Neighborhood News Digest – 14 September 2023

Afghanistan

China becomes first country to send envoy to Afghanistan after Taliban takeover – Wion

Recently appointed Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan, Zhao Sheng, presented his credentials to Taliban Prime Minister Mullah Hassan Akhund in the capital Kabul on Wednesday (Sept 13), effectively becoming the first country to establish diplomatic relations after the radical organisation toppled the civilian government in August 2021 and established its rule. Click here to read... [2]

India Delivers 50,000 MTs Of Wheat, Medical Items To Afghanistan – NDTV

Amid reports of worsening humanitarian situation in neighbouring Afghanistan, India said it delivered 50,000 MTs of wheat, 28 tons of disaster relief, and 200 tons of medicines, vaccines and other medical items to the country. India confirmed to have sent supplies to the neighbouring country in the Interactive Dialogue on the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Report on the human rights situation in Afghanistan at the 54th Session of the Human Rights Council. Click here to read... [3]

Taliban have waged a systematic assault on freedom in Afghanistan: U.N. human rights chief – The Hindu

The Taliban have waged a systematic assault on the freedom of Afghanistan's people, including women and girls experiencing “immeasurably cruel” oppression, the U.N.'s human rights chief said on Tuesday. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said that human rights are in a state of collapse in Afghanistan more than two years after the Taliban returned to power and stripped back institutional protections at all levels. He urged U.N. member states to help fill the void. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Bangladesh to import 300,000 tons of wheat from Russia – Dhaka Tribune

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) in a meeting on Wednesday approved 14 proposals including one to import 300,000 metric tons of wheat from Russia. As per the approval, the food ministry will import the wheat from the Russian Federation at a cost of Tk1,032.90 crore through the G2G method. Each kg of wheat will cost Tk33.43. Click here to read... [5]

Bhutan

Nine elected members resign voluntarily – Kuensel

The Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) has received nine voluntary resignations from elected members within a year following the implementation of new election conduct rules in the Kingdom of Bhutan in 2022. These new rules and regulations came into effect on August 29th of the previous year, and within the span of one year, eight local government members and one Member of Parliament (MP) chose to resign from their positions before completing their respective terms. Click here to read... [6]

Maldives

MNDF asserts full authority over all territories of the Maldives – Avas

The Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) has made a strong statement affirming its authority over all territories within the country. The MNDF's statement comes amid repeated claims by the opposition regarding the alleged presence of Indian military personnel in the Maldives and assertions that their actions threaten Maldivian independence. Click here to read... [7]

Myanmar

Myanmar Nationals Among 3 Arrested In Mizoram With 1800 Rounds Of AK-47 Bullets – NDTV

Three people, including two Myanmar nationals, were arrested with 1,800 rounds of AK-47 bullets in Mizoram's Siaha district on Tuesday, the Assam Rifles said. Three people, including two Myanmar nationals, were apprehended with 1,800 rounds of AK-47, it added. Click here to read... [8]

Nepal

Nepal: Leaders pay tribute to former House Speaker, day of mourning announced – The Print

Grieving leaders, fellow MPs and supporters paid their last respects to Subash Chandra Nembwang (70), former House Speaker who passed away on Tuesday morning after suffering a cardiac arrest. Ministers and MPs laid flowers over the body of the late Nembwang at the party office of the opposition CPN-UML (Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist). Click here to read... [9]

Nepal plans to generate 30,000MW of power by 2035 – The Kathmandu Post

Nepal plans to develop 30,000MW of electricity by 2035 as the market for Nepal’s hydropower is opening up in India and Bangladesh. The Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Shakti Bahadur Basnet said on Tuesday that the government was preparing to come up with a comprehensive energy development programme supported by a concrete action plan for the next 12 years. Click here to read... [10]

Pakistan

President Alvi proposes elections be held by Nov 6 – Dawn

President Dr Arif Alvi on Wednesday wrote a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja and proposed that elections be held by November 6. The letter comes against the backdrop of reports that the president would unilaterally announce a date for the elections. But contrary to the said reports, the missive is a mere suggestion, rather than a declaration of the election date, analysts said. Click here to read... [11]

Pakistan ex-PM Imran Khan's jail extended for two weeks: Lawyer – The Hindu

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan's jail detention related to charges of leaking state secrets was extended for another two weeks, his lawyer said on Wednesday. The jail custody has been extended until September 26, his lawyer Naeem Panjutha said in a post on X messaging platform, formerly Twitter. Click here to read... [12]

Sri Lanka

ITC invests close to ₹3,000 crore in Welcomhotels Sri Lanka – The Business Line

ITC Ltd, which recently announced the demerger of its hotels business, has made an equity investment of about ₹3,000 crore in Welcomhotels Lanka Pvt Ltd with the latest investment of $20 million. Official data from the Reserve Bank of India shows that in July, ITC invested $20 million in Welcomhotels Lanka Pvt Ltd equity. According to Welcomhotels’ annual report, in FY23, the parent company (ITC Ltd) has ₹2,775-crore equity and preference capital. Click here to read... [13]

Mamata Banerjee Meets Sri Lanka President At Dubai Airport – NDTV

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday met Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe at Dubai airport and invited him to the state business summit in November. Mamata Banerjee is on a 12-day trip to Dubai and Spain. The chief minister said that Mr Wickremesinghe, seeing her at the airport lounge, called her to "join for some discussion". Click here to read... [14]

Citing ‘inadequate progress’ on rights front, India urges Sri Lanka to keep its promises – The Hindu

India on Tuesday said the progress made by Sri Lanka, on its commitment to fulfill the Tamils’ aspirations, was “inadequate” and urged the island nation to “work meaningfully” to keep its promises. Click here to read... [15]

Sri Lanka deploys troops as the railway workers’ strike worsens – Telangana Today

Sri Lanka‘s government deployed army troops at railroad stations as railway employees continued with their strike that paralysed train services across the country for a second day Wednesday, a day after two passengers were killed while attempting to travel on a packed train. Click here to read... [16]