Neighborhood News Digest- 01 July 2024

Afghanistan

Mujahid at Doha 3: Islamic Emirate Committed to Positive Engagement-Tolo News

Zabihullah Mujahid, head of the delegation of the Islamic Emirate, at the inauguration ceremony of the third Doha meeting on Afghanistan, said that Kabul’s participation demonstrates that the Islamic Emirate is committed to positive engagement. Click here to read... [2]

Third Doha Meeting on Afghanistan Begins Sunday-Tolo News

On June 30 the third Doha meeting on the situation in Afghanistan was hosted by Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peace building Affairs. According to participants in this meeting, the caretaker government's delegation will discuss various topics behind closed doors with the UN Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and representatives from countries and organizations. Click here to read... [3]

India joins UN's Doha meet on Afghanistan attended by Taliban-Times of India

India is among the 25 countries participating in the third UN-led conference on Afghanistan in Doha that kicked off Sunday, looking to find ways to improve the lives of the Afghan people in the Taliban ruled country. The meeting is significant as it is the first time that the Taliban are attending the talks. Click here to read... [4]

Iran envoy outlines Tehran’s concerns on Afghanistan at Doha meeting-The Khaama Press

Kazemi Qomi, Iran’s ambassador and special representative for Afghanistan, said he participated in the third Doha meeting to clarify Tehran’s concerns regarding Afghanistan. On Sunday morning, posted on his social media platform X, he aimed to articulate Tehran’s positions, convey concerns about Afghanistan, and explain Iran’s humanitarian policies toward country residents to UN officials and participating nations. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

Dhaka looks to Beijing for fresh loans - The Daily Star

Talks on Chinese loan proposals will be at the fore during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's upcoming visit to Beijing. During her visit, Bangladesh may seek around $5 billion in budget support in addition to loans for a number of large projects, said a finance ministry official on condition of anonymity. Click here to read... [6]

Govt deals with India anti-state: Fakhrul – The Daily Star

BNP yesterday denounced the 10 MoUs signed with India during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's recent Delhi visit. He said allowing India to establish a corridor through Bangladesh for linking different parts of their country via railway tracks would compromise Bangladesh's sovereignty and national security. Click here to read... [7]

Padma Bridge project now complete – The Daily Star

The Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project came to an end yesterday, around 17 years after it was taken in August 2007, giving great relief to tens of thousands of users daily. Click here to read... [8]

Navy chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi begins 5-day visit to Bangladesh – The Hindu

Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi began a five-day visit to Bangladesh on June 30 with an aim to consolidate the bilateral defence engagement and explore new avenues of cooperation in the maritime domain. Click here to read... [9]

Bhutan

Bhutan to collaborate with Malaysia for agarwood inoculation initiative – BBS

The Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Forestry Research and Training in Bumthang plans to collaborate with experts from Malaysia to establish an inoculation process for agarwood trees in the country. This initiative was discussed by the energy and natural resources minister during a question-hour session in the National Council yesterday. Concerns raised by Zhemgang’s Member of Parliament included the lack of training and access to artificial inoculants for agarwood growers, as well as issues regarding proper channels for trading agarwood and the sustainability of the agarwood business in the country. Click here to read... [10]

Maldives

Former army chief approved as ambassador to Turkey, Thoha to Pakistan – Adhadhu

Former Chief of Defense Force, Lt. Gen., Retd., Abdul Raheem Abdul Latheef, who served as a state minister at the Foreign Ministry, has been approved by the Parliament as Maldives Ambassador to Türkiye. Meanwhile, Thoha Mohamed from Ufanveli of Noonu Holhudhoo island was approved as Ambassador to Pakistan. The two were approved unanimously with the votes of 82 MPs in attendance at today's sitting of Parliament. Click here to read... [11]

Maldives will remain steadfast in calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza: FM – Raajje

Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer has assured that the Maldives will remain steadfast in calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. He said this while speaking to Ambassador of Palestine to the United Nations Riyad Mansour, during a meeting held at the Palestine Mission to the United Nations in New York City on June 27 as part of his recent brief visit to the United States of America. Reiterating the Maldivian government’s solidarity with Palestinians in their right to self-determination and the immediate end to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, FM Zameer conveyed the Maldivian government’s support for the admission of Palestine as a full UN member. Click here to read... [12]

Parliament greenlights becoming a signatory to Samoa Agreement – Sun International

The Parliament, on Sunday, has greenlighted signing the Samoa Agreement to become a member of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS). President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu decided to submit the text of Samoa Agreement for parliamentary approval at the recommendation of his cabinet on June 24th. Click here to read... [13]

Myanmar

Myanmar central bank denies UN report on weapons transactions - WION News

Myanmar's central bank denied a U.N. report that the country's military government can still access money and weapons for its war against anti-coup forces, saying financial institutions under the bank's supervision followed prescribed procedures. Click here to read... [14]

Myanmar junta arrests 11 for inflating rice prices, including Japanese national - Hindustan Times

Four executives from supermarket chains in Myanmar, including a Japanese joint venture official, were arrested for selling rice at inflated prices, state media said on Monday, as the war-torn country's ruling junta struggles to stabilise a spiralling economy. Click here to read... [15]

World Bank Names Melinda Good as Thailand, Myanmar Director - Mirage News

The World Bank has appointed Melinda Good as its new Country Director for Thailand and Myanmar, effective July 1, 2024. Her appointment comes at an important time for both countries. Thailand is preparing to host the 2026 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund in Bangkok, and this year the World Bank also celebrates the 75th anniversary of Thailand's membership-a seven-decade partnership to improve social and economic development. Click here to read... [16]

Update on China-Myanmar Relations - Stimson

China has long been a crucial actor in Myanmar, with bilateral relations greatly influenced by economic interconnectivity projects and a 2,185-kilometer shared border. As resistance to the junta which took power in February 2021 grows, especially in the wake of resistance offensive Operation 1027, China has already proven its actions will be consequential in determining the course of Myanmar’s future by brokering a ceasefire. To highlight such developments in China’s relations with Myanmar, the Stimson Center has developed a database of critical events, Chinese government statements, and major bilateral interactions. Click here to read... [17]

Nepal

Nepal and India’s special relationship – and how it is getting better - Indian Express

Nepal and India have a unique relationship. The open border, shared culture, economic interdependence and deep-rooted people-to-people relationship make bilateral ties special. India is Nepal’s largest trading partner, the top-source country for tourists, the only supplier of petroleum products and the largest source of total foreign investment. India also provides transit for almost all of Nepal’s third-country trade and accounts for a significant share of inward remittances from pensioners, professionals and labourers working in India. Click here to read... [18]

Entrepreneurship is urgency: Chair Oli - Himalayan Times

CPN (UML) Chairperson and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said entrepreneurship is urgency in Nepal.At a programme organized by his party's Department of Agriculture and Livestock Development on Sunday, party Chairperson Oli reiterated that entrepreneurship was needed in the country for making economy dynamic.Stating that modernization in agriculture could generate many jobs, Oli argued that industries based on agriculture could take the form of export-oriented industries. Click here to read... [19]

Nepal working to secure UNESCO World Heritage Site status for Tilaurakot, where Buddha spent his early years - Kathmandu Post

An international mission is set to visit the very site of Tilaurakot to evaluate the site for potential inclusion as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) plans to visit Tilaurakot in August and later submit its report to UNESCO. There will be discussions after the mission submits its report to UNESCO. Click here to read... [20]

Deuba-Oli closed-door talks put question mark on Nepal PM Prachanda’s fate - Indian Express

Frequent Meetings between various leaders of the Nepali Congress (NC) and the Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) — including a closed-door meeting between its leaders Saturday — have sparked speculation about a possible exit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda and his party from power. Click here to read... [21]

Pakistan

Fuel price goes up with start of new fiscal year-Dawn

The PML-N-led coalition government began the new fiscal year (2024-25) with an increase in petrol and high-speed diesel prices by Rs7.45 and Rs9.56 per litre, respectively, for the next fortnight. Click here to read... [22]

Government to end the concept of non-filers: FM Augranzeb-The Express Tribune

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said that the government has decided to abolish the concept of 'non-filers'. Addressing media persons in capital Islamabad, the finance minister said he understood that the salaried class was particularly experiencing financial strain from new taxes. He pledged to offer relief to salaried individuals once any financial respite becomes feasible. Click here to read... [23]

FBR collection up yet Rs110b shy of target-The Express Tribune

As the government missed the annual tax target by a margin of Rs110 billion, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Sunday defended the income tax exemption that he gave on sale of properties by Pakistan’s all serving and retired civil and military government employees. Click here to read... [24]

Sri Lanka

Ready to work with all who back my candidacy at the presidential poll: Ranil – Daily Mirror

Responding to a request made by some government ministers that he should contest for the presidential election, President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said he is ready to work with everyone who made this request. Click here to read... [25]

Sri Lanka crosses 1 million tourist arrival mark – Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka tourism reached a key milestone on Saturday, welcoming its one millionth tourist for 2024. Along with this milestone, Sri Lanka Tourism is gaining momentum in promoting Sri Lanka’s uniqueness as a ‘treasure trove’ among travel destinations worldwide, according to the SLTPB. Click here to read... [26]

Action speaks louder than words: Will the Economic “Good News” Help Ranil in 2024 Poll? – Daily Mirror

When Ranil Wickremesinghe took over, Sri Lanka was a bankrupt nation; his mission was to extricate the country out of the economic morass it was in, Ranil’s vision was to lay the foundation of economic prosperity for the country. Click here to read... [27]