Neighborhood News Digest – 4 July 2023

Afghanistan

British Special Forces Face Fire For Afghanistan Ops, Accused Of Executing Over 80 Unarmed Civilians – Hindustan Times

British Special Air Services have been accused of executing over 80 unarmed civilians in Afghanistan. A Guardian report says this happened while troops raided homes between 2010 and 2013. The claims were made by the lawyers for families of the Afghan victims to a UK investigative panel. Lawyers said the killing was part of a British policy to "remove all men of fighting age".Click here to read... [2]

At least 4,000 Afghan refugees returned to country from Iran – Devdiscourse

At least 4,000 Afghan refugees returned to Afghanistan through the Zabol crossing point over the past 24 hours, Khaama Press reported on Monday citing Iranian border security officials. Iranian border official Parwiz Qasimzada said that these Afghan migrants were arrested due to illegal entry and later on returned to Afghanistan. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

Is US listening to Bangladesh message against China: Report - Devidiscourse

According to the publication, a couple of years ago, China had warned Bangladesh from joining the Indo-Pacific initiatives, which was launched by the US, but under Sheikh Hasina, the government firmly told Beijing that they would follow their own foreign policy. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh Taka seen biggest devaluation against the US dollar on Monday - Right News

The Central Bank of Bangladesh raised the US Dollar selling rate at interbank level by Taka 2.85 from its foreign exchange reserves. Earlier it was Taka 106 per USD and now the new rate is Taka 108.85. Bangladesh Bank’s this move is a step further to implement a unified and market-driven exchange rate regime, putting an end to multiple exchange rate mechanisms to ease pressure on country’s forex reserves. Click here to read... [5]

Bhutan

We are proud of Bhutan’s contributions to the UN and peacekeeping: Jean-Pierre Lacroix – Kuensel

Under Secretary General for Peace Operations of the United Nations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, talks to Kuensel’s Rinzin Wangchuk on Bhutanese peacekeepers deployed in the UN peacekeeping mission. Bhutanese people take pride in the fact that the country is able to send troops to help in the peacekeeping mission of the UN since 2014. Click here to read... [6]

Maldives

How Maldives is adapting to a changing security climate – and where Australia benefits - Lowly Institute

The island state of Maldives has long been seen as a small player in South Asia, sheltered within an Indian sphere of influence. But while it still defers to India’s leading role in the region, Maldives is now reaching out to new security partners with the aim of anchoring itself in a broader set of relationships. This may serve to reduce its vulnerability to major power competition and help address other threats such as climate change. Click here to read... [7]

Myanmar

91 more Singapore-based companies allegedly sending supplies to Myanmar military - CNA

Another 91 Singapore-based entities were recently identified as being involved in the flow of supplies to Myanmar’s military, adding to an initial list of 47 recently named by the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Myanmar. In response to questions sent by Members of Parliament (MPs) Vikram Nair (People’s Action Party-Admiralty) and Dennis Tan (Workers’ Party-Hougang), Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan clarified that the government has not imposed a general trade embargo on Myanmar. Click here to read... [8]

Myanmar sentences The Irrawaddy publisher Thaung Win to 5 years prison for sedition - CPJ

Myanmar’s military authorities must immediately release Thaung Win, stop persecuting journalists for their work, and let the independent news outlet The Irrawaddy operate freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. Click here to read... [9]

Nepal

China positive about providing further development assistance to Nepal: Shrestha – The Print

China is positive towards providing further development assistance to Nepal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha said on Sunday. Talking to reporters here, Shrestha said he held extensive discussions with the Chinese leaders focusing on strengthening bilateral relations, promoting trade, investment and economic development. Click here to read... [10]

Uproar over Indian currency in Nepal, market value of rupee decreased – Newsday Express

These days there is upheaval in Nepal regarding the Indian currency. This is directly affecting the common people of India and Nepal. People living in the border areas of India and Nepal who have a daughter-bread relationship are facing more problems. Most of the people in the border areas depend on the Indian market and the shopkeepers here depend on them. Click here to read... [11]

Nepal walks the tightrope between India and China – NewsIn Asia

Early in June, Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal visited India for four days, amidst a feeling in both countries that bilateral relations were none too good. The opinion in India was that Dahal should have called on the leaders in Delhi soon after assuming power in December 2022. New Delhi was also wary about the Maoist communist party leader’s potential to become pro-China. Click here to read... [12]

Pakistan

Pakistan registers 79% spike in terror attacks in 2023 so far: Think-tank – Business Standard

Pakistan registered a whopping 79 per cent spike in terror attacks in the first six months of 2023 compared to the corresponding period last year, a prominent think-tank said here on Monday. A statistical report released by Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) said that the country's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has been the most highly impacted state due to the militant attacks while Sindh saw a dip in such attacks compared to last year. Click here to read... [13]

Cash-strapped Pakistan explores external financing options after IMF deal – The Hindu

With the IMF now on board, the cash-strapped Pakistan government is now considering meeting most of its external financing needs in the medium term through 10-15 years of international bonds and concessional multilateral loans, according to a media report on Monday. It also plans to diversify local debt instruments to inflation-based bonds, list government papers on the stock exchange, and issue short-term Islamic and conventional floating rate products, the Dawn newspaper reported. Click here to read... [14]

Pakistan shares on track to record highest ever point-wise gains on IMF deal – The Economic Times

Pakistan's benchmark share index rose over 6% after securing a $3 billion financial package from the IMF. Auto stocks increased as import restrictions are expected to ease. Automakers, including Pakistan Suzuki Motor and Honda Atlas Cars, experienced gains of 7.5% while Indus Motor Co. rose 6%. With the import ban lifted and the IMF deal secured, companies in the auto sector will not face any supply chain issues. Click here to read... [15]

Jack Ma's confidential Pakistan visit triggers speculation – India Today

Chinese billionaire and Alibaba Group co-founder Jack Ma made an unexpected trip to Pakistan. The visit has triggered speculation as Jack Ma avoided interaction with government officials and media people, The Express Tribune reported. According to the report, the Chinese billionaire landed in Lahore on June 29 and stayed there for 23 hours. Click here to read... [16]

China-Pakistan Nuclear Axis: Rawalpindi To Get New Nuclear Reactor In $4.8 Billion Deal, Fueling Proliferation Fears – Swarajya

China is ramping up its civil nuclear cooperation with Pakistan as it aims to expand its presence in a market dominated by Russia and Western countries, as reported by Nikkei Asia. Despite facing challenges in Pakistan's power sector, China's motives for the nuclear energy deal are driven by strategic ambitions rather than purely economic considerations. Click here to read... [17]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's garment exports ease 16.5% to $1,843.3 mn in Jan-May 2023 - Fibre2Fashion

Sri Lanka's garment exports were valued at $1,843.3 million from January to May 2023, showing a decrease of 16.5 per cent compared to exports of $2,206.6 million during the same period in the previous year, according to statistics released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. The country's garment exports fell by 14.2 per cent in May 2023 due to a global economic slowdown. Click here to read... [18]

ADB Appoints Takafumi Kadono As New Country Director For Sri Lanka -OrissaDiary

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Takafumi Kadono as the new Country Director for Sri Lanka, who has assumed office in Colombo today. “It is an honor and a privilege to be appointed the Country Director of ADB’s Sri Lanka Resident Mission. ADB was a trusted partner of the people of Sri Lanka during the pandemic and the economic crisis. I intend to further enhance our collaboration as Sri Lanka embarks on a journey to recover from the crisis and come out stronger and more inclusive than ever before,” Mr. Kadono said.Click here to read... [19]

Sri Lanka’s Duplicity Proved In The UN HRC – Eurasia Review

The 53rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council – UN HRC started on the 19th June and continues until 14th July 2023. It is meeting under the Presidency of Mr. Vaclav Balek, the UN representative of the Czech Republic. Click here to read... [20]