Neighborhood News Digest – 14 November 2023

Afghanistan

WFP’s $400 million appeal to prevent Afghanistan winter food crisis – The Khaama Press

The World Food Program (WFP) in Afghanistan faces a pressing challenge as winter approaches, with a staggering $400 million needed to ensure food supplies for vulnerable communities. As the harsh Afghan winter looms just weeks away, these funds are essential to prepare food resources and aid those who need it most. Click here to read... [2]

Incoming Turkish Envoy Says Ankara Ready to Cooperate with Afghans – Tolo News

The newly appointed ambassador of Turkey, Cenk Ünal, said that his country is ready to cooperate with the people of Afghanistan in various areas. Speaking at an event marking the arrival of a Turkish delegation aiming to modernize the university entrance process, Ünal said: “We are ready to cooperate with the Afghans in every area. We value increasing capacity of Afghanistan not in one field but in all fields. We also have good experience,” Ünal said. Click here to read... [3]

Iran deports over 21,000 Afghan migrants in a week – The Khaama Press

The commander of the border guards in Khorasan Razavi province revealed that Iranian border guards detained and deported back 21,407 Afghan migrants to Afghanistan who had crossed into Iran illegally. In the first six months of this year, more than 328,000 Afghan migrants have been expelled from Iran. Majid Shuja, the commander of the border guards in Khorasan Razavi, said in a press conference on Monday that these migrants had been identified during the past nine days when they entered Iran “illegally” and were handed over to a representative of the Taliban in the Dogharun district. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

After Trudeau's fresh attack, India, Bangladesh's statements on minorities in Canada - Hindustan Times

At the meeting, Bangladesh diplomat Abdullah Al Forhad urged Canada to intensify its efforts to combat racism, hate speech, hate crimes and discrimination against migrants and Muslim minorities. Al Forhad, however, commended Canada's progress in the protection of human rights and strategy to combat human trafficking. Bangladesh called for measures to be taken to reduce carbon emissions and address the negative impacts of climate change. Click here to read... [5]

Free and fair polls: US official writes to 3 parties in Bangladesh, calls for unconditional talks - Telegraph India

The US assistant secretary at the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Donald Lu, sent letters to the three main political parties in Bangladesh — the Awami League, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Jatiya Party — calling for “dialogue without any preconditions” to ensure “free, fair, impartial and participatory elections” in the neighbouring country. Click here to read... [6]

Bangladesh central bank insists on fixed dollar rate amid currency crisis - Investing.com

Bangladesh's central bank has reaffirmed its stance on maintaining a fixed exchange rate for the US dollar, as part of its ongoing efforts to stabilize the local currency and manage the dollar crisis that has intensified since the start of the financial year 2022-2023. Today, Bangladesh Bank (BB) engaged with representatives from leading foreign exchange entities, including Western Union (NYSE: WU) and MoneyGram, to reinforce a directive that caps the purchase rate of US dollars from remitters at Tk 116. Click here to read... [7]

Bhutan

Bhutan mulls ways to boost tourism in Chhukha, promote business tourism in Phuentshogling – Hindustan Times

Bhutan to push Chhukha's sacred religious sites as tourist spots, attract business-related meetings in Phuentshogling. Thousands of tourists enter Bhutan through Phuentshogling each year. However, few visitors visit Phuentshogling and other sections of the Chhukha region. Click here to read... [8]

Bhutan: Construction of 90-megawatt Jomori hydropower project starts in Samdrup Jongkhar – The Print

The construction of the 90-megawatt Jomori hydropower project in Samdrup Jongkhar has started, The Bhutan Live reported. The ground ceremony to begin the construction of the access road to various components of the project was held in Serthig Gewog on Sunday. Click here to read... [9]

BTP commits to allocate Nu 50B for infrastructure in first three years – Kuensel

Bhutan Tendrel Party (BTP) in its 63-page manifesto pledges that if the party is elected, the government will act as facilitator and not as regulator of public services delivery. The party pledged that it will institute a mimang zhaptog teywa in each gewog with a dedicated officer and fast-track and streamline business approvals or permits or clearances and regulations. Click here to read... [10]

Maldives

Chinese Presidential Envoy to attend Pres-elect's Swearing-In Ceremony – Avas

A special envoy representing Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. The swearing-in ceremony is slated to take place on Friday, November 17, at the Republic Square in Male' City. The ceremony is scheduled to be attended by Chinese Presidential Special Envoy Shen Yijin. Click here to read... [11]

Nasheed: Tendered resignation to pave way for democratic process - SunOnline International

Former president Mohamed Nasheed says he resigned from his post as the parliament speaker to pave way to democratic process. Nasheed resigned as the parliament speaker on November 13 after stalling the no-confidence motion filed against him by ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) from proceeding for days. Click here to read... [12]

Myanmar

Fresh Gunfight In Myanmar Triggers Rush Of Over 2000 Migrants To India’s Mizoram - Outlook India

Over 2,000 Myanmar nationals entered India through the international border in Mizoram over the last 24 hours after airstrikes following an intense gunfight in the neighbouring country's Chin state, the reports said. Click here to read... [13]

Shan State Omen: Is Myanmar’s Junta Losing Control of the War - The Diplomat

It is notoriously difficult to track battlefield developments in Myanmar’s sprawling civil war. The conflict involves countless armed groups, broadly sorted into territory-holding ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), the militia-like People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) loyal to the deposed National Unity Government, and an array of pro-junta militias and Border Guard Forces. Each of these groups, including the military regime itself, frequently claim victory in any given battle, making outside observers unsure as to the overall trajectory of the conflict. Click here to read... [14]

Myanmar junta imposes curfew in western city amid surge in rebel-led fighting - Deccan Herald

Fighting erupted on two new fronts this week, in the western states of Rakhine and Chin, which sent about 5,000 people fleeing to neighbouring India. Chin State, which had been largely peaceful for years, saw fierce fighting after the 2021 coup with with thousands of residents taking up arms against the military administration. Click here to read... [15]

Nepal

Nepal bans TikTok citing disruption to social harmony – BBC

Nepal has banned China's TikTok because its content "was detrimental to social harmony." The decision comes days after the country introduced a new rule requiring social media firms to set up liaison offices in the country. TikTok, which has around a billion monthly users, has been banned by several counties including India. Click here to read... [16]

Nepal To Probe China-Financed Pokhara Airport: Report – NDTV

Following The New York Times' expose on the construction quality and cost irregularities at the Pokhara airport financed by Chinese state-owned firms, Nepal's anti-corruption agency has initiated an inquiry into the project. Nepal's USD 216 million international airport in Pokhara, constructed with loans from China, was inaugurated in January. Click here to read... [17]

WHO responding to western Nepal earthquake 2023 – WHO

Efforts are on to get up-to-date information from partners about the impact of the earthquake. The Ministry of Health and Population, WHO and other partners met at the Health Emergency Operations Centre on 4 Nov 2023. Partners were requested to provide logistics and human resources support for the response. The Government’s initial rapid assessment launched on 5 November 2023 is underway. Click here to read... [18]

Pakistan

IMF-govt policy-level talks begin – Business Recorder

Caretaker Finance Minister Dr Shamshad Akhtar on Monday began policy-level talks with the visiting staff mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the first review of Stand-By-Arrangement (SBA) in a bid to secure $710 million of the $3 billion loan programme. The governor State Bank (SBP), the chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) as well as other senior officials of the Ministry of Finance, the FBR, the SBP and the Ministry of Energy also attended the meeting. Click here to read... [19]

Pakistan: Another JeM operative and Masood Azhar's close aide gunned down in Karachi – NDTV

In yet another blow to Pakistan-based terror organisation, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), a significant member linked to designated terrorist Masood Azhar, was found dead in Karachi's Orangi on Monday. According to a report by Pakistan news broadcaster and online publication, ARY News, Maulana Raheem Ullah Tariq was shot dead by two unidentified men who fired three shots before leaving the spot. Click here to read... [20]

China, Pakistan navies hold drills days after Russia’s historic Andaman Sea exercise – Dawn

The Chinese and Pakistani navies are holding weeklong drills in the Arabian Sea days after the Russian Pacific Fleet and Myanmar practised repelling attacks in their first maritime exercise, while India and the United States pledged security cooperation. At a naval base in Karachi on Saturday, the Chinese and Pakistani navies kicked off the exercise in the waters and airspace of the northern Arabian Sea in drills that include anti-submarine operations. The exercise will end on Nov 17. Click here to read... [21]

Pakistan Extends Legal Stay For 1.4 Million Afghan Refugees – NDTV World

Pakistan on Friday declared the extension of legal residence status for approximately 1.4 million Afghan refugees until the end of the year, following a four-month delay. However, the country maintained its stance against halting deportations of undocumented Afghans and other foreign nationals. Click here to read... [22]

Since 2019, 82 drones seized, 593 sightings on Pakistan border – Indian Express

From drugs to weapons to cash, security agencies have noted the increasing use of drones as “carriers” from across the border. Since 2019, the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police have recovered 82 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and reported 593 drone sightings along the India-Pakistan border, The Indian Express has learnt. Click here to read... [23]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's Economy Not Out Crisis Yet, Says President in Budget Speech– NDTV World

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on November 13, presented his government's 2024 budget, emphasising the need for tough reforms until the full recovery of the cash-strapped island nation's economy. President stated that, "We have been able to put back on the rails the derailed economy. Still, people undergo suffering," Click here to read... [24]

Sri Lanka’s 2024 budget sets ambitious revenue, deficit targets- The Times of India

Sri Lanka's government has announced a lower-than-expected budget deficit projection for 2024, aided by increased revenues. The Fiscal deficit target for 2024 is set at 2.85 trillion Sri Lankan rupees ($8.73 billion), equal to 9.1% of GDP. This is higher than the revised target of 8.5% for the current year. Click here to read... [25]

The President to Introduce Vital Proposals for Implementing the DIGIECON Economic Concept in the Upcoming Budget- News.lk

The Information and Communication Technology Representative of Sri Lanka has announced that President Ranil Wickremesinghe will present proposals to implement the Digi-Econ (DIGIECON) economic concept. This initiative aims to achieve a revenue of US$ 15 billion through digital economies by 2030, according to Mr. Sachindra Samararatne, Deputy Chief Digital Economic Officer of the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka. Click here to read... [26]