Neighborhood News Digest - 10 July 2024

Afghanistan

UN, Qatar Hail Success of Third Doha Meeting on Afghanistan-Tolo News

The Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations, Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, and the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, have lauded the Third Doha Meeting on Afghanistan as a significant opportunity for the comprehensive engagement of all parties to improve the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. Click here to read… [2]

Governor of Sar-e-Pol: Punishing Criminals without Court Order is Forbidden-Tolo News

Mohammad Yaqoob Abdul Rahman Aka, the Governor of Sar-e-Pol, stated that without a court decision, no one has the right to punish criminals. In a security meeting in the Balkhab district of this province, he added that in the current system, any form of corruption is prohibited, and criminals will be dealt with according to Islamic Sharia. Click here to read… [3]

UN Condemns Taliban’s Morality Ministry as human rights abuser-The Khaama Press

The UN Mission in Afghanistan condemns the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (MPVPV) for human rights violations, noting 1,033 arbitrary punishments. The report details 205 cases of women and 828 cases of men mistreated. Concerns were raised over increased powers granted to the MPVPV by the Taliban. Click here to read… [4]

Bangladesh

Bilateral meeting between Hasina, her Chinese counterpart starts - The Daily Star

A bilateral delegation level meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang started at the Great Hall of the People this morning. Earlier, Bangladesh prime minister was accorded a red-carpet reception as she reached the Great Hall of the People to have a bilateral meeting with her Chinese counterpart Li Qiang. Click here to read… [5]

Anti-graft drive: How has Awami League fared in first six months? – The Daily Star

The Awami League-led government completes six months of its fourth consecutive term in office today. In the past six months, the issue of corruption has truly come to the fore, and the government has acted in a handful of high-profile cases. Click here to read… [6]

Debate intensifies over constitutional basis of Bangladesh’s quota system – Dhaka Tribune

Amidst ongoing protests against the existing quota system for government jobs, the Bangladesh government has announced that the judiciary will decide the future of the quota system, leading to increasing debate over its constitutional basis. Click here to read… [7]

Bangladesh PM visits Beijing as China, India eye influence – DW

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has embarked on a three-day official trip to China, starting from Monday, marking her first visit to the Asian giant in five years. Click here to read… [8]

Bhutan

Nu 10.23 billion allocated to RNR sector to boost food security and GDP growth – Kuensel

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL) has allocated Nu 10.23 billion for the renewable natural resources (RNR) sector for the financial year 2024-25 to enhance food and nutrition security, improve farmers’ income, and increase the sector’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This constitutes 10 percent of the ministry’s overall budget outlay. In 2023, the agriculture and livestock sector contributed Nu 36,479 million to the GDP, which is expected to increase to Nu 58,698 million by 2029. The government also plans to increase the sector’s growth by 8.3 percent in the 13th plan by prioritising high-tech farming and establishment and expansion of large-scale commercial farming. Click here to read… [9]

Revitalizing the nation’s economy: Govt’s vision and initiatives – Bhutan Times

In a move to steer the country towards economic resurgence, the Prime Minister outlined ambitious plans during the recent State of the Nation report. With a keen focus on the next year, the government has unveiled a multifaceted strategy aimed at revitalizing various sectors crucial to national development. Central to this vision is the formalization of a 21st-century economic roadmap. This comprehensive framework aims to modernize and streamline economic activities, fostering innovation and sustainable growth across industries. Click here to read… [10]

Maldives

Maldives-Sri Lanka legal assistance agreement referred to Parliament – Avas

The Maldives’ decision to join an agreement with Sri Lanka for mutual legal assistance in criminal matters has been referred to the Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee for consideration. During a Cabinet meeting held on June 2, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu decided that the Maldives would sign the "Treaty Between the Government of the Republic of Maldives and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters". Click here to read… [11]

Economic Minister Saeed to hold trade talks in the United States – Adhadhu

In a post on X, the Economic Ministry said Saeed will hold talks with US business representatives, the US Chamber of Commerce and other government agencies. The trip was first announced by Saeed on February 27 during a campaign speech in Shaviyani Milandhoo ahead of the parliamentary elections. Saeed stated that a Maldives "trade delegation" would visit the United States. "On July 10, for the first time, if I am not mistaken, a trade delegation from the Maldives will visit the US capital Washington. That has been facilitated by the US government for the President," he said. Click here to read… [12]

MSS expands services to include Malaysia and Singapore – Avas

Maldives State Shipping (MSS) has announced the expansion of its services to include port calls at Malaysia and Singapore. MSS’s Managing Director Ahmed Shareef said the round trip is expected to be completed in about 15 days. "As business continues to grow, we will add more ports. The demand is high, and we are currently not accepting any additional cargo as we are at full capacity," Shareef said. Click here to read… [13]

Myanmar

SAC Vice-Chairman Deputy PM Vice-Senior General Soe Win arrives back from SCO’s Green Development Forum-GNLM

The Myanmar delegation led by Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win, who attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Countries’ Green Development Forum, left Qingdao Airport for Kunming yesterday. Click here to read… [14]

Myanmar junta bombs, shells Mogok to push back renewed Operation 1027 advance-Myanmar Now

Junta forces shelled and conducted airstrikes in and near Mogok, Mandalay Region earlier this week to beat back recent advances by anti-regime forces, locals said. Local sources said a junta warplane fired at the ground on Monday as it flew over the outskirts of the town, which is well-known as a hub of ruby production, as clashes spread from the western half of the township. Click here to read… [15]

Nepal

Agreements with China, Sri Lanka on digital payment in the final stage – Nepal News

Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), Maha Prasad Adhikari, has said that the agreements with China and Sri Lanka on digital payment have reached the final stage. At an interaction on coming year's monetary policy organized by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), the Governor said that agreements are expected in the near future with China's Ali Pay and Sri Lanka's Lanka Pay for digital payment transactions. Click here to read… [16]

Pakistan

ATC dismisses Imran Khan’s bails in three May 9 riot cases-The Express Tribune

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday rejected the interim bail of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in three cases related to May 9 riots. ATC Judge Khalid Arshad announced the reserved verdict on Imran Khan's bail petitions concerning attacks on Jinnah House, Askari Tower, and the torching of Shadman Police Station. Click here to read… [17]

Fate of documented Afghan refugees to be decided today-Dawn

The federal cabinet will meet today (Wednesday) to decide the fate of Afghan refugees residing in the country, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif complained to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) that only 9,000 out of 70,000 Afghans — who had worked for the US and allies — had been sent to a third country over the three years. Click here to read… [18]

Govt seeking to fortify strategic partnership with Gulf states: Dar-Dawn

The government, in its latest diplomatic outreach, sought to fortify strategic partnerships and deepen cooperation in Information and Communications Te¬¬chnology (ICT) and renewable energy sectors with Persian Gulf countries, Uzbekistan and China, said Deputy Prime Min¬ister Ishaq Dar, who also oversees the foreign mi¬¬nistry, on Tuesday. Click here to read… [19]

Sri Lanka

Post-crisis construction interest surpasses economic boom levels: Industry – Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka’s construction industry, crippled by poor policies and crisis events, is bouncing back with renewed vigor, industry leaders said, as they see a surge in interest surpassing even the boom times of economic growth. Click here to read… [20]

Tourist arrivals pick up pace in July - Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka welcomed over 43,000 international visitors in the first week of July, a significant pickup in the tourist inflow rate from last month. Click here to read… [21]

Sri Lanka paves way for Musk’s Starlink to enter telecoms market – The Print

Sri Lanka’s parliament approved amendments to a decades-old law on Tuesday to allow Elon Musk’s Starlink, the satellite unit of SpaceX, to set up operations in the South Asian island nation. Click here to read… [22]