Neighborhood News Digest – 04 October 2023

Afghanistan

EU special envoy condemns unlawful detentions of rights defenders in Afghanistan – The Khaama Press

The Special Representative of the European Union for Afghanistan has stated that the arbitrary detentions of Afghans defending their rights and those of others are unlawful. Thomas Nicholson has said that these detentions undermine the necessary trust for domestic legitimacy and constructive dialogue.Click here to read… [2]

Amnesty urges France to facilitate visa issuance for Afghan women, girls – Devdiscourse

In a recent move, Amnesty International has launched a campaign to urge the French government to facilitate the issuance of visas for Afghan women and girls, reported Khaama Press. Over 4500 people have requested France to grant visas to Afghan women and girls and provide them the opportunity to come to their country.Click here to read… [3]

Bangladesh

Building Bonds: India-Bangladesh SAMPRITI-XI Joint Military Exercise Begins - Financial Express

The 11th annual joint military exercise, SAMPRITI, between India and Bangladesh took off on Oct 3, 2023 in Umroi, Meghalaya. This exercise is a result of strong collaboration between the two countries in defence. It began in 2009 in Jorhat, Assam, and has had ten successful editions until 2022.Click here to read… [4]

World Bank cuts Bangladesh's FY23-24 GDP growth forecast amid inflation concerns - investing.com

In a recent press conference held in Dhaka on Tuesday, the World Bank (WB) revised its prediction for Bangladesh's GDP growth for fiscal year 2023-24, cutting it down to 5.6% from the previous 6.3%. The downward revision is attributed to inflation and external sector challenges, according to Abdoulaye Seck, World Bank's country director.Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh PM, US NSA discussed importance of improving bilateral ties: White House - Deccan Herald

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held a meeting with the US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan last week during which they discussed the importance of improving the relationship between the two countries, the White House said.Click here to read… [6]

Bhutan

German delegation sparks Bhutan’s waste revolution – Kuensel

In a transformative moment for Bhutan’s waste management efforts, a delegation of German parliamentarians, accompanied by representatives from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom South Asia, arrived in the country for a short study tour aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation between Bhutan and Germany.Click here to read… [7]

Maldives

On Day 1, Muizzu says will remove all ‘foreign militaries’ from Maldives - New Indian Express

Proving right speculations that India’s ties with Maldives would come under strain under its new president, Mohamed Muizzu announced on his first day in office that he would send back all foreign soldiers from the country. The only foreign military presence in Maldives is that of India.Click here to read… [8]

Maldives Economy To Grow By 6.5% In 2023 But Fiscal Buffers Urgently Needed - India Education Dairy

Real GDP is expected to grow by 6.5% in 2023, with an average growth of 5.4% from 2024 to 2025, but challenges lie ahead, with growing external and fiscal vulnerabilities posing risks to the economy, particularly if Maldives continues to borrow at high costs during a global economic slowdown, says the World Bank in its twice-a-year update.Click here to read… [9]

Chinese President Xi Vows to Deepen Ties with Maldives; Congratulates Muizzu on His Election as President - News18

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday pledged to deepen bilateral ties with the Maldives as he congratulated President-elect Mohamed Muizzu, whose party campaigned for forging close ties with Beijing. Muizzu, from the People’s National Congress and a close associate of former Maldives President Abdulla Yameen who forged close ties with China during his Presidency from 2013 to 2018, defeated India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential runoff held on Saturday.Click here to read… [10]

Myanmar

PTTEP might seek extension for Myanmar PSCs: Report - Upstream Online

Thailand’s national upstream company PTTEP is considering extending its production sharing contracts in neighbouring Myanmar, the first of which is due to expire 2028, according to executive Montri Rawanchaikul. "We are not looking for expansion, we're just looking for securing the gas needed for Thailand and Myanmar," Montri told Reuters on the sidelines of ADIPEC.Click here to read… [11]

Conflict in Myanmar’s Shan state drives 1,000 civilians into China - RFA

Fighting between junta troops and the ethnic Ta’ang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, has driven more than 1,000 people from northeast Myanmar’s Shan state across the border with China to seek shelter, according to residents. The group is the latest example of civilians displaced by conflict in Myanmar, where the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that tens of thousands have fled into neighboring countries to avoid conflict since the military’s February 2021 coup.Click here to read… [12]

Indonesia supplying weapons to Myanmar's military junta, claim activists - First Post

Human rights organisations urged Indonesia on Tuesday to look into alleged arms shipments by state-owned firms to Myanmar, where Indonesia has been working to foster peace ever since a military coup in 2021 sparked all-out war. According to Feri Amsari, a legal advisor to the activists, groups have complained to Indonesia’s national human rights commission over the sale of equipment to Myanmar by three state-owned armaments manufacturers since the coup.Click here to read… [13]

Nepal

Break the Agniveer logjam with Nepal - Daily Pioneer

India unilaterally announced Agnipath scheme without consulting Nepal and this has led to the shrinking of Gorkha regiments in the army. There is misplaced excitement over the 40,000 Agniveers recruited last year, the first batch reporting to units in August and the second batch by October. They are full of josh with the rank of Agniveer while the permanent cadre are Sepoys/Rifleman and above. Much is being made of them in Service Headquarters as Outstanding where special cells are monitoring their progress and evaluation for re-enlistment of 25 per cent after 4 years. The truth can only be discovered by conversations with their recipients as I have. Click here to read… [14]

Magnitude 6.2 Earthquake Hits Nepal, Strong Tremors Felt in Delhi-NCR - News 18

Strong tremors were felt across Delhi-NCR and other parts of north India after an earthquake measuring 6.2 magnitude hit Nepal on Tuesday afternoon. The earthquake was recorded with epicentre at Talkot area of Bajhang district, 700 km west of Kathmandu, at 2.40 p.m., the National Seismological Centre said.Click here to read… [15]

India-China feud keeps international planes out of Nepal airport - BBC

Travel industry experts argue tourist arrivals, particularly from overseas, will go up if there are regular scheduled international flights operating out of Bhairahawa airport. But Nepali officials say Delhi has refused to allow big passenger planes to fly west through its airspace - meaning planes cannot fly over India to reach the Gautam Buddha airport. Access to Indian airspace would mean shorter flights at lower cost.Click here to read… [16]

Pakistan

Exclusive: Cnergyico imports Pakistan's first private-sector Russian crude cargo – Reuters

Pakistan refiner Cnergyico (CNER.PSX) has imported the country's first private-sector shipment of Russian crude oil, it said on Monday, as the cash-strapped nation takes advantage of Moscow's discounts on its oil exports. The South Asian nation has started snapping up crude oil that Russia has discounted after its exports were banned from European markets over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Pakistan's first cargo, imported by the government, arrived in June and a second government-to-government shipment is under negotiation.Click here to read… [17]

Germany to provide €2 million in aid to Pakistan for calamity-hit people – Arab News

German Consul General Dr. Rudiger Lotz has said that Germany will provide €2 million in aid under the United Nations' (UN) World Food Programme (WFP) initiative to Pakistan by 2027, Geo News reports.Click here to read… [18]

Govt sets deadline of Nov 1 for illegal immigrants to leave Pakistan – Dawn

Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Tuesday announced a November 1 deadline for illegal immigrants in the country to leave Pakistan, otherwise, all law enforcement agencies would deport them. The interior minister was addressing a press conference in Islamabad and briefing the media on the details of the decisions taken during a meeting of the apex committee on the National Action Plan at the Prime Minister’s House.Click here to read… [19]

Fiscal reforms critical for economic stability, sustainable growth in Pakistan: World Bank – Dawn

Pakistan’s economy slowed sharply in fiscal year 2023 with real gross domestic product (GDP) estimated to have contracted by 0.6 per cent, according to the World Bank. In a report released on Tuesday, titled ‘Pakistan Development Update: Restoring Fiscal Sustainability’, the global body said the decline in economic activity in the country reflects the cumulation of domestic and external shocks including the floods of 2022, government restrictions on imports and capital flows, domestic political uncertainty, surging world commodity prices, and tighter global financing.Click here to read… [20]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka varsity drops joint research with Chinese ship – Colombo Gazette

Amidst pressure by China on Sri Lankan government to have the joint research program as planned using controversial Chinese vessel Shi Yan 6, Sri Lankan state university that was to represent Sri Lanka has decided to step aside. The University of Ruhuna, the government-run university on Tuesday announced that it will stay away from the planned geophysical scientific research with the Chinese ship.Click here to read… [21]

Sri Lanka to have deals with India, Bangladesh govts for medicine imports – Daily Excelsior

The Sri Lankan Government will stop emergency purchases of medicine and will enter into Government-to-Government contracts with India and Bangladesh to curb alleged corruption in the procurement of drugs, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said today.Click here to read… [22]