Neighborhood News Digest – 21 December 2023

Afghanistan

Haqqani Welcomes Recommendations of Turkish Scholars-Tolo News

The Acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, in a meeting with a delegation of religious scholars from Turkey, said their recommendations for strengthening the Islamic Emirate are valuable. The Interior Ministry wrote in a statement that Haqqani expressed his gratitude for the country's assistance in building schools and mosques in Afghanistan and said that their coming to the country will strengthen the relationship between Ankara and Kabul. Click here to read... [2]

Salang Highway Reopens after reconstruction-The Khama Press

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Deputy for Economic Affairs of the Prime Minister of the Taliban administration, stated on Wednesday, December 20, during the inauguration ceremony of the Salang Tunnel that the Salang Highway not only connects the northern regions of the country with the center but also plays a fundamental role in connecting and transiting Central Asia with South Asia. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

Debt burden gets heavier as Bangladesh runs low on capacity to repay - The Daily Star

Bangladesh's debt service to revenue ratio is projected to cross the 100 percent mark for the first time owing to rising loans and lower tax and export receipts, highlighting the growing risk to the country's capacity to repay. The debt service-to-revenue and grants ratio stood at 58.7 percent in the fiscal year of 2020-21 but it surged to 72 percent in FY22 and 71.8 percent in the last fiscal year of 2022-23, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Click here to read... [4]

PM Hasina: No mercy for attempts to disrupt polls – Dhaka Tribune

Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said that the BNP and Jamaat alliance has been carrying out arson attacks to foil the upcoming 12th parliamentary election scheduled on January 7. Calling upon the country's people to build resistance against arson attacks, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said ousting the government is not as easy as setting a few vehicles on fire. Click here to read... [5]

HC rejects writ petition seeking election under army supervision– The Daily Star

The High Court yesterday rejected a writ petition seeking its directives on the government and Election Commission to dissolve the parliament and to announce a fresh schedule for holding the parliamentary election under direct supervision of the army. Attorney General AM Amin Uddin placed arguments on behalf of the state opposing the writ petition while Senior Advocate Md Saidur Rahaman appeared for the petitioner during the hearing. Click here to read... [6]

Bhutan

HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck in Kuwait – The Bhutan Live

His Royal Highness Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, representing the heartfelt sentiments of His Majesty The King and the people of Bhutan, arrived in Kuwait as an envoy to convey condolences on the passing of the late Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. In a solemn ceremony held at the Bayan Palace, His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, warmly received Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck. The Bhutanese envoy not only expressed condolences but also extended felicitations to His Highness Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for assuming the crucial responsibilities as the new Amir of the State of Kuwait. Click here to read... [7]

Article 6: COP28 unpacks climate action – Kuensel

In the pursuit of addressing climate change, a prominent objective stands out—a 43 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 to cap global heating at 1.5°C. The COP28 witnessed discussions among parties on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, a crucial element emphasised by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and leading climate scientists to avert the worst impacts of climate change. Click here to read... [8]

Bhutan-India Initiative Takes Center Stage at Naturenomics Forum – The Bhutan Live

In a resounding call to action, the Balipara Foundation has brought together over 60 participants from 15 countries in a collective effort to restore 1 million hectares of forests and farmlands by 2030. The 11th edition of the annual Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics Forum, held under the theme ‘Great People’s Forest 2030,’ marks a significant stride towards aligning with the UN Decade of Restoration agenda. Click here to read... [9]

Maldives

Government publicizes letter to Mauritius PM – The Edition

The current government has disclosed the contentious letter sent by the previous administration to Mauritius. The letter, addressed to the Prime Minister of Mauritius was sent by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. The previous government was criticized heavily for refusing to share the details of the letter sent to the Mauritian PM, officially declaring the change of Maldivian government's stand regarding the administrative ownership of Chagos Archipelago. While the letter was never submitted to the parliament for review, the then government also refused to publicize it. Click here to read... [10]

The President denounces the failure of the UN Security Council on taking decisive measures to put an end to the suffering in Gaza– Press Release, The President’s Office

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu denounced the failure of the United Nations Security Council on taking decisive measures to put an end to the suffering in Gaza, stating that the veto not only failed to demand a ceasefire, but it is enabling potential war crimes and has now made millions across the world question the value of humanity and the United Nations. This bold statement was made in his message, which was delivered at the 45th Plenary Meeting of the tenth Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly held in New York December 20. Click here to read... [11]

Myanmar

Myanmar ethnic armed group seizes another crossing point along the Chinese border, reports say Bangkok-Financial Express

An ethnic armed group in north-eastern Myanmar has seized a major crossing point for trade along the Chinese border, residents and media reports said. The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, which took control of the crossing, joined with the Ta’ang National Liberation Army and the Arakan Army for the offensive that began in October and call themselves the Three Brotherhood Alliance. Click here to read... [12]

Opinion | Myanmar Catapulted as World’s Numero Uno in Opium Production: What it Means for India- News 18

The decades-long uninterrupted reign of Afghanistan as the world’s largest supplier of opium has been disrupted by Myanmar. For India, this development should ring an ominous bell. Click here to read... [13]

Pakistan

Poll delay goes against democracy, SC holds – Dawn

The Supre­­me Court has emphasised that postponing general elections to address constituency delimitation issues could lead to a vacuum in governance, and a potential crisis of legitimacy. “Such a situation would be antithetical to the principles of democracy and the larger good of the populace. Therefore, the principle of proportionality and the concept of the larger good demand that general elections be given primacy,” Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah observed on Wednes­day in a judgement he authored, to explain why the apex court on Dec 18 preferred not to get involved in disputes relating to delimitation of constituencies in Balochistan. Click here to read... [14]

Pakistan: Imran Khan to contest general elections from at least three constituencies – Firstpost

Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan is set to contest in the upcoming general elections from at least three constituencies, as announced by his party on Wednesday. The 71-year-old, a former cricketer turned politician, faced disqualification from elections for five years after being convicted in the Toshakhana corruption case by a trial court in Islamabad on August 5. Click here to read... [15]

Increase in power sector subsidy: Hamstrung by grim lack of fiscal space, FD says ‘no’ – Business Recorder

The Finance Division has reportedly refused to enhance power sector subsidy in any eventuality due to financial constraints, well-informed sources told Business Recorder. This assertion came from the Finance Division at a recent meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet when the issue of agreements between K-Electric and Government of Pakistan came under discussion. The government has already budgeted Rs 970 billion as power sector subsidy in 2023-24 with the prior approval of International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank. Click here to read... [16]

Nawaz picks Mansehra to stage electoral comeback – Dawn

After getting a clean chit from the courts, PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif will contest elections for the National Assembly seat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s NA-15 (Mansehra), his son-in-law Captain Muhammad Safdar told reporters on Wednesday. “Nawaz Sharif will be our election candidate from NA-15 (Mansehra-II). He will become the prime minister as an elected representative of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to address the province’s deprivation,” Mr Safdar told reporters outside the deputy commissioner’s office in Mansehra. Click here to read... [17]

Sri Lanka

Country’s foreign reserves expected to surpass over USD 4 bn by end of this year: PMD – Daily Mirror Online

The gross official reserves in the country are expected to surpass over USD 4 billion by the end of this year with the USD 780 million notable inflows of foreign exchange to the Government, the President's Media Division (PMD) said. The PMD said Sri Lanka received a second tranche of US dollars 337 million from the IMF, US dollars 200 million from the ADB for various programmes and US dollars 250 million from the World Bank in December 2023. Click here to read... [18]

SLPP’s duty is to ensure government’s stability till next elections: MR – Daily Mirror Online

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, in a statement, said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe has successfully restored law and at this moment, and hence the primary duty of the SLPP is to ensure a stable government until the next national elections. Click here to read... [19]

Cabinet nod to amend Information and Communication Technology Act – Daily Mirror Online

The Cabinet of Ministers this week approved a resolution furnished by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who also serves as the Technology Minister, to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill to amend Information and Communication Technology Act No. 27 of 2003. As per the Government Information Department, amending the current act is aimed at implementing Sri Lanka’s digital development more effectively and to pave the way to establish a Digital Development Agency. Click here to read... [20]