Neighborhood News Digest – 21 June 2023

Afghanistan

Pakistan uses various tools to disturb tribals along border with Afghanistan: Report - The Print

Pakistan’s policy of disturbing the tribal people along its border regions with Afghanistan has many dimensions, Afghan Diaspora Network reported. The various tools employed by Pakistan include frequent cross-border firings, violation of Afghan airspace through drones, economic blockade, and disputing Afghanistan’s sovereignty by issuing National Identity Card (NIC) cards to Afghans in border areas.Click here to read... [2]

Taliban Publicly Execute Murder Accused, Second After Afghanistan Takeover – NDTV

A convicted murderer was shot dead Tuesday in the grounds of a mosque in provincial Afghanistan, officials said, the second public execution since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. "He was executed in public in the town of Sultan Ghazi Baba, centre of Laghman province, so that he could suffer and become a lesson for others," said a statement from provincial information officers.Click here to read... [3]

Treatment of women in Afghanistan could be gender apartheid: UN expert – Khaleej Times

A UN expert said on Monday that the treatment of Afghan women and girls by the Taliban could amount to "gender apartheid" as their rights continue to be gravely infringed by the country's de facto authorities.Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Bangladesh turns to India to tide over rough patch in ties with US – Hindustan Times

Bangladesh-US relations have been bumpy in recent months, with the American envoy in Dhaka, Peter Haas, repeatedly calling for the holding of a free and transparent general election. Bangladesh has sought India’s assistance to tide over a rough patch in its relations with the US, especially over the conduct of elections in the neighbouring country, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh finally floats currency to unlock more IMF funds – Financial Express

Bangladesh’s central bank will allow the currency to float freely, finally giving into demands from the International Monetary Fund to unlock more money from the $4.7 billion loan program. While Bangladesh is not heavily indebted, it joins several such countries in loosening a tight grip on local currencies in order to get financing from the Washington-based lender.Click here to read... [6]

Bhutan

NA ratifies BIMSTEC Charter – Kuensel

In a significant move, Bhutan, a member of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) since 2004, has finally ratified the BIMSTEC Charter. The absence of the Charter had previously hindered the country from reaping major benefits from the organisation’s initiatives. However, on June 13, the National Assembly unanimously voted in favour of the Charter, with all 44 members present supporting its ratification.Click here to read... [7]

Bhutan National Assembly adopts National Identity Bill of 2023 – ANI

Recently, the National Assembly of Bhutan adopted the National Digital Identity Bill of 2023, marking an important milestone in the country's digital transformation journey, Bhutan-based The Bhutan Live reported. As many as 42 members of the assembly have offered support to the bill, showcasing a shared vision for the advancement of digital identity management.Click here to read... [8]

Maldives

Chief Justice of the Maldives concludes official visit to the USA - Raajje

The Chief Justice of the Republic of the Maldives, Ahmed Muthasim Adnan, has concluded his official visit to the United States of America (USA). The Chief Justice departed to the USA on 10 June. He concluded his trip and returned to the Maldives on 19 June. Justice of the Supreme Court, Husnu Al Suood accompanied Chief Justice Muthasim Adnan on the trip.Click here to read... [9]

Myanmar

Over 2,000 Myanmar Refugees Found In Manipur In The First Phase Of Detection – Republic World

An internal report submitted by IGP Kabib K (Intelligence, Narcotics and Affairs of Border) to the Commissioner (Home), which has been exclusively accessed by the Republic TV, reveals shocking data on illegal immigrants from Myanmar in five hill districts of Manipur. On February 16, 2023, Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee comprising three cabinet ministers Letpao Haokip, Awangbow Newmai and Th Basanta Kumar Singh.Click here to read... [10]

Myanmar Junta Blocking Aid to Cyclone Victims – Human Rights Watch

Cyclone Mocha slammed into Myanmar more than a month ago, but the military junta is still obstructing humanitarian aid to devastated areas. The storm was one of the strongest cyclones ever to hit the region. Sustained winds of up to 250 kilometers per hour wreaked havoc. Hundreds of people died. Hundreds of thousands of buildings were damaged, and telecommunications outages have isolated entire communities.Click here to read... [11]

Nepal

Nepal seeks report on 'controversial' mural in India's new Parliament building – India Today

The Nepal government has instructed its embassy in New Delhi to ascertain facts and send a report on the mural installed in the new Indian Parliament building which has created a controversy in the Himalayan nation, the country's foreign minister said on Tuesday.Click here to read... [12]

Why is Beijing increasing its engagements in Nepal? – The Siasat Daily

As the Chinese engagements with Nepal have increased post-relaxation of Covid restrictions, it is being said that Beijing is worried that “third parties” may derail bilateral relations, according to leaders and experts, The Kathmandu Post reported. As China has relaxed its Covid restrictions, the frequency of bilateral engagements between Nepal and China has grown over the past few months, The Kathmandu Post reported.Click here to read... [13]

Nepal: Scores perform Yoga at Lumbini ahead of International Day of Yoga – The Print

Scores of yoga enthusiasts and followers gathered at Lumbini Square in Nepal and performed various “asanas” ahead of the International Day of Yoga. It is the first time that such a large-scale Yoga event has been organised in Lumbini, the Birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha also regarded as the “Light of Asia.” Click here to read... [14]

Pakistan

Pakistan court issues non-bailable arrest warrants against ex-PM Imran Khan: ARY News – Khaleej Times

An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan has issued non-bailable arrest warrants against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, ARY News reported on Tuesday. Addressing the nation via YouTube on Sunday evening, Khan said his fight is for the better future of his country and its people. The former prime minister Imran Khan has said he will continue fighting for the rule of law in the country, asserting that he will neither strike a deal nor surrender even if the government puts him in jail.Click here to read... [15]

China inks deal with Pakistan to set up nuclear power plant in Punjab province – The Hindu

China on June 20 inked an agreement worth a whopping $4.8 billion with cash-strapped Pakistan to set up a 1,200-megawatt nuclear power plant as a sign of increasing strategic cooperation between the two all-weather allies. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif witnessed the signing of the deal under which Beijing would build a 1,200-megawatt Chashma-V nuclear plant at Chashma in the Mianwali district of Punjab.Click here to read... [16]

Fresh trouble for Shehbaz Sharif: Pakistan fails to get cargoes to buy LNG; dollar crunch halts food imports – Business Today

Pakistan's ongoing economic crisis is likely to further exacerbate as the dollar shortage has led to a complete halt in the import of food and beverages in the country. This situation has led to thousands of containers being stranded at ports, incurring fines and additional charges for the traders, India Today's DailyO reported on Tuesday.Click here to read... [17]

Govt to hand over seaports to UAE – The Express Tribune

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar chaired the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Inter-Governmental Commercial Transactions. The cabinet committee decided to set up a committee to negotiate a commercial agreement between the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and the UAE government, according to the decision.Click here to read... [18]

Sri Lanka

Chinese companies invest over US $ 500 m in Sri Lanka – Sunday Observer

Sri Lanka has secured over USD 500 million in Foreign Direct investments from Chinese companies for joint venture projects in the past 10 months. These have come in with technological advances which were never seen in Sri Lanka before. Chairman Interline Gems (Pvt) Ltd Beruwela, Ratnapura and Galle Road Colombo 3, Ifham Hanif said he made regular visits to China for the sale of gems he saw the novel technology they were adopting to optimise production in various industries.Click here to read... [19]

India’s Submarine And Pakistan’s Naval Ship Visit Sri Lanka At The Same Time – Marine Insight

Indian indigenous Navy Submarine dubbed the “Vagir” and the Pakistan Naval Ship (PNS) named “Tippu Sultan” are currently docked at the Colombo Port. Vagir is the latest submarine belonging to Kalvari class of the Indian Navy. It is on its operational visit to Colombo from 19 to 22 Jun to commemorate the ninth edition of the IDY under the “Global Ocean Ring” theme.Click here to read... [20]