Neighborhood News Digest – 22 September 2023

Afghanistan

US, Islamic Emirate Hold Talks on Narcotics in Doha – Tolo News

Karen Decker, the Chargé d'Affaires of the US Mission to Afghanistan, said on X that she met with the “Taliban delegation” in Doha and held technical talks on “counter-narcotics, an area of mutual concern in support of the Afghan people, and discussed eradication, interdiction, addiction treatment, and alternative livelihoods.” Click here to read... [2]

Afghanistan: Exhibition conducted in Herat to highlight small businesses – The Print

An exhibition was conducted in Herat province of Afghanistan to highlight small businesses that offer employment to internally displaced people, TOLOnews reported. The institution provided business training to 40 employees of small businesses in Herat so they could grow their firms. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

US to provide $116 mln in humanitarian aid for Myanmar, Bangladesh - Devi Discourse

The United States will provide an additional $116 million in humanitarian aid for Myanmar, Bangladesh and the surrounding region to support Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on Thursday. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh garments gaining foothold in India as exports rise in 2023 - Fibre2Fashion

Bangladesh is gaining a stronger foothold in the Indian market, with garment exports increasing by 15.16 per cent to $264.917 million in January-May 2023. The upward trend in exports from Bangladesh to India has been consistent since 2020. The Indian textile sector is also grappling with global challenges such as high inflation and economic instability. Click here to read... [5]

Bhutan

Climate change threatens Bhutan’s spring flows – Kuensel

A study conducted in Bhutan’s Dungju Ri and Yude Ri catchments in the Trashigang region has shed light on the perilous impact of climate change on the country’s spring water resources. Led by Tshewang Dhendup, a lecturer at the Sherubtse College in Kanglung, the study findings were unveiled during the Bhutan Research Symposium held on September 13. Click here to read... [6]

Maldives

Tight race in Maldives between India-leaning Solih and China-backed Muizzu - The Hindu

By the evening of September 30, Maldivians will know who their new President will be—the India-leaning Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (‘Ibu’ Solih) of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) who is seeking a second term, or Male city Mayor Mohamed Muizzu, who is supported by the China-leaning main opposition party, the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM). While Muizzu has not said anything significantly anti-Indian, it is fair to assume that if he is elected the PPM will drive his governance agenda. Click here to read... [7]

Myanmar

Suu Kyi Adviser Reflects on Prison Term, Myanmar's Struggle for Democracy - VOA News

Australian academic Sean Turnell, a former economic adviser to Myanmar's ousted democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, recently spoke with VOA via Zoom about his experiences during his 650-day imprisonment in Myanmar's Insein prison after being arrested in the aftermath of the February 2021 military coup. Click here to read... [8]

US to provide $116 million in humanitarian aid for Myanmar, Bangladesh - Reuters

The United States will provide an additional $116 million in humanitarian aid for Myanmar, Bangladesh and the surrounding region to support Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on Thursday. With this new funding, the United States' total assistance for those affected by the crisis in Myanmar, Bangladesh, and the region totals more than $2.2 billion since August 2017, when over 740,000 Rohingya fled genocide, Blinken said. Click here to read... [9]

Nepal

Nepal and India boost electricity trade with new transmission deals – The Statesman

Officials from Nepal and India have recently come to an agreement aimed at enhancing electricity trade between the two neighboring nations. During the 14th meeting of the Joint Technical Team (JTT) under the Joint Steering Committee in New Delhi, an understanding was reached to increase the amount of power exchanged via the Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur cross-border transmission line. Additionally, they discussed expediting the construction of other cross-border lines to boost power trade. Click here to read... [10]

Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda heads to China for talks on deepening bilateral relations; likely to meet President XI – The Telegraph

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" will be on an 8-day visit to China from September 23 for talks with the Chinese leadership, including President Xi Jinping, on ways to further bolster bilateral ties between the two neighbours. Prachanda will also attend the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, Nepal's Foreign Ministry said. Click here to read... [11]

With PM away, transitional justice bill loses momentum – The Kathmandu Post

Until a few weeks back, the government and the ruling parties appeared to show a sense of urgency towards finalising the amendment bill on the Enforced Disappearances Enquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act. While the Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee of the House of Representatives was in intense discussion, a series of talks were held among the top leaders of the major parties. Click here to read... [12]

USAID pledges $2 million aid to Nepal – The Kathmandu Post

The United States Agency for International Development has pledged $2 million in aid to Nepal to support the stabilisation of the economy, promote job and wage growth, mobilise investment, and deliver democratic dividends. The announcement was made during the ‘Democracy Delivers’ event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, the US Embassy in Kathmandu said in a statement issued on Thursday. Click here to read... [13]

Pakistan

Pakistan's general elections in January 2024, announces poll body – India Today

General elections in Pakistan will take place in the last week of January, 2024, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced on Thursday. The ECP has reviewed the delimitation of constituencies and will release its initial list on September 27, reported Dawn News. Click here to read... [14]

IMF chief urges Pakistan to tax the rich, protect the poor on sidelines of UNGA – Dawn

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has urged Pakistan to “collect more taxes from the wealthy and protect the poor people” amidst soaring inflation following the nation’s securing of a last-minute bailout in July. Click here to read... [15]

Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence funding Khalistan activities in Canada: Report – Wion

In a shocking development amidst strained diplomatic ties between India and Canada, a link between the Khalistan movement and Pakistan has come to the fore. As per sources, it has been found that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has been providing funds to intensify Khalistani activities in Canada. The report citing sources said that in the recent months, funds were given to some top Khalistani leaders in order to accelerate anti-India activities. Click here to read... [16]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, His Excellency Ranil Wickremesinghe President, Statement summary - UN

RANIL WICKREMESINGHE, President of Sri Lanka, said that amidst multiple global crises in 2022, his country experienced its most challenging period in recent times. “Nevertheless, we succeeded in bringing about a democratic political transition, due to our deeply entrenched and resilient democratic traditions,” he added. Turning to technological and scientific advances, he said they offer boundless new frontiers in knowledge and wealth generation. However, former big power rivalries and geopolitical tensions have reignited in open war. Click here to read... [17]

Congress Wants to Hold Sri Lanka’s Feet to the Fire on Human Rights - Foreign Policy

Congress is calling on the Biden administration to formally hold Sri Lanka responsible for its human rights abuses and violation of international humanitarian law, including decades of torture, military abuse, and other “horrific crimes” carried out against the country’s minority Tamil population. Click here to read... [18]