Neighborhood News Digest- 14 June 2024

Afghanistan

PM's Office Discusses Second Sarobi Dam and Jawzjan Gas Power Projects-Tolo News

The Economic Commission of the Prime Minister's Office in a meeting discussed the construction of the second Sarobi Dam in Kabul province and the production of 300 megawatts of gas-powered electricity in Jawzjan province. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, deputy prime minister for economic affairs, has instructed the Ministry of Energy and Water to conduct technical discussions with various companies regarding the construction of the second Sarobi Dam in Kabul.Click here to read… [2]

US Targeting ISIS-K in Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Area-Tolo News

The US Department of Defense said that Washington is pursuing militants and senior commanders of ISIS-Khorasan in the border areas between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Although the Islamic Emirate has not commented on the statements of this Pentagon official, it had previously said that the US is trying to create distrust between Afghanistan and regional countries by using the name of ISIS.Click here to read… [3]

India to host Afghanistan’s cricket series, strengthening ties-The Khaama Press

In a recent statement, Naseem Saddat, spokesman for the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), announced that the ACB and India’s BCCI have agreed to host Afghanistan’s T20 and One-day series against Bangladesh at Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium in Greater Noida and Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.Click here to read… [4]

Iran Air resumes flights to Kabul, Afghanistan-The Khaama Press

The Ministry of Transport and Aviation of the caretaker government has announced the commencement of flights by Iran Air to Kabul. The ministry, in a press release, stated that Iran’s international airline began its flights to Kabul on Wednesday, June 12, for the first time.Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh

Teesta River Management: Govt mulling feasibility study to secure Chinese loan - The Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina informed the parliament on Wednesday that the government is considering a proposal for a detailed feasibility study for the implementation of the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project.Click here to read… [6]

PM seeks UAE investment – The Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called on investors from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to come up with investments in Bangladesh's special economic zones.Click here to read… [7]

Bangladesh military unhappy with weapons imported from China; complains of ‘sub-standard’, faulty parts – Times of India

Bangladesh has raised concerns over the quality of Chinese military hardware, highlighting issues with equipment like corvettes, fighter jets.Click here to read… [8]

Bhutan

First session of fourth Parliament begins – Kuensel

His Majesty The King graced the opening ceremony of the first session of the fourth parliament yesterday. The opening session was also attended by Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen, members of the Royal family, senior government officials, and foreign diplomats and dignitaries.Click here to read… [9]

What is bimstec’s relevance to Bhutan? – Kuensel

Indra Mani Pandey, secretary-general of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec), is in Bhutan for a four-day introductory visit after being appointed as the new secretary-general since January 4, 2024.Click here to read… [10]

Myanmar

Myanmar Junta Delegation Attends Russian Economic Forum - The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s junta delegation led by transport minister General Mya Tun Oo returned from Russia on Monday after attending the International Economic Forum in St Petersburg, according to the regime’s media. Russia has deepened ties with Myanmar’s military since the 2021 coup, expanding cooperation in the trade and investment sectors. Russian business delegations regularly visit Naypyitaw and junta representatives have attended several Russian economic forums.Click here to read… [11]

Arakan Army takes key military junta border post in western Myanmar - RFA

The rebel Arakan Army has seized a key military junta post near the Bangladesh border in western Myanmar’s Rakhine state, a nearby resident told Radio Free Asia. Nearly 300 junta troops were stationed at the Ahlaythankyaw border police camp in Maungdaw township when fighting broke out on Wednesday, the resident said on condition of anonymity for security reasons.Click here to read… [12]

Myanmar junta imposes random searches for VPNs - RFA

Junta soldiers in some Myanmar cities have begun randomly inspecting the mobile phones of pedestrians, threatening those who use Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, with steep fines and even arrest, according to residents who spoke to RFA Burmese on condition of anonymity due to security concerns. In late May, the junta announced a ban on VPN software, which masks users’ locations, permitting them to bypass junta restrictions on social media sites and apps that serve as key sources of news in the nation that has been wracked by a three-year civil war.Click here to read… [13]

Dozens of officials carrying out Myanmar’s draft have been killed - RFA

More than 80 junta-appointed administrators across Myanmar have been assassinated for aiding or participating in the military conscription of civilians since the draft was announced in February, according to an RFA tally. In all, 82 village and ward administrators, clerks and others have been killed in the past four months, according to statements from the People’s Defense Force militias, largely made up of ordinary citizens who have taken up arms against the military rulers.Click here to read… [14]

Nepal

Heavy rainfall triggers landslide in Taplejung district, four dead - India TV News

At least four people died in a landslide triggered by incessant rainfall in Taplejung district of Eastern Nepal, informed Rajan Limbu, Chairman of the Phattanglung Rural Municipality. Meanwhile, in India, at least six people were killed and 1,500-odd tourists stranded as massive landslides triggered by incessant rainfall caused devastation in northern Sikkim's Mangan district, officials said on Thursday.Click here to read… [15]

Nepal’s rollercoaster policies: A threat to industrial stability - Khabar Hub

In the intricate tapestry of economic development, the stability of governmental policies serves as a cornerstone for sustainable growth. However, in the context of Nepal, the absence of a steadfast policy framework has cast a shadow over the prospects of industries, particularly the rolling mills. Nepal’s policy arena has been marked by a persistent state of flux, characterized by frequent shifts devoid of a coherent trajectory.Click here to read… [16]

Britain offers Nepal special trading preferences - Kathmandu Post

The British government has assured Nepal of trade facilitation through its Developing Countries Trading Schemes as the nation prepares to graduate from a least developed country (LDC) by 2026. On Wednesday, Rob Fenn, the British ambassador to Nepal, met Damodar Bhandari, the minister for industry, commerce, and supplies, and informed him that Nepal would be provided with a special trade facility—the Developing Countries Trading Scheme—instead of the generalised system of preference (GSP), which is given to least developed countries.Click here to read… [17]

Nepal insurgency victim takes case to UN Security Council - Kathmandu Post

With the country’s transitional justice process paralysed, a Nepali conflict victim has taken to the United Nations forum to remind the Nepal government of its responsibilities towards the victims. Speaking before the UN Security Council in New York on Wednesday, Ram Kumar Bhandari, whose father was forcibly disappeared by the state security forces in 2001, said that the state has the responsibility to search for answers and provide closure to the victims, but it has not done enough.Click here to read… [18]

Pakistan

Punjab unveils Rs 5.45tr surplus budget-Dawn

Amid massive in-house protests by the opposition, the Punjab government led by PML-N presented its annual budget of Rs5.45 trillion for the fiscal year 2024-25, though the Rs630 billion surplus budget reveals no plans to tax the agriculture and real estate sectors properly, despite ongoing pressure from the IMF.Click here to read… [19]

IMF expresses satisfaction over budget 2024-25-The Express Tribune

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed satisfaction with the country’s budget for the next fiscal year, Express News reported. Sources indicate that the IMF had recommended eliminating all tax exemptions in the budget. Proposals include the removal of tax exemptions exceeding Rs3 trillion. To expand the tax net, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will enhance its enforcement measures.Click here to read… [20]

Imran, Qureshi, others acquitted in Azadi March case-The Express Tribune

In another major relief to the former ruling party, a local court in Islamabad on Thursday acquitted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, along with senior leaders Sheikh Rashid and Shah Mehmood Qureshi, in the case related to the Azadi March. The verdict, delivered by Judicial Magistrate Malik Muhammad Imran, also cleared Sadaqat Abbasi and Ali Nawaz Awan of all charges.Click here to read… [21]

‘Neutral’ Pakistan will skip Ukraine summit in Switzerland-Dawn

Pakistan has turned down Switzerland’s invitation to the Ukraine Peace Summit citing scheduling conflicts and other considerations. “Pakistan received an invitation from Switzerland for the Conference, which is being held from 15th to 16th of June. However, due to a host of factors, including scheduling challenges, Pakistan is not participating in this conference,” FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at the weekly media briefing.Click here to read… [22]

Sri Lanka

Endless cycle of empty talks on new Constitution – Daily Mirror

The amendments to the existing Constitution or the creation of a new Constitution with a new one have always been key electoral topics starting from at least since 1994. Still, nothing substantial has materialized since then despite attempts made on and off by the successive rulers.Click here to read… [23]

Easter Attack could have easily been avoided if SIS and DMI hadn’t misled CID - Senior DIG Ravi Seneviratne – Daily Mirror

Five years after the Easter attack, former Senior DIG, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Ravi Seneviratne in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mirror, said that he and his most senior officers could have avoided the attack if the State Intelligence Services and Directorate of Military Intelligence provided accurate information to the CID without misleading them.Click here to read… [24]

SL’s tax revenue targets remain ambitious despite recent success: IMF – Daily Mirror

Despite the recent achievements in tax revenue, Sri Lanka’s target for the next two years still remains ambitious, with a limited number of tax policy options being available, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) official said.Click here to read… [25]