Neighborhood News Digest- 11 July 2024

Afghanistan

Afghanistan's Exports to Iran Reach $16 Million-Tolo News

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce states that Afghanistan's exports to Iran from the beginning of the current solar year until the 10th of Saratan (solar calendar) amounted to about $16 million, while imports were valued at $740 million. Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, the spokesperson for the ministry, added that both exports and imports between Afghanistan and Iran have increased this year compared to last year. Click here to read… [2]

227 Development Projects Included in Afghanistan’s 1403 Budget-Tolo News

The Ministry of Economy has announced the inclusion of 227 development projects in the fiscal year 1403 budget. According to Abdul Rahman Habib, the ministry's spokesperson, 72 of these projects are new, while the remaining ones are carried over from previous years, as reported to TOLO news. Click here to read… [3]

Taliban hosts first Panjshir Emerald exhibition-The Khaama Press

The Taliban’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce has announced the showcasing of Panjshir emeralds for the first time in the province, aiming to attract domestic and foreign investments. Meanwhile, critics question the destination of Afghanistan’s mining revenues amid intensified efforts by the Taliban in extraction and sales. Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has criticized these practices, citing concerns over their international legitimacy. Click here to read… [4]

Pakistani Foreign Minister to visit Kabul soon amid instability in Pakistan-The Khaama Press

Pakistani media reports that Ishaq Dar, the country’s Foreign Minister, will soon visit Kabul. According to the Pakistani newspaper “Business Recorder,” Dar will travel to Kabul to discuss “terrorist groups present in Afghanistan.” Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh

PM returns home from China - The Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reached home after wrapping up her three-day bilateral visit to the Chinese capital Beijing today. The premier went to Beijing on Monday afternoon at the invitation of her Chinese counterpart Li Qiang. Click here to read… [6]

Hasina, Xi pledge to boost strategic ties – The Daily Star

China has promised to provide economic support to Bangladesh in the form of grants and three types of loans including interest-free ones. The pledge came yesterday as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wrapped up her China visit, holding talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Click here to read… [7]

Xi-Hasina meeting: China to cooperate with Bangladesh in grants and loans – Dhaka Tribune

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday said China will extend cooperation to Bangladesh in four areas grants, interest-free loans, concessional loans, and commercial loans. For that, a technical committee from China will go to Bangladesh very soon to work jointly with the Bangladesh side. Click here to read… [8]

Bhutan

His Majesty and Gyaltsuen in Mongolia – Kuensel

The President of Mongolia, HE Khurelsukh Ukhnaa and First Lady Bolortsetseg Luvsandorj officially received Their Majesties to Mongolia in an honour guard ceremony held at Sukhbaatar Square, the heart of Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar on July 10. Following the Guard of Honour, Their Majesties and the President and First Lady of Mongolia paid tribute to Chinggis Khaan, the first great Khaan of the Mongol Empire, at the central statue in the Square. His Majesty the King held an official meeting with the President of Mongolia in the State Ceremonial Ger, while Her Majesty separately met with the First Lady of Mongolia at the State Palace. Click here to read… [9]

National debt to reach Nu 474.42 billion in 13th Plan – Kuensel

The national debt is estimated to grow by 61.87 percent at the end of the 13th Plan, skyrocketing to Nu 474.42 billion up from Nu 293.09 billion in March this year. This projected national debt will be 94.8 percent of the estimated GDP during the 13th plan period. Of the total national debt, 82.8 percent (Nu 392.67 billion) will constitute external debt and 17.2 percent domestic debt (Nu 81.75 billion). Hydropower debt is projected to account for 73.3 percent of the total external debt and non-hydropower debt accounting for the remaining 26.7 percent. However, the external debt is projected to decline from 92.9 percent to 78.5 percent of GDP by the end of the plan period. Click here to read… [10]

Maldives

Envoy clarifies Maldives’ immediate needs, promises China’s support – Sun International

Beijing’s top diplomat in Male’, Wang Lixin paid a curtesy call on Maldivian president Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on July 10, during which she inquired about Maldives’ most pressing needs. Ambassador Wang called on President Muizzu at his office on the morning of July10. According to the President’s Office, the two discussed ways to expedite the implementation of the agreements reached between Male’ and Beijing during President Muizzu’s state visit to China earlier this year. Click here to read… [11]

President Muizzu to visit Sri Lanka in August – Adhahdu

Sri Lankan media has reported that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu is scheduled to pay an official visit to the country in the first week of August. Citing officials from the President's Office, the Sri Lanka Guardian confirmed the planned visit and said the Maldives government is seeking Parliament approval for agreements to be signed between the two countries. However, the President's Office has not yet officially commented on the matter. Reports say President Muizzu is scheduled to meet with Sri Lankan officials and hold discussions to strengthen bilateral relations in various fields. Click here to read… [12]

First Indian ship with fruits and vegetables to dock in Addu today – Adhadhu

Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) has said that the first ship carrying perishable goods from India will dock in Addu city today. MPL and Hithadhoo Regional Port worked together with Indian shipping companies to arrange regular transportation of perishable goods for the people of Addu. MPL CEO Mohamed Wajeeh Ibrahim told Adhadhu that the first ship will carry fruits, vegetables, onions, garlic and eggs. It will dock at Hithadhoo port at 8:00 pm. He said that Indian shipping companies have assured to send a ship carrying perishable goods to Addu every 15 days. But he added that the service can be maintained based on the demand from businesses in Addu. Click here to read… [13]

Myanmar

Myanmar rebel group seizes town on key highway to China-The Hindu

Myanmar ethnic minority fighters said on July 10 they had seized a town along a key trade highway to China following days of clashes, in another blow to the military. Northern Shan State has been rocked by fighting since late last month, when an alliance of ethnic armed groups renewed an offensive against the military along the highway to China's Yunnan province. Click here to read… [14]

Chin armed group detains two Yaw Defence Force members-Myanmar Now

The Chin National Army (CNA) took two members of the Yaw Defence Force (YDF) from Magway Region into custody on Sunday amid rising tensions between anti-junta armed groups in Chin State. Members of the CNA—the armed wing of the political organisation Chin National Front (CNF)—detained YDF logistics officer Oak Thein and a YDF lance corporal in Yaung Net village in Magway Region’s Gangaw Township, according to a YDF spokesperson. Click here to read… [15]

Nepal

Imports from south fall while EVs boost imports from north – Kathmandu Post

Imports from China to Nepal rose more sharply than expected in the first eleven months of the current fiscal year ending mid-June, while imports from India continued to tumble. According to the Trade and Export Promotion Center, the national trade promotion body, Nepal’s imports from China increased by 34.8 percent in the review period. In comparison, imports from India fell by 3.1 percent. Experts attributed ballooning imports from China to a sharp rise in the entry of electric vehicles (EVs). Likewise, a fall in imports from India has been attributed to the export curbs on food by the southern neighbour. Click here to read… [16]

Pakistan

NA clears SOEs bill; PM says no wheat exports yet-Dawn

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assured the National Assembly on Wednesday that the government has not decided to export wheat from the country, even as the State-Owned Enterprises (Governance and Operations) Bill, 2024 was rushed through the legislature. Click here to read… [17]

ECP’s decision to change election tribunal wrong: IHC-The Express Tribune

The court heard PTI’s petition against the ongoing proceedings related to the Election Amendment Ordinance and the change of tribunal in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). During the proceedings, Chief Justice Aamer Farooq stated that the contradiction in the law would be addressed separately, adding that the issue of changing the election tribunal was separate from the contradiction in the law. Click here to read… [18]

Phone tapping permission for ISI challenged in LHC-Dawn

The federal government’s decision to allow Inter-Services Intel¬li¬gence (ISI) to tap phone calls has been challenged in the Lahore High Court. Citizen Mashkoor Hus¬sain has filed a writ petition through Advocate Nadeem Sarwar, saying the federal government issued a notification permitting the Inter-Services Intelligence to tap phone calls. Click here to read… [19]

Chinese envoy highlights CPEC opportunities-The Express Tribune

Chinese ambassador Jiang Zaidong on Wednesday highlighted his country’s desire for peace and development in Pakistan, stressing the need for global cooperation to achieve these objectives. He said the strategic relations between the two countries were moving forward under the CPEC. Click here to read… [20]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka moves to amend Constitution on presidential and parliamentary terms – Daily Mirror

The Cabinet of Ministers has greenlit a resolution aimed at amending specific articles of the Constitution concerning the terms of office for the President and Parliament. This decision targets articles 30 (2), 62 (2), and 83 (b) of the Constitution, which govern the duration of presidential and parliamentary terms. Click here to read… [21]

Govt. not ready to compromise Adani wind power project despite environmental concerns - Daily Mirror

Despite environmental concerns raised over the Adani green energy project in the north, the Power and Energy Ministry is insistent that the project site cannot be compromised but only steps for mitigation of damage can be taken, according to a top source. Click here to read… [22]

Urgent need for SL to integrate into global value chain: Economist – Daily Mirror

As Sri Lanka grapples with the ongoing global economic challenges, a senior economist asserted the urgent need for the island nation to integrate into the global value chain, so that it can achieve its ambitious growth plans. Click here to read… [23]