Neighborhood News Digest – 12 June 2023

Afghanistan

Threat of terrorism rising in Afghanistan and region: United Nations report – The Telegraph Online

The link between the Taliban and Al-Qaeda and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan remains “strong and symbiotic”, according to a UN report which said the ability of terrorist groups to freely manoeuvre under the Taliban de facto authorities in Afghanistan is raising the threat of terrorism in the country and the region.Click here to read… [2]

Afghanistan: Young people illegally migrate amid rising unemployment – The Print

Kabul youth has said young people must take the path of illegal immigration as unemployment is on the rise in Afghanistan, TOLO News reported. Young people said it has become more difficult to cover the costs of living in the current situation and therefore they have to go to neighbouring countries or farther away.Click here to read… [3]

Bangladesh

Border guarding forces of India Bangladesh begin biannual talks focus on trans-border crimes better synergy - The Week

The border guarding forces of India and Bangladesh began their biannual talks here on Sunday with a focus on combating cross-frontier crimes and creating better synergy between them. The four-day talks are taking place at a BSF camp in Chhawla here and will end on June 14.Click here to read… [4]

Varanasi all set to host G20 meeting; gives grand welcome to Bangladesh FM, G20 delegates - Times of India

With Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi all set to host the G20 development ministers meeting, the ‘city of ghats’ welcomed Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on June 11. Along with Momen, G20 delegates from France and NITI Aayog, also received the heavily-celebrated grand welcome. The airport turned into a vibrant event as the dancers and singers held a performance for their guests. The delegates, on the other hand, experienced the traditional rituals at the airport as they stepped outside the airport. Varanasi will host 3-day development ministers meeting from June 11 to June 12.Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh follows India; signs pact to import fertilizer from Russia - Economic Times

Bangladesh, following India’s footsteps, has decided to import fertilisers from Russia, which is among the world’s top fertilizer producers. The Sheikh Hasina government has signed a deal to import 180,000 tons of muriate of potash from Russia for the year 2023-24. Bangladesh needs 750,000 tons of fertilizers annually.Click here to read… [6]

Bhutan

Bangladesh designates 15 entry-exit points to Bhutan – The Business Standard

Bangladesh has granted Bhutan access to 15 entry and exit points in the country for the transit of goods, following the signing of an "agreement on the movement of traffic-in-transit" in March of this year.Click here to read… [7]

Budget allocation up by Nu 3.7B - Kuensel

The budget for 2023-2024, which coincides with the dissolution of the government in October, but covers the entire fiscal year, stands at Nu 85.5 billion (B). Of the total allocation, expenditure is estimated at Nu 74.8B of which Nu 45.5B will be allocated for recurrent expenditure and Nu 29.3B for capital works. The allocation has increased by around Nu 3.7B from the previous fiscal year.Click here to read… [8]

Maldives

Maldives delegation departs for 4th SOM between the Maldives and the EU - Raajje

The Maldives delegation attending the Fourth Senior Officials Meeting between the Maldives and the European Union has departed to Brussels, Belgium. The delegation departed to Brussels on Sunday.Click here to read… [9]

Seychelles' First Couple in the Maldives on state visit - Raajje

The First Couple of Seychelles is in the Maldives on a state visit. President Wavel Ramkalawan and First Lady Linda Ramkalawan of Seychelles touched down at Velana International Airport on Sunday afternoon. Their visit comes following the official invitation of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.Click here to read… [10]

Myanmar

Thousands of Muslim Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh protest against food ration cuts- Shia Waves

Tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees, residing in Bangladesh’s camps, have protested against the drastic cuts in food rations and claims that they are being pressured to return to Myanmar. Click here to read… [11]

Insurgents in Myanmar engaged in hit and run ops in Manipur: IB Report

The report says that ethnic conflicts in Manipur and separatist movements in Myanmar have added fuel to the changing demographic profile of borders and the shift in the ethnic balance of communities is the result of illegal migration in the border districts of the northeastern state.Click here to read… [12]

Resistance Destroys Sagaing Junta Outpost Under Nose of Myanmar Military - The Irrawaddy

Myanmar junta forces torched a village in Salinggyi Township, Sagaing Region after losing its police station in a resistance raid on Friday, according to locals and resistance groups. The daring raid on the Nyaung Pin Gyi police outpost was conducted right under the noses of regime forces at 5pm by the Kayah State-based Buffalo People’s Defense Force and the Union Liberation Front (ULF), a combined force of 18 resistance groups from three Sagaing townships.Click here to read… [13]

Nepal

Following Akhand Bharat mural in new Parliament, Kathmandu mayor installs map of ‘Greater Nepal’ – The Telegraph Online

Balendra Shah has accomplished what Amarendra Baahubali and Cyril Radcliffe could not: he has “acceded” much of Bihar, parts of Bengal, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, besides Sikkim, to “Greater Nepal”. Balendra Shah, the Kathmandu mayor who is an engineer as well as a rapper.Click here to read… [14]

India's commitment to import clean energy from Nepal opened 'new door' for hydropower development in South Asia: PM 'Prachanda' – The Hindu

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has said India's commitment to import 10,000 MW of clean energy from Nepal in the next ten years has opened a "new door" for hydropower development in South Asia. His comments came during a meeting with Martin Raiser, World Bank Regional vice-president for South Asia, on June 9.Click here to read… [15]

Pakistan

Pakistan's PM orders authorities to take emergency measures for Cyclone Biparjoy – The Hindu

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered officials to put in place emergency measures in advance for Cyclone Biparjoy in the Arabian Sea which is likely to cause flooding and rainstorms in low-lying areas of Karachi and Sindh province. The Prime Minister's orders came in the wake of heavy rains in various areas of the country's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) also issued an alert asking authorities to be prepared for Cyclone Biparjoy.Click here to read… [16]

China’s actions exacerbating Pakistan’s debt issue – The Print

The current political and economic instability in Pakistan has left the country susceptible to various crises. While some of these crises have already impacted the nation, others are looming, posing a threat to its vulnerable population and fragile institutions. One significant challenge is the mounting debt burden that Pakistan is facing, according to InsideOver.Click here to read… [17]

Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari Reveals Imran Khan's Grievance: Army No Longer Supports Him – Outlook

Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that deposed prime minister Imran Khan is not against the army's interference in politics but is upset with the powerful establishment only because it is no longer supporting him, according to a media report. "Khan's problem with the Pakistan Army began in April of last year when it declared that it would not get involved in politics and would not take sides,” Bilawal told Qatar-based Al Jazeera news channel on Saturday.Click here to read… [18]

View from the neighbourhood | Pakistan’s Budget 2023-24 and a transgender healthcare alert: What the Pakistani media is talking about – The Indian Express

On the Odisha train tragedy in India, the Pakistani media largely acknowledges that India “has over the years taken several initiatives to revamp its railway system” (News International, June 8). Even so, better safety measures need to be adopted to avoid similar accidents in the future.Click here to read… [19]

Sri Lanka

India organises first-ever defence seminar and exhibition in Colombo to boost defence industrial partnership - Economic Times

India is eyeing to expand its defence industrial partnership with Sri Lanka amid China’s growing presence in the Southern Indian Ocean Region. The first-ever India-Sri Lanka defence seminar and exhibition was held at Colombo last week to identify newer areas of cooperation whilst ensuring capacity building of Sri Lanka Armed Forces.Click here to read… [20]

Sri Lanka lifts import restrictions on 286 items as economic woes eases - First Post

In a clear sign that the island nation is slowly but surely emerging from its worst economic crisis in decades, the Sri Lankan government announced on Saturday that the country has lifted import restrictions on nearly 300 items with immediate effect.Click here to read… [21]