Neighborhood News Digest – 19 July 2023

Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Female students request inclusion in university exam – Firstpost

Female students in Afghanistan, who have completed the twelfth grade, have requested the Islamic Emirate to allow them to participate in this year’s kankor exam. A female student, named Sahar, said she went to her school for the entrance examination form, but was not given an entrance exam card after which he returned home disappointed, Tolo News reported.Click here to read... [2]

Afghanistan, Pakistan relations slide downhill as war of words erupts over TTP terror – India Narrative

The verbal war between Pakistan and Afghanistan over terrorism and the implementation of the Doha Agreement intensified over the weekend. In a tweet on Sunday, Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif retorted that the country has the “will to reign in militants from within its borders”, meaning that even without Kabul’s cooperation, it will battle the terrorists operating from Afghanistan. .Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

Humayun Kabir on Why Bangladesh Should Hold a Free and Credible Election - The Diplomat

With Bangladesh scheduled to vote in general elections in January 2024, concern is growing over how fair the polls will be, especially in the context of the massive irregularities that accompanied the 2014 and 2018 elections, and the erosion of Bangladesh’s democracy over the past decade. U.S. officials have expressed concern over the Awami League government’s rising intolerance of dissent. They have imposed sanctions and other restrictions on its officials for human rights violations. This has frayed Washington’s relations with Bangladesh, a country in which it has large strategic interests. .Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh to launch 3 major infrastructure projects with Indian aid in Sep - Siaset

Bangladesh is set to launch three major infrastructure projects, including a power plant, under India’s financial assistance in September, a senior official said on Tuesday after the Indian High Commissioner here called on the country’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. .Click here to read... [5]

Bhutan

Education policy crucial for Bhutan’s modern education journey - Kuensel

As Bhutan strives to prioritise modern education throughout the country, the Ministry of Education and Skills Development faces the critical task of developing a robust education policy to address existing challenges and obstacles within the education sector. .Click here to read... [6]

Gender equality gaining significant recognition in Bhutan – The Print

The role of women in Buddhism has started to become visible in Bhutan as gender equality is becoming increasingly recognised and valued, and the religious landscape is changing profoundly, Bhutan Live reported. .Click here to read... [7]

Maldives

Destabilising Maldives Interest Of Countries Eyeing Control Over Indian Ocean: Abdulla Shahid - ABV Live

Destabilising the democratic architecture of Maldives can have an adverse impact on the entire Indian Ocean region, and this can be the motive of those countries who intend to gain “control” over this critical strategic expanse, according to Abdulla Shahid, Foreign Minister of Maldives. Speaking exclusively to ABP Live during his recent two-day visit to India, Shahid said only a “democratic and stable” Maldives, which is going to face a crucial Presidential election in September, will give an assurance to the world of credibility in the island nation’s decision making. .Click here to read... [8]

Myanmar

India Asks Myanmar to Avoid Actions That Aggravate Border Situation - The Wire

India has told Myanmar that the border areas have been “seriously disturbed” and to avoid any actions that would “aggravate” the situation. This was conveyed by external affairs minister S. Jaishankar during a rare bilateral discussion with Myanmar’s foreign minister U Than Swe in Bangkok, where both took part in a Mekong Ganga Cooperation meeting on Sunday. .Click here to read... [9]

Crisis at Indian-Myanmar border sparks concerns over Indigenous Rights: a call for action at 16th session of UN EMRIP - Ukhrul Times

During the 16th session of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) being held at Geneva, Switzerland from July 17-21, Guangchunliu Gangmei of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) delivered a joint statement on Agenda Item 9, highlighting the urgent need to address the deepening crisis on the borders of India and Myanmar. The presentation shed light on the escalating conflict and its impact on the indigenous communities residing in Northeast India. .Click here to read... [10]

Nepal

Experts advise Nepal to stick to its non-alignment policy – The Kathmandu Post

Is the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) of 1961 still relevant? Some experts say, yes it is, while some others say due to the rapid shift in the geopolitical order in recent decades, it needs to be reconsidered. .Click here to read... [11]

Nepal, India finance ministers emphasise implementation of agreements – The Kathmandu Post

Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat on Tuesday held a meeting with his Indian counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman on the sidelines of the 3rd Finance Ministers and Central Bank governors meeting of the G20 nations being held in Gandhinagar in Gujarat. .Click here to read... [12]

Pakistan

Pakistan government to dissolve Parliament on August 8: Report – The Hindu

Pakistan's major ruling coalition partners have agreed to dissolve the National Assembly on August 8, a few days before the completion of its five-year term, to get extra time for general elections, according to a media report on July 18. .Click here to read... [13]

Suicide attack in Pakistan's Peshawar kills soldier, injures several – India Today

A suicide attack blast near a paramilitary force vehicle wounded several peopled and killed the attacker in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar on Tuesday, police officials said, while a separate "martyr" was also killed, a high-ranking police official said. .Click here to read... [14]

Pakistan gets another $600 million loan from China: PM Shehbaz Sharif – Financial Express

It is in addition to the over USD 5 billion in loans that Beijing has rolled over for Pakistan in the last three months, helping the debt-ridden nation avert a default as negotiations to secure the IMF bailout dragged on, the Dawn newspaper reported. .Click here to read... [15]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe to visit India during July 20-21 - Hindustan Times

Forging greater economic and energy connectivity and integration is expected to top the agenda for Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to India during July 20-21, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. .Click here to read... [16]

Tamil National Alliance ‘categorically rejects’ Sri Lankan President’s offer of 13th Amendment minus police powers - The Hindu

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on Tuesday “categorically rejected” Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s offer to implement the 13th Amendment sans police powers, terming his proposal for development and power devolution “another hollow promise”. .Click here to read... [17]