Neighborhood News Digest- 13 June 2024

Afghanistan

Countries Pledge $842M in Aid for Afghanistan at Brussels Meeting-Tolo News

Senior officials from various countries have pledged nearly $842 million to address the humanitarian emergency in Afghanistan during a meeting in Brussels. At this meeting, hosted by the European Union to discuss engagement with Afghanistan, senior officials from several countries also announced that addressing Afghanistan's situation is one of their priorities. Click here to read... [2]

Iranian Company to Set Up Advanced Oil Refinery in Afghanistan-Tolo News

An Iranian company has submitted a plan to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to establish a standard oil refinery in Afghanistan. Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, the spokesman of the ministry of Industry and Commerce, said that the acting minister met with representatives of an Iranian company about the quality and types of products to be derived from crude oil in the refinery to be constructed. Click here to read... [3]

World Day against Child Labor: OCHA reports 19% of Afghan children engaged in hard labor-The Khaama Press

Coinciding with June 12, the World Day against Child Labor, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that 19% of children in Afghanistan are engaged in hard labor. OCHA stated in a press release on Wednesday, June 12 on the occasion of the World Day against Child Labor that this issue is concerning for the health and future of children. Click here to read... [4]

Iran’s deputy justice minister: 8,000 foreign prisoners, mostly from Afghanistan-The Khaama Press

Askar Jalalian, Deputy Minister of Justice of Iran and head of the country’s Prisoner Transfer Committee, stated that there are currently 8,000 foreign prisoners in Iran, most of whom are from Afghanistan. He mentioned efforts to repatriate these prisoners to their home countries if they agreed. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

Three major barriers to economy’s progress - The Daily Star

Strategic inefficiency, institutionalisation of corruption, and a lack of accountability are the three major barriers blocking the smooth progress of the economy, said economists, entrepreneurs and politicians yesterday. Click here to read... [6]

World Bank: Bangladesh's economy to grow 5.7% in FY25 – Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh's economy is likely to grow 5.7% in FY25, supported by increased private consumption for easing inflation and a pick-up in overall investment for implementation of large investment projects, according to the World Bank. Click here to read... [7]

After Sheikh Hasina's invite, PM Modi to visit Bangladesh later this month – Economic Times

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is planning a trip to Bangladesh to maintain India's preeminent position in South Asia. Plans are afoot for a trip by Modi to Dhaka following an invite extended by Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina. Click here to read... [8]

Bhutan

DCDD to enhance capacity to protect heritage sites – Kuensel

In the next five years, the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development (DCDD) will enhance local capacity to ensure better management of four critical heritage sites: Jambay Lhakhang and Tamzhing Lhakhang in Bumthang, Trong village in Zhemgang, and one of the sacred neys. Click here to read... [9]

Maldives

Over MVR 10 million raised for Palestine as nationwide telethon concludes – Sun International

The nationwide telethon, conducted under the slogan “Falastheenaa Eku Dhivehin,” which translates to “Maldivians in Solidarity with Palestine,” by the Public Service Media (PSM), in partnership with local media has concluded. Over MVR 10 million was raised for Palestinians with donations from various parties, alongside over USD 31,000. Click here to read... [10]

MoU signed for Philippines company to take over Male' commercial harbour for 25 years – Adhadhu

An MoU has been signed to discuss handing over the country's main commercial harbour managed by the Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) to a Philippines company for 25 years. The MoU's period ends on June 28. The MoU was signed in a manner that could cause a significant loss to MPL. If MPL does not reach an agreement to hand over the commercial harbour to the Philippines company, a penalty of USD 5 million would have to be paid. Click here to read... [11]

Myanmar

Manipur deports 38 more illegal immigrants to Myanmar - India Today

The Manipur government on Wednesday deported 38 more illegal immigrants to Myanmar through the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Moreh. Chief Minister N Biren Singh announced the deportation on social media platform X, stating, "In continuation of the deportation process of immigrants, the Government of Manipur has deported 38 (thirty-eight) Myanmar Nationals to their home country Myanmar through the Integrated Check Post (ICP), Moreh, today. They have been handed over safely to Myanmar authorities by the Immigration Officers of Government of India posted at ICP, Moreh." Click here to read... [12]

Heroin worth over Rs 70 lakh seized in Mizoram, 2 including Myanmar national held - India Today

A joint operation involving the Special Narcotics Police Station, CID Crime, and the 2nd Battalion of Assam Rifles (Lakhimpur Battalion) led to the recovery of 2.340 kilograms of heroin at Saitual Quarry, Saitual District in Mizoram. The seized heroin, valued at Rs. 70,20,000, was intercepted from Ginsiankhawmmung (31), a resident of Bulfek, Myanmar. Ginsiankhawmmung was transporting the illicit drugs towards Aizawl on a two-wheeler when he was apprehended by the law enforcement team. Despite attempting to flee, he was swiftly arrested, and the vehicle used in the crime was seized. Click here to read... [13]

Stung by rebel's drone tactics, Myanmar's junta builds its own fleet - Japan Times

"The battle is changing now as drones are being used by both sides," said a 31-year-old rebel fighter in the country's southeast, identifying himself by the nom de guerre of Ta Yoke Gyi. He said the junta began using armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to attack the rebels at around the turn of the year, and that a drone his unit recently shot down was identified as Chinese from its components and had been modified for combat. Two rebel fighters in other parts of Myanmar also described similar skirmishes. Click here to read... [14]

Myanmar Economic Monitor, June 2024: Livelihoods Under Threat [EN/MY] - Relief Web

The World Bank’s Myanmar Economic Monitor, released Wednesday, projects gross domestic product will rise by 1 percent over the year to March 2025, in line with growth estimates for the previous year but down from the December 2023 forecast of 2 percent growth. Economic output is expected to remain about 9 percent below 2019 levels, in sharp contrast to the experience of other large economies in the region. Click here to read... [15]

Nepal

Tibetan security officials arrest two Nepali citizens from northern Gorkha district: Nepali Congress lawmaker - Devi Discourse

A Nepali Congress lawmaker said that two Nepali citizens were arrested from the northern Gorkha district by the Tibetan security officials on allegations of helping the Tibetans flee from the China's Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). Rajendra Bajgain, the opposition lawmaker raised the issue of the arrest of two Nepali nationals from Northern Gorkha in a parliamentary meeting and demanded the government's response. Click here to read... [16]

B'desh cabinet paves the way for Nepal to export 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh - My Repubica

Bangladesh Cabinet meeting on Tuesday approved the proposal for importing 40 MW of electricity from Nepal. According to Bangladeshi media, the 15th meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) approved the proposal for importing electricity from the Himalayan country. The meeting was held at the Cabinet Division at Bangladesh Secretariat led by Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali. Click here to read... [17]

Nepal's Foreign Minister Congratulates Jaishankar on Reappointment - Devi Discourse

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Nepal, Narayankaji Shrestha, congratulated India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on his reappointment. The leaders discussed Nepal-India relations, expressing a mutual commitment to strengthen cooperation. Jaishankar, beginning his second term, appreciated Shrestha's warm sentiments and congratulatory message. Click here to read... [18]

Indian Trio Arrested for Fake Nepalese Citizenship: A Cautionary Tale - Devi Discourse

In a startling development, three Indian nationals were apprehended by Nepalese authorities for attempting to secure Nepalese citizenship using fraudulent documents. The individuals in question include a 51-year-old father, Hari Kumar, and his two sons, Rishi Gupta (21) and Harsha Gupta (18). Click here to read... [19]

Pakistan

Govt unveils Rs18.877 trillion budget with record development fund, salary hikes-The Express Tribune

Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb has unveiled a budget of Rs18.877 trillion for the fiscal year 2024-25, a 30% increase over the previous year. While presenting the budget in National Assembly on Wednesday, Aurangzeb described the budget as balanced, with resources matching expenditures at Rs18.877 trillion. Click here to read... [20]

Budget 2024-25 sets big tax target ahead of IMF talks-The Express Tribune

Pakistan has set a challenging tax revenue target of Rs13 trillion for the year starting July 1, a near 40% jump from the current year, in its national budget on Wednesday that looked to strengthen the case for a new bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The ambitious revenue targets for the fiscal year through June 2025, presented by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb in parliament, were in line with analyst expectations with total spending at Rs18.87 trillion. Click here to read... [21]

Rs2.12 trillion proposed for armed forces-Dawn

The government on Wednesday proposed an allocation of Rs2.12 trillion for the armed forces in the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2024-25), marking a substantial increase of 17.6pc compared to last year’s budget reflecting the country’s priorities in a region marked by geopolitical tensions. The allocation for the armed forces in the next fiscal year is set at 1.7pc of GDP, maintaining the same proportion of the national pie as last year. Meanwhile, the proposed expenditure constitutes 12.33pc of the projected current expenses. Click here to read... [22]

Budget 2024-25: PTI stages protest in Senate against new tax proposals-Dawn

Even before the start of discussion on the budget proposals for the next financial year in the Senate, the PTI lodged its protest in the house on Wednesday against what it called the anti-people budget and proposed additional taxes to add to people’s misery. Click here to read... [23]

Sri Lanka

Presidential Election crucial for country’s future, says President – Daily Mirror

President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that the upcoming presidential election will be pivotal for the country's future, focusing on national success rather than individual triumphs or losses. Click here to read... [24]

IMF approval paves way for stronger policies, sustainable growth: Semasinghe – Daily Mirror

The approval of the IMF’s second review for Sri Lanka will pave the way for stronger policies and sustainable growth, said State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe. Click here to read... [25]

IMF allows authorities to draw US$ 336 mn following second review completion – Daily Mirror

The Intentional Monetary Fund (IMF) announced the completion of the second review under the 48-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement, allowing Sri Lanka to draw SDR 254 million (about US$336 million). Click here to read... [26]