Neighborhood News Digest – 5 July 2023

Afghanistan

Taliban ban women’s beauty salons in Afghanistan – Indian Express

The Taliban are banning women’s beauty salons in Afghanistan, a government spokesman said on Tuesday. It’s the latest curb on the rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls, following edicts barring them from education, public spaces and most forms of employment. Click here to read.... [2]

India Donates 10,000 Tonnes Of Wheat To Afghanistan Amidst Food Crisis – NDTV

As Afghanistan continues to grapple with the extreme food crises, India has donated 10,000 meric tonnes of wheat to the landlocked country. The 10,000 metric tonnes of wheat reached the Herat city of Afghanistan on Tuesday, United Nations World for Food Programme (UNWFP) said in a tweet. Click here to read.... [3]

'Situation in Afghanistan has direct impact on world's security': PM Modi at SCO Summit - Firstpost

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his address at the SCO Summit, mentioned the sorry state of affairs in Afghanistan, saying that the situation in the country has a direct impact on all countries. “The situation in Afghanistan has had a direct impact on the security of all of us (countries). India’s concerns and expectations regarding Afghanistan are the same as most of the SCO Member countries,” he said. Click here to read.... [4]

Bangladesh

‘Is US listening to Bangladesh’s message against China?’ - Sentilese Assam

According to the publication, a couple of years ago, China warned Bangladesh against joining the Indo-Pacific Initiative, which was launched by the US, but under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the government firmly told Beijing that they would follow their own foreign policy. Despite being the regional player in South Asia, Bangladesh has received a cold shoulder from the US, which gives lectures on human rights and democracy and presses the government on "free and fair" elections. Click here to read.... [5]

How Bangladesh can benefit by joining BRICS - Daily star

According to an official of the foreign ministry, Bangladesh will apply to join the BRICS alliance, and the process to formally seek its membership is already underway. Earlier, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said Bangladesh would welcome if BRICS formally invited it to join the grouping of five member-states – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – having previously hinted that Bangladesh is likely to become a member of the bloc in August this year. Click here to read.... [6]

Bhutan

NC adopts Pay Bill, rejects 21 days annual leave for public servants – Kuensel

The National Council (NC) adopted the Pay Revision Bill 2023 yesterday, accepting most of the amendments proposed by the National Assembly. However, the House rejected the provision for 21 days of annual leave for public servants. Of the 23 members present, 20 voted ‘yes’, 2 abstained, and 1 voted ‘no’, leading to the adoption of the Bill.Click here to read.... [7]

Parliament adopts Forest and Nature Conservation Bill – Kuensel

The joint sitting of the Parliament unanimously adopted the revised Forest and Nature Conservation Bill 2021. This crucial legislation, which was first drafted in 1995, has undergone significant amendments after a span of 28 years. During the deliberations on June 30, the joint committee thoroughly examined the 30 of the Bill’s disputed clauses, with particular focus on sections 50 (5) and the newly proposed section after section 47. Click here to read.... [8]

Maldives

Maldives Media Council opens applications for membership - Raajje

Applications have been opened for membership at the Maldives Media Council (MMC). In a publication, the council revealed that a seat will open up at the council in September, as the term of a current media member is set to expire on 10 September 2023. This comes under Act 15/2008 of the Maldives Media Council Act. The duration of a term of an MMC member is two years and no member will be allowed to serve two consecutive terms as a council member. Click here to read.... [9]

Myanmar

Myanmar: Elections 2023 - Asia Media Centre

The Myanmar regime has in the last year made numerous statements regarding the need to hold national elections. During the current state of post-coup violent unrest, it seems unlikely any election could possibly get underway, let alone an election regarded as fair and democratic. The date for the polls seems to change as time passes, it was August, it's now November, but no specific date has been named. Click here to read.... [10]

Myanmar landmine exacts growing toll on citizens as military rings Chinese assets - News Mill

As Myanmar government troops clashed with armed, pro-democracy resistance forces in the country’s northwestern Sagaing region in June, concern rose over the dangers lurking beneath the ground, particularly around a Chinese-run copper mine in the area, reported Nikkei Asia. Click here to read.... [11]

Nepal

Nepal: An emerging power centre in South Asia – ORF

No two countries are as closely tied as Nepal and India in geographical, socio-cultural, religious, economic, and diverse other fields. Because of such ties, India’s support to Nepal in its quest for development has remained exemplary. This was seen even during the recent visit by Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to India between 31 May and 3 June.Click here to read.... [12]

Christian population rises nearly 40 percent in Nepal – Mission Network News

New national census data shows rapid Christian growth in Nepal. The Christian population rose by nearly 40 percent in less than a decade. South Korean missionaries contributed much to the recent Gospel growth. Bibles For The World partners in Nepal wish to continue the upward trend. Click here to read.... [13]

Rural municipality ward in Nepal to reward couples having more than two children – The Telegraph

A rural municipality ward in western Nepal has announced a cash award to couples who have more than two children to boost the population of the region. Ward No. 1 of Ribdikot rural municipality in Palpa district has decided to provide a Rs 5,000 cash award from mid-July to those couples who bear more than two children, Chiranjivi Pokharel, the chairman of the ward, said. Click here to read.... [14]

Pakistan

Pakistan court declares Toshakhana corruption case against Imran Khan inadmissible – The Telegraph

In a relief to embattled Imran Khan, a top Pakistani court on Tuesday overturned the ruling of a sessions court and declared the Toshakhana corruption case against the former prime minister inadmissible. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Khan, 70, was indicted in the Toshakhana case on May 10 by Additional Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar, who rejected objections about the admissibility of the case. Click here to read.... [15]

Pakistani Rupee Appreciates By Rs 15 Against US Dollar In Early Trade – Outlook

The Pakistani rupee showed an appreciable gain of Rs 15 against the US dollar in the interbank market with stocks continuing an upward trend on Tuesday following the last-minute approval of funding by the IMF to the cash-strapped country. The Forex Association of Pakistan said the dollar was trading at around 271 rupees in the interbank after the market opened in the morning with the dollar trading at Rs 286. Click here to read.... [16]

India, Pakistan lock horns over terrorism, minorities at virtual SCO meet – India Today

Without naming each other, India and Pakistan took potshots at each other during the 23rd meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State (CHS) hosted by India in a virtual format on Tuesday. Both countries targeted each other on issues of terrorism and treatment of minority communities. Click here to read.... [17]

13 prisoners on the run after violent jailbreak in Pakistan during Eid prayers – Hindustan Times

Pakistan police searched for 13 prisoners who broke out of a jail in the southwestern province of Balochistan last week, a report claimed. In the dramatic escape, one inmate killed after seventeen prisoners turned on their guards as they were taken out of their cells for morning prayers at Chaman district jail, district officer Muhammad Naeem Achakzai told CNN. Click here to read.... [18]

Sri Lanka

India-assisted solar energy to light SL’s black-out declared religious sites, govt institutes - Siasat

Sri Lanka’s Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera has announced that government institutions and religious sites in the country will be powered by solar energy with the support of Indian loan assistance. Wijesekera said that each religious place would be provided with a five-kilowatt solar panel, while government institutions would receive solar panels suitable for their roof sizes and the project is scheduled to commence within the next two months. Click here to read.... [19]

67th TAAI Convention in Colombo: President and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to grace the event - News9Live

President of Sri Lanka, HE Ranil Wickremesinghe, will be the Chief Guest at the 67th Convention of TAAI, to be held in Colombo from July 6–9. He will address the delegation and warmly welcome them to Sri Lanka. Gopal Bagley, HE High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, will also be present and grace the opening ceremony by speaking to the TAAI delegation members. Click here to read.... [20]