Neighborhood News Digest – 24 August 2023

Afghanistan

Six Pakistan soldiers killed in attack near Afghanistan border – Al Jazeera

Six Pakistani soldiers have been killed in a clash with the Pakistan Taliban near the border with Afghanistan, according to an army statement, which added that four armed fighters belonging to the armed group were also killed. “On 22 August 2023, [a] fire exchange took place between own troops and terrorists in general area Asman Manza, South Waziristan District,” ISPR, Pakistan Army’s media wing, said in a statement on Tuesday.Click here to read… [2]

Bangladesh

Xi calls for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China, Bangladesh - English News

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called on China and Bangladesh to push for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and give full play to their economic complementarity. Xi, in his meeting with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, also urged the two sides to step up cooperation in infrastructure, information technology, new energy and agriculture, among other areas.Click here to read… [3]

Bangladesh to formulate integrated national transit policy -Fibre to Fashion

The Bangladesh commerce ministry has set up a technical committee to formulate an integrated national transit policy for the first time. The committee, comprising representatives from the ministries of commerce, railways, road transport and bridges, shipping, foreign affairs, and the National Board of Revenue and the Bangladesh Land Port Authority, is headed by joint secretary Mohammad Abdus Samad Al Azad.Click here to read… [4]

Bhutan

Women’s participation in political parties increases – Kuensel

With 23 women participating in the upcoming National Assembly elections, the number of women candidates has increased compared to past elections. In the 2018 elections, the four registered political parties fielded 19 female candidates. However, considering an additional political party into the fray, the women’s participation rate per party has declined.Click here to read… [5]

Maldives

Fourteen percent increase in tourist arrivals - Avas

The number of tourists visiting the Maldives thus far this year has increased by 14 percent over the same period last year. According to the Tourism Ministry, as of August 21, the Maldives has welcomed a total of 1.19 million tourists, reflecting a significant growth of 145,664 visitors over the corresponding timeframe last year.Click here to read… [6]

Myanmar

UN Security Council, minus China, Russia condemns Myanmar military actions- Business Standard

Members of the U.N. Security Council minus China and Russia condemned the unrelenting violence and killing of civilians in Myanmar and again urged its military rulers to stop attacks, release ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and respect human rights. Thirteen of the 15 council members on Wednesday backed a joint statement that said there had been insufficient progress on implementing the first-ever Security Council resolution on Myanmar that was adopted last December. In that 12-0 vote, China and Russia, which have ties to the military that seized power from Suu Kyi's elected civilian government in February 2021, abstained along with India whose two-year term on the council has ended.Click here to read… [7]

US Announces Sanctions Targeting Myanmar Military’s Access to Jet Fuel - The Diplomat

The United States government has announced another round of sanctions against military-ruled Myanmar, targeting foreign companies or individuals that are helping the military procure jet fuel.Click here to read… [8]

Nepal

Nepal faces shortage after India slaps 40 per cent tax on onion exports: Report – The Telegraph

Nepal has started to face an acute shortage of onions, days after neighbouring India slapped a 40 per cent export tax on the vegetable, a media report said on Wednesday. India last week imposed a 40 per cent tariff on the export of onions till December 31 to restrict overseas sales. The move comes amid anticipation of a price rise ahead of the festival season when demand for most commodities goes up, The Kathmandu Post newspaper reported.Click here to read… [9]

Pakistan

Pakistan President invites top election official for meeting to set poll dates – India Today

Pakistan President Arif Alvi on Wednesday invited the top election official of the country for a meeting to set a date for the upcoming general elections. Alvi wrote a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, citing the constitutional requirement for the president to decide a date for general elections within 90 days of the dissolution of the National Assembly (NA).Click here to read… [10]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Holds Rates After Bank Cash Ratio Cut for Growth - Bloomberg

Sri Lanka stood pat on borrowing costs for the first time in three meetings, after slashing the cash ratio for banks to bolster domestic liquidity and growth. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka kept the standing lending facility rate at 12%, according to a statement on its website on Thursday. Only one of the six economists surveyed by Bloomberg had forecast a hold while the rest predicted cuts ranging from 100-200 basis points.
Click here to read… [11]

India Will Continue To Provide Assistance To Sri Lanka": S Jaishankar - NDTV

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday pledged continued development assistance in every possible area to Sri Lanka amid its ongoing economic crisis. S Jaishankar addressed the parliamentarians who are part of the Sri Lanka-India Parliamentary Friendship Association through a video link and emphasised that India was in every aspect working towards strengthening the Indi-Sri Lanka ties.Click here to read… [12]