolt from the blue for Khingwom Mossang and many of her peers as their source of income from trading activities at Pangsau Pass in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, along the India-Myanmar border, came to a grinding halt in 2020. Not only Mossang but over 100 small traders have been facing difficulties after the border trade with Myanmar stopped with the outbreak of the pandemic. Click here to read... [12]

Nepal

Bill proposes competitive bidding mandatory for electricity purchases – The Kathmandu Post

The government is preparing legal measures that would help reduce the consumer price of electricity. A bill prepared by the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation states that distributors must buy electricity from power developers through competitive bidding for supply in the domestic market. Click here to read... [13]

PM’s China visit: BRI projects to buffalo meat export on list – The Kathmandu Post

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal will not be short of agenda during his upcoming China trip. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is busy preparing the agenda for the upcoming China visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, with inputs from various other ministries. Click here to read... [14]

Nepal upset with China's newly released map for excluding disputed areas with India – The Telegraph

Nepal on Friday urged all its neighbours to respect its 2020 map, which includes three areas in dispute with India, in its response to the “2023 edition of the standard map of China” released by Beijing earlier this week. Click here to read... [15]

Pakistan

Free electricity quotas merely tip of iceberg – Dawn

The total cost of free electricity units being used by the state-owned entities in the country’s power sector alone ranges between Rs22 billion and Rs25bn per annum whereas the allowances being given to other government departments’ employees from grade 1 to 22 are also worth billions, leaving the government with no option but to pass on such a huge financial impact to consumers. Click here to read... [16]

Pakistan caretaker PM Anwarul Haq Kakar calls inflated electricity bills "non-issue" – The Hindu

Pakistan Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar called the matter of inflated electricity bills, which have led to the countrywide protests, a “non-issue”, Dawn News reported on September 2. Mr. Kakar also said it was raised by some political parties and was a “tool in their election campaigns.“ It is not a very serious issue, but political parties are in election mode and using it as a social cause,” the interim Prime Minister told senior journalists and news anchors on August 2. Click here to read... [17]

Pakistan shopkeepers strike nationwide over inflation – The Hindu

Thousands of Pakistan traders shuttered their shops on Saturday, striking over soaring energy and fuel bills stirring widespread discontent ahead of national elections. Decades of mismanagement and instability have hobbled Pakistan's economy, and this summer Islamabad was forced into a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to avert default. Click here to read... [18]

COAS assures traders of ‘transparency’ in forex rate – Dawn

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir on Sunday assured the business community of fostering transparency in dollar exchange and interbank rates. “The money exchanges would be brought under the purview of taxation, fostering transparency in dollar exchange and interbank rates,” the COAS said while talking to the business community at a meeting held at the Lahore Corps headquarters. Click here to read... [19]

Sri Lanka

INS Delhi Departs Sri Lanka, Concludes Two-day Visit To The Port City - Republic World

INS Delhi departed Colombo, Sri Lanka on Sunday after a two-day visit to the port city. During their stay in the harbour, several interactions were held between the crew of the ship and the Sri Lankan navy personnel. This was mentioned in an official press release by the Ministry of Defence. Click here to read... [20]

TNA warns of “undesirable consequences" of building Buddhist temple in Trincomalee - Devidiscourse

TNA warns of “undesirable consequences" of building Buddhist temple in Expressing alarm over the recent unrest over the building of a Buddhist temple at Illuppaikulam in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka's Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has warned that if the unrest persists then it could jeopardise planned foreign investments in the region, The Sunday Times, Sri Lankan broadsheet reported. In a letter to Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe, TNA leader R Sampanthan said that building a temple in a region where he claimed 99 per cent of residents are Tamil has led to unrest amongst the people. Click here to read... [21]