Neighborhood News Digest - 26 June 2024

Afghanistan

Afghanistan Qualifies for the World Cup Semi-Final for the First Time Ever-Tolo News

The Afghanistan national cricket team won its final match of the Super Eight stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 against Bangladesh, qualifying for the semi-final round for the first time in the history of Afghan cricket. Click here to read… [2]

Nearly 100,000 Tourists Visit Bamyan in One Week-Tolo News

In the past week, Bamyan has hosted nearly one hundred thousand domestic and international tourists. Safiullah Raed, the head of Bamyan's Information and Culture Department, states that they have plans in place to promote the tourism industry. Bamyan is one of the central provinces of the country, which, with its numerous natural and recreational attractions, draws thousands of tourists from all corners of Afghanistan and the world every year. Click here to read… [3]

Afghan Exports to Pakistan Drop by 32% in Early 2024-Tolo News

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has reported a 32% decrease in Afghanistan's exports to Pakistan for the first five months of this year compared to the same period last year. From January to the end of May, trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan totalled $937 million, with Afghanistan's exports accounting for $294 million. Click here to read… [4]

Washington Post reports climate change could revive poppy cultivation in Afghanistan-The Khaama Press

The Washington Post reported that climate change jeopardises Afghanistan’s farmers’ livelihoods. According to the report, water scarcity, lack of alternative crops, and support programs could drive farmers back towards poppy cultivation in Afghanistan. The Washington Post noted discontent among farmers over the poppy ban, citing lower prices for alternative crops, job scarcity, and poverty. Satellite images revealed drastic drops in poppy cultivation in Helmand and Kandahar, affecting wheat and cotton prices. Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh

IMF sets 33 conditions for next two loan instalments - The Daily Star

Bangladesh will have to comply with 33 new conditions by June next year in order to receive the next two instalments under the International Monetary Fund's $4.7 billion loan programme. Click here to read… [6]

Bangladesh, US can promote peace, stability, prosperity together – The Daily Star

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud has said as they continue to march forward to realise the dream of Bangabandhu's "Sonar Bangla", they anticipate a stronger partnership of the US in fulfilling Bangladesh's journey towards a smart developed country by 2041. Click here to read… [7]

Liu Jianchao: China ready to align BRI with Bangladesh’s Vision 2041 – Dhaka Tribune

Dhaka-Beijing relations are “entering a new development stage” following the elections in Bangladesh, and China is ready to align its flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Vision 2041 of becoming a developed country. Click here to read… [8]

Bhutan

Parliament shows rural Bhutan is a priority – Kuensel

The ongoing session of Parliament brings a ray of hope for rural Bhutan. Several important deliberations and decisions underscore the government’s focus on enhancing the economic opportunities and welfare of rural Bhutan. This renewed attention reflects a deep-seated recognition that the majority of Bhutanese, who live in rural areas, are integral to the nation’s prosperity. A significant highlight of the session is the allocation of Nu 910.5 million for agriculture marketing and cooperatives in the 13th Plan. This substantial investment is poised to bolster the agriculture sector, which remains the backbone of rural Bhutan. Click here to read… [9]

Maldives

Minister Zameer meets with USAID, discussion held on strengthening economic growth – The Edition

Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer met with USAID's Administrator Samantha Power today, during his official visit to the United States. A press statement issued by USAID, further detailed that Administrator Power reinforced USAID’s commitment to advancing its partnership with the Maldives to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, protect the environment, and strengthen democratic institutions. Click here to read… [10]

Soldiers on video Lankan, not Indian: MNDF – Sun International

Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) clarifies nationality of the soldiers on a now viral video, confirming they are Sri Lankans not Indians. While Maldives government earlier confirmed India repatriated all of its soldiers in the Maldives, political opposition claimed the soldiers on the now viral video are Indian. In response, MNDF Media Official while speaking with 'Sun' confirmed the officers are Sri Lankan, and they are part of the ongoing Maldives-Sri Lanka training in Addu City Feydhoo on Explosives Ordinance Disposal (EOD). Click here to read… [11]

Discussions held to strengthen China-Maldives trade relations – The Edition

Minister for Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed, during his official visit to China to attend the World Economic Forum, met with Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao on June 25, holding discussions on improving trade relations between both countries. Click here to read… [12]

Myanmar

Rice Imports from Myanmar to Mae Sot Disrupted Thailand- Myanmar Border - BNI Online

During June, continuous torrential rain damaged sections of the Myawaddy-Kawkareik Road, preventing rice from the mainland regions of Myanmar reaching the Thailand-Myanmar border. As a result, rice shops in the border town of Myawaddy are running out of stock, and shipments to Mae Sot have ceased, according to local traders. “The roads were severely damaged, preventing large rice container trucks from the mainland from reaching Myawaddy. Junta troops are also intercepting and seizing rice shipments; hence it has become very difficult to get Myanmar rice to Myawaddy. In Myawaddy, Myanmar rice is the main staple. Currently, Thai-grown rice is being used Click here to read… [13]

US Diplomat Reportedly Met Myanmar Naval Officer in Vietnam - The Diplomat

A senior U.S. official met last week with a high-ranking member of the Myanmar armed forces last week in Vietnam, suggesting a possible shift in Washington’s approach to the country’s conflict. Daniel Kritenbrink, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, met Kyaw Lin Zaw. a commander in the Myanmar Navy, in Hanoi on June 21-22, a source with knowledge of the meeting told The Diplomat. Click here to read… [14]

WFP condemns looting and burning of its warehouse in Myanmar - Relief Web

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) strongly condemns the looting of food supplies and burning of its warehouse in Maungdaw in Myanmar’s northern Rakhine State last Saturday. WFP is providing emergency food support to conflict-affected populations in Myanmar and has assisted almost one million people so far this year. The seizure of food and other goods and the destruction of humanitarian facilities in Maungdaw undermines these efforts and must be stopped. Click here to read… [15]

Myanmar rebels seize airport from junta as cease-fire collapses - Tribune

The Thandwe Airport was taken over by Buddhist ethnic armed organization Arakan Army (AA) on Sunday, Myanmar Now news reported. It is located close to a base of the Myanmar army’s Light Infantry Battalion 566 and to beach resorts outside the town of Ngapali. Meanwhile, Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) said it resumed anti-junta offensive in the northern Shan State after the Burmese military violated cease-fire multiple times, Myanmar Now news website reported. Click here to read… [16]

Nepal

Funding modalities differences delay BRI execution deal - Kathmandu Post

The plan to finalise the much-debated Belt and Road Initiative Implementation Plan between Nepal and China during the 16th round of the Nepal-China diplomatic consultation mechanism meeting on Tuesday fell through. After China insisted on sealing the BRI implementation plan during the ongoing visit of its vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong to Kathmandu, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently corresponded with the Prime Minister’s Office seeking approval for signing the implementation plan during the 16th meeting of Nepal- China diplomatic consultation mechanism meeting, which concluded on Tuesday. Click here to read… [17]

Prachanda Asserts Nepal's Territorial Claims Amid Border Disputes - Devi Discourse

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' emphasized that territories east of Mahakali River, including Limpiyadhura, Kalapani, and Lipu Pass, are part of Nepal. This statement was made while addressing the Foreign Ministry's headings during the Appropriation Bill discussion. The prime minister referenced the 1816 Sugauli Treaty to support Nepal's claims. Click here to read… [18]

Nepal's civil administration plagued by high-level corruption scandals - My Republica

High-ranking employees of the civil administration, also known as the permanent government, are themselves involved in massive corruption. Instead of serving the people, government employees from the chief secretary to the secretaries, joint secretaries, and under secretaries carrying the administrative responsibility of the country have started falling into the trap of corruption. Chief Secretary Dr Baikuntha Aryal was suspended from his position after the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed a case against him in the Special Court on Sunday. Click here to read… [19]

Pakistan

PM Shehbaz confirms IMF role in budget prep-Dawn

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed on Tuesday that the federal budget for next year was prepared in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). His remarks came as Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced significant amendments to the proposed finance bill for 2024-25. Click here to read… [20]

Deputy PM Dar for ‘normalising’ ties with India-Dawn

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday advocated for the normalisation of relations with India, expressing Pakistan’s openness to dialogue, while also outlining conditions aimed at easing tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, who have long been embroiled in disputes. Speaking at the 51st founding anniversary of the government-run think tank Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), Mr Dar, said: “Pakistan does not believe in perpetual hostility. We seek good-neighbourly relations with India on the basis of mutual respect, sovereign equality, and a just and peaceful resolution of the long-standing Jammu and Kashmir dispute.” Click here to read… [21]

Judicial divide: SC split widens over election rigging plea-The Express Tribune

The discord among Supreme Court judges has deepened as Justice Athar Minallah raised concerns over the delay in addressing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) petition probing alleged rigging in the recent general elections. Justice Minallah observed that if the elections were not genuine, the judges themselves might be violating their oaths. Click here to read… [22]

Ogra act amendment to bring $200m-The Express Tribune

The government is set to amend the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) Act aimed at allowing the operator of Energas Terminal to have monopoly over capacity utilistion in a bid to attract investment of $200 million from Qatar. Click here to read… [23]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka poised to secure grace period for repaying bilateral debts – Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka is likely to secure a grace period to settle its debts to bilateral creditors - India and China and the Paris Club of Nations - when signing the restructuring agreements with them today, an informed source said. Click here to read… [24]

Ex-LTTE combatants among those seeking common Tamil presidential candidate – Daily Mirror

The party formed by ex-LTTE militants is in the political amalgam that seeks to field a common Tamil presidential candidate at the upcoming elections, Daily Mirror learns. The alliance called’ Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA), is a political formation opposed to Ilankai Tamil Arachu Katchchi (ITAK). Click here to read… [25]

Indian High Commission facilitates training programme for journalists in India – Daily Mirror

The Indian High Commission facilitated a two-week training programme on Media Management for Sri Lankan journalists and media professionals in Hyderabad, India together with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. Click here to read… [26]