Neighborhood News Digest – 06 September 2023

Afghanistan

Ministry: Afghan Exports to Pakistan Have Decreased – Tolo News

Officials of the Ministry of Industry and Trade said that exports to Pakistan have decreased by $66 million compared to last year. They added that the most exported items are coal, cotton, fresh fruit, and dried fruit, and in the first five months of the solar year the trade with Pakistan reached $842 million. Click here to read [2]

Bangladesh

US wants to deepen relations, Bangladesh wants frequent meetings to prevent gaps – Dhaka Tribune

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen has said the United States wants to deepen bilateral relations in all aspects while Dhaka seeks frequent meetings to prevent gaps in ties. "We have multifaceted relations that demand we meet frequently so that there are no gaps created (in bilateral relations)," he told reporters after Mira Resnick, US deputy assistant secretary of state for regional security at the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, called on him on Tuesday. Click here to read [3]

Bhutan

PDP refutes allegations of corruption against its ministers – Kuensel

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) clarified yesterday that the decision to award the contract Package XV of the Northern East-west Highway Project (NEHP) to Empire Construction was made to prevent delays and economic losses for the country. The party’s statement was in response to news about an alleged corruption case that the Anti-Corruption Commission forwarded to the Office of Attorney General involving two of its former ministers. Click here to read [4]

Maldives

Pres. inaugurates more development projects across Raa atoll – Raajje

Newly completed infrastructural development projects have been inaugurated across two islands of Raa atoll. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih inaugurated the new projects initiated under his administration, as part of his campaign tour across Raa atoll, in a bid for re-election in this year’s Presidential election, slated for September 9. Click here to read [5]

Myanmar

Myanmar won’t be allowed to lead Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2026, in blow to generals – The Indian Express

Western governments led by the United States have condemned the Myanmar army’s ouster of Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government in 2021 and have demanded her immediate release from detention. Click here to read [6]

Nepal

Dahal seeks support of main opposition to move forward pending bills – The Kathmandu Post

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss various issues including pending bills that have been tabled at the House of Representatives. According to Govinda Acharya, Press Advisor to the prime minister, the two leaders discussed on the ruling and opposition parties working together to move ahead with Enforced Disappearances Enquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act amendment bill. Click here to read [7]

Pakistan

PBC calls for president to fulfil constitutional responsibility, announce polls within 90-day period – Dawn

A meeting called by the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) passed a resolution on Tuesday, urging President Arif Alvi to “fulfil your constitutional responsibility” and announce a date for general elections — which are to be pushed beyond the constitutionally mandated cutoff date of November 9 if the Election Commission of Pakistan sticks to its timeline for fresh delimitation of constituencies. Click here to read [8]

Sri Lanka

Drought Dents Sri Lanka’s Economic Hopes, Farmers’ Livelihoods – India.com

The island’s economy was crushed last year by its worst financial crisis in over seven decades, caused by a severe shortage of foreign exchange reserves that triggered widespread unrest and ousted its former president. Helped by a $2.9 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Sri Lanka has slowly stabilised its economy since March, rebuilding its decimated reserves, moderating inflation and strengthening its currency. Click here to read [9]