Neighborhood News Digest- 21 June 2024

Afghanistan

Senior TTP commander killed in Kunar, Afghanistan-The Khaama Press

The newspaper Dawn reported that Abdul Manan Ilyas, a senior commander of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known by his alias Hakimullah, was killed in Kunar province. The Pakistani media outlet described Abdul Manan as a former member of the TTP Malakand Council and the right-hand man of Azmatullah Mehsud, the head of the council. Click here to read… [2]

Afghanistan's Carpet Exports Reach $7.5 Million in 5 Months-Tolo News

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce said that Afghanistan exported carpets worth $7.5 million dollars in the past five months. The spokesman told TOLO news: "During the first five months of 2024, more than two million kilograms of carpets worth $7.5 million dollars were exported to countries including Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Italy, Turkey, the United States, India, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, China, and other countries." Click here to read… [3]

Over 20,000 Drug Addicts Collected, Treated in 3 Months: Officials-Tolo News

Officials from the Counter-Narcotics Directorate of the Ministry of Interior told TOLO news that over the past three months, more than 20,000 drug addicts have been collected across the country. Haseebullah Ahmadi, the head of the counter-narcotics office of the Ministry of Interior, said that out of these 20,000 individuals, 5,000 were collected from the capital, and the rest were from the provinces. Click here to read… [4]

Pakistan envoy urges Taliban to resume education for women and girls in Afghanistan immediately-The Khaama Press

The Pakistani representative said at the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday that the continued suspension of women’s and girls’ education in Afghanistan and the deprivation of women’s employment have disappointed Islamabad. Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh

Deposits of Bangladeshi banks, nationals in Swiss banks hit lowest level ever - The Daily Star

Deposits of Bangladeshi nationals and banks in Swiss banks declined by 68 percent year-on-year to 17.71 million Swiss francs (CHF) last year, the lowest ever, reflecting the falling attractiveness of Switzerland among the wealthy people to park money. Click here to read… [6]

Climate Adaptation: Loans to raise debt distress – The Daily Star

It is an injustice when countries like Bangladesh that are not responsible for the climate crisis have to take loans for adaptation programmes, said Prof Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of Global Center on Adaptation (GCA). Click here to read… [7]

India-China ties in focus as PM Hasina flies to Delhi Friday – Dhaka Tribune

India-China relations will be in focus as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave for New Delhi on a two-day state visit on Friday. Preparations are underway for at least 10 agreements and MoUs related to energy, connectivity and economy to be signed after the bilateral meeting. Click here to read… [8]

Bhutan

Asian Development Bank approves $40 mn loan to Bhutan-dajiworld

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday said it has approved a policy-based loan of 40 million US dollars to help Bhutan further strengthen its public financial management and green growth. The concessional loan aims to support policy reforms in expanding domestic resource mobilisation, promoting private sector development, and introducing climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, Xinhua news agency reported. Click here to read… [9]

Maldives

World Bank appoints new Country Director for Maldives region – Adhadhu

The World Bank has announced the appointment of David Sislen as the new Country Director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Sislen will take over from July 1, the World Bank said in a statement, adding that Faris Hadad-Zervos, who currently holds the position, will move to a different position at the bank. Sislen, who holds US and Italian passports, joined the World Bank in 2001 as an economist in the bank's urban cluster unit. He has since held operational and managerial positions with the World Bank in various regions. Click here to read… [10]

Myanmar

Myanmar’s Daw Aung San Suu Kyi ‘in Good Health’: Junta Spokesman

Detained Myanmar democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is in “good health”, a junta spokesman told AFP on Thursday, a day after the Nobel laureate turned 79 in military custody. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained by the military since it toppled her government and seized power in 2021, plunging the Southeast Asian nation into turmoil. Click here to read… [11]

EU issues statement condemning Myanmar junta’s actions

The European Union (EU) issued a statement on 18 June 2024 to the Interactive dialogue on the situation of human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar, held at the United Nations (UN) 56th Session of the Human Rights Council. In the statement, the E.U. condemned the Myanmar junta and said that the role of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) is key to ensuring justice and accountability for human rights abuses carried out in Myanmar. Click here to read… [12]

Dhaka warns Myanmar military, Arakan army: HM

Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Thursday said that Bangladesh conveyed its concern to Myanmar military and Arakan army with a strong note that Bangladesh would retaliate if they fire into Bangladesh territory further, reports BSS. ‘Otherwise, we will respond to their firing. If we are attacked, we will respond to that attack,’ he told reporters replying to a query at his secretariat office here. Click here to read… [13]

Nepal

Nepal is a beautiful land of Yoga practice: PM Dahal - Himalayan Times

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has said that Nepal is a beautiful country from the nature perspective for practicing Yoga for the people around the world. Addressing a programme marking the International Day of Yoga here today, he expressed the belief that Nepal could be the main destination for researchers and academics throughout the world who are studying the knowledge and science related to yoga. Click here to read… [14]

NE rail connectivity to get a boost via B’desh, Nepal - Shillong Times

The Centre is going ahead with new railway lines connecting the states in the Northeast via Nepal and Bangladesh, avoiding the Siliguri corridor, also known as the ‘Chicken’s Neck’. The Railway Board has sanctioned a Final Location Survey. Altogether 14 new rail routes and alternative routes have been sanctioned for this purpose, official sources said here. On the route via Bangladesh, around 500 km of new railway lines have been ordered. Gauge conversion here will be performed for 367 km. On the route via Nepal, over 200 km of new railway lines will be laid. Another 212 km of lines will be laid in the Northeast, the sources further said. Click here to read… [15]

Nepal opens tender for photovoltaic projects - EV Wind

Nepal Electricity Authority is requesting proposals for the development of grid-connected solar projects across the country. The maximum total capacity available under the tender is 800 MW. The deadline to submit proposals is July 9. The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has opened a tender for the development of grid-connected solar power projects in Nepal. Click here to read… [16]

Pakistan

‘All’s well’ after PPP, PML-N settle differences-Dawn

The purported differences between the PML-N and PPP on the budget for the upcoming fiscal year stood dissolved on Thursday after PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to assure him of his party’s support for the crucial finance bill. Sources told Dawn that the differences have fizzled out, with both sides agreeing to support each other and cooperate on issues of mutual concern. According to Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, some “minor” reservations had been expressed by the PPP, which would be resolved by the government through talks. Click here to read… [17]

Govt confirms deaths of 35 Pakistani pilgrims during Hajj 2024-The Express Tribune

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has confirmed the deaths of 35 Pakistani pilgrims during Hajj 2024. The bereaved families can choose to have the deceased buried either in Saudi Arabia or Pakistan. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Religious Affairs stated that the extreme heat, with temperatures reaching 50 degrees Celsius, made this Hajj particularly challenging. Click here to read… [18]

Several Ahmadis detained by police for violating Constitution: Gujranwala CPO-Dawn

Some people belonging to the Ahmadiyya community were detained by the police for violating the Constitution, Gujranwala City Police Officer (CPO) Rana Ayyaz Saleem said on Thursday. Earlier this week, a member of the Ahmadiyya community was booked in Toba Tek Singh district, at the complaint of an official of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), for sacrificing a goat on Eidul Azha. Click here to read… [19]

Miftah Ismail, Khaqan Abbasi launch ‘Awaam Pakistan’ party-Dawn

After months of speculation, a glimpse of ‘Awaam Pakistan’ — the new party on the block — appeared on the country’s political horizon on Thursday. The video posted on the X account of Awaam Pakistan was shared with the tagline ‘Awaam Pakistan: Badlein ge nizam’ (People of Pakistan: We will change the system). Click here to read… [20]

Sri Lanka

“If you don’t want us once, we don’t want you hundred times” Basil lashes out in presence of President – Daily Mirror

Founder of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Basil Rajapaksa is reported to have told his party’s breakaway group at a meeting even attended by President Ranil Wickremesinghe that the Rajapaksas were not ready to cow down to any pressure. Click here to read… [21]

Jaishankar seeks non-derailment of India-funded projects under incoming government – Daily Mirror

With the prospect of elections in Sri Lanka, visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar reportedly said in his meetings here that it is important that any incoming government does not derail India-funded projects such as renewable energy projects. Click here to read… [22]

Sri Lanka pursues PTA with Thailand, Indonesia: Jayanath Colombage – Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka is making significant strides in strengthening its economic ties within the South Asian region, with a focus on finalizing Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) with Thailand and Indonesia, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Indonesia and ASEAN, Admiral (Prof.) Jayanath Colombage said. Click here to read… [23]