Neighborhood News Digest- 02 July 2024

Afghanistan

Diplomats’ insights on first day of Doha meeting on Afghanistan-The Khaama Press

The first day of the third Doha meeting began with remarks from Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN Deputy Secretary-General. The closed-door session gathered representatives from over 25 countries, and at least five international organizations focused on Afghanistan. Ms. DiCarlo deemed the start of this meeting productive, stating on her Twitter page, “It is the first time such a comprehensive international community segment meets with the Taliban.” She also expressed satisfaction with bilateral meetings with country representatives during her visit to Doha. Click here to read… [2]

Mujahid Highlights Intl. Support for Economic Cooperation at Doha 3-Tolo News

Zabihullah Mujahid, head of the Islamic Emirate delegation at the third Doha meeting, said that some countries support cooperation in the economic and financial sectors with Afghanistan. He told TOLO news that the participants of the Doha 3 meeting supported the informational report presented by the Islamic Emirate and considered the presence of the Islamic Emirate delegation in this important meeting significant. Click here to read… [3]

US and Qatar officials meet at Doha summit to support women in Afghanistan-The Khaama Press

Rina Amiri, U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan’s Women, met with Lulwa Al-Khater, Qatar’s Minister of State for International Cooperation, on the sidelines of the third Doha summit to discuss support for women and girls in Afghanistan. Click here to read… [4]

Pakistan announces start of second phase of expelling undocumented Afghan refugees-The Khaama Press

According to international media reports, Pakistan will initiate the second phase of the contentious expulsion of undocumented Afghan migrants. Al Jazeera reported on Sunday, July 1st, that over 800,000 individuals in Pakistan face potential deportation. Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh

FY24: A brutal year that gutted stock investors - The Daily Star

For stock investors in Bangladesh, the just-concluded fiscal year was the worst in four years, with the benchmark index of Dhaka Stock Exchange losing over 1,000 points. Click here to read… [6]

Power supply from Adani plant resumes – The Daily Star

Electricity supply from a unit of the Adani power plant in India's Jharkhand resumed yesterday after 60 hours of disruption, according to the Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB). Click here to read… [7]

Remittance income at 47 month high – Dhaka Tribune

After years of fluctuations, Bangladesh's remittance income has finally shown notable stability. The last peak was in July 2020, when expatriates sent $2.59 billion, coinciding with the Eid festival. Click here to read… [8]

GRSE signs deal with Bangladesh for 800-tonne ocean-going tug – The Indian Express

The Bangladesh Navy has signed a deal with the Indian Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) for an 800-tonne ocean-going tug—a major contract to be signed under a $500-million line of credit that was extended to Bangladesh by India for purchase of defence equipment. Click here to read… [9]

Bhutan

India, Bangladesh decides to boost Himalayan-Bay of Bengal connectivity – The Economic Times

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

’No hidden agendas’: Maldives US envoy says India, US and China are helpful and important – Mint

The Maldives sees all the big powers in the Indo-Pacific as important partners and considers regional stability vital, its Washington ambassador said on June 28. Earlier, it had raised concerns of India and US after signing defense deals with China. Speaking after a Washington visit by Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer this week, Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed said his country occupies a very strategic position and is aware of its responsibilities in maintaining a "free, peaceful and stable Indian Ocean." Click here to read… [11]

Statements from top officials caused loss of MVR 2 billion: Ameer – Adhadhu

Maldives tourism faced a loss of MVR 2 billion due to the language and policies of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and some of his deputy ministers, former Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer has said. Speaking at a press conference by the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on Saturday about the state of the economy amid "suffocating" public finances, Amir said that the foreign policy pursued by President Muizzu and the deputy ministers had disrupted diplomatic relations. Click here to read… [12]

Myanmar

Anti-coup forces allege Myanmar military using banned, restricted weapons - Aljazeera

Under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which Myanmar ratified under a previous quasi-civilian government in 2015, the production, storage and use of chemical weapons is banned under international law. Chemical weapons include riot control substances such as tear gas that can irritate or disorientate soldiers on the battlefield, as well as herbicides and toxins that act on the central nervous system. The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), meanwhile, seeks to limit or ban the use of weapons that might cause soldiers “unnecessary or unjustifiable suffering” or “affect civilians indiscriminately”. Myanmar is not among the 126 states that have ratified or acceded to the convention as of July 1 last year, according to the UN. Click here to read… [13]

Chinese brands offer new solar products for customers in Myanmar - English News

In Yangon, the largest commercial city in Myanmar, Chinese brands have showcased their new solar products at a trade expo held at the Yangon Convention Center, promising innovation, affordability and promotions for their customers. At the trade fair held from Friday to Sunday, colorful booths displaying Chinese solar products attracted many attendees, including engineers, business owners and onlookers. Click here to read… [14]

Op. 1027 Update: TNLA Captures Seven Myanmar Junta Bases, Two Battalion HQs - The Irrawaddy

The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and allies seized another seven Myanmar junta frontline bases and two battalion headquarters in northern Shan State and northern Mandalay Region in four days of attacks up to Sunday. Junta troops responded by indiscriminately bombarding the towns, killing civilians and destroying houses, according to local reports. Click here to read… [15]

Floods in Myanmar force 10,000 from their homes, many trapped - RFA

Rivers in northern Myanmar swollen by torrential rain have burst their banks, forcing about 10,000 people, including many displaced by war, to flee, while many others have been trapped on their roofs by the rising waters, relief workers told Radio Free Asia on Monday. Heavy rain in Kachin state has led to floods in four townships along the banks of the Irrawaddy and N’mai rivers, forcing residents to seek shelter in monasteries and elsewhere on higher ground. Click here to read… [16]

Nepal

Discussions held on enhancing Maldives-Nepal relations - Raajje

Discussions have been held on ways to enhance the relations between the governments of Maldives and Nepal. This was done during a meeting Ambassador of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal to the Maldives Bashu Dev Mishra, held with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, following a ceremony to present his credentials. The ceremony, held at the President’s Office on Monday, saw Ambassador Mishra presenting his Letters of Credence to the Maldivian leader. Click here to read… [17]

Nepalese Spiritual Leader 'Buddha Boy' For 10 Years Over Child Sex Abuse - NDTV

A Nepali court on Monday sentenced a man whose followers believe him to be a reincarnation of Buddha to 10 years in prison for child sexual abuse. Ram Bahadur Bomjan, known as "Buddha boy" by his devotees, became famous as a teenager after followers said he could meditate motionless for months without water, food or sleep. He was convicted of child sexual abuse last week by the court in Nepal's southern town of Sarlahi. Click here to read… [18]

Nepal’s economy has slowed down. Electric vehicle sales haven’t - Kathmandu Post

In 2019-20, Nepal imported 236 units of passenger electric vehicles (EVs) from China worth some Rs674 million. In the past five years, imports of EVs from China jumped 35 times, suggesting EV adoption in Nepal is now outpacing that of conventional combustion vehicles which use engines that burn fossil fuels, such as petrol or diesel. The EVs have overtaken conventional combustion vehicles. Click here to read… [19]

Political upheaval in Nepal: UML-Cong forge new alliance, Oli to be next PM - Business Standard

Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML) have struck a midnight deal to form a new alliance, leaders from both parties confirmed. With this, the new government formed on March 4 is set to collapse and a formal announcement is expected soon. As per the agreement signed in between Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and the UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, an agreement of sharing one and half year's tenure each has been reached in between the leaders. Click here to read… [20]

Pakistan

CJP comes to ECP’s rescue on reserved seats-Dawn

Amid intense questioning, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa came to the rescue of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday by reminding that the commission was not a subordinate institution to the Supreme Court or the government but an independent authority conferred with a constitutional role to conduct elections. Click here to read… [21]

UN calls for immediate release of Imran Khan, deems detention arbitrary-The Express Tribune

Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan's detention is arbitrary and in violation of international law, a UN human rights working group said in an opinion issued on Monday, adding the jailed politician should be released immediately. Click here to read… [22]

Tax hikes set off wave of protests nationwide-The Express Tribune

As traders came up in arms over tax hikes and soaring power prices, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) joined the chorus on Monday, announcing a protest in Islamabad for July 12 against “high taxes and exorbitant electricity tariff.” The JI launched its “Haq Do Awam Ko” (give rights to the masses) movement via a post on social media platform X, with JI emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman slated to lead the rally. Click here to read… [23]

ATC issues non-bailable warrants for KP CM Gandapur-Dawn

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Monday issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and other PTI leaders, with the warning that they could be declared proclaimed offender over continuous absence in cases related to violent protests and violation of Section 144 of the criminal procedure code. Click here to read… [24]

Sri Lanka

Experts call for structural reforms to boost Sri Lanka’s trade success – Daily Mirror

Amid the intensified government efforts to capitalise on trade liberalisation through new preferential agreements, international trade experts stress the need for structural changes in Sri Lanka’s production sector before pursuing new pacts. Click here to read… [25]

Sri Lanka’s bondholder talks to finalise as early as next week – Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka is upbeat about firming up talks with the bondholders, which will assist the island nation to come out of the ‘selective default’ status faster. President Ranil Wickremesinghe shared that finalisations can be reached as early as next week. Click here to read… [26]

Sri Lanka voices concern to India over naval sailor's death during operation to seize Indian trawler – Telegraph

Sri Lanka has voiced its concern to India over the death of a naval sailor who was killed in a recent operation to seize an Indian trawler allegedly engaged in illegal fishing in the island nation's territorial waters. Click here to read… [27]