Neighborhood News Digest - 25 June 2024

Afghanistan

G7 countries oppose composition and agenda of third Doha meeting on Afghanistan: Report- The Khaama Press

According to reports, G7 countries, including the US and UK, oppose the composition and agenda of the third Doha meeting. Special representatives from some countries, including the US, might not attend the meeting, reports said. On Monday, June 24, reports indicate that G7 members are dissatisfied with the performance of UNAMA chief Rosa Otunbayeva in Afghanistan. Click here to read… [2]

UN spokesperson says women’s rights will be highlighted at Doha meeting-The Khaama Press

A UN spokesperson said on Sunday that the aim of the Doha meetings is to “encourage the Taliban to engage with the world in a coordinated and orderly manner for the benefit of the Afghan people.” Stéphane Dujarric, the UN spokesperson, said on Sunday, June 23, that human rights, especially women’s rights, “will be highlighted in all discussions at the Doha meeting.” Click here to read… [3]

Third Doha meeting to be led by UN Deputy Chief Rosemary DiCarlo-The Khaama Press

The third Doha meeting, unlike the first and second meetings, which were held under the supervision of António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, will be conducted under the oversight of Rosemary DiCarlo, Guterres’s deputy. According to the sources, Ms. DiCarlo would meet separately with representatives of the Taliban and Afghan civil society. Click here to read… [4]

Interior Ministry Reaffirms Commitment to Drug Eradication-Tolo News

Following the statements of the Iranian Border Commander, assurances were given on counter-narcotics. Abdul Mateen Qani, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, in response to the statements of the Iranian border commander, said that no drug threat from Afghanistan is directed towards other countries. Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh

UAE emerges as top remittance source for Bangladesh - The Daily Star

Bangladesh received the highest remittance from the United Arab Emirates in the first 10 months of the outgoing fiscal year, well ahead of traditional powerhouses such as Saudi Arabia and the United States, central bank figures showed. Click here to read… [6]

IMF approves 3rd tranche of $1.15b loans – The Daily Star

The International Monetary Fund yesterday approved the third tranche of $1.15 billion loans in a boost to Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves. The multilateral lender reviewed Bangladesh's progress in reaching the goals set in December last year and granted the instalment of its $4.7 billion loan programme for the country. Click here to read… [7]

Two Indian SEZs saw no visible progress in over 2 years. Here’s why – The Daily Star

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the need for initiating operations fast at two special economic zones (SEZs) meant for Indian companies on meeting with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina in Delhi on June 22. Click here to read… [8]

Bhutan

Govt. announces construction of 24 irrigation canals in 13th Five-Year Plan – Bhutan Times

In the 13th Five-Year Plan, the government has outlined its intention to construct 24 irrigation channels, covering a total distance of 140 kilometers, aimed at alleviating the persistent shortage of irrigation water. This announcement was made by the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Yonten Phuntsho on 18 June in the ongoing National Assembly question-answer session. Click here to read… [9]

Discussions on four new trade routes underway – Kuensel

Discussions are underway between the governments of Bhutan and India to open four new trade routes between the two countries. The trade routes are expected to facilitate smoother exports of agricultural produce from Bhutan. The proposed trade routes will be opened in Samdrupjongkhar, Nganglam in Pemagatshel, Gelephu in Sarpang, and Lhamoizingkha in Dagana. They are aimed at easing the export of areca nut across the southern dzongkhags. Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Lyonpo DN Dhungyel, informed the National Assembly on June 21 that the government of India, which had carried out research on the matter, was expected to approve it. Click here to read… [10]

Maldives

18 billion spent from budget, 13 billion on debt; financial records do not match with the President's numbers – Adhadhu

During the speech made by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu at the opening ceremony of the People’s National Congress (PNC) campaign hall on July 23. External debt, domestic debt and the Sovereign Development Fund were the most important highlights of the President's speech. While MVR 18 billion has been spent from the budget so far this year and with 72 percent of that amount spent on debt repayment, the biggest question is how the state finances can be arranged with the remaining MVR 5 billion. Click here to read… [11]

President decides to seek parliament approval to sign Samoa Agreement – Sun International

Resident Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has decided to submit the text of the Samoa Agreement with the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) for parliamentary approval. He made the decision at the recommendation of his cabinet following deliberations on a paper submitted by the Foreign Minister at yesterday’s meeting. The Samoa Agreement is the overarching framework for EU relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and focuses on six key priority areas to tackle the main challenges over the next two decades. They include human rights, democracy, and governance; peace and security; human and social development; inclusive, sustainable economic growth and development; environmental sustainability and climate change; and migration and mobility. Click here to read… [12]

Myanmar

Myanmar junta conscripts to begin duty at month's end - Manila Times

The first batch of 5,000 conscripts called up by Myanmar's junta will begin duty at the end of June, military sources told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Monday, as the generals struggle to crush continued opposition to their coup. The military government enforced a conscription law in February, three years after it seized power and sparked a widespread armed uprising that has spread across swathes of Southeast Asian country. The law allows the military to summon all men ages 18 to 35 and women ages 18 to 27 to serve in the armed forces for at least two years. Click here to read… [13]

Mizoram: CYLA Central Executive Committee Calls For Halting Trade With Myanmar - Sentinel Assam

A notice directing all the trade activities from Lawngtlai into Myanmar to stop has been issued by the Central Executive Committee of the Central Young Lai Association (CYLA) based in Mizoram's Lawngtlai. In the notification, Joseph Lalhmingthanga Chinzah, the General Secretary of CYLA, stated that the commodities sent from Mizoram were intended to provide basic needs for the conflict-affected people of Myanmar. Click here to read… [14]

Myanmar Civil War: Regime’s Existential Fight Drags Down Economy - Geopolitical Monitor

A 2021 military coup launched the Myanmar civil war; now, three years later, the conflict’s economic damage is being compounded with every passing month. Myanmar’s GDP plummeted by 17.9% after the coup and only recovered with about 3% growth last year. This year, the Myanmar economy is projected to grow by only 1%, indicating that it will take decades to recover to pre-coup levels. The country is grappling with a collapsing currency, declining exports, rising unemployment, and a severe humanitarian crisis, with three million people internally displaced at present. Thousands, including opposition party members, human rights activists, workers, attorneys, regime critics, and labor leaders, have been jailed. Nearly half of the population now lives below the poverty line of 76 cents per day, leaving 18 million in need of humanitarian aid. Click here to read… [15]

Myanmar military loses airport to anti-junta fighters in southern Rakhine State - Myanmar Now

The ethnic armed organisation Arakha Army (AA) took control of a vital airport from junta forces in Thandwe Township, Rakhine State on Sunday, according to locals and sources close to the group. The airport is located close to the base of the Myanmar army’s Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 566 and to beach resorts outside the town of Ngapali, an historically popular tourist destination frequented by Myanmar military troops for recreation. The beach is the site of a cluster of luxury hotels owned by cronies of the Myanmar military and high-ranking officials. Click here to read… [16]

Nepal

Nepal’s hydropower plans spark Leonardo DiCaprio-backed backlash: ‘attack on our ancestral lands’ - SCMP

Planned hydropower plants in Nepal’s protected areas have outraged conservationists, who warn the projects will devastate the region’s ecology and displace indigenous communities. Now, Hollywood heavyweight Leonardo DiCaprio is lending his star power to their cause. DiCaprio, a known environmental advocate, last week voiced concerns over the dam construction on the Chhujung, Chhunjam and Bakhang rivers in the Lungba Samba valley of eastern Nepal. The region is home to several endangered plant and animal species, including red pandas and clouded leopards. Click here to read… [17]

Nepal, China may ink BRI implementation plan today - Kathmandu Post

The 16th round of the Nepal-China diplomatic consultation mechanism meeting is set to be held in Kathmandu on Tuesday. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Sun Weidong, arrived in Kathmandu on Monday for the meeting and paid a courtesy call to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal will lead the Nepali delegation, which includes senior officials from various ministries, at the diplomatic consultation meeting. Click here to read… [18]

Foreign Minister meets Nepalese counterpart - BNA

Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashed Al Zayani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Naryan Kaji Shrista, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nepal, on the sidelines of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) ministerial meeting. The two sides reviewed bilateral relations and ways to enhance them in various domains. The meeting discussed political and security developments in the region and the world and their repercussions on regional security and stability. Click here to read… [19]

Pakistan

Azm-i-Istehkam is no ‘large-scale military op’-Dawn

In a late-night move, the government clarified that the campaign to be launched under the banner of Azm-i-Istehkam would not be a kinetic large-scale military operation, nor would it entail the mass displacement of the local population. The clarification came apparently in the wake of intense opposition criticism of the government’s plans to launch military action, ostensibly to safeguard against the rising threat of terrorist violence, without consulting parliament. Click here to read… [20]

Another opposition alliance gets rolling-Dawn

A six-party opposition alliance, mostly comprising Balochistan-based parties, held its first formal meeting on Monday to take stock of the post-election situation and agreed that the supremacy of a ‘certain class’ will push the country towards instability. Click here to read… [21]

Finance Bill 2024: Senate proposes slashing indirect taxes by 50%, halt GST hike-The Express Tribune

The Senate proposed a total of 128 recommendations, including nine concerning the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the year 2024-25, to the National Assembly for inclusion in the Finance Bill 2024 during a session on Monday. These recommendations will be forwarded to the National Assembly, which will decide whether or not to incorporate them into the Finance Bill. Click here to read… [22]

K-P govt withholds support for Operation Azm-e-Istehkam-The Express Tribune

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has announced it would not support Operation Azm-e-Istehkam until its details and procedures are clarified. In a media briefing in Islamabad on Monday, K-P Information Adviser Barrister Saif stated that a meeting led by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur took place at Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa House, with the participation of National Assembly members where the operation's specifics were discussed. Click here to read… [23]

Sri Lanka

Another cabinet reshuffle? – Daily Mirror

Speculation is rife within the political circles of an imminent cabinet reshuffle in the coming weeks, the Daily Mirror learns. This manoeuvre is believed to be aimed at bolstering the ruling party's administrative framework in preparation for the critical upcoming presidential polls. Click here to read… [24]

The pivotal IMF program target is indefensible – Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka mimicked the best by keeping its primary balance between a deficit of 2% of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and a surplus of 0.2% of the GDP. Click here to read… [25]

Optimism grows for SL’s bankruptcy exit – Daily Mirror

The government expressed optimism about the country’s potential to shed its ‘bankrupt nation’ label in the coming weeks as a series of upcoming events are expected to assist in pushing the country into the next phase of recovery. This week is expected to play a crucial role in determining the timing and extent to which Sri Lanka will be able to overcome issues with regard to its debt restructuring efforts and finalise agreements with its creditors, an endeavour that has been dragging for quite some time. Click here to read… [26]