Neighborhood News Digest – 13 June 2023

Afghanistan

United Nations: Terror surge in Afghanistan; Taliban slams report – The Tribune

The link between the Taliban and Al-Qaeda and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains “strong and symbiotic”, as per a UN report which said the ability of terrorists to freely manoeuvre under the Taliban in Afghanistan is raising the threat of terrorism in the country and the region. Click here to read... [2]

Afghanistan: Child killed, two others injured in mine explosion in Ghor – The Print

A child was killed while two others were injured after a mine exploded in the Western Ghor province of Afghanistan, Afghanistan-based Khaama Press reported citing an official. A child was killed and two others were wounded after the explosion of a toy-like device in the Ponba Ghalmen area of Firoz Koah City. The child was killed on the spot after the mine explosion while two others were injured, according to Taliban’s provincial administration spokesperson Abdul Wahid Hamas, Khaama Press reported. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

Bangladesh: Rohingya Turmoil – Eurasia Review

On June 2, 2023, a Rohingya man, identified as Mohammad Rdwan, was shot dead and another, named Ayas, was injured in an attack by some unidentified gunmen in Ukhiya upazila (sub-district) in Cox’s Bazar District. An Armed Police Battalion (APBn) official said that assailants had carried out the attack to establish dominance in the camp. Click here to read... [4]

Indian Railways briefly cancels India-Bangladesh trains in view of Eid - East Mojo

Indian Railways, on Monday announced its decision to cancel train services of Mitali Express that goes to Bangladesh in view of Eid celebrations in the neighboring country. An official update said that train 13132 and 13131 (New Jalpaiguri – Dhaka – New Jalpaiguri) Mitali Express will temporarily be cancelled for six days in total. Click here to read... [5]

Bhutan

Govt. moves to ratify disability rights convention – Kuensel

The National Assembly will deliberate on the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) tomorrow. Member In-Charge of the Convention, Foreign Minister Dr Tandi Dorji introduced the convention at the National Assembly on June 9. “The purpose of the present Convention is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity,” he said. Click here to read... [6]

16 listed companies hold unclaimed dividends worth Nu 79.15 million - Kuensel

The Royal Securities Exchange of Bhutan (RSEB) has recently discovered Nu 79.15 million in unclaimed dividends from 16 out of the 19 listed companies. These unclaimed dividends have accumulated over time. According to data from the RSEB, the highest amount of unclaimed dividend, totalling Nu 24.59 million, belongs to Druk PNB Bank. Following closely behind is the Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan, with unclaimed dividends amounting to Nu 21.53 million, and Bhutan Insurance, with Nu 10.15 million left unclaimed. Click here to read... [7]

Maldives

Maldives gov't welcomes Seychellois President and First Lady - Avas

The Maldives government has hosted an official welcoming ceremony for the President of Seychelles, Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan, and First Lady, Mrs. Linda Ramkalawan, at the Republic Square on Monday. The ceremony marked the beginning of the state visit of the Seychellois President and First Lady to the Maldives. Click here to read... [8]

INDO-MALDIVES JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE “EKUVERIN” COMMENCED AT CHAUBATIA, UTTARAKHAND - PIB

The 12th edition of joint military exercise “Ex Ekuverin” between the Indian Army & the Maldives National Defence Force has commenced at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand from 11 to 24 June 2023. Ekuverin meaning ‘Friends’ is a bilateral annual exercise conducted alternatively in India and Maldives. Click here to read... [9]

Myanmar

Earthquake of magnitude 3.7 hits Myanmar - the Print

An earthquake of magnitude 3.7 jolted Myanmar on Tuesday, the National Center for Seismology (NCS) said. The NCS said that the earthquake occurred in Myanmar on Tuesday at 2:53 am (IST) and at a depth of 10 kilometres. NCS tweeted, “Earthquake of Magnitude:3.7, Occurred on 13-06-2023, 02:53:06 IST, Lat: 26.31 & Long: 95.20, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Myanmar.” Click here to read... [10]

Turmoil in Rakhine won't impact Kaladan project: Myanmar minister - Devi Discourse

It would enhance bilateral and regional trade.It will also provide a strategic link to the Northeast, thereby reducing pressure on the Siliguri corridor.In March, MoS for External Affairs R K Ranjan Singh said the project got delayed due to the political situation in Myanmar.Because of the unpredictable atmosphere occurring in Myanmar, our progress in view of the Kaladan project is getting delayed a bit, he had told reporters in Aizawl.KMTTP links the Kolkata Port to Sittwe Port, which is then connected through an inland waterway along the Kaladan River to the western Myanmarese town of Paletwa. Click here to read... [11]

Foreign journalists quit club after chief visits Myanmar - The Hindu

Leading members of the Foreign Correspondents Club, the only media outfit that caters to foreign media professionals in India have resigned in protest after the club’s current president Venkat Narayan was hosted last week by the junta in Myanmar. In a statement shared with The Hindu the members accused Mr Narayan of receiving hospitality from the junta saying that his action had brought “disrepute” to the organisation. Click here to read... [12]

Nepal

Nepal's National Assembly chairman holds talks with China's top legislator in Beijing – Devdiscourse

Both sides agreed to further work together to promote economic development in the fields of trade, energy, air connectivity, infrastructure, power grid and border points, the release said.In addition, the two sides stressed facilitating the export of Nepali products, it added. Click here to read... [13]

China To Unite Nepal's Communist Parties Ahead Of Nepal PM Prachanda's Trip In July – Republic World

Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist), as well as Netra Bikram Chand (Biplab) and Mohan Baidya are making all the attempts to get unified after the split in 2021. The efforts to merge Nepal's communist parties comes ahead of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda's" visit this July or early August. This would be the Maoist leader's second bilateral trip to the People's Republic of China (PRC) since he assumed office in December 2022. Click here to read... [14]

Pakistan

Pakistan to evacuate 80,000 people ahead of Cyclone Biparjoy – AlJazeera

Authorities in Pakistan have begun efforts to evacuate more than 80,000 people out of the path of an approaching cyclone that could hit the southern parts of Sindh province and India’s Gujarat state, officials say. The cyclone, named Biparjoy, is expected to make landfall on Thursday afternoon between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125 to 135 kilometres per hour (78 to 84 miles per hour) with gusts up to 150km/h (93mph), according to officials in both countries. Click here to read... [15]

Embezzlement amid FDI lull in Pakistan – The Economic Times

The ongoing turbulence in Pakistan’s economy is making the government and policymakers nervous about the country's future. At the same time, the ineffectiveness of remedial steps in tackling the crisis indicates that the nature of the problem is more structural than transitory. Being deep rooted in the system, these issues are making the prospects of economic recovery look frail. With no easy way out of legacy issues like political instability, corruption, terrorism, law & order and Infrastr. Click here to read... [16]

Exclusive: Pakistan paid in Chinese currency for discounted Russian oil- minister – Reuters

Pakistan paid for its first government-to-government import of discounted Russian crude oil in Chinese currency, the South Asian country's petroleum minister said on Monday, a significant shift in its U.S. dollar-dominated export payments policy. Discounted crude offers a respite as Pakistan faces an economic crisis with an acute balance of payments problem, risking a default on its external debt. The foreign exchange reserves held by the central bank are scarcely enough to cover a month of controlled imports. Click here to read... [17]

Sri Lanka

Asian development bank lists Sri Lanka as priority country for natural capital linked financing - Tamil Gaurdian

Manila-based Asian Development Bank has picked Sri Lanka as a priority country to pilot a new financing approach to conserve and build ‘natural capital', despite military back deforestation across the North-east. Natural capital could include forests, wetlands, marine ecosystems and also agricultural areas. The ADB has set up a division focusing on natural capital and climate and is drawing up a blueprint on how the lender can help enhance such assets. Click here to read... [18]

Plan to privatise Sri Lanka Telecom delayed over national security concerns - Business Standard

The Sri Lankan government has decided to delay its plan to privatise Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) following Parliamentary Committee's warning that it could create a potential threat to national security. The SLT, in which the government owns a majority stake, is the national information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider and the leading broadband and backbone infrastructure services provider of Sri Lanka. Click here to read... [19]