Neighborhood News Digest – 21 November 2023

Afghanistan

Earthquake Of Magnitude 4.1 Hits Afghanistan – NDTV

An earthquake of magnitude 4.1 struck Afghanistan on Tuesday, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reported. The quake took place in early hours today at 00:03:14 IST and was reported at a depth of 73 km. Click here to read... [2]

German Minister calls on Turkish-Islamic Union to explain hosting of Taliban official – The Khaama Press

Nancy Fizer, the Minister of Interior of Germany, requested an explanation from the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs regarding the invitation and speech of the Taliban’s acting director of food and drug administration at a mosque affiliated with this centre. Click here to read... [3]

If Govt is Recognized, Kabul Will Adopt Intl Norms in Line With Sharia – Tolo News

The Islamic Emirate’s Spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said that they are not obliged to adhere to the UN laws unless their government is recognized by the United Nations members. This comes as November 19 is the 77th anniversary of Afghanistan’s joining the UN. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

India, Bangladesh PMs to unveil 3 projects to boost connectivity, energy security- Hindustan Times

hree development projects implemented in Bangladesh with Indian assistance to boost connectivity and energy security in the region will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina on November 1, 2023. The three projects to be inaugurated during a virtual ceremony on November 1 are the Akhaura-Agartala cross-border rail link, the Khulna-Mongla port rail line, and unit II of the Maitree super thermal power plant. Click here to read... [5]

PM Hasina: Will have dialogue with opposition if Biden does same with Trump- Dhaka Tribune

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on October 31 said she will have dialogue with the opposition if the US President Joe Biden does the same with former president and 2024 US presidential candidate Donald Trump. Following a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal, the US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas expressed hope that all sides going forward will engage in a “dialogue” without preconditions to de-escalate tensions and find a path forward to free, fair and peaceful elections. Click here to read... [6]

Bhutan

Open Indo-Nepal, Indo-Bhutan borders a challenge for personnel, says IG SSB – Hindustan Times

The IG SSB said that the force had a strong intelligence wing to monitor inputs of intelligence agencies and work in tandem with them. Discharging duty at the open Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan Border was challenging for SSB Jawans due to the possibilities of misuse by anti-social elements of a third country. Click here to read... [7]

UNDP report urges climate-resilient investment in Bhutan – Kuensel

Bhutan is vulnerable to natural disasters and the impact of climate change, investment in climate adaptation and mitigation can reduce risks and improve the resilience of people and the natural environment, according to a recent report from the UNDP. Click here to read... [8]

Maldives

Why Maldives economy must be Muizzu's priority not 'India out' politics - Firstpost

In the midst of economic challenges and looming debt obligations, Maldives faces a new challenge closer to home: the incoming President Mohamed Muizzu, set to take office on November 17, is adamant about India’s military presence in the country has raised diplomatic concerns. The World Bank issued a warning regarding the Maldives’ mounting debt obligations and ratings agencies such as Fitch Ratings, have raised concerns about the nation’s high debt burden, rising debt and low reserves. Click here to read... [9]

Maldivian launches scheduled flights to Bangalore, India- Avas

Maldives' national airline, Maldivian, has launched regular flights to Bangalore, India, with the first flights taking off on Monday. In addition to Bangalore, Maldivian operates flights to several other destinations in India, including Trivandrum and Cochin, and flights to Dhaka, Bangladesh. India serves as a significant source of tourists for the Maldives. Click here to read... [10]

Myanmar

US, UK, Canada unveil new sanctions on supporters of Myanmar military- The Daily Star

The United States, Canada and Britain took aim today at sources of support to Myanmar's military regime, building on earlier sanctions and targeting its ability to buy weapons. The fresh restrictions come more than two years after a military coup that also launched a violent campaign against democracy activists. It added that the latest sanctions target companies and individuals, including government officials, who perpetuate or facilitate violence in the Southeast Asian country. Click here to read... [11]

China Rushes Minister to Myanmar as Rebels Wrest Control of Key Roads Crucial to BRI- News 18

China’s public security minister has held talks with Myanmar’s junta on establishing peace along their shared border, following clashes between ethnic armed groups and the military in Myanmar. Thousands of people have been reportedly displaced, with some crossing into China, after three armed groups fighting for autonomy launched coordinated attacks on the junta seeking to take control of towns. Moreover, State Administration Council Member Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Yar Pyae organized an informal meeting with Member of the State’s Council of the People’s Republic of China and Minister for Public Security Mr Wang Xiaohong in Nay Pyi Taw, on law enforcement and security corporation. Click here to read... [12]

Myanmar delegation in Teknaf to discuss Rohingya repatriation- Dhaka Tribune

A delegation team of 32 Myanmar officials on Tuesday arrived in Cox’s Bazar to interview Rohingya refugees in a bid to start the long-stalled plan to return the persecuted minority to their homeland. Among the delegation team, there are 11 Rohingya citizens in their trawler. Earlier, the Myanmar delegation visited Bangladesh in two rounds on March 15 and May 25. At that time, after verifying the information of about 700 Rohingya, the team returned to Myanmar. Click here to read... [13]

Nepal

In Nepal’s TikTok ban there’s is more than meets the eye – The Hindu

During the festival of Tihar, Kathmandu, the national capital of Nepal, usually remains quiet. Offices, courts, schools and institutions remain closed. In the evenings and nights, the quietness gets punctuated by sounds of firecrackers, which are officially banned in Nepal. This year too, on November 13, there was a usual quietness due to Tihar. And then the government led by Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” burst the loudest firecracker — it announced a ban on the popular social media app TikTok. Click here to read... [14]

No review on fuel prices as auto pricing fails – The Kathmandu Post

The state-owned oil monopoly last week did not review the prices of petroleum products in line with the rates in the international markets after the total failure of its auto-pricing mechanism. On November 16, Nepal received the new tariff for petroleum products from its supplier—Indian Oil Corporation. The price of diesel has dropped significantly, while there has been a slight drop in petrol price, according to the officials at Nepal Oil Corporation. Click here to read... [1]
https://kathmandupost.com/money/2023/11/21/no-review-on-fuel-prices-as-auto-pricing-fails [15]

Pakistan

IMF board to approve staff-level agreement on Dec 7 – Dawn

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is tentatively scheduled for Dec 7 to approve the Staff-Level Agreement (SLA) with Pakistan for the first review of the $3bn Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) leading to disbursement of about $700 million on Dec 8. Click here to read... [16]

More than 400,000 Afghans return home from Pakistan following crackdown on migrants – The Telegraph

More than 400,000 Afghans returned to their home country following the ongoing crackdown on illegal foreigners in the country, Pakistani authorities said Monday. Zabihullah Mujahid, chief spokesperson of the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, confirmed the number and told The Associated Press that the majority have been using the border crossings of Torkham and Spin Boldak to return home. Click here to read... [17]

Eighth Drone Recovered Near Pakistan Border In Punjab This Week - NDTV

The BSF on Monday recovered a drone from an agricultural field near the India-Pakistan border in Punjab's Tarn Taran district, an official said. This is the eighth Pakistani unmanned aerial vehicle -- used to smuggle heroin from across the border -- that has been seized by Border Security Force (BSF) troops at different places in Punjab during the past week. Click here to read... [18]

Those involved in attacks on military must not go unpunished: Pakistan PM – Business Standard

Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has said that those involved in the unprecedented attacks on security installations on May 9 this year must not go unpunished and should be tried by military courts. In an interview with Geo News on Sunday, Kakar referred to the May 9 incidents in Pakistan following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan in an alleged corruption case. Click here to read... [19]

Sri Lanka

President chairs major roundtable discussion on economy- News First

As a follow-up to December 2022 discussions, representatives from WB, ADB, IMF, AIIB, IFCA, MIGA, JICA, USAID, EU, UN convened for a second high-level round table discussion with Sri Lankan President, PM & Govt Officials in Colombo on October 31, 2023. The discussions being aimed at the Government's reform programs to pivot from crisis to recovery & sustainable growth, the forum also discussed challenges, opportunities & commitments for Sri Lanka's development. Click here to read... [20]

US, Sri Lanka discuss CARAT navy exercise for 2024– News First

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung, in a recent meeting with Secretary of Defence Retired General Kamal Gunaratne, had discussed matters relating to the Cooperation Afloat Readiness & Training Navy exercise in 2024, also known as CARAT 2024. CARAT is an exercise designed to promote regional security cooperation, maintain and strengthen maritime partnerships, enhance maritime interoperability and preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Click here to read... [21]

Sri Lanka raises taxes again to unblock IMF bailout- The Times of India

Sri Lanka has announced a rise in goods and services tax after the IMF held back a loan tranche due to the country’s failure to meet revenue targets. The tax increase is necessary to boost state revenue and unblock the loan instalment. Government spokesman Bandula Gunawardana said another tax rise was needed after the IMF held back a $330 million loan tranche because Sri Lanka’s tax revenue was still not meeting outlays. Click here to read... [22]