Neighborhood News Digest – 13 October 2023

Afghanistan

Earthquake today: 4.6 magnitude quake jolts Afghanistan-Mint

As earthquake of magnitude 4.6 on the Richter Scale jolted Afghanistan on 13 October, the National Center for Seismology has informed. According to NCS, the tremors shook the country at 6:39 am (IST) on Friday at a depth of 50 kilometres. Click here to read… [2]

Bilateral trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan witnesses a sharp decline – The Khaama Press

Pakistan-Afghan bilateral trade has experienced a significant downturn on an annual basis, raising concerns about the economic relationship between the two neighbouring countries. Recent data reveals that in September, there was a notable 9% decrease in Pak-Afghan trade compared to August, indicating a sudden drop in economic activity, reported Daily Intekhab News Agency. Click here to read… [3]

Japan Pledges $10M to Support Afghan Women – Tolo News

Japan’s outgoing ambassador to Kabul, Takashi Okada, said that providing governance according to the wishes of people will be key for a bright future in Afghanistan. The Japanese ambassador, who participated in the ceremony announcing Japan's assistance of $10 million with the UNDP to support Afghan women in private sector, expressed his country’s support for the people of Afghanistan. Click here to read… [4]

Bangladesh

Student journalist attacked on university campus - IFJ

Student journalist Mosharrof Shah was attacked and threatened by a group of individuals while on campus at the University of Chittagong, after reporting on a factional clash of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL). The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the attack and urges the local authorities to conduct an immediate investigation into the incident. Click here to read… [5]

China powers up Bangladesh's wind power project - China Daily

The first centralized wind power project in Bangladesh, the Cox's Bazar wind power project, is connected to the grid and started power generation on Thursday, said its operator China's State Power Investment Corp. Click here to read… [6]

Bhutan

On Bhutan’s emerging publishing scene – Hindustan Times

There was a time not too long ago when most Bhutanese literary works were in local languages. But things are changing. The publishing scene in Bhutan, which ended its political isolation by joining the United Nations in 1971, has been evolving steadily in recent years. As the country continues to open up to the world, its literary landscape, once limited to oral traditions, has seen a surge in book publications, especially in English. Click here to read… [7]

Bhutan’s GDP to grow at 4 percent: WB – Kuensel

The World Bank (WB) estimated the economic growth for Bhutan at 4 percent for fiscal year 2023-24, stronger than its previous April’s forecast of 3.1 percent in its October update report released yesterday. According to the WB, the economy was estimated to have grown by 4.6 percent in fiscal year 2022-23 with the reopening of borders and hydropower exports rebounded. Click here to read… [8]

Maldives

US provides assurance to cooperate with new administration- Sun Online

The U.S. Ambassador, Hugo Yue-Ho Yon, during his visit to the president-elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu went on to assure that the American government will extend their full support and cooperation for Maldives in several areas of potential cooperation to further strengthen ties between the two countries as well as for the further progress of the development of Maldives. Click here to read… [9]

President-Elect Muizzu denies halt of ongoing projects, assures continuity-Avas

In a social media post on platform X, Dr. Muizzu clarified that he has not instructed any project to be stopped or delayed, nor has anyone on his behalf issued such an order. Click here to read… [10]

Myanmar

China Issues Arrest Warrants for Two Officials in Myanmar’s Wa Region - The Irrawaddy

The Chinese government has issued arrest warrants for a minister and a mayor in the Wa Self-Administered Zone (SAZ) for their alleged leading roles in telecom fraud gangs in the autonomous region of Myanmar’s northern Shan State near the Chinese border. Click here to read… [11]

How Illegal Influx of Migrants from Myanmar Stoked Manipur Flare-up And Can Smart Border Infra Help - News 18

The Manipur government had been concerned about the illegal settlers in forests, especially in Churachandpur district where the violence started in the first place. The union home ministry this month announced plans to install an advanced smart fence system along a 100-kilometre section of the India-Myanmar border to supplement existing monitoring systems. Click here to read… [12]

Nepal

Nepal airlifts its 253 students from Tel Aviv as Israel-Hamas war grows intense - The Print

Nepal has airlifted a total of 253 students board the rescue flight of Nepal Airlines as the war between Israel and Hamas grows intense. Nepal Foreign Minister NP Saud greeted the students onboard the flight. “Total 253 Nepali students board the rescue flight of Nepal Airlines. Foreign Minister Hon @NPSaudnc greets the students in the aircraft, which is taking off from Ben Gurion Airport Tel Aviv shortly,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal posted on X, earlier today. Click here to read… [13]

Modi’s visit to Gunji irks Nepal opposition - Indian Express

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Gunji near Kalapani, Uttarakhand has triggered an uproar in Nepal. Nepal’s Opposition parties claimed Modi “came to our territory” without informing authorities and asked how it happened. Prominent Nepalese parliamentarians, including Thakur Prasad Gaire of main opposition Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist, Rabi Lamichhane of Rastriya Swatantra Party and Dipak Bahadur Singh of Rastriya Prajatantra Party, claimed “Gunji in Kalapani was Nepal’s territory” and the visit by Modi therewithout “permission” was a breach of diplomatic traditions. Click here to read… [14]

Pakistan

Pakistan’s army chief, Qatari chief of staff discuss regional security – Arab News

The chief of staff of Qatar’s armed forces, Lt. Gen. (Pilot) Salem Hamad Eqail Al-Nabet, called on Pakistan’s army chief General Syed Asim Munir on Thursday to discuss regional security and bilateral defense cooperation, the army’s media wing said. Pakistan enjoys close defense and economic ties with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members, including Qatar. Last month, Pakistan’s military launched a two-week multinational military exercise aiming to further harness military relations with Qatar, Türkiye, and other friendly nations. Click here to read… [15]

IMF’s Fiscal Monitor report: Macroeconomic indicators show deterioration - Business Recorder

Pakistan’s key macroeconomic indicators as projected in the International Monetary Fund’s Fiscal Monitor (FM) report released on 11 October 2023, show deterioration compared to the projections in the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) documents uploaded two and a half months ago in July 2023. Click here to read… [16]

Law aimed at clipping CJP’s wings ‘sustained as being constitutional’: SC rules in majority verdict – Dawn

The Supreme Court, in a full court session on Wednesday, ruled that the SC (Practice & Procedure) Act, 2023 — which requires a committee of senior judges to form benches for constitutional matters and suo motu notices — was “sustained as being constitutional” and rejected petitions against the law in a majority verdict. Click here to read… [17]

Sri Lanka

US Navy ship docks on a four-day Colombo visit, no date announced for Chinese research vessel- The Economic Times

A US Navy ship has arrived at the port of Colombo. The Sri Lanka Navy said USNS Brunswick, an expeditionary fast transport ship, arrived on Wednesday on a 4-day formal visit. Meanwhile, the dates for the visit by a Chinese research vessel have not been announced by the local authorities as yet. Click here to read… [18]

Sri Lanka says China debt deal covers $4.2 billion as other talks drag on- Reuters

Sri Lanka has reached an agreement, covering about $4.2 billion of outstanding debt, on the key principles and indicative terms of debt treatment with the Export-Import Bank of China (China Exim Bank). Sri Lanka, mired in its worst financial crisis in decades, has been trying reach restructuring deals with creditors since last autumn, having being forced to default on its foreign debt in May 2022 after its foreign exchange dwindled to record lows. The EXIM deal will help Sri Lanka in getting past the first review of an International Monetary Fund (MF) program, and securing a second IMF tranche of about $334 million, its finance ministry said in a statement. Click here to read… [19]

GSDR observes Sri Lanka’s Euro-bond restructuring- News First

The Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR) notes that the work continues toward reaching an agreement in principle with official creditors on specific restructuring terms, for Sri Lanka. The objective of the GSDR is to build greater common understanding among key stakeholders involved in debt restructurings, and work together on the current shortcomings in debt restructuring processes, both within and outside the Common Framework, and ways to address them. In parallel, the authorities have concluded the restructuring of some of the domestic debt and are in active negotiations with Eurobond holders on a restructuring plan, said the GSDR Co-chairs Progress Report. Click here to read… [20]