Neighborhood News Digest – 11 December 2023

Afghanistan

Islamic Emirate to Iran FM: Govt is Inclusive- Tolo News

The Islamic Emirate reacted to the recent remarks of Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian regarding the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan, saying that its government is inclusive and that other countries should not interfere in the internal affairs of Afghanistan. Click here to read... [2]

Increase of Heng Production Brings New Hope for Farmers- Tolo News

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce said that in the past 6 months, $70 million dollars’ worth of heng has been exported. Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, the spokesman of the ministry, told TOLO news that India, Uzbekistan, the United Arab Emirates and the United States are among the countries that have purchased the Afghan product. Click here to read... [3]

Girls’ education alone won’t secure Taliban recognition: US Special Envoy- The Khama Press

Rina Amiri, the US special representative for women and human rights in Afghanistan, underscored at the Doha Forum that granting education to women and girls should not be considered a basis for recognizing the Taliban. Further, Amiri called on the Taliban to engage in dialogues with Afghan women and men both inside and outside the country to address their demands for education and other rights, expressing disappointment in the Taliban’s reluctance to do so. Click here to read... [4]

US provides $77 million aid to support Afghan refugees in Pakistan- The Khama Press

Thomas West, the Special Representative of the United States for Afghanistan, has announced a $77 million contribution to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to support Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

Seat-sharing for JS polls: AL keeps its allies hanging - The Daily Star

A crucial meeting between the Awami League and its 14-party allies ended last night without any concrete decisions on seat sharing. At the meeting, held at the AL organising secretary Mirza Azam's office in parliament, participants could not reach a consensus over the withdrawal of "AL independents" who would compete against AL partners. Click here to read... [6]

Hasina to start polls campaign from Sylhet – The Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the president of the ruling Awami League, will formally kick off the election campaign of the ruling party at a rally in Sylhet likely to be held on December 20. Obaidul Quader, general secretary of the party, made the announcement during a press briefing at the party chief's Dhanmondi political office yesterday. Click here to read... [7]

Bhutan

SDF celebrates 39th SAARC Charter Day – Kuensel

The SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Development Fund (SDF) celebrated the 39th SAARC Charter Day with its partners in Thimphu yesterday, commemorating the historic adoption of the SAARC Charter on December 8, 1985. This annual celebration, hosted by a specialised body that emerged from SAARC over 12 years ago, is the only SAARC organisation headquartered in Thimphu, Bhutan, alongside its partners. Click here to read... [8]

Debt-service payments to reach 32.4% of domestic revenue in FY 2023-24 – Kuensel

Growing national debts, combined with an escalation in debt-service payments, have sparked concerns about the future of the country’s investments. Debt servicing through the government budget has risen from Nu 8.39 billion as of June 2022 to Nu 9.16 billion in June 2023, as reported by the finance ministry. Click here to read... [9]

Pics: China Carves Into Bhutan With Outposts, Villages Despite Talks – NDTV

Ongoing border talks between Bhutan and China to formally demarcate their boundary have not prevented Beijing from continuing unsanctioned construction activity in North Bhutan's Jakarlung Valley. Satellite images of this region, the sharpest to be released so far, suggest that Thimphu may have no option but to accept the fait accompli presented by the Chinese in this area which lies 50 kilometres from Bhutan's Eastern border with Arunachal Pradesh. Click here to read... [10]

Maldives

Cooperation in Indian Ocean must be inclusive: Maldives at China Forum- Business Standard

The new Maldives government on 8 December said cooperation in the Indian Ocean must include all countries in the region and avoid factionalism to bring about development among the ocean communities in the area. Addressing the China-sponsored second conference of the Indian Ocean Region Forum in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province in southwest China, Maldives Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef said his country stands ready to forge stronger bonds, share expertise, and work hand in hand towards a resilient and prosperous Indian Ocean Region. Click here to read... [11]

Maldives reports contamination in Pakistani syrups, suspension medicines: Report- The Economic Times Pharma

Maldives detected contamination in Pakistani syrups, prompting a WHO alert for heightened vigilance. Lahore-based Pharmix Laboratories faced scrutiny after substances found in syrups matched those in brake fluids and inks. Click here to read... [12]

Myanmar

US, UK, Canada Sanctions Target Southeast Asian Scam Operations - The Diplomat

The United States, United Kingdom, and Canada have imposed coordinated sanctions against 14 individuals and entities for their involvement in Southeast Asia’s monstrous online scamming industry. According to a statement from the U.K. government on Friday, the sanctions target nine individuals and five entities for their involvement in human trafficking connected to online “scam farms” in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. Click here to read... [13]

Myanmar’s Civil War Blowing Up India’s Act East Policy – Eurasia Review

The 30-month-old civil war in Myanmar is fanning ethnic conflict in Manipur. Majority Meitei and minority Kuki communities in the state have clashed with each other since early May, leaving more than 150 dead and thousands displaced. On 4 December, India’s oldest paramilitary force—Assam Riffles[1]—was rushed to a border area in Manipur where 13 dead bodies of men were found, and a major investigation has been launched to find the culprits. Click here to read... [14]

Fighting engulfs over two-thirds of Myanmar, fuelling humanitarian needs - UN News

In a flash update, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that more than 578,000 people are estimated to have been displaced since 26 October but cautioned that figures are difficult to confirm given undocumented returns, repeated displacements and telecommunication blackouts. Click here to read... [15]

Nepal

Geopolitics of Nepal’s Hydropower: Has India Outmaneuvered China - Modern Diplomacy

Nepal, a landlocked country between two Asian giants China and India, is one of the richest countries in terms of hydropower potential. As fast-growing economies, it is only natural that both of Nepal’s neighbors have high-energy demands. This is where Nepal’s huge water resources and immense hydroelectric potential come into play in the geo-strategic equation between its two neighbors. Click here to read... [16]

Expansion of connectivity with Nepal and Bhutan to boost trade: Part-II - NE Now

Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk’s two day (November 3-4) visit to Assam assumes significance in the light of the announcement of some major infrastructure development projects involving the state that shares 265.8 km-long border with the Himalayan nation. The king met Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on November 4 and discussed issues of mutual interests including his dream project of constructing a mega/smart city in Gelepu which is just across the state’s border in Chirang district. In his bids to attract investment for the mega city project, the king visited India’s business capital Mumbai and met top industry leaders. Click here to read... [17]

Nepal-India Cultural Festival held in Lumbini - The Week

Nepal-India Cultural Festival, showcasing the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the two countries, was held in Lumbini. The festival with a special focus on Buddhism featured a Sand Mandala Drawing Art Exhibition prepared by monk artists from Hemis Monastery in Ladakh, India, a photo exhibition based on the photographs of renowned photographer Benoy Behl, a Street Food Festival featuring Indian and Nepali cuisines and a cultural programme. Click here to read... [18]

Pakistan

Nepra seeks urgent fees, more penalties on consumers – Dawn

The revised con­s­umer service manual unveiled by the power regulator Nepra introduces additional charges and stringent measures for electricity consumers, including a 14 per cent interest rate on bill instalments and an ‘urgent fee’ for priority connections. The proposed regulations — set to be discussed at a public hearing on Dec 19 before implementation — have been announced despite a surplus in capacity and declining consumption. Click here to read... [19]

COAS leaves for US – Business Recorder

General Syed Asim Munir Chief of Army Staff (COAS) has left on Sunday for United States of America (USA) on an official visit. According to an ISPR press release shared with the media, this is General Syed Asim Munir’s first visit to the USA as COAS. Click here to read... [20]

Pakistan: Karachi witnessed severe shortage of life-saving drugs like insulin, says report – Mint

In Pakistan, Karachi is currently facing a severe shortage of essential medicines including life-saving drugs, vaccines, insulting for diabetes management, epilepsy drugs, and others, according to a report published by ARY News. Click here to read... [21]

Nawaz Sharif: ‘Wanted better relations with India, ousted for opposing Kargil’ – Hindustan Times

Former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif said, "When I opposed the Kargil plan saying it should not happen... I was ousted." Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said that he was ousted from the government in 1999 by general Pervez Musharraf for opposing the Kargil as he thought that it was important to have good relations with India. Click here to read... [22]

China Again Warns Pakistan Over Non-Payment of Defence Bills; It's Tactical Play, Say Experts – News 18

In a stern message to Pakistan, China has issued a warning over delayed payments for defence equipment, hinting at potential disruptions in the supply chain for the Pakistani army. Senior officials from both nations recently met to address the issue, emphasising the critical nature of timely payments. With approximately $1.5 billion pending in payments, experts believe that this is just a “tactic” being used by China to pressure Pakistan. Click here to read... [23]

Sri Lanka

Government faces headwinds in Parliament – Daily Mirror Online

The government faced headwinds in Parliament yesterday in its attempt to boost revenue by enacting a piece of legislation to reduce the VAT-exempted list from 138 categories of items to 97, a move that will have a two percent inflationary effect. The House was convened yesterday for a special session despite it being a Sunday, given the urgency to pass the bill which, if enacted, will pave the way for the government to collect as much as Rs. 338 billion to its coffers as part of its measures to increase revenue to 15 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2025. Click here to read... [24]

25 Indian Fishermen Accused Of "Illegal Poaching" Detained By Sri Lanka – NDTV

25 Indian fishermen, who were fishing in international waters, were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy along with their two trawlers, off Point Pedro town in Sri Lanka. According to the Sri Lankan Navy, the fishermen were allegedly involved in 'illegal poaching' and were detained after a special operation on Saturday night. Click here to read... [25]