Neighborhood News Digest - 09 July 2024

Afghanistan

Arg: Japan Envoy Said Doha 3 Enhanced Interim Govt's Global Interaction-Tolo News

The Japanese ambassador in Kabul, in a meeting with Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs, said that the participation of the Islamic Emirate in the third Doha meeting has provided better grounds for the interim government’s interaction with the world, the Arg reported. Click here to read… [2]

Five-Year Alternative Cultivation Plan Implemented for Afghan Farmers-Tolo News

According to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock, a five-year alternative cultivation plan has been developed based on the decree of the leader of the Islamic Emirate, aimed at providing alternative livelihoods and introducing substitutes for poppy and other drug-producing plants for farmers. Click here to read… [3]

Ministry of Finance stresses 5,000 Afghanis monthly salaries for female civil servants-The Khaama Press

The Ministry of Finance of Afghanistan has issued a directive detailing the implementation of monthly salaries for female civil servants, previously set at 5,000 Afghanis per month by order of the Taliban’s leadership. This directive, dated Sunday, July 7th, instructs relevant departments in provincial administrations to commence the salary scheme for female employees who have been regularly attending work, effective from May 4th 2024. Click here to read… [4]

Shaheen: Islamic Emirate Acts Independently in Fight against Terrorism-Tolo News

Suhail Shaheen, the head of the Islamic Emirate’s political office in Doha, in an interview with a Pakistani journalist said that the Islamic Emirate operates independently in the fight against terrorism. In this interview, Shaheen declared that the presence of ISIS in Afghanistan has ended and added that the organizers of ISIS have moved to other countries in the region. Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh

Construction of Chinese economic zone makes no progress in 8 years - The Daily Star

Construction of the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) in Chattogram has not started despite eight years having passed since the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) first took the initiative to build the enclave in a bid to attract foreign investment. Click here to read… [6]

Bangladesh moves to put export data system in order – The Daily Star

The government has initiated moves to correct the system to calculate national data in oder to avoid the repetition of the shock after the central bank reported a massive statistical mismatch linked to exports. Click here to read… [7]

Anti-Quota movement: Protesters announce mass campaign program Tuesday – Dhaka Tribune

Protesting students will hold a mass campaign program across Bangladesh on Tuesday demanding the abolishment of all types of discriminatory quotas in all grades of government jobs. Click here to read… [8]

Bangladesh Delegation Visits Adani Krishnapatnam Port – Deccan Chronicle

A high-level Bangladeshi delegation toured the Adani Krishnapatnam Port in Nellore on Monday to bolster maritime relations. This visit was a crucial step in implementing the coastal shipping agreement between the two nations aimed at streamlining trade and enhancing nautical cooperation. Click here to read… [9]

Bhutan

Third child cash policy to encourage Bhutanese to have more children – Kuensel

The third child cash incentive programme, which will provide Nu 10,000 per month to women for their third and subsequent children until the child reaches the age of three, will be launched within this year, according to Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay. The third child cash policy aims to encourage Bhutanese to have more children in the face of declining population due to low fertility rate and increased migration. This was one of the prominent pledges made by the ruling government during the election campaign. the Prime Minister said that the government is currently working on the policy, plans, rules, and criteria for the implementation of this programme. “The third child incentive programme will be rolled out within this year.” Click here to read… [10]

PM outlines strategies to address challenges to revive and expand the economy – Bhutan Times

“The only one solution to addressing the challenges of reviving and expanding our economy at the earliest is the historic Gelephu Mindfulness City, conceived from His Majesty The King’s profound wisdom,” Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay said while presenting the state of the nation in the joint sitting of the Parliament on 5 July and was referring to the strategies to address the challenges in reviving the economy. Lyonchhen recalling his past experience said that in 2013, when the second elected government took office, the govt successfully implemented an economic stimulus plan of Nu 5 billion to revive the economy with support from the Government of India. Click here to read… [11]

Maldives

MATATO announces first Maldives Travel Conference – Adhahdu

The Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) has announced its first "Maldives Travel Conference 2024" Women's Edition. The conference, which is dedicated to women in the tourism industry, will be held on August 19 at Hotel Jen. MATATO said the conference aims to highlight key issues affecting women in tourism. The conference will feature two panels comprised entirely of female speakers with a focus on addressing industry challenges while fostering equality. Click here to read… [12]

Economic Minister Saeed assures Maldives will not go bankrupt – Adhadhu

Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed has assured that Maldives will not go bankrupt. As the country's financial situation deteriorates, financial institutions have warned that Maldives will go into debt if it does not reduce spending. The government is now taking measures to cut costs. Speaking at a gathering of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC), Saeed said Maldives will not go into debt and the country will move forward. He also claimed that the country's GDP will continue to grow under the leadership of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. Click here to read… [13]

Myanmar

Myanmar’s ethnic rebels say they captured an airport in a new setback for the military government-The Hindu

One of Myanmar’s most powerful ethnic minority groups battling the military government said it captured an airport serving the country’s top world-class beach resort, marking the first time resistance forces have seized such a facility. Click here to read… [14]

Blue economy development boosts sustainable use of Myanmar’s coastal resources- GNLM

Myanmar is implementing the re-establishment of forests, habitats for biodiversity species at natural conservation areas, and reduction of carbon emissions to prevent deforestation and degradation of forests. Click here to read… [15]

Nepal

NHRC wants war crimes and crimes against humanity to be non-amnestiable – Kathmandu Post

National Human Rights Commission unveils report today detailing its efforts and positions on transitional justice. The National Human Rights Commission has said that the Enforced Disappearances Enquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act must include war crimes and crimes against humanity as serious violations of human rights while also ensuring justice to former Maoist child soldiers. The constitutional human rights watchdog made its position public as the three major parties worked to finalise the amendment bill to the Act under consideration in a parliamentary committee. Neither the existing Act nor the amendment bill includes war crimes, crimes against humanity and the issues of child combatants. Click here to read… [16]

Concept Paper on AI prepared for first time in Nepal – Nepal News

The government has for the first time prepared a Concept Paper on the use and practice of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The government developed the concept paper to determine the basis for formulating the related policy and laws on the use and operation of AI in the context of the country lacking these and in view of the growing use and development of AI the world over. Click here to read… [17]

Pakistan

SC declares Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's rights were violated, trial lacked fairness-The Express Tribune

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa declared Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto him innocent, stating that he was sentenced to death by unconstitutional courts with insufficient evidence. In detailed remarks on the Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto reference issued, it was stated that an innocent person was executed without a fair trial, as reported by Express News on Monday. Click here to read… [18]

ATC to indict Gandapur in 2022 violence case on 29th-Dawn

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in the federal capital will indict Khyber Pakhtun¬khwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and other accused in a two-year-old violence case. The cases were registered in Sangjani and Ind¬ustrial Area of police stations of Islamabad over acts of violence during PTI’s protests on May 26, 2022. Click here to read… [19]

Chinese debt restructuring sought-The Express Tribune

Pakistan’s finance minister will fly to Beijing this week as an envoy of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to request the Chinese leadership to restructure the $15 billion energy debt. The government faces a challenging situation with multiple unresolved issues. Click here to read… [20]

‘Difficult decisions’, reforms must to get rid of IMF: PM-Dawn

Emphasising the need for reforms, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif decla¬red on Mon¬day that if Pakistan did not take “hard decisions”, the country would have to knock on the doors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) once again. “If we do not introduce reforms and take hard decisions, we will have to approach the IMF again after three years when the new loan programme will have concluded,” cautioned the prime minister, his voice betraying the grim situation a cash-strapped Pak¬is¬tan is going through. Click here to read… [21]

Sri Lanka

Presidential Election to be declared at July end: EC Chairman – Daily Mirror

The Election Commission will declare the Presidential Elections only at the end of this month, enabling polling to be taken on a day between September 17 and October 17, an official said. Click here to read… [22]

Marine expert calls for sustainable shift in SL’s tourism focus - Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry requires a major shift towards long-term thinking and a collective approach to protect and promote the country’s natural resources, a prominent marine scientist said. Click here to read… [23]

No decision to end moratorium on foreign research vessels on Sri Lanka's EEZ: Finance Minister Sabry – Deccan Herald

The minister's clarification came days after reports in the Japanese media said that Sri Lanka has decided to lift from next year a ban on the visit of foreign research ships imposed after strong security concerns raised by India and the US following. Click here to read… [24]